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 - On this agenda
Eastside Redevelopment Advisory Board (ERAB)
1717 SE 8th Avenue - On Agenda
GTEC Area Development - Staff continues outreach for the development of the GTEC Area.
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 approved a sister program within the Eastside Redevelopment Area. The program meets the goal of the Eastside Redevelopment Plan by "Supporting and encouraging 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. To date four homes have been completed and one applicant is in the process of painting their property, Staff is currently accepting applications.
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 have completed 6 homes and expect to complete an additional 4.
5th Annual Gainesville Kids Triathlon at Citizen's Field - On agenda
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.
Downtown Plaza - The project plans were submitted for Site Development Plan Review on November 4, 2014. Preliminary comments were received from the Technical Review Committee on December 2, 2014 and the plans were noted as "approvable with conditions." The Design Team will formally meet with the Technical Review Committee on December 10, 2014. The Team is scheduled to submit revised plans that incorporate the responses to the staff's comments in early January and has a goal of obtaining the Final Development Order in early March 2015.
Plans to close the Plaza for construction March 1, 2015 are moving forward and CRA and City of Gainesville staff are working with Plaza stakeholders and event organizers to assist in relocating programming to alternate Downtown locations during construction. CRA and City staff are also working on plans for upgrades outside the boundaries of the CRA redevelopment project which may include, but aren't limited to; painting, powerwashing, furniture replacement, turf and landscaping replacement, lighting enhancements and brick repairs.
Downtown Residential Paint Program - At the October 20, 2014 meeting the CRA Board approved moving forward with the Downtown Redevelopment Area Residential Paint Program. Staff has determined the phasing of the program with Phase I being the Porter's Neighborhood to begin in February 2015. Preparation of marketing materials is currently underway to announce the program to the Porters Neighborhood.
This 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. Applicant(s) will be responsible for turning in a complete application with required attachments, for pressure washing the exterior of their home, and meeting with staff to determine colors, quantities of paint and painting supplies needed to complete an exterior paint job. Upon completion of their paint job and CRA inspection the applicant will record a Façade Preservation Easement insuring the applicant will maintain the paint job without any material change for five years.
Depot Park - On this agenda
Power District - Following the City Commission's first reading and approval of the rezoning and land-use ordinance on October 16, the application was sent to Tallahassee for a Large Scale Land-Use Amendment State review. Approval of the application was received by the City's Planning Department from the State and the second City Commission reading is scheduled for Thursday, December 18.
Other work related to the Power District includes the launch of the Utility Infrastructure Analysis & Sweetwater Branch Creek Daylighting Feasibility contract that was approved during the August CRA Board meeting. This includes the assembly of a Technical Advisory Committee comprised of GRU, Public Works, and St. Johns Water Management District representatives. An initial draft is expected to be presented to the Board in early 2015.
Lastly, the CRA has contracted with local architectural firm Walker Architects to conduct an Existing Building Needs Assessment for 9 former GRU buildings equaling approximately 71,000 sq.ft. The scope includes multiple existing structures formally occupied by GRU to determine their current conditions of structural, mechanical, environmental, and aesthetic components and what improvements might be necessary in order to prepare building shells for repurposing. This assessment will inventory and document the dimensions of each building and develop preliminary construction cost estimates associated with any proposed changes. The final report will assist CRA in tenant recruitment discussions, budgeting, and to determine if it's fiscally justifiable to rehab these structures.
South Main Street - After receiving over 350 comments to a stakeholder project survey released in September and October, CRA staff and the consultant team hosted a series of follow-up stakeholder and community events on Wednesday, November 19 to continue investigating possible improvements to South Main Street. The first event was a lunchtime walking tour and pedestrian evaluation of the corridor in which business representatives, property owners, and residents participated. Later that evening, the project team hosted a drop-in open house at First Magnitude Brewery from 4-7P. Attendees took part in an interactive series of themed stations in which feedback was solicited from participants. One of the stations focused on presenting and evaluating the proposed Planning Process Statement and 5 Planning Principles. Specifically we asked participants to place either green or red dots for their agreement or disagreement with the proposed statements. The 5 Planning Principles represent a summary of the comments, suggestions, and themes received from the over 350 responses submitted during the initial stakeholder survey. These guiding principles will serve as the framework for future improvement concepts, strategies, recommendations, and priorities. The input that was received is now being organized and reviewed by the project team. Next steps include posting these project documents on the engageGNV website for additional stakeholder input/review and organizing the next series of events planned for January.
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. The documents are currently being reviewed by one of the CRA's Construction Managers for cost estimating. Once a price is negotiated with the Construction Manager, CRA staff will present a GMP contract to the board for review and approval.
Neighborhood Spruce Up Program - The second round of the FAPS Residential Paint Voucher Program is on-going. Staff received 3 new applications in late September another applicant completed their paint job in late November. Additionally we will re-advertise the program to seek out additional applicants.
NW 3rd Ave. Sidewalks - On this agenda
Seminary Lane - CRA staff continues to meet with the GFHC Board to discuss the terms of a partnering on the redevelopment of the former Seminary Lane property. Both the CRA staff and GFHC continue to negotiate the terms of an agreement that both parties are satisfied with.
An option agreement has been executed with the City for the three city-owned parcels. We are preparing pre-development services for the parcels along with the two CRA owned sites.
Fiscal Note
None at this time
Recommendation
CRA Executive Director to the CRA Board: Receive project update from Staff