A goal of the City of Brooksville Community Redevelopment Agency is to encourage beautification and pedestrian uses of properties within the business district. A proposed improvement project is being negotiated between Suntrust Bank and the CRA. The project location is at the SE corner of the intersection of W Jefferson St. and N Orange Ave. The project would provide bench seating facing the street and “Brooksville Doctors” mural on the back of the Hogan Law firm building.
CRA Executive Director Bill Geiger explained that the participating party agreement would be between three parties: the City of Brooksville, the CRA, Suntrust (the business partner associated with the agreement).
Normally the CRA provides up to $10,000 for the exterior grant program, but this particular project is a little bit different because they are doing a public amenity on the property that will be open and available to the public to use. Since the project would benefit the public Geiger stated it would be appropriate for the CRA to spend up to the full amount of the project cost roughly estimated at $30,000.
The CRA would be responsible for design and construction. The City of Brooksville would take over maintenance of the project and Suntrust provides the easement for public access.
As the agreement is written, Suntrust or a new owner of the property if the property is sold can remove the project and easement. If this occurs within 5 years Suntrust or the new property owner must fully reimburse the CRA.
Council members were in agreement that this provision needed to be changed. They felt that they would invest the full $30,000, but they were not comfortable losing this amount of money after 5 years. They felt a more appropriate amount of time would be 12 years.
Mayor Natalie Kahler stated, “There are not enough permanents to make that kind of investment.”
Council (acting in CRA capacity) moved to not accept the agreement and have staff modify it so that the owner or new owner guarantees easement for 12 years and if that is taken away then the CRA will be reimbursed the full amount invested.