Martin County CRA presents FY2025 Q2 report; New Monrovia Park design advances

Martin County Office of Community Development staff delivered the fiscal year 2025 second-quarter CRA report April 28, outlining project status across Golden Gate, Hope Sound, Jensen Beach, Port Salerno (New Monrovia), Old Palm City, Rio and countywide CRA activities. The advisory body voted to receive the report.

"Good afternoon. Jana Cox from the Office of Community Development here to present the fiscal year 20 25 second quarter report," said Jana Cox as she opened the presentation. The report summarized active capital projects, design milestones and permit and valuation trends countywide.

Why this matters: the CRA program directs local infrastructure and redevelopment investments in historically disadvantaged neighborhoods. The report shows construction and design steps that move projects toward public bidding, grant applications and public improvements.

Key project highlights

- Golden Gate: Staff reported progress on septic-to-sewer conversions (total parcels: 775; connected: 539, roughly 70% connected) and streetscape work including El Camino mobilization and a landscape vision pilot on Dixie Highway and Birch Avenue. Cox said the Golden Gate neighborhood-improvement concept will be used as a model for other CRAs and to pursue grant funding.

- Hope Sound: The area saw private and public activity including the relocation and reinstallation of the Hope Sound historic train station, new outdoor seating at a brewery, a planting project at the Boyard site and Banner Lake lighting — "we finally got 48 new lights installed," Cox said, noting a multi-year effort.

- Jensen Beach / Old Palm City and Cornell Avenue: CapTech (engineer) is preparing conceptual streetscape plans for Cornell Avenue after an initial RFP was deemed nonresponsive and reissued. Staff confirmed the new bids will be opened May 7.

- Port Salerno / New Monrovia: New Monrovia neighborhood improvements reached 60% design, with unpaved roads designs at 30% completion and a completed lighting study. Joy Puerta, community development program manager, presented the park concept: a shaded playground, widened basketball court (66 feet by 110 feet to support a regulated 50-by-94-foot court), six heavy‑duty hoops, accessible sidewalks, benches and bike racks. Puerta said swings will be replaced with covered modern swing sets meeting current standards and that the project is expected to go to public bid because the estimated cost is above $300,000 (staff noted approximately $500,000 at current estimates).

- Rio: Complete-streets planning for Dixie Highway is under way, infill sewer connections continue and four bench/bike-rack locations were selected. Staff reported concept planning for a civic center redesign on properties previously acquired by the CRA.

CRA-wide and permitting trends: staff noted countywide permit percentages were largely comparable to the prior year. Port Salerno showed an uptick in permits and valuation tied to tornado/hurricane rebuilds (roofing, doors, windows). River Club and other commercial activity increased commercial-permit counts, and one large home in Rio contributed to valuation increases.

Questions and community input

Resident Gary Erler of Port Salerno asked whether the New Monrovia lighting and park shading work are funded through CIP, NAC or CRA funds and whether park redesigns would include features for children with autism. Erler asked, "Is that CIP money? Is that, NAC, CRA money?" Puerta and staff said the lighting study and grant processes involve multiple departments and grant paperwork (DEP) and that accessible routes and an adaptive/handicap swing are in the current design; additional inclusive equipment may be considered after final design and depending on budget.

Formal action

A motion to receive the quarterly report was made and seconded; the advisory body voted "Aye" and the motion carried. (The motion and vote were recorded in the meeting minutes; no individual vote tallies were named during the roll call.)

Background and next steps

Staff said Golden Gate's notice to proceed arrived late in the prior quarter and El Camino construction has begun. Cornell Avenue design work will return to the community for input; the Port Salerno septic-to-sewer grant paperwork is pending County Commission signature and staff estimated bidding and community outreach could take roughly four months after grant execution. New Monrovia Park will be bid as a project expected to exceed county procurement thresholds; NAC requested construction be scheduled after the October festival.

Puerta closed the park update noting, "We are anticipating to go out to bid with this project since it's going to be over the $300,000 price tag. I think it's closer to about 500,000 right now." The advisory meeting then moved to other agenda items.

Ending: Staff invited follow-up questions and offered to bring more detailed utility or public-works briefings to future NAC meetings as projects advance.