Opa-locka CRA approves multiple commercial-rehab licenses, hires home‑rehab project managers and OKs microbusiness grant

The City of Opa-locka Community Redevelopment Agency voted March 11, 2025 to approve multiple commercial-rehabilitation license agreements, hire two project managers for a residential home-rehabilitation program and authorize a microbusiness grant, measures aimed at repair and façade improvements in the CRA district.

The matters were introduced by the agency attorney and explained by project manager Jerome and staff. The actions approved included license agreements for small businesses and façade/parking-lot work, a paint grant for an apartment renovation complex, two project-management contracts to run the residential rehab program, and authorization for a microbusiness grant under the agency’s commercial enhancement program.

Why it matters: The approved items fund small-scale building improvements, contractor oversight and a microbusiness grant that the agency says will remove blight, improve storefronts and accelerate larger private investment in the CRA area.

Most approvals were routine and passed by unanimous roll call votes of board members present. Project manager Jerome said the commercial-rehab items are principally paint, awning replacement and parking-lot resurfacing at corner properties on 20th Avenue and nearby properties. "The first resolution... I believe the name of the business is JRCV Joints on the corner of 20 Seventh," Jerome said, describing the scope as painting and parking-lot work.

Board member Kelly raised questions about assisting a privately owned apartment complex that was already undertaking a multi-million-dollar renovation. "When you're getting subsidies and assistance from the government already, and then we're gonna help them out with painting. Yeah. I have a concern with that," Kelly said. Executive Director Jason Walker and other board members said the CRA contribution would be modest — discussed figures were in the range of $18,000–$20,000 for remaining paint and related site work — and that most tenants are in subsidized units.

The board also approved project management services for the residential home-rehab program so staff can assign contractors and oversight. Staff said the program currently has 11 homes on a waiting list; the agency reported a temporary reduction of program funding from about $500,000 to about $250,000 after budget changes, and said it will add more applicants as funds are replenished.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 1 — License agreement: property described as 143449 Northwest 20 Seventh Avenue (commercial-rehab; paint and parking-lot work). Moved by Vice Chair Williams; seconded by Board Member Taylor. Vote: 6–0 — approved.

- Resolution 2 — License agreement: 1360 Shahrazad Boulevard (R Home Apartments; paint assistance for apartment complex). Moved by Board Member Irvin; seconded by Board Member Santiago. Vote: 6–0 — approved.

- Resolution 3 — License agreement: 2650 Alibaba Avenue (auto parts / cafeteria; paint, awning and parking). Moved by Board Member Taylor; seconded by Vice Chair Williams. Vote: 6–0 — approved.

- Resolution 4 — Project management services agreement: Palmetto Homes (residential home-rehab program; project manager Ariel Lunde). Moved by Board Member Taylor; seconded by Board Member Irvin. Vote: 5–0 — approved.

- Resolution 5 — Project management services agreement: Wrightwood Capital Group (project manager Abraham Mateus for residential home-rehab). Moved by Board Member Irvin; seconded by Board Member Santiago. Vote: 5–0 — approved.

- Microbusiness grant authorization — Basco Holdings LLC (262615 Alibaba Avenue; commercial enhancement paint). Moved by Vice Chair Williams; seconded by Board Member Taylor. Vote: 5–0 — approved.

- Item 7 (unspecified in packet) — Deferred to next meeting. Moved by Board Member Irvin; seconded by Vice Chair Williams. Vote: 5–0 — deferred.

Board discussion and clarifications centered on program scope and limits: staff confirmed contractor payments are paid directly to vendors (not to property owners or tenants), that the CRA requires multiple quotes and state approval for work before payment, and that the license agreements and grants are typically limited (staff cited figures of roughly $14,000–$20,000 for several small commercial projects). The board asked staff to include signed applications and specific dollar amounts in future meeting packets.

The meeting record shows the board attempted to balance quick exterior improvements (paint, awnings, parking-lot resurfacing) with oversight to avoid subsidizing projects already benefiting from other public funds.

Board members voting in favor on 6–0 items: Board Chair Russell; Vice Chair Williams; Board Members Kelly, Irvin, Taylor and Santiago. On 5–0 items Board Member Kelly had stepped away and was not recorded as voting.

Ending

Staff said it will post signs at projects, circulate grant and rehab application materials to residents, and return with the deferred item at the next meeting. The board directed staff to include more complete backup (applications and dollar amounts) in future packets so members can review before votes.