Fort Lauderdale CRA Board Meeting - February 18, 2025
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Fort Lauderdale Community Redevelopment Agency Board Meeting
On February 18, 2025, the Fort Lauderdale Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board met to consider resolutions including a Fourth Avenue Complete Street project extension, a $6 million forgivable loan for affordable housing, and early loan forgiveness for the YMCA. All items were approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Troy Liggan, President of the Middle River Terrace Neighborhood Association, spoke on Resolution R1 (Fourth Avenue Complete Street project). He criticized delays, stating the project—two blocks of sidewalk—took four years and remained under construction for 1.5 years. He noted that the contractor took the full 270 days with no penalty for finishing just before the deadline, and that lighting installation was delayed due to a missed contract with FPL. He urged future contracts include performance milestones and penalties.
Discussion Items
- R1 – Fourth Avenue Complete Street Project Extension: Staff explained that the sidewalk portion was completed within the original contract period, but lighting installation was not included in that scope. An FPL agreement was initiated but never executed due to project manager turnover and COVID-related delays. The project now requires an additional year to contract lighting via a separate solicitation. The extension does not request additional grant funds from Broward County, but lighting costs have increased from an estimated $106,000 (FPL) to $165,000 (lowest bid from formal solicitation). The CRA may need to identify additional funding. The resolution passed unanimously.
- R2 – SJC Systrunk LLC $6 Million Forgivable Loan: Applicant Sean Jones offered to add five more affordable housing units (at 120% or less AMI), bringing the total to 19 affordable units out of 121 (15.7%). Commissioners noted the property currently houses a convenience store that has been an eyesore; Jones committed to closing it before construction begins. The loan is reimbursed during construction on a pari passu basis. The resolution passed unanimously.
- R3 – YMCA Early Loan Forgiveness: The board approved forgiveness of a $10 million loan to the YMCA of South Florida, effective December 31, 2024. Commissioners praised the success of the facility and noted it will free up resources for a future YMCA in Holiday Park. The resolution passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- R1: Approved unanimously (5-0). The CRA will seek a one-year extension of the interlocal agreement with Broward County and fund lighting separately.
- R2: Approved unanimously (5-0). Loan terms amended to include 19 affordable units; developer must close the existing convenience store before receiving funds.
- R3: Approved unanimously (5-0). Loan forgiven; promissory note cancelled and mortgage satisfied.
- M1: Minutes of January 22, 2025 CRA board meeting approved unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everybody, and uh welcome to the uh back to the city commission. We're gonna begin our uh community redevelopment agency board meeting. And uh Mr. Clerk, if you could please call the role Commissioner Herbst, Vice Chair Glassman? Yeah, Commissioner Beasley Pittman? Yeah, Commissioner Sorensen. Here, Chair Trentals. Here we have a full attendance. So start with our agenda. Uh M1 motion approving minutes for the January 22nd, 2025, community redevelopment agency board meeting minutes. Someone would like to move that item. So moved. Do I hear second? Second. Moving seconded, please call the roll. Commissioner Beasley Pittman. Yes. Commissioner Sorensen. Yes. Commissioner Herbst? Yes. Vice Chair Glossman? Yes. Chair Trentellus. Uh yes. So uh M1 is now approved. R1. So resolution approving a second amendment to the interlocal agreement for the Fourth Avenue Complete Street Project between Broward County, the City of Fort Lauderdale, and the Fort Laureal Community Community Redevelopment Agency. Uh anyone have any questions with regard to that item? Uh there being none, would someone like to introduce the resolution? Introduced. The resolution's been introduced. Please call the role. A resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Fort Lauderdale Community Redevelopment Agency approving a second amendment to an interlocal agreement among Broward County, the City of Fort Lauderdale, and the City of Fort Lauderdale Community Redevelopment Agency to extend the turn of the term of the local of the interlocal agreement and provided for an effective date. Commissioner Beasley Pittman. Yes. Commissioner Sorensen. Oh, hold on, hold on, hold on. Hold on. Sorry. Before we take the vote. Okay. We have a person who signed up to speak. Um Troy. Sorry, Troy. That's okay. It's been a long day. That's okay. It's been a long day, and I know you have a long evening, so I'll be quick. No, it's okay.
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