Submitted By: Tye Chighizola
presenter
Presentation By: Tye Chighizola
end
Department: Growth Management
STAFF RECOMMENDATION (Motion Ready):
title
Approve new East Ocala CRA Historic Building Grant Program
end
OCALA'S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Quality of Place, Economic Hub
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A
body
BACKGROUND:
The East Ocala CRA currently has two building improvement grant programs available for property owners. For residential properties, there is a paint grant of up to $2,000. For commercial properties, there is a grant for exterior improvements of up to $10,000. One particular need that is not adequately addressed by these grants involves restoration and renovation work on historic buildings.
At the present time, there is not a grant program in the City for the restoration or renovation of historic buildings. The East Ocala CRA subarea includes the Tuscawilla Park Historic District and the portion of the Ocala Historic District along and north of E. Fort King Street. Since the cost of restorations and renovations to historic properties are much higher, the East Ocala CRA Advisory Committee and staff are recommending that grant opportunities for qualified historic properties be increased. Qualified historic properties would be eligible for up to a $25,000, 50% matching grant.
As there would not be enough funding to address the needs of all buildings in the initial year of this program, the proposed program prioritizes the oldest buildings, which would typically be most in need of work. For the purpose of this grant, historic properties are defined as being built prior to 1922 (100 years or older), have retained much of their historic architectural integrity, and are or could be considered contributing historic structures. The properties are primarily commercial uses but there are also some residential. As expected, the historic properties were located near the downtown area.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
The East Ocala CRA Adviso...
Click here for full text