Title
Redevelopment of 1712 and 1714 Hawthorne Road - Preliminary Site Concept (B)
Explanation
The Community Redevelopment Agency is committed to the economic growth and vitality of Eastside Gainesville. The Hawthorne Road Corridor has an excellent potential for commercial office, mixed-use, and retail development along this major arterial road. Hawthorne Road (SR 20) forms the eastern entry to the East Gainesville Area. The construction of the Gateway, with the addition of the streetscape improvements from East University to SE 15th Street, will add aesthetically appealing street and pedestrian lights in the area. The corridor also has the potential for business uses, such as restaurants, general retail, or clothing stores.
On June 9, 2008 the CRA purchased the properties located at 1712 SE Hawthorne Road and 1714 SE Hawthorne Road. The properties are zoned MU-1 (Mixed-use low intensity) which can include multiple uses, such as neighborhood shopping centers, eating places, apparel and accessory stores. 1712 SE Hawthorne Road has a 320 square foot cement brick structure on the property. 1714 SE Hawthorne Road is currently vacant (commercial use) on 0.14 acre.
The CRA purchased this property with the intent to renovate and redevelopment it in a manner consistent with the goals and objectives of the Eastside Redevelopment area. The goal is to create a commercial space and partner with a business to provide an amenity that can benefit the residents of East Gainesville as well as the residents of Greater Gainesville. One of the amenities cited in the SEGRI study that this property could potentially accommodate is a small restaurant or diner.
To that end, the CRA entered into a contract with DAG Architects based in Destin, FL with offices in Atlanta, Destin, Pensacola, and Tallahassee to create a conceptual site plan, preliminary floorplan layout, and architectural renderings for a small restaurant/diner.
Redevelopment of the site will follow two parallel tracks: Site Development and Business Recruitment. The Site Development track includes designing and constructing the site and expanding the existing building. While site work is in planning and design stages, a Business Recruitment track will also be in progress, which includes issuing an RFP to attract successful existing businesses that have looking to expand or entrepreneurs that have new business ideas.
Fiscal Note
DAG Architects were contracted at $3,500 and paid from account 9999-W916-298 Eastside Professional Services. $228,355 was budgeted in FY2009 Budget for redevelopment of the site. A detailed financial analysis will be developed if diner/restaurant concept is approved.
Recommendation
CRA Executive Director to CRA: 1) Hear presentation from Staff; 2) approve the concept of a small restaurant or diner for this site; and 3) approve general scope of RFP to attract a business as presented.