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CRA advisory board approves $755,100 allocation to build out new CRA offices; staff says long-term rent savings possible
Summary
The advisory board approved staff’s recommendation to allocate $755,100 from CRA capital improvement funds to design and build out 4,000 sq ft of ground-floor commercial space for CRA offices, with funding split $600,000 (Northwest) and $150,000 (Central City). Staff said new offices could reduce annual rent costs compared with current leased space.
The Fort Lauderdale CRA advisory board approved allocating $755,100 to design and build out new CRA offices in a developer-provided ground-floor space reserved in a recent development.
CRA staff said the agency has occupied leased offices at 914 Northwest 6th Street since 2016 and currently pays $13,567 per month, which staff described as an annual base rent of about $88,179 plus common-area maintenance that brings the total to roughly $162,810 per year. Staff said the proposed new CRA office space—about 4,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial area reserved under the developer's incentive—would cost an estimated $40,000 per year plus CAM once built out, representing substantial operating savings if the build-out proceeds as planned.
Staff requested $755,100 from the CRA capital improvements fund to complete design and construction, with the Northwest CRA contributing $600,000 and the Central City CRA contributing $150,000. Corey Rizzi, the CRA construction manager, said much of the shell and utility infrastructure is already in place and that the contract would focus on interior hook-ups, bathrooms and a kitchenette to limit cost. Board members questioned lease length (five years plus two five-year extensions), the risk of vacancy, and whether rent savings would revert to the city; staff responded that proceeds from leasing the space would be invested for community programs and not revert automatically to the city general fund under current agreements.
Board members moved to accept the presentation and to approve the staff recommendation; the motion passed on a recorded voice vote/roll call.
