CRA plans to buy 834 N. Tennessee Ave. and expand landscaping contract for Midtown properties

City and CRA staff asked the commission to approve two Community Redevelopment Agency items: a property acquisition at 834 North Tennessee Avenue and a purchase order expansion for landscaping services covering Midtown CRA properties.

Valerie Botts, CRA manager, told commissioners the CRA and property owner negotiated a purchase agreement with a $130,000 sale price and a $5,000 deposit; the agreement contains a 120‑day due diligence period during which the CRA can terminate and recover its deposit. If not terminated, staff said the closing would occur by Jan. 19, 2026. The CRA Advisory Board considered the matter on Sept. 4 and gave the proposal a majority recommendation.

Separately, staff recommended expanding a purchase order with Stag Industries — the current landscaping contractor — to provide services across the CRA’s Midtown portfolio, increasing the number of properties served to about 66. Staff stated the three‑party arrangement would cost up to $103,540 for the coming fiscal year; $76,550 was cited as a near-term payment figure for existing services with the not-to-exceed amount covering the expanded scope.

Staff said the landscaping item had received unanimous recommendation from the CRA Advisory Board. The transcript shows staff presenting the items and answering commissioner questions about outreach to property owners and strategic acquisition approaches; no formal commission votes were captured in the provided excerpt.