Submitted By: Charlita Whitehead
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Presentation By: Charlita Whitehead
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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 732 NE 2nd Street, in an amount not to exceed $30,549.00
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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.
APPLICATION SUMMARY
• Grant Application ID: CRA25-0045
• Applicant: Robert E. Rooks, II
• Property Address: 732 NE 2nd Street
• Historic District: Tuscawilla Historic District
• Year Built: 1885
• Property Type: Residential
• Acreage: 0.34 acres
• Project Description: Exterior painting, termite treatment, insulation installation, and foundation leveling.
• High Bid (Total Project Cost): $61,129.88
• Low Bid (Total Project Cost): $50,915.42
• Recommended Grant Amount: $30,549.00
Refer to the attached application packet for supporting documentation, including cost estimates and photographs of existing conditions.
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 within the East Ocala CRA and the Tuscawilla Historic District.
• The residence was constructed in 1885 and retains sufficient historic integrity to qualify as a contributing historic structure.
• The proposed improvements, including exterior painting, termite treatment, insulation installation, and foundation leveling address both immediate preservation needs and long-term structural stability of the historic residence.
• Exterior painting will protect exposed materials from further deterioration, while termite treatment mitigates active and future threats to the structural integrity of the wood-framed building.
• Insulation improvements will enhance the building’s energy performance without altering its historic character, supporting continued residential use and sustainability of the structure.
• Foundation leveling is a critical corrective measure that stabilizes the building, prevents additional structural damage, and extends the usable life of the historic home.
• The proposed scope of work consists of eligible improvements under the grant program and does not require a Certificate of Appropriateness.
• The Grant Review Committee (GRC) conducted a site visit on December 4, 2025, and determined that the proposed improvements will stabilize the structure, address preservation needs, and support long-term maintenance of the historic residence.
Staff finds that the project meets all applicable program requirements and supports the CRA’s goals related to historic preservation and reinvestment.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is adequate funding available for this grant request. Funds are available in the East Ocala CRA Grant Account (620-016-559-559-55-82010). Reimbursement will occur in the fiscal year in which the project is completed and all program requirements are satisfied.
PROCUREMENT REVIEW:
N/A
LEGAL REVIEW:
N/A
ALTERNATIVE:
• Approve
• Approve with Changes
• Table
• Deny