Anchorage Assembly to vote Aug. 4 on $200,000 no-build easement at City Hall lot

Two Companies Would Pay $200,000 for No-Build Easement on City Hall Lot

Two private companies would pay $200,000 to keep the east end of the Anchorage City Hall parking lot free of buildings, $80,000 below a 2025 appraisal of the parcel, under an ordinance the Anchorage Assembly takes up Tuesday.

The perpetual, non-exclusive no-build easement covers a 20-foot by 140-foot strip along the eastern boundary of the lot off 7th Avenue, about 2,800 square feet. It would go to 626 F St., LLC and Seventh & F, LLC, the owners of neighboring property. The easement would let them meet fire separation distance requirements under the 2024 edition of the International Fire Code.

No project has been filed. "There are no current redevelopment plans in place but revitalizing downtown Anchorage is a priority for the Mayor, and this proposed easement would help reduce one of the redevelopment obstacles for the Neighbors," the administration's memorandum said. Mayor Suzanne M. LaFrance submitted the measure. Community and Economic Development Director Robert Doehl concurred.

The easement terminates automatically if the owners fail to begin on-site construction within five years. The municipality keeps the right to use the strip for parking, driveway or landscaping.