[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6578029,"mediaKeyId","3081453-d34250fe12f8e55ddebfb9c93c471bc3","parentId",3081453,"title","Ocala Downtown CRA advisory committee elects officers, approves grant-review guidelines and names committee chair","audioSeconds",2674,"startMs",96000,"endMs",2770000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3081453-d34250fe12f8e55ddebfb9c93c471bc3&start=96&end=2770","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3081453-d34250fe12f8e55ddebfb9c93c471bc3/thumbnail_96000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6578029/Ocala/Marion-County/Florida/Ocala-Downtown-CRA-advisory-committee-elects-officers-approves-grant-review-guidelines-and-names-committee-chair","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6578029-60fe59956bd4b78cb8c150506485e7c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140273&Signature=EZRnoCqNpbAEDDT8jaiZnYpgjK23zmCK~K0BKb-Esycu74hGqSwlUulzXTyXmJGy8WWA-d8x9wp8xSXo1t8aPn65XbfdIRVYLya45UelRvId5P4zV7YGvKZpPXzZso9gJ0qfwwblOGgeuuQTqdRdpqL~iNL-2KcHb-i~n4UfTa4CC9B4yHnwbmsL0Y6KJILxk-uth0vS66A3muJNVHVZ2TtnYkdgkZd6HYlkj6ZQ95whfwgf8ww3X1RMmOJcgzarEx8AfnHmvfRKg7wwebTHQOKU4ShYWXcp4X~WVf2mNuG5qmwISpKub31OSwgqHdIMDKkUlABTk3JrVjJdh8tq~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ocala","date","2025-04-22T00:00:00Z","article","During the April 16 meeting the Downtown CRA advisory committee conducted routine business and adopted new governance steps intended to streamline grant reviews.

The committee approved the minutes from the prior meeting following a motion to accept the minutes with necessary corrections. By unanimous consent the committee then elected its officers for the year: committee member Ted Seth was selected as chair and Dr. Rella was selected as vice chair. The transcript records the motions and a voice vote of \"Aye\" for the chair/vice-chair election.

The committee also reviewed and approved written guidance for a grant review committee intended to expedite review of facade and other small grant applications. A member moved to accept the grant review committee guidelines and the motion was seconded; the committee passed the guidelines without opposition. The new guidance names a grant-review chair and vice chair who will be the first point of contact for site visits and initial applicant discussions.

Committee members then selected a representative to serve as chair of the grant review committee. Committee member Tamara York was nominated and the nomination was seconded; the motion passed unopposed. The advisory committee did not record a roll-call vote count in the minutes beyond noting the motion passed. Staff said the city will provide the committee with committee‑training materials and a calendar invite for a CRA board and committee training session to be scheduled in the coming weeks.

No public commenters addressed the advisory committee at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Ocala - Downtown Ocala Redevelopment Advisory Committee - Apr 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The advisory committee approved minutes, elected officers and adopted formal guidance for a grant review subcommittee; committee members selected Tamara York as chair of the new grant-review committee.","taxTitle","Ocala, Marion County, Florida","taxId",4898,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6578033,"Ocala CRA reports 18% rise in tax increment revenue, suspends new-construction incentive during budget review",586,1644000,2230000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3081453-d34250fe12f8e55ddebfb9c93c471bc3&start=1644&end=2230","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3081453-d34250fe12f8e55ddebfb9c93c471bc3/thumbnail_1644000.jpg","/articles/6578033/Ocala/Marion-County/Florida/Ocala-CRA-reports-18-rise-in-tax-increment-revenue-suspends-new-construction-incentive-during-budget-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6578033-7b270bf4f92bd2d821159d548e2b7f58/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140273&Signature=nkRPVSeWvBDudPoD6rrCXQxSBMLjJr~FiN7yFBTwjg7kQUx2E8lBlSnri1MYmHvTWzrNk98sUZWmVm125ttPeTmdP4K9-sgL38-Y~0Fj-bLjtVtbpmfymTL6ezMqmWwz-eBVfqqPzoHQhcnmtRcWL9ZeySJrdAfq~KwSIHMG7~pPVWCQ46nxnX1T2aFyMH7Op4G1grCF280STbieLj6R7iF3FW30h7T-7SXAIvVk8n2JwOAwVFZ-ay0pU7MbEIPE1y1Nk~dQk9mfY8O9ZEFqghcRlBIITtC7h00FbIKribtbfQAxL5EQrFgPqENOH95WSo5nCUmer7KMquuRpdYOKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","CRA staff presented the Downtown Community Redevelopment Area annual report and budget priorities to the advisory committee on April 16 and said tax increment revenue increased approximately 18% year over year.

The staff presentation said tax increment revenue rose from $722,883 in the prior year to $852,230 in the most recent accounting period. The packet also listed $68,150 in reimbursements awarded across three completed projects and $161,833 in capital investment reported from property owners for completed projects.

As part of the budget review, staff said the downtown CRA has suspended applications for the new-construction incentive grant (downtown CRA only) while it evaluates funding priorities and possible incentive packages for several large proposed developments, including Lincoln Square and other developer inquiries the city is discussing with private partners. \"At the position that the downtown CRA is in, our best incentive is going to be a TIF reimbursement,\" a staff member said, adding the CRA is not cash heavy and will evaluate packages within available funding.

Staff listed current developer commitments that will continue to be funded from CRA funds under existing agreements: the Forge (Rising Commons), the Hilton Garden Inn, District Bar & Kitchen, Mellow Mushroom and Brick City projects. Committee members asked for clarity about outstanding commitments and the time horizon for payments; staff said some agreements include long-term payment schedules. In one example staff described as part of a downtown motel agreement, payments are structured for roughly 10 years and run close to 2038; staff described the payment formula as tied to 70% of certain annual tax receipts under the developer agreement.

Committee members also asked why operating expenses rose from FY 2023 to FY 2024; staff attributed most of the increase to added staff time devoted to projects, a new staff hire and higher operating costs such as dues, training and project promotion.

Staff told the committee the CRA has approximately 13 years remaining for the downtown CRA term and that the advisory body is positioning funds for land acquisition and streetscape projects to maximize benefits over that period. Staff noted funds are already committed to the named developer agreements and that future incentives would have to be sized to the CRA's projected revenues and reserves.

\"Those projects will continue...and then if there are all the CIPs that we need to focus on, we'll take those on each year as well,\" a staff member said during the meeting.","CRA staff reported an 18% year-over-year increase in tax increment revenue and told the advisory committee they will suspend new-construction incentive grant applications for downtown while the CRA budget and potential incentive packages for several large projects are evaluated.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6578037,"Ocala downtown parking garage, hotel and related projects advance; businesses warned of rolling closures",335,362000,697000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3081453-d34250fe12f8e55ddebfb9c93c471bc3&start=362&end=697","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3081453-d34250fe12f8e55ddebfb9c93c471bc3/thumbnail_362000.jpg","/articles/6578037/Ocala/Marion-County/Florida/Ocala-downtown-parking-garage-hotel-and-related-projects-advance-businesses-warned-of-rolling-closures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6578037-423342ab1457048aa83bd54db45a2af3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140273&Signature=mW2L-Izfivo4NireepU6Q0yGD8B5DgumJLtr8hHNwxqVdi~kO3pPd5ECnCO3hT5oIwMd1Yd3ft4vkRwlRxazT32vYWFd7BrpSYsHrwVLXQIDEpmiXHgMZft~tD7B454T~Qu3S8bsoVgIDEJf0uyxT5n2RgU8qQj3xIunnnv8Wr3YQDmDKQlYyTUFRBhjprcBsuzvZEfHQ6uFyTc94dpq25-SGjcNzZzK~xiVTbFKEdA8mEj2uPHXhQ0W01M337M2MqRAcCy~KGQn~M95APFmSgNBn7v8rkMFoBpc4gDxcGJilK341TqjGMtyakiwsrbSSdzATPCYwbOvVdMXE35sAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City of Ocala staff told the Downtown Community Redevelopment Advisory Committee on April 16 that multiple downtown construction projects — including a new parking garage tied to a hotel development — are moving forward on schedule but will require extended site preparation, intermittent road closures and heavy truck traffic that will affect adjacent businesses.

Charlita Whitehead, economic development and cultural arts projects coordinator, said the site-preparation phase for the new parking garage and the adjacent AC/Marriott hotel will continue through fall 2025, with foundations placed from fall into winter, precast erection from winter into spring 2026 and remaining work into summer 2026. \"They're starting the site prep phase... you'll start seeing a little bit more activity there in the next couple of weeks,\" Whitehead said.

The city warned of a permanent road closure for the length of construction on Broadway between Second and Third streets and additional rolling closures elsewhere downtown. Whitehead said contractors expect more than 1,200 truckloads of materials, some deliveries on tractor-trailers more than 100 feet long, and that a shared construction-management team is coordinating both the hotel and parking-garage sites to reduce disruption.

Eric Smith, senior transportation project administrator in Ocala Growth Management, described interim measures to keep businesses accessible: new millings and striping on Third Avenue to improve ADA access, temporary signage rerouting customers to alternate lots, and supplemental asphalt patches to stabilize pedestrian paths. Smith said the city may complete final paving itself rather than delay businesses while the hotel contractor finishes a planned water connection under the roadway.

Whitehead and Smith described design features planned for the garage: roughly 800–805 additional public parking spaces; a flat-floor layout to improve sight lines for passive security; electric vehicle charging stations; security camera coverage and regular security patrols; and two elevator shafts, with one elevator bank to be dedicated to hotel valet access on the top levels. Whitehead said the top one or two floors will serve hotel parking/valet operations, reducing cross‑use with general public parking.

The city also said project teams are considering a memorial or commemorative element for Mount Moriah on a portion of the site that previously housed a church; the final concept and placement had not been decided at the meeting. Whitehead said renderings of the parking garage are available and that hotel renderings exist but were not on hand at the meeting; she offered to provide those to advisory committee members.

Staff said the city is coordinating with Ocala Main Street and with a construction-management contractor (identified in the meeting as Tom Fyle's team) to post schedules, presentation decks and videos on the city's website under the downtown construction management section, and to maintain regular outreach to affected businesses through William Spinney, outreach manager for Growth Management.

Committee members asked whether the new garage would charge for parking; Whitehead said rates had not been finalized and that the city had not received a confirmed price point. She noted some downtown lots where pay stations were installed recently have been held in reserve (not activated) during construction to provide additional free capacity to businesses. \"Just because of the added stress and pressure on the parking, they've decided to keep those lots free at least during the construction,\" she said.

The advisory committee was also updated on related downtown projects during the same meeting: the Hilton Garden Inn project is in a final set of improvements and is scheduled for completion in September 2025; the Forge at Rising Commons (a multi-vendor event/food hall) is expected to open in August 2025; and other streetscape and site improvements (Third Avenue paving, sidewalk work and a planned road diet) are being phased to reduce disruption to businesses. Smith said the corridor work is likely to be substantially complete within about two months of the meeting, although some decorative sidewalk and finishing work will continue.

The city repeatedly emphasized communication and signage to reduce business impacts. Whitehead said the city and contractors will try to coordinate large deliveries and crane moves to serve both the hotel and garage sites and \"use that one team that's doing the management for both sites... to hopefully maintain some order.\"","City staff and developers told the Downtown CRA advisory committee that a new parking garage and Marriott/Hilton hotel project are on schedule but will require extended site prep, rolling road closures and heavy truck traffic that will affect nearby businesses through 2025–26.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Ocala Downtown CRA advisory committee elects officers, approves grant-review guidelines and names committee chair

Ocala CRA reports 18% rise in tax increment revenue, suspends new-construction incentive during budget review

Ocala downtown parking garage, hotel and related projects advance; businesses warned of rolling closures