For many years the Coastal Heritage Society has occupied and managed City-owned property referred to as Tricentennial Park, which comprises properties located at 301-303 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (2-0031-47-001); 655 Louisville Road (2-0031-46-002, 2-0031-46-002B and 2-0031-46-004); 650 West Jones Street (2-0031-46-001A); and 604 West Jones Street (2-0031-46-002A). Said premises comprises approximately 726,530 square feet of building space situated on approximately 23 acres of land. The City desires a high-quality recreational and educational facility be operated at the premises, which serves as a premier visitor destination with a growing audience.

State Law (OCGA 36-37-6 (k)) authorizes municipalities to enter into a lease or contract for valuable consideration for the operation and management for property used for recreational purposes to a designated 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation for a period not exceeding five years.  The City recommends approving a contract with CHS to use, operate, and manage the premises due its experience and specialized knowledge.

The City shall have the right to unilaterally terminate after giving three months notice of intention to do so. Staff is recommending a five -ear deal with CHS at the prior year (2018) payment amount of $716,528.00 per year to manage and operate the Tricentennial Park facility. CHS will assume operations, maintenance, and repair responsibilities, while the City will have capital item replacement responsibilities.

The Coastal Heritage Society is a nonprofit corporation whose mission is to preserve the cultural heritage of coastal Georgia and adjacent regions; to provide relevant educational and recreational experiences within a historical context for the public; which strives to meet the ethics and standards of the American Alliance of Museums and adheres to the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation; and which operates and manages historic sites for multiple owners, including Old Fort Jackson National Historic Landmark in Chatham County on behalf of the State of Georgia, and Pin Point Heritage Museum, a privately owned facility in Chatham County.

Approval