Your Weekly FRA Update:

December 5, 2024

2024 FRA Award Winner - Creative Project Funding and Development Partnerships - Large City

City of Orlando DOB/CRA - An Ode to Third Places

"In 2023, a new CRA open space approach activated small, underutilized downtown properties by transforming two corner sites into art gallery plazas, part of the initiative An Ode to Third Places. Supported by the Orlando Economic Partnership, Commissioners, and Mayors, the first site at 30 S. Orange Ave. featured quick-build modifications and a Visit Orlando global mural campaign. The second site at 1 N. Rosalind Ave. involved a multi-year effort culminating in property acquisition with partners. This site, the gateway to Lake Eola Park, showcases Achromatic Aria Fresco, celebrating Orlando's diversity."

FRA Member News

New! Contractor Relates Efforts to Renovate Historic Hotel

While the historic downtown Sebring buildings provide a quaint experience and a hometown view from Circle Park, it is not a “walk in the park” to restore and renovate these structures.

At the Community Redevelopment Agency Board’s Sept. 9 meeting, performance measures and penalties for missed deadlines were discussed as deadlines have been extended over the past two years for businesses going into CRA-owned properties.

Home builder Mark Gose, who is a partner in the Roanoke Hotel and the Irish pub at 209 Circle Park Drive, spoke to the CRA Board recently about the many hurdles in restoring a historic building.

Read more here

New! MCRA Transfers $3.7 Million for FY 2025 Capital Projects

The Margate Community Redevelopment Agency (MCRA) amended its fiscal year 2024-2025 budget to allocate $3,757,142 toward redevelopment initiatives.

The allocated funds are for land acquisition and sports complex field upgrades. $3,007,142 is earmarked for acquiring strategic properties to support Margate’s redevelopment objectives. This effort aims to bolster economic growth and improve public spaces, aligning with the city’s vision for revitalization. $750,000 will fund improvements to the city’s sports complex fields, enhancing facilities for recreational activities and community events.

These projects aim to advance Margate’s redevelopment goals and provide long-term benefits to residents. The reallocation adheres to the Florida Statutes, ensuring unspent funds are carried over to the current fiscal year.

Read more here

New! Scenic Highway and Park Avenue Intersection Work Nearing Completion

The long construction project to turn the once-desolate Park Avenue in downtown Lake Wales into an attractive pedestrian magnet is apparently approaching a conclusion. Once completed, the entire length of Park Avenue will be open for two-way traffic for the first time in nearly two years.

The work is the first and most-complex project of urban renewal called for in the Lake Wales Connected plan. The plan, guided by a team of professional planners, included months of effort collecting citizen input.

The $11.5 million project was funded through bonds issued by the Community Redevelopment Agency, which collects the “tax increment” created by rising property valuations within its boundaries.

Read more here

Community Invited to Attend Lincolnville Park Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

The City of St. Augustine Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and Lincolnville Community Redevelopment Area (LCRA) are proud to announce a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for Thursday, December 5, 2024, for the recently constructed Lincolnville Park.

After public outreach and community input earlier this year, the Neighborhood Services and CRA Division made a recommendation to the City Commission to name the property in honor of George and Ollie Smith, for their significant and outstanding contributions of public service to the Lincolnville community.

The public is invited to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which will be held on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at 10:00 am at the entrance of the park, at 81 Weeden St.

Read more here

Lee County Approves Agreement to Provide Seasonal River District Trolley Service

The seasonal River District Trolley is set to return Nov. 21 after the Lee Board of County Commissioners voted to approve an agreement with the city of Fort Myers and the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency to offer the fare-free service.

Both the LeeTran Blue and Gold Line trolleys provide free access to and from the historic downtown Fort Myers River District. The service cost of $733,119 is funded by the city of Fort Myers and CRA contributing $366,560, and a Florida Department of Transportation Transit Service Development grant contributing $366,559.

• The Blue Line runs through downtown Fort Myers. The route loops from the Oasis Condominiums to West First Street and McGregor Boulevard along First Street, then to Rosa Parks Transportation Center, Fowler Street and Second Street. The Gold Line connects North Fort Myers to downtown Fort Myers. The service will run through April 23, 2025.

Read more here

New Eats on Main Street: Food Truck Court Potentially Coming to Downtown Lakeland Area

If you wait all month for the food truck rally, your favorite truck could get a permanent home in Swan City with this latest development.

Meet Main Street Eats, a new concept from entrepreneurs Butch Rahman and Chad Englund that would permanently park up to eight food trucks in a food court-style set-up east of downtown Lakeland at 1108 E. Main St.

While Rahman + Englund hope to develop the former used car lot there into the food truck court, Lakelanders Ken James and Ziomara Taveras — perhaps better known as the owners of Plates on Deck — would manage it. The duo recently competed on the 17th season of “The Great Food Truck Race” — so needless to say, it’ll be in good hands.

In addition to the food trucks, LkldNow shared that the site plan also includes:

• Renovating a 1912 home into a restaurant and acoustic music venue
• Transforming a 1950s office into customer bathrooms and a vendor preparation area
• Adding an adjacent parking lot that faces Rose Street

Read more here

Jobs

Economic Development Director – City of Miami Beach

The City of Miami Beach (pop. 80,000) seeks a highly energetic, skilled, innovative, and collaborative economic development leader as its next Economic Development Director. This highly visible, hands-on professional focuses on achieving the Economic Development Department’s overarching goal: to establish, grow and diversify the City’s business community by promoting the City’s image and assets, supporting businesses, and encouraging appropriate real estate development. Supervising a team of eight professionals, the Director works to facilitate equitable economic opportunity by building a diverse, vibrant economy; catalyzing job creation, private investment, and revenue generation; supporting existing businesses; promoting the attraction, creation, and expansion of new businesses; and facilitating real estate and joint development and community redevelopment in the City of Miami Beach.

Position is open until filled with the first review of applications on December 11, 2024.

Read more here

Assistant City Manager – City of Clearwater, FL

The Assistant City Manager will support the City Manager and oversee assigned departments including: Community Redevelopment Agency, Economic Development & Housing, Planning and Development, Parks and Recreation, and Clearwater Public Library System. The Assistant City Manager will play a pivotal role during an exciting period of the city’s growth. They will lead staff in a variety of diverse strategic initiatives, specifically, coordinating the acquisition and disposition of over 20 acres of Pinellas County-owned real estate in downtown Clearwater as the county government contemplates its relocation to a more centralized location. This will be an opportunity to actively engage in urban redevelopment planning amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars in future development potential.

Application Deadline: December 27, 2024

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Community Redevelopment Agency Director – City of Flagler Beach

Responsible for administration of the City’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), including preparation and submission of State reports; coordination with the CRA Executive Board; collaboration with CRA property owners; and cooperation with other City staff and appropriate boards and committees. Additional responsibilities include economic development, public engagement, special events, and grant writing/review.

Read more here

CRA Project Coordinator - City of Palatka

CRA Project Coordinator

City of Palatka

$55,000 Annually

The City of Palatka is seeking a responsible individual to join our team in transforming the CRA districts of Palatka.  

Read more here

CRA Communications and Project Coordinator

Under the general direction of city administration, this position serves as the communications, public relations, marketing, and project coordinator for the Main Street and Southside Community Redevelopment Areas.

This position coordinates education, information, and awareness to internal and external stakeholders for the City of Avon Park Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). Administers and manages projects and programs in support of short‐range plans, goals, and objectives per the approved redevelopment plans. Is responsible for tasks involving the coordination of public relations efforts and project coordination for the Main Street and Southside community redevelopment areas.

This is a highly visible position with responsibilities involving frequent community engagement and outreach, as a liaison to property owners, businesses, organizations and local governments.

Read more here

RFPs / RFQs / LOIs

Survey to Identify, Document and Evaluate Historic Resources - Crescent City

The City of Crescent City, Florida is Requesting Proposals from consultants who meet the expertise and standards of an Architectural Historian to conduct a historical resources survey update of the Crescent City Historic District

Project Type:  Survey to identify, document and evaluate historic resources individually within the Crescent City Historic District.

Project Title and Location Information

Project Title:  Crescent City Historical Resources Survey

Street Address of Jurisdiction:  City Hall – 3 N. Summit Street, Crescent City, Florida 32112

Primary County (location of the proposed project):  Putnam County, FL

Background:  The current survey of historical properties in Crescent City is several decades old. Several structures have reportedly been lost or destroyed. An update of the survey is needed to identify and document properties to determine the number of contributing structures remaining and inclusion of any additional contributing structures to the Historic District. Including those that have been in existence for a minimum of 50 years.

Submittals must be received by the city on or before 3:00 p.m. on Friday, December 20, 2024.

Read more here

Delray Beach CRA - Progressive Design-Build

Request for Qualifications CRA No.: 2024-04

NW 800 Block of West Atlantic Avenue – Progressive Design-Build

Redevelopment Project

Issue Date: Friday, October 4, 2024

Proposal Submission Deadline:

Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 5:00 PM (EST)

The CRA is seeking proposals from qualified design-build service firms to provide progressive design-build services for the modular design and construction of a redevelopment project for the Northwest 800 Block of West Atlantic Avenue.

Read more here

MORE FRA RESOURCES

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