Title
Update on Redevelopment Projects and Development Agreements (NB)
Explanation
Staff has been asked to provide an update on several redevelopment projects and development agreements under review. This update is a sampling of the many projects underway by the CRA, and is not a complete list.
Development Agreements:
University House on 13th Street - Located at the northeast corner of Northwest 13th Street and Northwest 7th Avenue is not being negotiated due to the Strand decision.
University Corners - Located on the west side of Northwest 13th Street between University Avenue and Northwest 3rd Avenue is not being negotiated due to the Strand decision.
Project Updates:
Downtown Farmers Market - The market officially moved to the Plaza on October 17, 2007. The operation was very successful, drawing large crowds, media coverage, and increased visibility. At staff's request, Public Works designated the 19 newly-striped spaces along SE 1st Avenue as market vendor parking. These spaces are restricted for use by market vendors on Wednesday afternoons. These spaces, which can accommodate roughly half of the vendors, are another important benefit of moving the Plaza. Prior to the move and CRA involvement, free parking was not available to market members.
University Avenue Interim Improvements - Staff has obtained final quotes for the benches, bike racks, planters and waste receptacles totaling $58,684.32. This total represents a 3.5% discount staff negotiated with the vendors. The equipment order is moving forward. The maintenance agreement with FDOT requires additional revisions at the direction of the CRA attorney. Design for the median landscaping in the CPUH and the Eastside districts is nearing completion and submittal to FDOT the first week of November. GRU is in the process of redesigning the lighting plan for East University Avenue from Waldo Road to NE 15th Street.
Eastside Gateway (old Tacklebox) - Zamia Design Landscape Architecture is nearing completion of the construction documents. The plan set includes the concrete wall construction details, lighting details, landscape plan, and irrigation. Zamia anticipates completing the construction documents by the first week of November. The FDOT has informed CRA staff that the sidewalks adjoining the project site must remain in place. Staff is in contact with FDOT to negotiate removing the sidewalks to enhance public safety at the Gateway.
Fifth Avenue/Pleasant Street Redevelopment Plan Update - In August 2004, the Fifth Avenue Pleasant Street Redevelopment Advisory Board approved $15,000 to fund an updated redevelopment plan. The current plan was revised in March of 1997 and has not received a major update since that time. A few years ago, Herbert Halback, Inc. (HHI) was hired to revise the FAPS Redevelopment Plan. A draft was completed in June 2005, but because of multiple staff changes and schedule setbacks, it was never presented to the CRA for approval. Staff is now bringing the updated plan back with additional changes. Staff integrated green building/energy efficiency language into the redevelopment plan drafted by HHI in 2005. In addition to green building, the draft plan outlines other objectives and initiatives to further redevelop and remove blight from the existing Community Redevelopment Area, including land acquisition and redevelopment, housing revitalization, historic preservation, public spaces, infrastructure improvements, funding, financing, management, and promotion. At the July 24, 2007 Fifth Avenue/Pleasant Street Advisory Board meeting, the Board unanimously approved the addition of Green Building language to the Redevelopment Plan. At their October 18, 2007 meeting the Board voted to hold a special meeting dedicated solely to the review and discussion of the Redevelopment Plan. This meeting is scheduled to occur on November 20, 2007.
Fifth Avenue/Pleasant Street Underground Initiatives - The Fifth Avenue/Pleasant Street Underground Initiatives, approved April 24, 2006, is a Community Redevelopment Agency partnership with GRU for underground conversion projects in the FAPS district. Brown & Cullen has completed preliminary engineering work for the CRA for the entire NW 5th Avenue Streetscape project. The preliminary design data will help facilitate the proposed phase 4 streetscape project, which runs from NW 6th Street to NW 10th Street. $160,966 was budgeted in the FY 2008 Fifth Avenue/Pleasant Street Amendatory Budget for streetscape improvements (W508).
NW 17th Street Sidewalk Repair -CRA staff is planning to work with the Public Works Department to create a scope of work for repairs.
SW 5th Avenue Triangle Streetscape - Anglin Construction installed the benches and trash cans on October 31st. A final walk-through will be scheduled to inspect the project. CRA staff requested that the City install signs prohibiting skateboarding. Additional measures to curtail skateboarding on the wall will be pursued.
CPUH Powerwashing Contract - The powerwashing contract is currently out to bid. Staff will provide additional information regarding the bids received at the next meeting.
Revisions to CRA Wide Streetscape Standards - The CRA-approved Streetscape Design and Technical Standards prepared by the firm of Bellomo-Herbert and Company were created to unify streetscape reconstruction throughout the districts by specifying items such as paving patterns, street furniture, and landscaping from a common palette of materials. The standards affect streetscapes constructed with CRA funding. Staff has reviewed the initial re-draft from Bellomo-Herbert and will be requesting changes to develop the final document.
NW Fifth Avenue Streetscape - On September 13, 2007, the city purchasing Division solicited bids for the NW 5th Avenue 300-600 block streetscape Project construction. Four Firms responded with bids. Anglin construction Co. was the lowest, responsible bidder for $387, 370. Once the bidder is awarded the contract, they will have 30 days to start construction after the receipt of Notice to Proceed, then 90 days to complete the construction. The City Commission must approve the award contract. The Contractor must provide required bonding, insurance and certificates, which will be review by the city attorney then signed by the City Manager. A Notice to Proceed will then be issued. The first of the calendar year is the tentative date to begin construction.
Professional Design Services- The complexity of CRA construction projects requires supplemental technical assistance on an ongoing basis. Staff is working to pre-qualify individuals or firms with expertise in architecture, landscape architecture, and historic preservation for ongoing service contracts with the CRA. The list of desired expertise includes historic preservation review, evaluation of structures for redevelopment, feasibility studies; new construction plans, consulting on plant material, and streetscape design. Staff is preparing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to seek qualified firms with a minimum 10 years of professional experience, professional staff located within a 2 hour drive of Gainesville, experience with other municipalities of similar size as Gainesville and/or larger cities, and extensive experience working with communities and neighborhoods. The anticipated RFQ release timeframe is November.
The Renaissance Lights on University from Waldo to SE 15th Street - Since SR 20 and SR 26 are State roads, the Department of Transportation required a permit application from the city, which is in process. The Renaissance lights have arrived; DOT is requiring additional candlelights for the roadway, which will result in ordering longer arms for the Renaissance lights. Once DOT has finalized the permit, the removal of the concrete light poles will be scheduled.
Cotton Club - The Legal staff is in the process of drafting the contract with the Cotton Club and Cultural Center Inc. for the release of the $25,000 for the Perryman's Grocery store.
ERAB Façade Grants - The Eastside Redevelopment Advisory Board approved the revisions that were implemented to the Building Façade Enhancement Program Grant on March 15, 2007. The new program was launched in September 2007 in the Eastside Redevelopment Area. Flyers introducing the program were mailed out to business owners in the area as well as an article that was published in the Gainesville Guardian. A Press Release was issued by the City of Gainesville Communications and Marketing Department. Due to the application submission deadline of October 1, 2007, staff felt that additional time would be needed to implement the program. At its October 18, 2007 meeting the ERAB approved extending the application deadline until January 31 2008. This will provide business owners ample time to complete the application and obtain a contractor and plans for the Façade Grant.
GRU Master Plan - Subsequent to the August 22nd public meeting, City, CRA, and GRU officials recognized that this project needed additional attention and retooling. As result, they have decided to pursue the Master Plan with the help of a different consulting team. Staff will keep DRAB abreast of progress as a new consultant is hired and the project moves forward.
NW 1st Avenue Lighting - On March 18, 2002, the CRA Board approved the purchase of the four Domus fixtures and approved the project at a price not-to-exceed $10,000. Since that time, the project has not been implemented. Concerns relating to parking at the adjacent fraternity house as well as potential future sidewalk installation prevented the project from moving forward. Recently, the U of F Foundation has inquired as to the status of the project. Staff and GRU have met onsite to examine the technical details involved with the project. In order to implement the project as originally envisioned, with four light fixtures, GRU estimates that the total cost for the project (including fixtures, labor, and removal of existing overhead light poles) will be approximately $18,000. However, due to the photometric spread of Domus lights, GRU recommends that these fixtures be installed at 50 foot intervals in order to achieve an optimal level of lighting for an area. In order to meet these standards, GRU staff recommended the inclusion of additional Domus fixture to the project scheme. Using five Domus fixtures, the estimate for the project comes to approximately $21,000. At its November 7, 2008 meeting the CPUH Redevelopment Advisory Board approved the installation of the five Domus fixtures.
Tumblin Creek Watershed Management Plan - The CRA has been working with the Public Works Department and Jones Edmunds and Associates on the development of a district wide stormwater management plan for University Heights and Tumblin Creek watershed. At the September 5, 2007 College Park/University Heights (CPUH) Redevelopment Advisory Board authorized creation of a sub-committee and appointed Member Fleming, and citizen Bruce DeLaney to serve on this subcommittee. The subcommittee's sole purpose was to finalize recommendations on the Tumblin Creek Watershed Management Plan and to recommend future scopes of works. Jones Edmunds and Associates (JEA) have completed the Tumblin Creek watershed report. This important planning document outlines the stormwater issues and opportunities in the area and provides the Advisory Board with options to consider funding to address stormwater issues in the area. On October 29, 2007, the Tumblin Creek subcommittee met to review the report. They discussed the recommendations from Sections 10.3 Stormwater Utility Capital Improvements Projects; 11.2 Implementation Projects; and 11.3 Policy Change and Research of the report. The subcommittee agreed to individually rank all the recommended projects and then convene another subcommittee meeting to collectively rank the projects.
Southeast Gainesville Redevelopment Initiative - CRA staff has received a proposal from Wilson-Miller for the drafting of a special area plan overlay district. Wilson-Miller has advised that it will take approximately 60 days to craft this document. From that point, staff would then need to take the plan to the City Plan Board and then to the City Commission for approval. If this approval is granted, staff, along with the City Attorney, would draft an Ordinance to adopt the plan. This ordinance would then require a first and second hearing before the City Commission. Staff estimates that this approval process will take four to six months. In order to keep the community informed of SEGRI progress, staff will also immediately organize a council of community leaders. The first meeting of this group should occur within the next month.
Gainesville Responsible Hospitality Partnership - The GRHP currently has twenty eight (28) members.
Fiscal Note
None at this time.
Recommendation
Executive Director to the CRA: Accept the update from staff.