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
NW 5th Ave Commercial Building - 802 NW 5th Ave - Construction is complete and the CRA offices are located in the new building as of August 30th. An "Open House" was held October 11th after with the CRA board meeting. The first floor office/retail space is now listed with commercial real estate broker Rick Cain of Bosshardt Realty. Interested parties should contact him directly at 352-281-9393.
Wayfinding Signage - This project is moving forward with the assistance of the Public Works Department. Engineering and permitting is underway.
CRA Maintenance Policy - Staff has drafted policy language that will set forth procedures governing the management and fiscal responsibility for maintenance activities. The policy will affect CRA-funded projects on public property within the redevelopment areas. The goal is to enhance coordination between the CRA, the City Departments and Gainesville Regional Utilities. Staff has submitted the policy language for review and comment to City staff. In addition, staff is conducting field reviews of maintenance activities in order to better implement contract specifications. It is anticipated that the CRA will bid new contract specifications for landscape maintenance and janitorial cleaning around the end of the year.
CRA Sustainability Policy - Staff has drafted a sustainability policy that will provide guidelines for enhancing the social, economic and environmental wellness of the redevelopment areas. The policy approaches sustainability holistically and will affect CRA internal operations as well as its programs. Staff will provide an update as the policy nears completion and after receiving feedback from various stakeholders.
Economic Development Finance - The Grow America Fund (SBA 7a) and the Capital Access Loan Fund (SBA 504) programs were approved by the CRA Board at the September 20th meeting. Staff will begin drafting procedures and related documents consistent with the approved policies in order to implement the programs.
Eastside
Kennedy Homes - In February of 2009 staff presented an initial concept direction for the redevelopment of the former Kennedy Homes site to the Eastside Redevelopment Advisory Board. The board voted to allow staff to move forward with the initial phases of concept design. In February 2010 staff presented the concept direction to the CRA board who also voted to move forward with staff's concept for an eco/intentional/green community. Staff has continued to research green communities, green design features, and green systems integration as it relates to the former Kennedy Homes site.
Staff has formed a working team that is researching the sites constraints, potential systems (solar), wetland enhancements, financial feasibility, and additional stakeholders and partnerships. Staff completed the scope of work for land use consultants as well as engineering firms in order to assist staff with the creation of a form based code and master plan for the redevelopment site. As the concept continues to develop toward a potential development staff will keep the board informed of the projects status.
Exterior Paint Program- Painting was completed on 4 properties in September bringing the number of paint grants up to 8, staff is preparing to reopen the paint program application process.
Hawthorne Road Café - On April 2, 2010 site work and initial demo began on the Hawthorne Road Café. Construction management is being handled by BBI Construction with expected substantial completion of the Café in August 2010. Staff reissued a solicitation to obtain a tenant for the shell building in June 2010; during the September CRA board meeting the board approved the proposal of Southern Charm and Pie Factory and agreed to enter into negotiations with them as a tenant for the café space.
Project Schedule:
Café Shell Building Construction - April 2010- Sept 2010
Tenant Solicitation- June - Aug 2010
Tenant Award -September 2010
Potential shell build-out -November - December 2010
Grand Opening/ Ribbon Cutting -December /January 2011
Downtown
Landscape Bulbouts at SE 1st Street - Staff is working on planning for phase 2 improvements, including partnerships for expanding maintenance and seasonal improvements. The Parks Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department submitted a proposal for annual maintenance, which is under review.
SW 3rd Street Improvements - On this agenda
Haisley Lynch Park & Gardens - The park is now open - please stop by for a visit!
Depot Park Program - The Depot Park Program consists of several projects being implemented by multiple agencies for the purpose of providing infrastructure and amenities to the south downtown area ("Power District"). In 2008, the CRA was designated as the lead agency to coordinate the multiple agencies and implement a series of projects with the purpose of executing the City of Gainesville's vision for the redevelopment of a 32-acre brownfield site into a premier urban park and public space. Below is an update of program elements:
- GRU Remediation Phase I is nearing completion. Site work to prepare the foundation for the Depot Building has commenced. The building is scheduled to be moved back this winter.
- GRU Remediation Phase II is underway and is expected to be complete spring 2011.
- PWD (Public Works Department) Depot Avenue Segment 3 Phase II construction has commenced and is to be complete by December 2010.
- PWD Depot Regional Stormwater basin construction documents are approximately 70% and are expected to be 100% complete by December 2010.
- PWD additional contamination site investigation has commenced and the initial findings report was completed in October 2010. Development of a contamination management plan is scheduled to begin in December and is expected to take approximately 1 year to complete.
- Depot Building construction documents are 100% complete and have been reviewed and approved by the State Department of Historical Resources (DHR). The project is currently under GRU permitting review. Once approved, the building Phase I rehabilitation (core + shell) is to be advertised for invitation to bid, with construction commencing during early 2011.
- Depot Park design development documents are 100% complete; the master plan and Phase I site plan were reviewed/approved (with conditions) by the Development Review Board on September 9, 2010. The site plan is currently under GRU permitting review.
- Depot Park construction document development is currently on-hold pending information from the PWD regarding assumptions on site ending conditions following the contamination management plan and stormwater pond construction.
- Depot Park Construction Manager RFQ is currently in the legal department under review for form and legality prior to issuing the solicitation. Park construction is anticipated to begin after the PWD regional stormwater basin project is complete; approximately winter 2012.
- Depot Park funding scheduled to expire includes: 1/2011-RTP Grant ($250,000 matching); 6/2011-LAP Funds ($627,000); 12/2011-HUD EDI Grant ($140,000). LAP funds are expected to be encumbered for the Depot Building prior to expiration. All grant extensions have been exhausted.
CPUH
13th Street Overpass Design - RS&H the design firm under contract to redesign the 13th Street Overpass cage met with CRA staff in late September to review the 50% CD's. The 50% drawings and illustrations were presented at the October CPUH meeting. RS&H will continue to refine some of the design elements while working towards 100% CD's. Oelrich Construction, one of the CRA's continuing CM contracts, has been awarded the project and is currently working on material options as well as developing the project GMP. 100% CD's are anticipated to be submitted late December and construction is scheduled to begin late January to early February 2011.
SW 13th Street Medians - Oelrich Construction is revising the design of the two medians north of the overpass and coordinating with FDOT. The third median beneath the overpass will be added for a total of three medians slated for landscaping. Construction is expected to be phased, with the two north medians to be constructed first followed by the third median coordinated with the overpass construction. Once the design concept is approved, Oelrich will submit a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP). Utility work is being coordinated to supply irrigation water to medians. The FDOT has drafted and submitted a Maintenance Agreement between the City of Gainesville and FDOT that will require City Commission approval. Construction is projected to be underway in early 2011.
SW 13th Street Improvements -90% were submitted and reviewed in early October 2010. CRA Staff and B&C are looking at options for increasing the sidewalk width to match the recently constructed sidewalks in front of the Shands Garage. Additional ROW would have to be acquired through easements or deeds from adjacent land owners to accommodate the larger sidewalks as well as permission from the FDOT. Construction is projected to begin in late January 2011.
SW 8th Ave Roadway Improvements - Construction commenced the week of May 17th. The project is expected to take 6 months to complete. Due to unforeseen conditions of the roadway asphalt and base after the roadway was milled it was necessary to change the scope of the project. The roadway was closed from October 20 - 27 to allow for complete removal of the asphalt and to grade and resurface the roadway. The project is on schedule to be substantially completed by November.
6th Street Improvements - Phase I of the visioning for the 6th Street corridor has been completed by Dix.Lathrop, the landscape architecture firm contracted to help create a overall vision for the corridor. Dix.Lathrop is preparing the final visioning booklet for the corridor. The next steps will be to continue to refine the vision, identify partners for the redevelopment of the corridor, and engage an engineering firm to begin to develop construction documents.
S. Main Street Improvements - Causseaux, Hewitt & Walpole (CH&W) has been engaged to provide engineering design, associated land surveying and landscape architecture services for the development of conceptual plans to create a median, designated bicycle lanes, pedestrian crossing and traffic calming elements within a portion of S. Main Street from Depot Avenue to approximately Veitech Street. CRA Staff and CH&W met with the, TAC, CAC and the Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Board in October 2010 and will present concept to the MTPO at their December 2010 meeting to help determine what design features would be acceptable for S. Main Street.
Façade Grant Program - CRA Staff will begin to canvass the targeted corridors and pass out information regarding the Façade Improvement Program July 2010. Staff will distribute application, evaluate the applications and will present applications that meet the program criteria to the board for review.
Innovation Square - CRA staff is coordinating LDC revisions to accommodate high quality redevelopment in keeping with the vision for Innovation Square. The CRA is working with urban design professionals and coordinating with City Staff, Shands/UF, and other stakeholders. Draft code will be brought to the CDC in October.
FAPS
Legacy Project - A. Quinn Jones House and Heritage Trail
Synergy Design Group submitted the draft interpretive plan in early October, currently under review. Brown and Cullen submitted the application for rezoning and is responding to requests for additional information from the Planning Department. The petition is currently scheduled to be heard during the December Plan Board meeting. Staff is gearing up for the capital campaign for early 2011.
Model Block Project 5th Avenue - On Agenda
NW 5th Ave Streetscape Phase II (600-1000 BLK) - Construction for this project is complete. All overhead utility lines and poles have been removed.
Fiscal Note
None at this time
Recommendation
CRA Executive Director to CRA: Receive project update from Staff.