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
CRA Sustainability Policy - This project is in process and has been assigned to a staff team. Initial research has been completed and a draft is underway. The target delivery date is February 2009.
CRA Website - CRA will begin a marketing program to promote the website. Additional web content is being developed.
Parking Study - Parking consultants have completed on-site data gathering, including parking demand and turnover counts. The consultants will analyze this information and will provide preliminary to findings to Staff in early December. Public input continues to be an important factor in this study, and the consultant team remains available to discuss parking issues with any interested citizen.
University Avenue Medians - All permits and maintenance agreements have been approved. Bids have been received and a contactor recommendation is on this meeting's consent agenda.
University Avenue Improvements - The improvements extend from NW 20th Terrace to Waldo Road and consist of new waste receptacles, planters, and benches. The FDOT has approved the permit and executed the maintenance agreement. The CRA is negotiating the price of installation with Joytech Construction. It is now projected that the improvement installation will begin in November.
Eastside
Southeast Gainesville Redevelopment Initiative - The City accepted the Special Area Plan from consultants at the May 12th City Commission meeting. CRA Staff has met with the City's Community Development Dept. and the City's Attorney's office to finalize the document in order to begin the process of incorporation into the Land Development Code.
Kennedy Homes - Staff is finalizing the RFP for publication, and plans to issue the document once an option agreement between the City and the CRA is finalized. Along with the release of the RFP, the CRA is planning a targeted marketing strategy aimed at attracting top caliber respondents.
Cotton Club -The City Commission will hold a hearing to modify the permitted uses of the PS ( Public services and operations district) zoning for the Perryman Grocery store to Restaurant and café. A marketing plan has been developed for the "Cotton Market Place" which will include a farmers market, crafts, and ethic foods.
Exterior Paint Program- Staff will conduct an outreach program for potential applicants for the Exterior Paint Program. Implementation of the Exterior Paint Improvement Grant Program will begin in November 2009
Eastside Gateway - Construction of the Gateway is underway. Soil has been excavated and rebar for the footings are installed. Vertical formwork is being hoisted and concrete pouring of the radius walls is expected to occur over the next several weeks.
Downtown
Depot Park - The design and technical standards are moving forward under the leadership of Carol R. Johnson and Associates. Requests for Qualifications have been issued for firms to conduct the final park design and the rehabilitation of the depot building. The CRA is planning a peer review of the stormwater system design. The Cade Museum is progressing; E. Verner Johnson has developed initial concepts for the proposed building and is Amaze working on exhibit layouts. The next set of conceptual designs will be produced in December. The museum capital campaign is also moving forward. The park development timeline is being modified to reflect the revised schedule provided by GRU for the site remediation.
Downtown Community Plaza - Staff is currently formulating strategies for improvements to the Downtown Community Plaza. Working with DRAB, staff is examining the issues and opportunities at play, and is also examining how the Plaza compares to examples of healthy, vibrant public spaces found in other cities. Staff will provide a full presentation to the CRA at a future meeting.
Bethel Station - At an upcoming meeting, the City Commission will consider leasing the Bethel Garage to the CRA. Should this lease agreement be approved, the CRA will proceed with issuing an RFP to attract new businesses that wish to locate at the Bethel site. The selected business will sublet the Bethel Garage from the CRA.
Lynch Park - The landscape architect is finalizing design documents for the park, and Staff is working on a plan for installation of the proposed lighting fixtures. Staff hopes to bid the project for construction by the end of the calendar year.
GRU Redevelopment - on this agenda.
Hampton Inn/Lot 9 Redevelopment - Construction is currently underway; the structure is fully vertical. It is anticipated that the project will be complete and the hotel will be operational by July 2009.
Jefferson on 2nd Avenue - Construction is complete and residents are moving in. The CRA Engineer is working with the Developer to ensure the terms of the Development Agreement are fulfilled.
Lot 10 Redevelopment - CRA staff is finalizing a new RFP for the site, based on the scope approved by the CRA at the September 15th meeting. Staff hopes to issue this RFP in December.
The Palms - Construction is complete and residents are moving in. The CRA Engineer is working with the Developer to ensure the terms of the Development Agreement are fulfilled.
Porters Neighborhood Improvements - The CRA has received a utility design scheme from GRU and Cox Cable for SW 3rd St (Depot Ave - 400BLK); AT&T design is anticipated. The 30% construction documents are nearly complete.
CRA Streetscaping for Depot Ave - The CRA is coordinating with the Public Works Department to add CRA streetscaping materials to the Depot Ave Reconstruction project, to be bid this year. Streetscaping elements include brick sidewalks, crosswalks, and decorative lighting.
CPUH
Bus Shelters - on hold.
Gainesville Responsible Hospitality Partnership - GRHP is pleased to welcome a new intern, Jenni Skinner. Ms. Skinner is a marketing student at the University of Florida, and she will be working to help publicize and promote GRHP, as well as to enlist new Responsible Hospitality members.
CRA Streetscape Design Standards- Bellomo-Herbert has finalized the revisions to the standards. Staff is reviewing changes with the advisory boards and making revisions.
Depot Rail Trail - JMJ Consulting Engineering completed the feasibility study for the portion of trail located adjacent to the SW 13th Street overpass and between SW 11th and 13th streets. The feasibility study analyzed options for widening and accessing the trail from SW 13th Street. It is recommended that the trail be widened to 10-ft and direct access be provided to the trail from SW 13th Street. Final recommendations were based on shared use path design quality and construction costs. Design concepts for accessing the path will be addressed in the RFQ/Design Competition for the SW 13th Street overpass, to be issued this year. Widening of the trail will follow construction of the SW 13th Street overpass, anticipated 2010.
Tumblin Creek Watershed Management Plan - The Tumblin Creek Watershed Management Plan (TCWMP) was completed in late 2007. Currently, staff is working on the implementation strategy of the plan. Projects listed within the plan have been prioritized, and staff is initiating the top priority project, SW 7th Ave exfiltration.
SW 2nd Avenue Master Plan - The CRA continues to pursue a comprehensive vision for redevelopment along the SW 2nd Avenue corridor. The goal of this initiative is to formulate a plan that is based on a thorough understanding of the infrastructure issues and market forces (including the closure of Shands at AGH) that will impact redevelopment.
SW 7th Ave Exfiltration Basin and Improvements - The CRA engineer is working with CES and JMJ engineering to coordinate design, permitting, and construction of this project. Preliminary stormwater modeling and geometric layout of the roadway improvements is complete.
SW 8th Ave Improvements - The CRA and PWD are initiating a project to complete construction documents for SW 8th Ave improvements (900-1300 BLK), a listed capital improvements project for the CRA. Improvements include reconstruction of the roadway from 900-1000 BLK, milling and resurfacing from 1000-1300 BLK, ADA compliant sidewalks, undergrounding utilities, safe crosswalks, and CRA streetscaping.
SW 13th Street Pedestrian Overpass Enhancement Design - The Design Competition packet is under review by the City's Legal Department.
Rails-to-Trails Signage - The City Commission has adopted the CRA's design for guide signage for the City's rail trail system. CRA is currently facilitating the design of the mounting system.
FAPS
Model Block D 418 NW 4th Avenue- The closing of 418 NW 4th Avenue was September 11, 2008. The purchase price was $162,000.
University House - Construction is nearing completion. Inadequate lighting of the street has been addressed by the City's Public Works Department.
5th Avenue Mixed-Use Project (Union Academy Building) - The rendering was approved by the CRA and the Fifth Avenue Advisory Board. Staff is currently reviewing options to be presented later this summer or early fall.
NW 6th Street Rail Trail - Public Works and CRA staff are collaborating on this project, which involves the design and construction of the 6th Street rail trail from South Main Street to approximately NW 14th Avenue. CRA will participate mainly on the design of the project. The trail project spans the Downtown, CPUH, and FAPS redevelopment districts.
NW 5th Ave Streetscape Phase II (600-1000 BLK) - On consent agenda.
A Quinn Jones House - This house is located at 1013 NW 7th Avenue. Staff is in the preliminary process of recommending that the A. Quinn Jones House be placed on the National Register of Historic places. The necessary steps are being implemented to stabilize the house. The top priority for stabilization is to replace a portion of the roof and deconstruct the flat roof carport that is causing water damage to the siding.
Fiscal Note
None at this time
Recommendation
CRA Executive Director to CRA: 1) Receive project update from staff.