Submitted By: Charlita Whitehead
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Presentation By: Roberto Ellis
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Department: Growth Management
FORMAL TITLE:
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East Ocala Community Redevelopment Area Historic Building Improvement Grant for the property located at 721 NE Second Street, in an amount not to exceed $40,000
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BACKGROUND:
The intent of the East Ocala CRA Historic Building Improvement Grant Program is to support the preservation and rehabilitation of historic buildings located within the East Ocala CRA and locally designated historic districts. Eligible properties must be contributing historic structures, or eligible to be contributing, and generally constructed in or before 1922.
The program provides reimbursement of up to 60 percent of eligible project costs, with a maximum grant award of $40,000, and requires a 40 percent applicant match. Only work approved in advance and completed after CRA approval is eligible for reimbursement.
Grant Application ID: CRA25-0044
Applicant: Anton and Stephen Dawson
Property Address: 721 NE Second Street
Historic District: Tuscawilla Historic District
Year Built: 1918
Property Type: Residential
Acreage: 0.34 acres
Project Description: Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing rehabilitation to support the conversion of the structure back to a single-family residence.
High Bid (Total Project Cost): $ 88,162.00
Low Bid (Total Project Cost): $71,407.00
Recommended Grant Amount: $40,000.00
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
• The application was reviewed and processed in accordance with the East Ocala CRA Historic Building Improvement Grant Program guidelines and evaluation criteria.
• The subject property is located at 721 NE Second Street, within the East Ocala CRA, and consists of a historic residential structure constructed in 1918 on a 0.34-acre parcel.
• The building was initially constructed as a single-family residence and was later converted into three residential units. The current project proposes to rehabilitate the structure and return it to single-family residential use, consistent with the neighborhood's historic residential character.
• The proposed scope of work includes mechanical, electrical, and plumbing rehabilitation, all of which are eligible improvements under the Historic Building Improvement Grant Program.
• The applicant previously paid $10,000 to resolve outstanding code enforcement cases associated with the property. These costs are not eligible for reimbursement and are not included in the grant request.
• Additional exterior improvements, including window and door replacement, conversion of an existing door on the front elevation to a window, and the addition of a deck and railing, are part of a larger rehabilitation effort and will be reviewed separately through the Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) process. These items are not included in the grant request.
• The proposed mechanical, electrical, and plumbing improvements are necessary to support safe occupancy, bring the structure into compliance with current building standards, and ensure the long-term viability of the historic residence.
• Based on the low bid total of $71,407, the maximum grant amount allowable under the program is $40,000, which reflects the program’s 60 percent reimbursement cap.
• During the East Ocala Advisory Committee meeting on December 17, 2025, members reviewed the application, confirmed that none of the proposed work requires a Certificate of Appropriateness, and discussed the positive benefits of returning the structure from three residential units back to a single-family home. The committee voted to recommend approval of the grant.
Staff finds that the project meets the requirements of the grant program and represents a substantial reinvestment in a historic residential property. Staff recommends approval of the grant request in an amount not to exceed $40,000.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is adequate funding for the grants under consideration at this meeting in the East Ocala CRA grants account (620-016-559-559-55-82010). The payment will be made in the fiscal year when the project is completed.
PROCUREMENT REVIEW:
N/A
LEGAL REVIEW:
N/A
ALTERNATIVE:
• Approve
• Approve with Changes
• Table
• Deny