Title
SW 5th Avenue Porters Community Project (B)
Explanation
In September 2013, the CRA Board was presented with and approved four initiatives in the Downtown Redevelopment District. Porter’s Neighborhood was among those initiatives where SW 5th Avenue was recognized as a primary corridor running east-west through the Porters Community. SW 5th Avenue connects the Porters Community to many existing and developing amenities like Depot Park, the Power District, S. Main Street, Haisley Lynch Park, the Innovation District, the 6th Street Rail Trail, Tumblin Creek Park, the SW 5th Avenue Triangle Park, and the University of Florida.
The SW 5th Avenue corridor is mainly occupied by single family and multiple family residential dwellings. While the corridor is heavily used by pedestrians both in and around the area, there was a lack of pedestrian amenities making the corridor difficult to traverse safely. In February 2014, the CRA hosted a community meeting to gather feedback from members of the Porters Community regarding the SW 5th Avenue corridor and the Porters Neighborhood. The majority of those who attended the meeting felt that SW 5th Avenue is a safe corridor, but uncomfortable to walk due to the lack of sidewalks. The majority of the participants also believed that the installation of a gateway feature at the SW 5th Avenue intersections of S. Main Street and SW 6th Street would be a strategic way of announcing the entrances into the Porters neighborhood.
In response to community feedback, in June 2014, the CRA hired EDA Engineers Surveyors Planners Inc. to design construction documents for the construction of a proposed sidewalk and associated improvements along the north side of SW 5th Avenue (between SW 6th Street and S Main Street). The project scope includes a sidewalk design along the northern edge of the roadway, upgrades to existing ramps ensuring ADA compliance, and the exploration of gateway features to enhance and announce the east and west entrances into the Porters Community. The project will improve the walkability throughout this corridor and create a physical link to surrounding public amenities. These documents received 60%, 90%, and 100% reviews from the various city permitting agencies.
On January 28, 2015, the CRA hosted an Information Session for the homeowners along the north side of the SW 5th Avenue corridor to unveil and discuss the 60% project design. At the homeowners meeting, the CRA gathered input and feedback from the homeowners who will be directly impacted by the project. A homeowner’s packet was assembled for each homeowner along the northern edge of the corridor containing information about the project and what they should expect during construction of the project. Each packet was distributed to the attending homeowners and those who were unable to attend the meeting have since received their packet either in person or by mail.
On February 18, 2015, the CRA hosted a Community-Wide Information Session to unveil and discuss the 90% project design. A Project Look-Book was created in-house and distributed to each community member who attended the meeting. The Project Look-Book is a graphic representation of the project allowing each member of the community to visualize the project and provide feedback to the CRA staff.
Following the above mentioned information sessions, the CRA engaged The Brentwood Company to request a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) proposal for the construction of the SW 5th Avenue Porters Community Project. The Brentwood Company has an existing continuing services contract for construction management services for the CRA. On March 16, 2015, the CRA Board approved the GMP for the construction of the SW 5th Avenue Porters Community Project.
The Porters Community Project has now reached substantial completion. In addition, the CRA has partnered with the Porters Community to assist with their 4th Annual Block Party on August 22nd from 4-7 p.m. CRA staff will announce the new sidewalk and gateway features to the Porters Community at the event. Staff will also be present to explain the inspiration for the gateways into the neighborhood and will be engaging community members to identify other needs in their neighborhood for potential future projects.
Fiscal Note
This project is fully funded
Recommendation:
CRA Executive Director to the CRA Board: Hear presentation from Staff.