Palatka CRA delays appraisal, awaits Port Consolidated remediation progress

The City of Palatka Community Redevelopment Agency voted to defer commissioning an updated commercial appraisal or advancing disposition actions for the Port Consolidated property until remediation work and related mediation milestones progress further.

Commissioners discussed the site’s remediation status after the city’s presentation that milestone 3—an approved remedial plan or strategy—had not been fully met. The city attorney and staff told commissioners the remediation and mediation process is an approximately two‑year effort already under way; staff also noted the CRA had applied for a $75,000 Florida Department of Commerce technical assistance grant to support an environmental assessment, remediation design and a gateway redevelopment plan for longer-term reuse.

Board members raised questions about whether an updated appraisal was warranted while remediation was ongoing. Staff reported that the most recent appraisal on the property is less than a year old and that commissioning a new appraisal would cost several thousand dollars. One commissioner moved to delay further appraisal and substantive disposition steps until remediation is completed; the motion was seconded and the board approved it with a standard “all in favor” voice vote recorded in the minutes.

Staff said the pending Commerce grant, if awarded, would support a consultant-led redevelopment study that could include updated remediation milestones, environmental assessment and outreach to potential economic development partners. The board asked staff to continue providing updates as remediation and mediation advance and to return with recommendations once milestone progress is clearer.