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City staff updates East Ocala CRA on sidewalks, skate-park expansion and redevelopment plans for brewery block
Summary
City transportation and economic development staff reported completed sidewalk work on NE Third Street, pending skate-park expansion negotiations, FDOT SR 40 resurfacing that removes planned aesthetic pavement markings, and an upcoming ITN to redevelop fire-station parcels near the Midtown Brewery.
City staff provided updates on transportation projects, streetscape priorities and a redevelopment solicitation at the East Ocala CRA advisory committee meeting.
Eric Smith, senior transportation project administrator, reported that Northeast Third Street sidewalk improvements tied to repurposing the old fire station (now Midtown Brewery) are complete, including new sidewalks and added on-street parking; staff said the next phase may add a mid-block crosswalk to improve access to Tuscaloosa. Smith also said negotiations for a skate-park expansion (adding a snake run, intermediate and large bowls, and a beginner bowl to the existing roughly 10,000-square-foot facility) are in final negotiation with an intended council submittal on the 4th of next month, after which construction can proceed.
On State Road 40 (SR 40) improvements, Smith reported FDOT plans to resurface and restripe the road and add pedestrian signage, but that FDOT withdrew permission for colored or decorative pavement markings under a new design bulletin. City staff said they will pursue off-site or adjacent improvements to highlight pedestrian safety and are coordinating with local programs and partners on alternative treatments.
Economic development staff described plans to issue an Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) for city-owned parcels that were part of the old fire station block. The parcels are listed as catalytic redevelopment sites in the Midtown master plan; staff said the completed Midtown Brewery project has made surrounding parcels more attractive and that the ITN will solicit mixed-use redevelopment proposals for the adjacent parcels in the coming month.
Staff also explained how sidewalk projects are prioritized through a trip-fund list that allocates funding annually based on ADA needs, remaining life of existing sidewalks and right-of-way constraints. Committee members asked about funding, design requirements and how CRA funds can be allocated to particular streetscape or wayfinding work; staff said CRA funds can contribute to signage, lighting and landscaping as long as projects are coordinated through engineering and design work is in place.
Finally, staff said they will bring wayfinding and signage work into the Tuscaloosa master plan and the Vision 2050 report alignment, and will prepare package materials to use CRA funds for design and implementation once the master-plan direction is finalized.
