Title
Porters Neighborhood Improvements (B)
Explanation
Both long-term and short-term initiatives in Porters continue to progress. Survey work along key neighborhood corridors is complete, and engineering feasibility studies are currently underway along SW 3rd and SW 5th Streets, as well as SW 5th and 6th Avenues (this includes the roadway directly in front of the Porters Community Center.) These feasibility studies will produce a catalog of information regarding potential Porters improvements, such as street resurfacing, curb and gutter installation, lighting upgrades, stormwater, utilities, sidewalks, streetscapes, etc. Once the engineering study is completed, staff will be able to begin the design and implementation phase in the neighborhood. The engineering work will provide details regarding cost, timeline, and technical issues, associated with each of the proposed neighborhood improvements. This data will allow staff to prioritize, phase, coordinate, and budget for large-scale, long term projects in the most effective manner possible. Particularly of note, GRU has future plans to underground some major utility corridors running through the area. Due to tactical issues, these improvements must be coordinated around the timelines for the Depot Park excavation/environmental remediation and the proposed FDOT Main Street rebuilding project. However, the feasibility studies will help staff plan these activities in conjunction with current improvements to ensure that resources are allocated as efficiently as possible.
Progress continues with short-term initiatives as well. Staff has successfully collaborated with Public Works to address routine roadway maintenance issues such as the repair/replacement of damaged traffic signs, and the painting of speed bumps, stop lines, crosswalks, and center lines along neighborhood streets. City crews have already replaced and installed numerous traffic signs through the neighborhood and have re-striped center lines and speed bumps in the area. Additionally, CRA staff is coordinating with City staff and Advisory Boards in the Parks and Recreation Department in order to move forward with implementation of improvements and amenities at Lynch Park. The CRA plans to install a dog park area and floral garden at Lynch Park. These amenities will attract new users to the space and will inject liveliness and activity into a previously underutilized area.
A major issue on staff's "short-term list" of neighborhood initiatives is the Porters Oaks fence. The fence has long been recognized for its deteriorated condition, serving as both an eyesore and a potential security hazard (as it blocks the view of "eyes on the street"). Prominently situated along Depot Avenue, the fence visually functions as a gateway to the area. As such, it presents a negative image of the neighborhood to the surrounding community and serves to counteract reinvestment efforts within Porters. In order to address and improve the many negative issues associated with the fence, the CRA is removing the old structure and constructing a high quality, site-built fence in its place. The concept for the new fence was finalized after numerous meetings with the Porters Oaks Homeowners Association. Residents provided input related on various fence designs and stressed the importance that the final product reflect the contextual surroundings and not appear too institutional for a residential neighborhood. Based on this information, staff and Porters Oaks residents worked together to achieve a fence design that reflects the historic, residential character of the Porters neighborhood. Work on the fence project began the first week of February, with fence crews onsite beginning the demolition and removal of the old structure. The new fence will replace the existing section along Depot Avenue, and will be constructed by skilled workers onsite. (In the future, the CRA may pursue similar treatment to the portion of the fence along SW 2nd Street.) The fence will be constructed from pressure treated wood and the design will be both attractive and durable.
In addition to CRA-initiated activities in the area, the City's Housing Division is also planning a major project in the neighborhood: the construction of six new homes to be sold for homeownership. This project, known as Depot Gardens, is located at Depot Avenue and SW 3rd Street, directly adjacent to Porters Oaks. The development, in conjunction with the CRA's fence replacement efforts, will greatly improve the visual impact of the area. In order to maximize the synergy between the two projects, CRA staff is communicating with Housing in order to ensure continuity between the new Porters Oaks fence and the adjacent future fencing that the Housing Division will install as part of the Depot Gardens project. Additionally, CRA staff would like to link these "short term" improvements with the larger scale engineering efforts also underway in the neighborhood. Using the information that will be provided through the on-going engineering assessment of SW 3rd Street, staff hopes to provide sidewalks, decorative lighting and streetscaping along the entrance to Porters at Depot and SW 3rd Street. The goal is to create an inviting attractive neighborhood entrance that showcases the on-going reinvestment in the area.
Fiscal Note
Removal and replacement of the Depot Avenue section of the Porters Oaks fence will cost approximately $10,000. Porters Neighborhood improvements (account # 610-790-W231-5520) were approved in the 2007 budget in the amount of $80,000, and $131,502.29 was approved in the 2008 budget.
Recommendation
Executive Director to the CRA: 1) Hear a presentation from staff.