• The Real Estate Division is responsible for the procurement of real estate interests necessary to accommodate public infrastructure. A narrow two-lane road cannot become an improved street with curb, gutter, sidewalk, and center-turn lanes until the existing right-of-way has been determined and additional land upon which those improvements will be located is obtained. The same holds true for other forms of infrastructure, including walking paths, bridge replacements, water mains, sewer lines, and all other utilities that use the right-of-way and easements.
• The level of real estate interests required varies, depending on the type of infrastructure to be installed. Typical interests include Entry Permits, Temporary Construction Easements, Permanent Easements, and Rights-of-Way.
• The Real Estate Manager also aides other City agencies in their real estate management and leasing needs by using accepted methods to value property, negotiate real estate sales, and prepare and record documents related to the purchase or sale of property.
• The Real Estate Division's Right-of-Way & Easement Acquisition procedures are based upon principals of fundamental fairness to achieve two objectives: 1) ensure property owners receive just compensation for the interest to be acquired, and 2) accommodate the City's schedule for installing the infrastructure.

• Special Improvement Districts (SID's) constitute a partnership between the City and property owners in a specific neighborhood who want improved infrastructure. The City provides all services necessary to implement installation of the improvements, including design, bidding, contracting, and inspection.
• The City's annual budget may include funds to share in the costs of installing street improvements, concrete alley surfacing, and sanitary sewer facilities. The City may create a SID when a majority of the property owners have signed a petition requesting the proposed improvements.
• The process of creating a SID begins when a citizen asks the City to prepare the petition. The petition provides a list of the affected property owners and describes the proposed improvements and estimated costs for design and construction. The requesting party circulates the petition to obtain the signatures of the listed property owners. The completed, successful petition is then presented to the City Council at a public hearing where any interested party may provide testimony for or against the proposed SID.
• The affected property owners’ share in the costs of SID's is known as a "special assessment". Special assessments may be paid in one lump sum or over a period of 10-years.

• Special assessments for sewer improvement districts are based on actual costs. If the sewer improvement district qualifies under the Septic System Elimination Program (SSEP) the City and County have jointly set aside funds to reduce the actual cost by 30%, thereby reducing the special assessment.

• Special assessments for street improvement districts are also based on actual costs. The owners of residential properties pay for 66% of the costs attributed to their half of the street, and the owners of non-residential properties pay for the full costs attributed to their half of the street.

Special assessments for alley improvement districts are based on rates established by City Council. The rates vary depending on the use or zoning of the affected properties, as follows:

• Single-Family residential properties are assessed $8.00 for each linear foot abutting the alley right-of-way;
• Multi-Family residential properties are assessed $15.00 for each linear foot abutting the alley right-of-way;
• Non-Residential properties are assessed $31.50 for each linear foot abutting the alley right-of-way;
• Properties with alley frontage on two sides will be assessed for only the longest side.

A layer in the GIS portion of this City website shows all alleys constructed to date. If you are a property owner interested in alley improvements adjacent to your property, contact the Real Estate Division (256-4021) to be included on a list for consideration in future districts.

29 Road and I-70B

Development Manuals