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Council directs staff to seek waiver after single $3.2M bid for Wilson Park amphitheater; grant shortfall remains
Summary
Bidders returned a single response of about $3.2 million for the Wilson Park amphitheater, far above the city’s $750,000 CDBG allocation (plus a $150,000 TDC match). The council authorized staff to request a waiver from Florida Commerce to seek additional grant funds while exploring alternatives.
Lake City officials on Sept. 17 discussed the stalled Wilson Park amphitheater project funded by a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The project attracted one bid at about $3.2 million, creating a substantial shortfall against the city’s $750,000 CDBG award and a $150,000 Columbia County Tourist Development Council match.
Why it matters: The project has been in development for years. The single, substantially higher bid triggered questions about design complexity (the stage is planned over water), environmental review requirements, permitting and whether to seek additional funds; the current open grant prevents the city from applying for other CDBG housing grants until the matter is resolved.
Bidding, environmental and schedule constraints: Staff and the grant administrator, Fred Fox Enterprises, told the council procurement followed standard practice and that potential bidders cited the design’s complexity and over-water construction as reasons for limited response. Environmental reviews — including coordination with state water-management authorities — and redesign cycles contributed to delays. The project must meet HUD/Florida Commerce deadlines; Florida Commerce indicated a waiver request for additional funds would take about 60 days to review.
Council guidance: After public comment urging the city to abandon the project and reallocate funds (public commenters said the grant’s continued open status limits other housing grants), council members directed staff to submit a waiver request to Florida Commerce seeking additional CDBG funds for the current design. Councilmembers also discussed a potential redesign that would move the stage off the water, which would likely reduce cost but require new environmental review and several months’ delay.
Funding and next steps: The city has drawn only a small portion of the $750,000 award to date (roughly $30,000 in reimbursements reported). If the waiver is denied, options include redesigning the project to reduce complexity, seeking alternative funding, or forfeiting the grant (which would restore eligibility for future applications). Staff will submit the waiver request and report back on responses and options.
Ending: The council authorized staff to file the waiver request and to continue evaluating design and procurement options; public commenters and some council members urged reconsideration and cautioned against tying up grant eligibility for housing projects.
