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04/24/2002ENTERPRISE ZONE DEVELOPMENT BOARD MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER April 24, 2002 Present: Bob Kinney Vice-Chair Cheryl Wade Board Member Rick Rosa Board Member/Community Response Team Lt. Don Hall Board Member/Police Department For Lt. Anthony Holloway Board Member/Police Department Rev. Mack Sigmon Board Member Robert Vinson Board Member Isay Gulley Board Member Vacant Seat Board Member Absent: John Connelly Chair Also Present: Ralph Stone Assistant City Manager Diane Hufford Economic Development Coordinator Linda Byars Economic Development Coordinator Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter The Vice-Chair called the meeting to order at 10:06 a.m. at the Greater Clearwater Chamber of Commerce, followed by the invocation. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. Member Rosa moved to accept Lt. Hall’s attendance in place of Lt. Holloway. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #5 – Approval of Minutes Member Wade moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of August 20, 2001, as submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #6 - Establish Meeting Schedule Staff presented a meeting schedule: July 24 and October 23, 2002, January 22, April 23, and July 23, 2003. Consensus was to approve the meeting schedule. ITEM #7 - Update EZDA (Enterprise Zone Development Agency) Signature Authorization Staff requested the Florida Enterprise Zone program signature authorization form be amended to include current staff members. The form is provided to the State, advising who is authorized to sign contracts. ITEM #8 - Presentation - North Greenwood Apartments Roxanne Amoroso, of Bank of America, reviewed efforts to rehabilitate the North Greenwood Apartments, which the bank acquired on November 29, 2001. The 25-building property, constructed in 1950, has had little maintenance and is an eyesore. Due diligence found asbestos and lead paint. The structure is solid. The project represents Bank of America efforts to revitalize community neighborhoods and provide social services. The apartments will be redesigned to feature two bedrooms/two baths and three bedrooms/two baths. The $14-million project will cost approximately $73,000 per apartment. Four buildings are under construction and 36 apartments should be ready for occupancy in June 2002. Apartment residents now have leases. New apartments are not being marketed, but will be offered to current residents. The complex will serve low income, medium income residents and offer 15% of the units at market rates. The bank worked with CHA (Clearwater Housing Authority) to ensure that all current residents qualify for residency based on income. Back rent was forgiven. Long term residents will have a choice of color palettes. Additions to the complex will include a leasing office, Laundromat, “Make-A-Difference” center, computer lab, children’s program, library, social services, including job creation, counseling, etc. Kitchens and bathrooms will be modernized, plumbing replaced, optional alarm systems installed, playgrounds constructed, exterior lighting installed, new stucco applied, and extensive landscaping planted. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be scheduled this summer. In response to a question, Ms. Amoroso said benefits of being an Enterprise Zone project include government assistance to encapsulate asbestos and lead paint and impact permit fee abatements. ITEM #9 - Other Business a) Downtown/Gateway Strategic Program The CRA (Community Redevelopment Board) and DDB (Downtown Development Board) is working on a short term strategic program over the next two years for the gateway area while infrastructure changes to beach access is underway. Once the bridge is completed in July 2004, beach access will bypass this area. Assistant City Manager Ralph Stone was encouraged by Commission efforts with the DDB. He reviewed the Downtown/Gateway Strategic Action Program for FY (fiscal year) 2002. Projects, which represent almost $125-million in public/private investment, include the new Memorial Causeway Bridge, Main Library, Town Lake, Ft. Harrison Overlay, East Street Railroad Tracks, Mediterranean Village, and the Calvary and Super Block properties. Programs include updating the Downtown Redevelopment Plan, the Gateway Redevelopment Findings of Necessity Study, Downtown and Bluff Parking Study, Downtown Property Maintenance, Marketing, Downtown Business Retention, CRA/DDB/Main Street/Chamber Annual Report, Fall Color on Cleveland Street, Homeless Alternatives, and Support Guideway Phase II. Planned evaluations include a Sea Grass Study for a bluff marina, Model Block Streetscape, Crosswalk Improvements, and Multiplex Theater. FY 2003 projects include a Parking Garage Location, Myrtle Avenue Reconstruction, and Clearwater West End Connection. Programs includes Defining Marketable Properties for Lease, Retail Expertise/Storefront Workshop, On-Street Parking by Employees, Develop Connection with Pinellas County Government, Faith Based Organizations, and Banks, Main Street Retail Signage, and Develop Downtown Publication. The Bluff Design project is planned. FY 2004 projects include Public Art, Amphitheater Design, Station Square Park Infill RFP (Request for Proposals), Removal of Industrial Properties. Programs include Key Real Estate Development Opportunities/Strategies and a Drew Street Corridor Study. Evaluations include Harborview Center Long Range Options and Alleys for Pedestrian Connection. Mr. Stone reviewed the recommended expansion of the CRA to include the Gateway Area where redevelopment is essential as it represents the main entrance to Downtown. The Police Department and Community Response Team are active in the area. He anticipated the area will qualify for expansion, which will qualify some properties for financial help for redevelopment. Friday is the deadline for a RFP to design urban streetscape for Downtown and the Gateway. He reported once the new Scientology building is completed, the Ft. Harrison Hotel will return to the tax rolls. In response to a question, Mr. Stone said when Alternate 19 designation is shifted to Myrtle Avenue, possible changes to Ft. Harrison include reducing laneage to three lanes, increasing the right-of-way, and streetscaping. A less congested corridor is anticipated. Redevelopment of North Ft. Harrison into a commercial corridor is planned. Up to six hi-rise condominium projects are possible along Clearwater Harbor, north of Drew Street. An increase to the number of permitted units is possible in this area if two or more acres are consolidated. Expansion of Coachman Park is being reviewed. Concern was expressed some downtown commercial businesses, such as Clearwater Automotive, are unattractive and discourage redevelopment efforts. b) North Greenwood Economic Strategy Study North Greenwood Economic Strategy Study, being prepared by HDR, will: 1) prepare a preliminary market analysis of commercial/industrial lands and space markets; 2) schedule community workshops for outreach/education; 3) survey commercial property/create base maps/ categorize land use; 4) identify transportation, utilities, and infrastructure needs; and 5) interview existing businesses. The end product, a workable redevelopment strategy for the North Greenwood community, will be completed by October 2002. The study will review the neighborhood as a whole and consider its needs for and ACLF (Adult Care Living Facility), for example. Future changes, such as the demolition of Jack Russell Stadium, construction of the Recreation and Aquatics Center and Library, also will be considered, along with the possible removal of the armory. Advisory committee meetings with neighbors will begin by June 2002. Plans are to phase out heavy commercial uses in the neighborhood. It was recommended the City discuss with Florida Power the beautification of its station at the entrance to the North Greenwood neighborhood near Pinellas Trail. ITEM #10 - Staff Reports a) Recent Enterprise Zone Activities Economic Development Coordinator Linda Byars reported almost $55,000 in applications for Enterprise Zone Tax Incentives. Walgreen’s has filed for a $25,000 property tax credit and has received $4,365.14 for Job Credit. Staff plans to market this program more aggressively. Mr. Stone said the program will be linked to the permit process. In response to a question, Ms. Byars reported Downtown occupancy is 85%, with rents averaging between $9 and $15 per square-foot. She reviewed downtown business incentives, which help with façade improvements, moving, and soil contamination in the Brownfields area. In response to a question, she said an equipment Sales Tax Refund had been denied as the equipment cost less than the minimum $5,000 required. The legislature is considering reducing the minimum required purchase. As non-profits, such as the North Greenwood Apartment project, do not pay sales tax, they do not qualify for a refund. b) Current Enterprise Zone Incentives Current incentives include a Jobs Tax Credit, Property Tax Credit, Sales Tax Refund for business machinery and equipment used in an Enterprise Zone, and a Sales Tax Refund for building materials used in an Enterprise Zone. ITEM #11 - Citizen Comments - None. ITEM #12 - Adjournments The meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m.