Committee approves $1‑per‑year lease of Collinwood 5 Point building to Famicos Foundation

The Development, Planning & Sustainability Committee approved Ordinance 10‑34‑20‑26 on Tuesday, authorizing the department of community development to lease the 5 Point (Collinwood) Community Center at 813 East 152nd Street to the Famicos Foundation.

City staff told members the lease would cover two years with a two‑year option to renew and would be for a nominal $1 per year so Famicos can continue providing eight programs at the site, including senior services and a food pantry. "The department would lease the building to Famico's foundation for a dollar a year," City staff said.

John Analifo, introduced in the meeting as director of the Famicos Foundation, said the site serves as a satellite office for South Collinwood services and described ongoing programming. "This building serves as my satellite office from where we serve residents of South Collingwood," Analifo said.

A council member asked whether repairs and operations at the building are funded through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars; staff answered yes and said the city owns the building and has dollars budgeted for repairs. Councilman Harsh asked if the lease would prevent the city from investing in maintenance; staff replied it would not and that the buildings could be considered for the capital improvement plan for improvements over time.

The Chair announced there were no further questions and that the ordinance had been approved; members were asked to sign the ordinance. The lease terms and the $1‑per‑year arrangement were described on the record during the presentation.