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Ocala CRA approves multiple property-improvement grants and appoints downtown advisory member
Summary
At its June 17 meeting, the City of Ocala Community Redevelopment Area Agency Board approved five property-improvement grants covering window replacements, a reroof and commercial repairs in West Ocala and North Magnolia, and appointed Bradford Harper to the Downtown CRA advisory committee through March 1, 2029.
The City of Ocala Community Redevelopment Area Agency Board approved five property-improvement grants and appointed a downtown advisory committee member at its meeting on June 17, 2025.
Economic development manager Roberto Ellis presented each grant request; staff recommended approval on all items and the board voted to approve each measure during the consent agenda.
The most detailed items involved two residential window-replacement requests in the West Ocala CRA subarea. Ellis said the first request covers replacement of original windows at 1117 Northwest Eleventh Avenue; the home’s windows are original to a house the presentation described as more than 35 years old. The board approved that grant by voice roll call (Ayes recorded from Board members Bethea, Hilty and Dreyer).
A second West Ocala residential request involves a house constructed in 1957 with 16 windows; Ellis said the property qualifies for the program's maximum grant of $20,000 based on submitted quotes and that the owner previously received a roof-replacement grant. The board approved that grant (roll-call Ayes recorded for DeHolte, Bethea and an attendee transcribed as Scribe).
In the North Magnolia CRA subarea, Autobody Contractor Incorporated requested funds to install a perimeter fence and repair a parking lot. The presentation, made on behalf of the company by Mark Schafer, said the request qualifies for an award of $17,511 under the current grant cap; the board approved the award (Ayes recorded for Bethea, Hilty and Dreyer).
Also in North Magnolia, BJ Trophies requested facade repairs and replacement of exterior lighting. Roberto Ellis noted BJ Trophies had received a previous CRA award in 2016 for $1,175. The company's representative, Mister Hershberger, is a member of the North Magnolia advisory committee and did not vote because of the conflict; the advisory committee and staff recommended approval and the board approved the current request (Ayes recorded for DeHolte, Bethea and Dreyer).
Back in West Ocala, the board approved a residential reroof request converting a shingle roof to a metal roof; Ellis said the roof was last replaced in 2008 and has sustained damage over time. The advisory committee and staff recommended approval and the board voted yes (Ayes recorded for DeHolte, Bethea and Dreyer).
On Item 5F, the board approved the appointment of Bradford Harper to the Downtown Ocala CRA Advisory Committee. Ellis said there are two vacancies on the committee, one recent resignation and one member who did not seek reappointment; staff recommended Harper, described in the record as a downtown business owner with more than 30 years of experience in the food-service industry, to serve through March 1, 2029. The board approved the appointment (Ayes recorded for Hilty, Bethea and Dreyer).
All items were presented on the consent agenda and the board adjourned after the approvals.
