Fort Walton Beach Resolution — 2012-20--2012 CRA Plan Update — reading text

MiracleMiracle StripStrip ParkwayParkway SESE( ( U.U. S.S. HighwayHighway 98)98) andand BrooksBrooks StreetStreet SE.SE. TheThe DowntownDowntown areaarea hostshosts thethe IndianIndian TempleTemple MoundMound Museum,Museum, thethe PublicPublic Library,Library, severalseveral waterfrontwaterfront condominiums,condominiums, andand aa varietyvariety ofof uniqueunique shopsshops andand restaurants.restaurants. Downtown Downtown FortFort WaltonWalton An.An. aa EMEM rai.rai. . . MM OWmaOWma TheThe UptownUptown ShoppingShopping DistrictDistrict isis locatedlocated alongalong thethe EglinEglin ParkwayParkway 1101"1101" WIEWWIEW corridorcorridor northnorth ofof FourthFourth StreetStreet SE,SE, andand isis mademade upup ofof primarily primarily commercialcommercial uses.uses. UPTOWN UPTOWN ThisThis areaarea waswas aa largelarge portionportion ofof thethe areaarea addedadded toto thethe originaloriginal CRACRA boundariesboundaries inin 1998.1998. TheThe Uptown Uptown ShoppingShopping DistrictDistrict includesincludes severalseveral ' ' 1"1" nationalnational retailretail tenantstenants andand restaurantsrestaurants andand hostshosts severalseveral majormajor SttoerW,SttoerW, rr eventsevents throughoutthroughout thethe yearyear attractingattracting thousandsthousands ofof people.people. TheThe CometComet StreetStreet / / CrescentCrescent CircleCircle DistrictDistrict isis boundedbounded byby HollywoodHollywood BoulevardBoulevard toto thethe north,north, RobinwoodRobinwood DriveDrive toto thethe west,west, thethe propertyproperty lineline ofof thethe FortFort WaltonWalton BeachBeach HousingHousing AuthorityAuthority toto thethe south,south, andand BassBass Avenue Avenue toto thethe cast.cast. ThisThis areaarea consistsconsists ofof bothboth singlesingle- - familyfamily homeshomes andand highhigh - - intensityintensity commercialcommercial uses,uses, suchsuch asas autoauto repairrepair shops,shops, usedused carcar sales,sales, etc.etc. TheThe BealBeal ParkwayParkway CorridorCorridor isis boundedbounded byby Hollywood Hollywood BoulevardBoulevard toto thethe north,north, BassBass AvenueAvenue toto thethe west,west, FirstFirst StreetStreet toto thethe south,south, andand ShellShell AvenueAvenue toto thethe east.east. TheThe propertiesproperties abuttingabutting BealBeal ParkwayParkway areare developeddeveloped primarilyprimarily asas commercialcommercial uses,uses, rangingranging fromfrom officeoffice complexescomplexes toto highhigh 20122012 CityCity ofof FortFort WaltonWalton BeachBeach  2012 Community Redevelopment Plan intensity uses, such as auto repair shops, used car sales, etc. Along the perimeter roads to the east and west, there are residential developments and small office complexes or businesses. The Central City District is bounded by Walter Martin Road to the north, Shell Avenue to the west, First Street to the south, and Tupelo Avenue to the to the east. The properties along Walter Martin Road and Hollywood Boulevard are primarily commercial uses. Properties along First Street are developed as public or quasi -public uses, such as religious institutions, the Okatoosa County School District administrative offices. The remainder of the areas is almost exclusively residential. The Midtown District bisects the Historic Downtown and Uptown Districts and is bounded by Fourth Street to the north, Tupelo Avenue to the west, First Street to the south, and Chicago Avenue to the east. All of the properties along Eglin Parkway are commercial. Throughout the remainder of the district is a mix of medium- to high -density residential and small commercial uses. The West Miracle Strip Parkway District is bounded by Coral Drive to the north, Memorial Parkway to the west, Santa Rosa Sound to the south, and Harbison Avenue to the cast. Miracle Strip Parkway is a State highway that is a regional transportation corridor and the major east to west highway in the City. The properties along Miracle Strip Parkway are a mixture of mostly commercial uses north of the road, ranging from office complexes to high -intensity uses, such as car dealerships, hotels, etc., and a mixture of smaller businesses, marinas, restaurants, and condominiums on the south side of the road. The East Brooks Street District is bounded by First Street to the north, Florida Blanca / Aleonese Avenue to the west, Santa Rosa Sound to the south, and Elm Avenue to the east. This area is primarily residential with large -lot low- density single family homes to higher intensity medium - density townhome and condominium developments. Fort Walton Beach is the only City located along the Gulf Coast between Pensacola and Panama City that includes an authentic " downtown'. Additionally, the downtown area is located within the boundaries of the CRA Area. Ensuring the continued vitality and success of the CRA Area is necessary to the economic health of the City and the surrounding region. Walton Beach 2012  2012 Community Redevelopment Plan Current CPA Boundaries 1. 3 Economic Characterization of the Fort Walton Beach CRA The Fort Walton Beach CRA serves as the City' s social and economic core. The area thrives today through a CRA characterized by: A vibrant waterfront offering entertainment, dining and recreation to seasonal visitors and permanent residents; Residences ranging from single -family detached to duplexes, townhouses, condominiums and apartments, available for all ages, incomes and lifestyles; Retail and service businesses; Unique cultural opportunities, including theater, dance, art galleries and museums highlighting the City' s rich historical background; and Public parks, plazas and open spaces. Major public improvements within the Fort Walton Beach CRA have proven important to the redevelopment effort. Sound Park was constructed across from City Hall in 2007, Chester Pruitt Park received a major upgrade in 2009, Phases IN of the Downtown Streetscape project were completed in 2009, and many commercial property owners have taken advantage of the matching streetscape grant program to improve the rights -of w - ay along major corridors. Significant private 2012 City of Fort Walton Beach  2012 Community Redevelopment Plan redevelopment efforts have included transforming an outdated strip shopping center ( Fort Walton Square) into Uptown Station, filled with national commercial tenants and bustling with customer activity as well as the construction of several new large -scale waterfront condominiums downtown. Continued attention to fagade improvements, business retention and expansion, and infrastructure improvements are essential to build on the redevelopment efforts. A 2007 update to the CRA Plan began to change the focus of planning and development to a more mixed -use district with greater residential density - recognizing that successful urban centers require both residential and business development. With little vacant land throughout the CRA and the City, growth is possible primarily through increased density and infill development. This 2012 update to the CRA Plan continues to focus on more streamlined approaches to the development of mixed -use areas and smart growth through a comprehensive improvement program. Growth and redevelopment slowed significantly in the CRA with the economic decline beginning in 2008 and into 2010, but the lag gave the CRA an opportunity to re- evaluate priorities and position itself to focus more on specific strategies to truly achieve widespread economic revitalization in the CRA. The focus has shifted from trying to force" a desired development pattern to instead, realizing and forecasting the natural development pattern and providing the tools necessary to accommodate and compliment redevelopment. In the remaining years of the CRA, much is left to be accomplished. To bring forth the new priorities and strategies, the CRA Board of Commissioners directed staff to begin updating the existing CRA Plan, which was last updated in 2007, in part because much of the information in that plan was outdated, but also because many of the recommendations from the 2007 CRA Plan have either been implemented or are no longer applicable as the economic climate of the area has changed. The 2012 CRA Plan includes all elements required by Chapter 163 of the Florida Statutes for a community redevelopment plan. Short-term ( up to five years) and long -term ( up to 10 years) capital improvement projects are identified in this plan as a means to address current issues, as well as continue to address issues identified in the prior CRA Plans. The Finding of Necessity documentation prepared for the 1982, 1998, and 2007 CRA Plans is hereby adopted by reference into the 2012 CRA Plan. Concepts for creative funding options, including private or joint public / private developments that further the goals and objectives of this Plan, are also identified. Other recommendations identify programs and strategies to assist in the overall revitalization of the Fort Walton Beach CRA. This CRA Plan does not recommend any changes to the current CRA boundaries or to the duration of the CRA. The provisions of this Plan shall remain in effect, and serve as a guide for City of Fort Walton Beach 2012  2012 Community Redevelopment Plan the future redevelopment activities in the entire designated Fort Walton Beach CRA Area through December 31, 2026. Since the enactment of the Community Redevelopment Act of 1969, local governments have utilized the designation of redevelopment areas as an effective method to address blighted conditions within their communities. To understand the purpose and effectiveness of Community Redevelopment Areas, one must understand the process local governments complete to designate Community Redevelopment Areas. City of Fort Walton Beach  2012 Community Redevelopment Plan The CRA Process Contents: Keys to Success for a Community Redevelopment Area ( CRA)? What is Tax Increment Financing ( TIF)? The Fort Walton Beach CRA TIF Fund The CRA Budget Process 103111111111111111 11MR-9MR91. 11, 11- 1 The language of the