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CRA staff reports: pier parking-lot work, Lakeland Plaza timeline uncertain; hotel raised complaint about adjacent lot
Summary
CRA staff briefed the board on ongoing downtown projects including pier parking-lot demolition and hardscape phase 1, Lakeland Plaza design timeframe, signage strategy and Hampton Park, and received a public comment from a hotel sales director about dumpsters and debris at the lot next to SpringHill Suites.
CRA staff provided project updates on Jan. 15, reporting that work at the pier parking lot has progressed to removal of the dumpster enclosure and issuance of a purchase order for hardscaping and driveway work. Staff said public-works contractors will remove the existing enclosure, pour a new concrete pad at the north end of the lot and place dumpsters inside a finished cinder-block enclosure that will be suitable for a future public-art mural.
Taylor told the board that a purchase order for phase 1 hardscaping had been issued and that a site visit with DEP (Florida Department of Environmental Protection) will be scheduled as required by the project permit conditions. "As soon as DEP has come and seen the site and we get their thumbs up, we are good to start construction," Taylor said.
Board members asked about Lakeland Plaza and whether construction would begin this year; staff said the bid package is still under preparation and that construction scheduling depends on the procurement process and bid responses. "Once we have bids, we can better estimate timing," Taylor said, adding that bid openings would likely be 60 days and then contractor ranking and approvals follow.
During the courtesy-of-the-floor public comment period, Samantha Pritchard, director of sales at the SpringHill Suites Jax Beach Oceanfront Hotel, told the board rubbish and two overflowing dumpsters next to the hotel’s neighboring lot were affecting guest experience. "As of this week, we've also seen the addition of two overflowing dumpsters added in front of that fence, and it's beginning to impact our guest experience," Pritchard said. Staff told the board they would address the lot in the staff-report portion and provide an update.
Taylor also briefed the board on signage and Hampton Park improvements and said staff will provide a separate chart on public-works infrastructure projects at the next meeting. The board asked staff to continue coordinating with parks, the police department and public works on project timing and public communications.
