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Paul “Andy” Stewart
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Tab 11
Ledger, The (Lakeland, FL)
April 18, 2007
CRA PLANS $410,000 FOR REDEVELOPMENT
Author: MERISSA GREEN
AUBURNDALE - For the next five years, the redevelopment of the downtown park will become
a big ticket item in the Community Redevelopment Agency's budget. The CRA's staff is
proposing $410,000 in the 2007-08 budget to begin plans on the project. That money will include
improvements to East Park Street that would allow for the creation of expanded parking area, a
spacious special events area, additional sidewalk network and a safer intersection at Main Street
by eliminating the horseshoe shaped parking that exists now.
The CRA Board, which includes the members of the City Commission and two community
leaders, discussed the $1.2 million budget Monday night. Other projects planned for the budget
include street resurfacing, updated streetscaping and new entranceways to the city. Other
expenses include a $22,000 contribution to Auburndale Chamber Main Street and $10,000 for
special events for the downtown area. The CRA board is expected to approve the budget May 21.
Commissioner Richard Hamann said he had concerns about the ability to get done all of the
projects proposed in the budget, especially with uncertainty about what state officials' final
decision will be about property taxes. "I just want to remind everyone that Tallahassee hasn't
decided what they are going to do yet," Hamann said Monday night. "It may be postponed for
many years."
The CRA is funded by property tax increment financing. Under that system, property values are
frozen for tax purposes for the city and county. Increases in those values that generate more
property taxes go to the CRA to be used for improvements in the district.
State legislators are considering a plan to cut property taxes that city officials said would
drastically decrease the coffers of municipalities across the state.
"We don't have any debt, which is a good thing," said Andy Stewart, the assistant city manager.
"We have to reprioritize and determine which projects will benefit the community." As for the
redevelopment plan, CRA co-chair Cindy Price has some concerns about the proposed parking
lot designs the engineers are recommending. The restructuring of the downtown parking lot
would add an extra row of parking spaces bringing the total to 60 spaces.
While the city will gain more parking space, it will lose green space in the special events area.
"The downside is the massive amount of asphalt," Price said. "I just want to make sure we're on
the same page as part of the improvements."
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