Title
CRA Project Summary (NB)
Explanation
As a regular informational item on CRA agendas, Staff provides a brief update on selected referrals, redevelopment projects and development agreements under review. This monthly update is typically a limited sampling of the CRA's many on-going projects, as opposed to a complete list.
CRA Wide
Façade Grant - The Façade Grant program is a competitive matching grant program that is designed to encourage reinvestment in building facades, specifically those located on highly visible target corridors within the district. Applicants must commit to expending (at a minimum) a cash match equal to the grant funds sought in the application. Repairs/upgrades to the façade must be visible at all times from the building's exterior, and maintenance items are not eligible for grant funds.
Economic Development -At the October 2014 CRA Board meeting staff was requested to continue research on economic development incentive programs and bring back a review of current incentive programs and further recommendations. During this review period, the Transformational Projects Incentive Program and Redevelopment Incentive Program will remain on hold. At the December Board meeting, the CRA voted to discontinue its two loan programs, the Grow Gainesville Fund and the Capital Access Program. Staff will be bringing back further recommendations for economic development incentive programs at future meetings.
Acting on behalf of the City, the CRA is currently seeking a single tenant for the Depot Building to operate the restaurant, café, retail and flexible spaces.
Eastside Redevelopment Advisory Board (ERAB)
1717 SE 8th Avenue - In December staff completed the Master Plan for the former Kennedy Homes site. The 100% Master Plan continues to define more specific elements of the Preliminary Master Plan. There is an emphasis placed on green spaces (pocket parks), wetland restoration, nature via walking trails, and connectivity throughout the development. The design is strong and provides us with a road map for constructing a new high quality neighborhood that fits into the fabric of the surrounding area. As we transition into the implementation phase of the project, over the next few months, staff will focus on the following steps: develop scopes and contract proposals for zoning and land use, design plat, 1st phase construction documents, and environmental consulting services, develop project delivery strategies for the construction of individual homes, develop a marketing/branding package, creation of architectural and sustainable design standards for individual homes, and discuss ideas for how to work with banks or other financial institutions to assist in the financing of the site and homes.
GTEC Area Master Plan & Phase 1 Development -- The 13-acre GTEC Area Master Plan site is located between SE Hawthorne Rd and SE 8th Ave, and SE 20th St and SE 24th St. In 2011, CRA staff created a conceptual master plan for the site, that included an office and retail focused mixed-use development, aiming to retain GTEC graduate companies in east Gainesville and attract new businesses to the area. The plan was approved by the CRA Boards in 2011, and served as the basis of design for the current Master Plan project.
In Dec. 2013, CRA was granted a Partial Release of two mortgages encumbering unimproved sections of the GTEC parcels, making the land available for redevelopment. In Dec. 2013, CRA contracted Brown & Cullen Inc. to lead the design team for the GTEC Area Master Plan project. A joint kick-off stakeholder meeting for the GTEC Area Master Plan and the Former Kennedy Homes projects was held in Dec. 2013. In Feb.2014, a 30% Conceptual Master Plan was presented to the public and approved by the CRA Board. A 60% Preliminary Master Plan was presented to the public and approved by CRA Boards in April. The 100% Final Master Plan was approved by Eastside Advisory Board in August and will be presented to the CRA board in the coming months.
CRA has been also working on creating private sector partnerships for commercial building construction on site. In March, CRA Staff issued an RFP seeking qualified developers interested in constructing new commercial or office buildings on about 9.3 acres of the total master plan area, located east of SE 21st St. The same month, the CRA Board approved a GTEC Land Development Phase 1 Construction Documents contract proposal from JBPro for civil engineering services. The project goal is to design and permit the required infrastructure to serve future building development on parcels no. 11340-0-0 and 11341-0-0. Preliminary submittal for Development Board Review and GRU permit were done in July.
To ensure a holistic development approach to the proposed short and long term improvements on site, CRA staff is currently working on branding the GTEC area and creating a phasing plan for the implementation of the project.
ERAB Residential Paint Voucher Program - Due to the success of the FAPS Residential Paint Voucher Program the CRA Board advised staff to implement a sister program within the Eastside Redevelopment Area. Staff worked with the CRA attorney to draft language for a program that meets the Eastside Redevelopment Plans of "Support and encourage improved appearance and design of both public and private projects. Strategies may include, but are not limited to, developing design guidelines, providing design assistance, façade grant and/or paint programs, incentives, and partnerships with both the public and private sector." Like the FAPS Residential Paint Voucher Program, the Eastside Redevelopment Area Program will provide an eligible applicant with a voucher for paint and painting supplies up to $500 to be used for the exterior painting of their home. Two homes received vouchers in the last quarter of 2014, we have 2 applications currently pending.
Greater Duval Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative (NRI) - The CRA is pleased to participate in the Greater Duval Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative (NRI). The NRI is a program that aims to serve more families in an identified community by pairing the areas greatest social service providers and other community partners with the needs, aspirations, and goals of the identified community. The NRI empowers residents to revive their neighborhood and enhance the quality of life for families. A portion of the Eastside district has been identified to participate in the NRI, the area is bordered on the west by NE Waldo Road, on the South by E. University Ave, on the East by SE 31st St, and on the North by NE 12th Ave.
The NRI alliance is made up of Alachua County Habitat, the CRA, Neighborhood Housing Development Corporation(NHDC), Central Florida Community Action Agency, Rebuilding Together NCF, City of Gainesville, GRU, Gainesville Housing Authority, Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, and Suskin Realty. The NRI is a holistic effort that recognizes and builds on what is good in a neighborhood and on residents' dreams both of which can be hidden by years of neglect. The NRI approach celebrates and enhances the abilities of everyone involved, residents' drive this revitalization effort, the work of the NRI can include forming neighborhood watches, building or repairing houses, replacing heating and air units, roof repair, or building a community garden.
To that end the CRA launched a pilot partnership with Alachua Habitat for Humanity called the "Partnership for Paint" program. Habitat currently manages a program called "A Brush with Kindness" the program helps preserve homeownership by partnering with homeowners struggling to restore and maintain a safe and decent place to live. Habitat's A Brush with Kindness program provides volunteer groups who come alongside and assist homeowners in completing minor repairs, painting, and other home maintenance. The program allows the CRA to offer a grant of up to $500 to eligible home owners in the NRI area. The $500 grant will be applied to the fee associated with participation in "A Brush with Kindness".
Staff as well as Alachua Habitat is currently accepting application for the Partnership for Paint Program, we currently have completed 7 homes with an eighth planned for February.
Downtown Redevelopment Advisory Board (DRAB)
SW 5th Avenue - The design of the SW 5th Avenue sidewalk and enhancements has reached 60% completion. Staff distributed the 60% plans to the appropriate departments for review and has since received comments from each department. Based on the comments received, the design team has been instructed to move forward with 90% design development.
A neighborhood workshop was conducted with the home owners affected by the sidewalk design on January 28, 2015. Home owners were provided a rendering of how their homes would look after the construction of the sidewalk. CRA staff gave a presentation and then answered questions to make certain that everyone understood the process for this undertaking.
Downtown Plaza - On this agenda.
Downtown Residential Paint Program - Fliers have been disseminated in the first community (Porters) seeking applicants for the program. Area churches have been solicited as volunteers to help assist with the painting of homes for those residents who may need assistance. Churches that have signed up thus far are PASSAGE Family Church and Alive Church.
Depot Park - On this agenda
Power District - On this agenda
South Main Street - After receiving over 350 comments to a stakeholder project survey released in September and October, CRA staff and the consult team hosted a series of follow-up stakeholder and community events on Wednesday, November 19 to continue investigating possible improvements to the S. Main St. corridor. The first event was a lunchtime walking tour and pedestrian evaluation of the corridor in which 30+ citizens, business, and property owners participated. Later that evening, the project team hosted a drop-in open house at First Magnitude Brewery from 4:00 pm -7:00 pm. Attendees took part in an interactive series of themed stations in which the project was discussed and feedback was solicited. The input that was received is now being organized, reviewed, and incorporated into the vision by the project team.
Next steps include attending additional one-on-one coordination meetings with area businesses, property owners, and stakeholders to discuss the area and validate the draft project planning principles. We are also drafting a targeted program for properties along the corridor to assist businesses envision how minor aesthetic improvements could enhance the appearance of their property and the overall corridor. This exercise may lead to future façade grant applications.
College Park University Heights Redevelopment Advisory Board
NW 5th Avenue (1300-2000 blk) - The design of the NW 5th Avenue corridor has reached 30% completion. The 30% plans were distributed to the appropriate departments for review and comment. Staff received comments from the respective departments on April 29th and has since instructed DRMP, Inc. to move forward with 60% design development. During this phase of design, DRMP, Inc. will be working closely with GRU to coordinate a design and layout for undergrounding the utilities along the corridor.
NW 1st Avenue Streetscape (1600-1900 blocks): Phase 2 - In summer 2012, CRA hired Perkins & Will and Causseaux, Hewett, & Walpole, Inc. (CHW) to produce a Basis of Design for the corridor. During that design phase, design team met with City department representatives and other stakeholders in order to develop a comprehensive and collaborative approach for the corridor. The Interim Basis of Design, dated April 2013, was the output of this collaborative effort and served as the starting point for the Phase 1: 15% Construction Documents project, led by CHW. Through extensive stakeholder engagement, design team developed a desired scope of streetscape improvements and created a conceptual street layout. The product of this process was the 15% Construction Documents, approved by the CRA Boards in April. The current Phase 2 Design contract, led by CHW, includes the full development of the 15% Construction Documents concept into a complete, permitted, set of construction documents ready for construction and installation. 50% Construction Documents was approved by the CRA Boards in September.
Fifth Avenue Pleasant Street Redevelopment Board
A.Q. Jones House Museum - Construction documents have been completed for the building. Staff is waiting on a GMP from a CRA Construction Management Company.
Neighborhood Spruce Up Program - The second round of the FAPS Residential Paint Voucher Program is on-going. Staff recently approved an application in late January. Additionally we will re-advertise the program to seek out additional applicants.
NW 3rd Ave. Sidewalks - On this agenda
Seminary Lane - On this agenda
Fiscal Note
None at this time
Recommendation
CRA Executive Director to the CRA Board: Receive project update from Staff