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Lynn Haven to seek $11.7 million CDBG grant to expand Florida, Ohio Avenue corridor project
Summary
City staff told commissioners a May application to the CDBG Small Cities Grant Program would request $11,715,000 to add landscaping, streetscape, ADA and electrical improvements to three blocks on Florida Avenue and five on Ohio Avenue; $4.3 million is already secured and the city would phase work if the grant is not awarded.
Lynn Haven city staff said they will submit an application in May to the CDBG Small Cities Grant Program requesting $11,715,000 to expand a downtown corridor improvement project that already has $4.3 million secured.
The application seeks funding to add landscaping, streetscape, ADA accessibility upgrades and electrical improvements across three city blocks on Florida Avenue and five blocks on Ohio Avenue, with a particular focus on the Ohio Avenue and Ninth Street intersection, city staff told the City Commission during a second public hearing.
City staff said the expanded scope was developed after architects refined the plans and produced higher cost estimates than the 2020 submission. "The additional cost, the the grant amount that we're asking for is $11,715,000," said Mister Jankiw, a city staff member. He said the total current estimate for the project is about $16,000,000 including previously secured funding.
"This project once this project is awarded, it is about 365 days for construction," Jankiw said when asked about the construction timeline. He described the planned work as changes to road surfaces, parking and sidewalks, plus landscaping and streetscape elements intended to improve downtown’s appearance and economic environment.
City staff told commissioners the $4.3 million already secured covers phase 1 and that the city will proceed with improvements using that funding even if the larger grant is not awarded. "However, we have to obviously, we won't be able to do this for the entire corridor, so we have to cut it up into phases," Jankiw said, describing a phased approach that could start with one or two city blocks on Florida Avenue and continue as funds become available. He said the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and other grant opportunities could help address shortfalls.
Commissioners asked for clarification about what the secured $4.3 million would cover and whether the additional grant funding would be strictly additive; staff repeatedly confirmed the additional request would supplement the existing funds and that the city would scale or phase work if the grant is not awarded. The application is available for public review at City Hall’s front desk, staff said.
No formal commission vote was taken at the hearing. City staff said they planned to submit the application to the state in May and would return to the commission with updates on grant decisions and phasing plans.
Details provided during the hearing indicate the project emphasizes downtown appearance and economic vitality while adding ADA accessibility; the hearing record does not specify construction start dates beyond the stated 365-day construction duration if the expanded project is funded.
