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 began on February 5, 2010 and is expected to be complete by late July/early August.
Wayfinding Signage - This project is moving forward with the assistance of the Public Works Department. Engineering and permitting is underway.
Parking Study (Downtown & CPUH) - The CRA accepted the final recommendations from the parking consultant. CRA staff has met with PWD staff and offered to help coordinate the parking recommendations to deliver to the City Commission. This item is anticipated to go to City Commission in the spring
CRA Purchasing - The CRA is in the process of revising its purchasing policies and will present them to the CRA Board when completed.
Eastside
Eastside Fencing - The Purchasing Department rescinded the contract to Hercules Fence Company due to the company exceeding the time required to execute the contract. Purchasing has awarded the contract to the next lowest bidder, All Florida Enterprises. The bid is for $87,770.00. Construction began during the week of April 5th.
Eastside Medians Projects - Two new median design projects - SE Hawthorne Road, east of SE 15th Street and Williston Road south of East University Avenue - are expected to get underway in 2010.
Kennedy Homes - On February 15, 2010 staff presented and was given approval to move forward with a Green/Eco village concept for the former Kennedy Homes site. Staff continues to research and refine the concept as approved by the board.
Redevelopment of 1712/1714 Hawthorne Road - Site work and initial demo began the last week of March. Expected substantial completion of the Café is 110 calendar days.
Potential Eastside Expansion Areas and Updated Eastside Redevelopment Plan - A draft Redevelopment Plan has been approved by the Eastside Redevelopment Advisory Board and it is currently with the CRA Attorney for legal review. In the event the City of Gainesville identifies additional areas of slum/blight for potential inclusion into the Eastside Redevelopment Area, the draft Plan will be reviewed to ensure the redevelopment needs of all areas are addressed.
Cotton Club - A fundraising initiative is underway, and a new roof has been installed exterior and interior stabilization has been completed. The project is currently working through the permit process.
Exterior Paint Program- Staff has received and accepted 5 applications for the paint program: Beverly Hooker owner of Totally You Salon at 1724 SE 2nd Ave, James Franklin of Lil Ones World Day Care at 1735 SE Hawthorne Road, Ernest Hale of the Crab Shack 104 NE Waldo Road, Ok-Chin Kwak of Nails Forever 114 NE Waldo Road, and Joyce Vinson owner of Educational Child Care Center Inc 106 SE 11th St.
Downtown
Depot Park Program - on this agenda
Landscape Bulbouts at SE 1st Street - CRA and its construction manager Oehlrich Construction have completed a design and phasing plan, reviewed by the Downtown Redevelopment Advisory Board. Funding was approved in the FY10 Amendatory budget. CRA staff is working to coordinate irrigation near the County Administration building with the Alachua County. Construction is now expected to begin in April.
Bethel Station - The Lunchbox Café has opened! A grand opening celebration was held April 14, 2010
Haisley Lynch Park & Gardens - The project is currently under construction. The construction timeline has been delayed due to an unforeseen issue with the lighting fixtures
Downtown Community Plaza - As discussed at previous meetings, the Bethel site is the first revitalization project aimed towards injecting new life and activity into the Plaza. The Bethel project/The Lunchbox café is now open, and CRA staff is in the process of finalizing and closing out the project. Once this project is complete, the CRA will redirect energy towards the wholistic treatment of the Plaza
GRU Redevelopment - Survey work for the 16-acre redevelopment site is currently underway
Porters Neighborhood Improvements -The CRA has 30% plans for undergrounding utilities and providing CRA standard streetscaping along SW 3rd St from Depot Ave to SW 4th Ave. Staff is now working with the City's Land Rights Coordinator to address significant ROW issues along the corridor. The CRA has engaged Brown & Cullen, Inc. to finalize construction documents for the project, and and construction is anticipated to begin later this year.
CPUH
SW 5th Avenue Triangle - Landscape enhancements have been completed.
SW 13th Street Medians - Staff plans to submit revised design drawings and materials to FDOT the 3rd week of April. This submittal is expected to determine the final design direction in accordance with FDOT roadway design rules. Design Development is underway with Oelrich Construction.
Bus Shelter - The Kaleidoscope bus shelter planned for SW 13th Street adjacent to the Oakbrook Walk complex was completed during the week of March 22nd. In addition to the shelter, a concrete slab, decorative railing, integrated bench and decorative waste container complete the project. CPUH approved the shelter design in August of 2008. Oakbrook Walk provided $25,000 as part of its development order and CPUH approved supplemental funding not-to-exceed $7,000 in December of 2008. Photographs of the project are included as backup.
13th Street Overpass Design - CRA staff is currently in contract negotiation with RS&H to move forward with design of the overpass. Once a contract is signed, RS&H will move forward to finalize the design and then move directly into construction documents. While RS&H is working on the design and construction documents, the CRA will be soliciting CM's for the project through the City's RFQ process. The goal is to have construction documents completed by the end of 2010 and the CM ready to begin construction the first of 2011.
SW 13th Street Improvements - Brown and Cullen has been engaged to design the streetscape for SW 13th Street from Archer Road to SW 16th Avenue. The design will be coordinated with the overpass enhancements as well as the roadway work begin done at both the Archer Road and SW 16th Avenue intersections of SW 13th Street.
SW 7th Ave Roadway Improvements - The Bids were opened on March 16th and the construction is scheduled to begin the first week of April and is projected to take approximately 4 months to complete.
SW 8th Ave Roadway Improvements - Bids were opened on March 16th and a pre-construction meeting was held on April 1. Permits are applied for and construction is anticipated to begin within the next few weeks.
NW 17th Street Streetscape - Due to delays in the FDOT completing their work, the NW corner of NW 17th Street and University Avenue is not complete. The FDOT is projecting to complete their work the last week in March which would allow the streetscape to be completed by the end of the first week in April.
FAPS
FAPS Strategic Planning - The FAPS advisory board has gone through the FY 2010 strategic planning updated and adopted an updated 3-Year Redevelopment Roadmap
FAPS Heritage Trail - The goal of the project is to highlight the accomplishments and contributions of the residents of the FAPS neighborhood. Synergy Design Group is under contract and working on developing the interpretive approach to the Heritage Trail and the A. Quinn Jones House. This work is expected to be completed by early May. Content development is expected to begin in Mid-May. The CRA is working on securing additional grant funding for the projects.
A Quinn Jones House - The CRA received formal recognition of the A. Quinn Jones House's historic significance when a letter was received advising that the home was officially listed in the National Register of Historic Places on January 27, 2010. Staff has moved forward with Phase II of the project and will be working with Synergy Design Group to develop an interpretive plan for the house.
Model Block Project- 402 NW 4th Street (corner house) - construction is complete. To help with the overall marketing effort, staff is currently evaluating the merits and costs of staging this home with furniture and accessories.
410 NW 4th Street (shotgun house) - construction is complete the home is under contract.
412 NW 4th Avenue - construction is complete the home is under contract.
NW 5th Ave Streetscape Phase II (600-1000 BLK) - This project is currently under construction.
Fiscal Note
None at this time
Recommendation
CRA Executive Director to CRA: Receive project update from Staff.