CRA opens RFP for 139 North Ridgewood Drive and agrees in concept to all-office use pending negotiated milestones

The Sebring Community Redevelopment Agency opened a 30-day solicitation for redevelopment of 139 North Ridgewood Drive and signaled support in principle for converting the building to 100% commercial office use, while asking staff to negotiate measurable performance milestones before formalizing the change.

Why it matters: The property is a long-vacant, multi-story downtown building whose final use — restaurant, mixed-use or office — could influence downtown foot traffic, retail demand and the speed of the building’s rehabilitation. Board members pressed the developer and management company for data on projected occupancy and asked staff to return with measurable performance metrics.

What the board decided: The CRA approved a motion to re-advertise 139 North Ridgewood Drive and to open a 30-day RFP period with a selection committee comprised of David Bridal, Rachel Levitt and Tracy McCoy. Separately, after extended discussion, the board voted to be “amenable” to converting the building to 100% commercial office use; members clarified that the conversion and any related contract amendments would be negotiated and returned to the board with specific milestones and measurable performance requirements before final approval.

Discussion highlights and positions - Developer status and timing: Robert Blackman (presenting project updates) described ongoing site work — plumbing zones, electrical power restoration, elevator evaluation, AC parts ordered and planned pressure-washing and pointing work — and said interior build-out work was scheduled to start with an architect and that the developer had been given a July 28 interior build-out target and was told by the management company that a year-end completion was possible. Blackman framed the decision as a timing and feasibility issue: shifting uses could accelerate construction but would change the original contract scope.

- Office conversion proposal from management company: Representatives of a national co-working/managed office operator (described during the meeting as having a Lakeland location with rapid early occupancy) told CRA staff they saw demand in the market for 27,000–31,000 square feet of managed office product regionally and could occupy two upper floors and the reception/amenity spaces on the first floor. Board members asked for the operator’s occupancy data and scan/foot-traffic metrics to substantiate the demand claims.

- Board concerns about conversion: Multiple board members said they were open to the idea of an office anchor but wanted written, proprietary data and measurable performance triggers. One board member said, “I don't love the idea of having it all commercial... I would love to see the data in front of me,” and another emphasized the risk of adding more vacant commercial space if local demand was overestimated. Several members favored splitting uses (office on upper floors; retail or multiple small storefronts on the first floor) as an alternative.

- Developer’s position: Blackman said a change to all office would remove some technical complications (utility split, submetering and firewall work), potentially speeding construction. He also warned that delaying the decision could push back the architect’s start date and the anticipated interior build-out timetable; he requested board direction to proceed with office-based design work if the board favored that concept.

Next steps and conditions: The CRA directed staff to collect specific data requests from the board and present a negotiated amendment that included milestones, timelines and measurable performance criteria (for example, occupancy thresholds and deadlines). Staff will solicit comments from board members and consolidate them for negotiation with the developer and management company; any final amendment will return to the CRA for approval.

Speakers quoted or referenced in the discussion include Robert Blackman (project presenter), board members David Bridal, Rachel Levitt and Tracy McCoy, and representatives of the prospective office operator and other downtown proposers. The CRA encouraged submissions for the 30-day RFP and noted that re-advertisement does not bind the agency to accept any proposal.

Ending: The CRA endorsed the concept of office-driven redevelopment for 139 North Ridgewood Drive while reserving the right to require contractual performance measures; staff will post the RFP, gather board data requests, negotiate milestones with the developer and bring a formal amendment back to the board for approval.