Title
Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area (GCRA): Seeking Input on Consolidated Reinvestment Plan
Explanation
Ordinance No. 181001, adopted by the City Commission on September 5, 2019, outlines the CRA’s transition from a Community Redevelopment Agency overseeing projects in four redevelopment areas to a City Department and one consolidated area. As required by the ordinance in Section 2-410, the City Commission must adopt a reinvestment plan to guide community redevelopment within the new Community Reinvestment Area (GCRA). At a minimum the following elements are required:
1. Map of the boundary of the GCRA.
2. Visuals and description in general terms of:
a. Existing conditions, including street layout.
b. Limitations on the type, size, height, number, and proposed use of buildings.
c. The approximate number of dwelling units.
d. Property that is used or intended for use as public parks, recreation areas, streets, public utilities, and public improvements of any nature.
3. A description of the anticipated impact of redevelopment activities upon residents of the GCRA in terms of relocation (including the provision of replacement housing for the temporary or permanent relocation of persons displaced from housing as a result of community redevelopment activities), traffic circulation, environmental quality, availability of community facilities and services, effect on school population, and other matters affecting the physical and social quality of the neighborhood.
4. Identify publicly funded capital projects to be undertaken within the GCRA.
5. Contain adequate safeguards that the work of redevelopment will be carried out pursuant to the plan.
6. Provide for the retention of control and establishment of any restrictions or covenants running with land sold or leased for private use for such periods of time and under such conditions as the City Commission deems necessary to effectuate the purpose of this part.
7. Provide a description of existing and planned residential use in the GCRA and include whether the plan is intended to remedy a shortage of affordable housing.
8. Contain a detailed statement of the projected costs of the redevelopment, including the amount to be expended on capital projects in the GCRA and any indebtedness, if such indebtedness is to be repaid with the GCRA fund.
This effort will consolidate the four former redevelopment plans into one reinvestment plan for the City of Gainesville. The four former redevelopment plans include Downtown Area, Fifth Avenue/Pleasant Street Area, College Park/University Heights Area, and Eastside Area. The initiatives of the reinvestment plan are based on a 10-year horizon towards implementation and establishment. The planning document provides analysis of opportunities and constraints, inventory of project locations and surrounding context, and initial planning and design concepts.
EDSA, Inc. has been contracted to lead the public process and develop the reinvestment plan document. The CRA hosted and/or presented at fourteen community meetings during October and November 2019 with four area specific meetings the week of November 4th. The public was encouraged to attend and share ideas on how the GCRA can best serve the community. Community partners and participants who could not attend the evening session were invited to attend from between 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. All engagement meetings were posted on the City’s Notice of Meetings, and as a public notice in the Gainesville Sun newspaper. Flyers with engagement information were distributed on public bulletin boards and advertised by social media. Every property received a mailed postcard with engagement dates.
In addition to hosting the community workshops, GCRA staff attended neighborhood association and crime watch meetings in order to engage residents and answer questions pertaining to the new district and plan process. Area-specific surveys were also administered at these meetings and advertised online.
At today’s meeting the City Commission will hear a presentation about the plan, review the draft plan, and receive the timeline for these critical steps to be completed over the next few weeks. This draft was presented to the GCRA Advisory Board on November 19, 2019. The plan will be presented for final input to the City Commission on December 5, 2019 to satisfy the deadline in the Ordinance.
Fiscal Note
None at this time
Recommendation
City Manager to City Commission: 1) Hear presentation and provide feedback.