The Department of Development is looking to transfer ownership from the city to the Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency for three specific parcels on East Second Street.

A resolution approving this transfer is up for approval by the City Council at tonight’s voting session. The resolution notes that the three parcels, 8, 10 and 12 East Second Street, make up a three-story commercial structure and adjacent vacant lot. The structure sits next to the Fenton Building on East Second Street, home to the Chop House on Main. According to the agenda for tonight’s voting session, intervention is required to keep the deterioration of the structure from progressing. Allowing JURA to take ownership of the property streamlines the Request For Proposals process significantly, and allows for the parcels to be responsibly purchased and redeveloped in alignment with city Planning Documents and revitalization efforts across Downtown.

The resolution to approve the transfer will allow JURA to manage the RFP process for Purchase and Redevelopment of the parcels, resulting in ownership by a private party or developer, which will reduce the city’s responsibility and liability in regards to the parcels and put the property back on the tax rolls.

Also on the agenda for tonight is a public hearing and approval for a local law approving the return of the police chief position. For a number of years the police chief position was encompassed under the Director of Public Safety along with the fire chief position. Following the retirements of Fire Chief Matthew Coon and Police Chief Timothy Jackson, the city is looking to officially reinstate both positions and do away with the Director of Public Safety title, as it used to be a few years ago. The Fire Chief position has already been reinstated following approval by council a few months ago.

The public hearing for the local law is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. in the city council chambers, second floor of the city hall building. The voting session is set to begin after that in the same room at 7:30 p.m.