Winter Haven Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)
Facade Grant Program
A new facade grant program is available to business and property owners within the CRA. Download a grant application and get more information:
 Facade grant application Facade grant letter
Third Street Reconstruction Update
Work on the Third Street Reconstruction project is complete. Utility Services has completed underground utility line improvements, and sidewalk reconstruction has begun.
Beginning with the block between Avenue A SW and Central Avenue, new sidewalks were installed. The entire project, budgeted at $1.5 million, was completed in phases, one block at a time. The project included new period lighting, brick pavers, roadway resurfacing, benches, trash receptacles and landscaping between Avenue A SW and Avenue D NW.
Lake Maude Natural Area and Sports Complex, WHRCC Playground Improvements and Transportation Improvement Projects
The Lake Maude Natural Area is about 9 acres situated west of Lake Maude Drive, on the southeast shore of Lake Maude. The parcel consists of woodlands, shoreline and open grassy area. Improvements to the site will include two fishing piers, a half-mile trail, playground, picnic areas, restrooms, interpretive/educational signage, parking and wetland restoration and enhancement. The park is complete, and a grand opening was held June 4.
The Lake Maude Recreation Area is about 26 acres, located east of the Natural Area. A former orange grove, it includes shoreline along the western edge of Lake Idyl. The recreation site concept includes a "multi-generational center," shuffleboard complex, 16-court tennis complex, playground, multi-purpose fields, 1-mile trail, dog park, picnic area, fishing pier on Lake Idyl and a pedestrian connection to the Lake Maude Natural Area. The multi-generation center will provide space for senior, adult and youth recreation programming. HHI, planning consultant, will design the site layout and conceptual building design over the next couple of months. Before designs are final, a public meeting will be held for community input. Construction is expected to begin in 2009.
The $160,000 Winter Haven Recreation and Cultural Center (WHRCC) playground improvement project is funded by the City and Community Development Block Grants. The project included replacement of the existing playground equipment and installation of a rubberized play surface.
Work on Transportation Improvement Program projects in the Florence Villa CRA District has begun. The first project was to reconstruct North Lake Silver Drive. Other completed projects are: 11th Street Northeast; Avenue I Northeast; Lake Martha Drive; Avenue O Northeast; and Ware Avenue Northeast. Construction should be completed by October.
Avenue “T” Improvement Project - Phase I
The Avenue “T” Improvement Project, the second major redevelopment project for the CRA, is complete.
The contractor (Gibbs & Register) installed new curb, gutter, storm structures, sidewalks and driveway aprons on both sides of Avenue T Northeast from First Street to Ninth Lane. Sub-contactors completed all directional boring of the conduit for the new pedestrian electrical crossings, irrigation and utility service drops. TECO set all new power poles. New concrete medians and center turn lanes were also part of the project. Landscaping and site amenities followed.
Avenue “T” Improvement Project - Phase II
In 2004, the City was awarded $600,000 from the U.S. Highway Administration for Phase II of the Avenue “T” Improvement Project. The funding request was made to Representative Adam Putnam, Senator Bob Graham and Senator Bill Nelson in 2004 and was included in a budget bill signed into law on Dec. 7, 2004. Funds became available in July 2005.
The Florida Department of Transportation is the grant administrator and has prepared a Local Agency Program (LAP) Agreement. FDOT indicated the funds can only be used on Avenue T as streetscape amenities. No infrastructure or roadway improvements will be permitted since this portion of the road is a state highway.
The project was completed in summer 2009.
Florence Villa Phase IV Streetscape
This project included new lighting, benches, trash receptacles and landscaping along Lucerne Park Road from Avenue T to Avenue Y. Construction on the first phase, from Avenue T to Ware Avenue was completed at a cost of $373,264.27. The entire project is budgeted at about $750,000 and it's almost complete.
Transportation & Parking Master Plan
Kimley-Horn completed work on a Transportation and Parking Master Plan. Upon review of the work completed a public workshop will be scheduled to receive public input. This project is funded through a $100,000 federal grant to study and recommend parking improvements in the Downtown CRA District.
Winter Haven Community Redevelopment Agency
The Winter Haven Community Redevelopment Agency, established in 2000, fosters and promotes community redevelopment activities in two designated districts: Downtown and Florence Villa.
The CRA is a “special district” under Florida Statute. The activities of the CRA are detailed in redevelopment plans customized for each district and include:
Infrastructure Improvements
Streetscaping or Beautification
Affordable Housing
Recreation & Park Facility Improvements
Economic Development
Transportation
Neighborhood Enhancement
The CRA, operated by a Board of Directors, includes the five current City Commissioners and two City residents. The board receives input from two advisory committees, one for each district.
CRA is primarily funded through Tax Increment Financing (TIF), a process of capturing property tax revenues that would normally go to Polk County and the City. TIF funds are deposited into a Redevelopment Trust Fund that can then be spent on specific projects or used to leverage additional financing for larger projects.
The Central Avenue and Central Park Improvement Project was the first major project completed by the CRA. The project goal was to rebuild the aging infrastructure in the Historic Downtown District, providing a more conducive atmosphere for small businesses. The project consisted of reconstructing eight blocks of City sidewalks with new, decorative concrete paver bricks and installation of site amenities. Total project cost was $3.5-million. |
Dale Smith
