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Ocala CRA approves West Ocala home grants amid conflict-of-interest concerns over surplus-lot purchases
Summary
The CRA board approved multiple West Ocala residential property improvement grants, including two homes tied to a surplus-lot affordable-housing program, while a council member pressed staff to tighten eligibility rules because advisory-committee members had purchased surplus lots and later applied for grants.
The Ocala CRA Agency Board on Nov. 4 approved a set of West Ocala residential property improvement grants intended to convert surplus lots into affordable housing, while also instructing staff to consider policy changes after a council member raised conflict-of-interest concerns.
Economic Development Manager Roberto Ellis summarized the West Ocala projects: one application from Linda Wilkerson to replace a damaged fence (estimated cost $4,380; maximum grant $3,285) and two single-family builds proposed by DNS Development (represented by Duane Thomas) on surplus lots. Staff said the DNS projects consist of roughly 1,200 square feet of livable area, an estimated…
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