Former City Hall Park, Skinner Boulevard work, and advisory committee recommendations highlighted at CRA meeting

City staff on Sept. 18 updated the Community Redevelopment Agency on several downtown projects: the former City Hall site (now referred to as Old City Hall Park), Skinner Boulevard undergrounding and landscaping, and recent actions by the CRA advisory committee.

Why it matters: these projects shape downtown Dunedin’s public spaces, streetscape and parking; they affect local businesses, event planners and residents.

Former City Hall Park. Carolyn Homer, economic development specialist, said plans for the Former City Hall site have advanced and the renovation package will go out for bid Sept. 26, with bids returned in October. Staff described ongoing punch-list work, recent fence maintenance to improve appearance, and preparations so the site can transition from temporary uses to its intended park function. Martin Wade said the general contractor will build a foundation for a prefabricated restroom; the contractor’s schedule includes approximately 120 days for foundation, site work and landscaping. A prefabricated restroom vendor proposal will be presented to the commission with the contractor’s bid; the commission will decide whether the restroom moves forward.

Skinner Boulevard. Staff reported progress on the Skinner Boulevard undergrounding segment. A previously announced award to KCI Construction Services (underground electrical work) remains pending Duke Energy completing its portion before final contractor mobilization. Landscaping tree types for spring planting remain to be determined; staff expects plans by the end of the month.

Barrier removal and staging. The former City Hall site remains under lease for approximately six months; staff said barriers will remain until contractor mobilization and that timing will influence when the public can again use the area.

CRA advisory committee activity. Alan McHale, chair of the CRA advisory committee, reported the committee has approved the Main Street Exchange retail/parking concept and the Tapas El Turco project. At its most recent meeting the committee unanimously recommended allowing food trucks without day- or time-of-day restrictions, provided trucks meet licensing, insurance and ordinance requirements; McHale said the committee favored marketplace-driven decisions over prescriptive day/time limits. McHale also described a citizen comment about perceived slow progress on the Old City Hall site; committee members said staff and committee recognize the number of concurrent downtown projects and the resources required to advance them.

Other notes. Staff said Main Street Exchange items will go to the Architectural Review Committee on Oct. 7; Ocean Optics/Main Street Exchange and gateway area work are proceeding as Skinner and other site work completes. Commissioners asked for additional briefings on planned circulation changes near the park (a proposed conversion to a two-way street on a segment) and clarification on golf-cart crossings and FDOT coordination for Skinner and Highland approaches.

What happens next: former City Hall renovation will be bid Sept. 26 with contractor selection expected in October; restroom vendor proposal and contractor pricing will return to the commission for a go/no-go decision on installation.