Opelika CRA approves beautification program, microgrant and property purchases; issues restaurant RFP

The Opelika Community Redevelopment Agency voted unanimously to authorize a series of redevelopment actions at its meeting, approving a neighborhood beautification contract, a $35,000 microgrant, an RFP for a restaurant site and the purchase of three properties to support downtown redevelopment.

The board authorized the executive director to execute an agreement with Greater Miami Service Corps to implement a neighborhood beautification program in CRA areas, waiving formal bidding requirements due to urgency. Director Jason Walker said the program is budgeted and "will be hiring students or young adults to work 5 days a week to clean up the public right of ways within the community redevelopment area." Board members asked staff to provide a maintenance and work schedule so the board can monitor performance; the resolution passed on a recorded roll call.

The board also approved a $35,000 development assistance microgrant to Walter Enterprises to stabilize a building at 2120 Alibaba Avenue that sustained a recent fire. Walker said the funds are intended to stabilize the structure as part of a larger initiative in that area; the motion was moved by Board member Taylor and seconded by Board member Bass and passed unanimously.

Separately, the CRA authorized staff to issue a request for proposals to lease, build out and operate a restaurant at the property located at 14401 Northwest 27th Avenue. The RFP will include a public pitch opportunity to the selection committee and the board asked staff to broadly advertise the solicitation to residents and prospective developers.

To address parking and bolster restaurant viability, the board approved a resolution authorizing the interim executive director and CRA attorney to proceed with purchase of parcels at 2105 Washington Avenue, 2100 Lincoln Avenue and 14441 Northwest 27th Avenue, including title work necessary to complete transactions. During discussion board members said combining nearby parcels would make the restaurant site more viable and help resolve parking constraints.

On budget matters the board approved two amendments: one to move $35,000 from green projects to home improvement assistance to close out late-billed home rehab grants, and another to reallocate fund balance carryover to building purchases for fiscal 2025–26 after staff identified an additional $1,100,000 in carryover. Staff told the board the carryover will allow the CRA to buy the three properties in cash without financing.

Director Walker also updated the board on tenant relocation and property-negotiation status: eviction notices have been served to market tenants in a building the CRA acquired, two tenants have turned in keys, and staff have begun negotiations and appraisal work with the owner of a community health clinic on a potential purchase. The board approved the consent items, accepted staff updates and adjourned.

Votes at a glance: all listed resolutions and budget amendments passed on recorded roll calls; roll-call tallies in the meeting record show Board members Bass, Taylor, Santiago and Chairwoman Russell voting in favor on each recorded item.