CRA approves fourth EDA amendment for College Park redevelopment, extends deadlines and raises unit cap

The CRA board approved a fourth amendment to the economic development agreement (EDA) for the College Park redevelopment project (formerly Town and Country Shopping Center), voting 15-0 to permit timing flexibility and an increased maximum residential cap.

Karen Nasralla of the Office of Economic Development told the board the amendment does not increase the amount of grant funding but seeks flexibility to move the project to completion following supply-chain issues and permitting delays. She described the changes as: extending the commencement deadline for the residential or hotel component to Aug. 23, 2029; increasing the allowed residential maximum from 90 to 110 units; adding an extension to the TID pay schedule into the 2026–27 fiscal year; and extending job-creation reporting deadlines. Nasralla noted that if the revised dates are not met, the developer would be required to repay what has been disbursed — which she identified as approximately $1,200,000.

Nasralla described project history and public benefits: College Park is about 19 acres at University Boulevard and Arlington Expressway, includes a Winn-Dixie grocer intended to address a food desert, and is a mixed-use redevelopment that may include retail, restaurants and either a hotel or a residential component at the developer’s discretion. She said JWB has been the project partner since 2020 and presented before the board.

Board members pressed staff on how the city will verify promised job creation when employers decline to provide Social Security numbers. The Chair said visible employees make job creation obvious but documentation remains required. Ed Randolph of OED explained Exhibit E (the EDA job-reporting form) is standard and staff must be able to verify reported jobs; auditors typically require Social Security numbers, but staff indicated they can accept the last four digits and will require future tenants to complete Exhibit E via lease language so the city can verify employment figures.

After discussion and no public comment, the board approved the amendment by ballot, recorded as 15 yeas and 0 nays. Staff said the changes are intended to help JWB complete remaining phases without changing grant amounts; the amendment preserves enforcement language requiring repayment if milestones are not met.

The board then heard a quarterly compliance report and public comments praising recent improvements along University Boulevard.