Daytona Beach CRA approves redevelopment amendments and consultant contract amid vendor questions

The Daytona Beach Community Redevelopment Agency on May 6 approved a package of administrative items, including an amendment to a Midtown redevelopment grant, a professional services agreement supported in part with CRA funds, a small fee reimbursement for an affordable housing project, and an incentive amendment for the Accent Daytona project.

The commission voted to approve the third amendment to the Midtown Acquisition Redevelopment and Economic Development Grant Agreement with Framework Group LLC, approved using CRA funds to cover half of a $50,000 professional services agreement with ASK Development Solutions Inc., authorized up to $9,500.88 in CRA funds to help pay permit-related fees for a Red River Rock LLC affordable housing project on Belleview Avenue and Cedar Street, and approved a first amendment to the Accent Daytona incentive agreement that increases the maximum annual payment and adds a roadway-construction completion payment.

Why ASK Development was hired

Commissioners pressed staff about the ASK Development contract during debate on item 6B, asking whether the work could be done in-house, how payments are validated, the contract end date and whether the consultant had an accessible website or public references. Housing Administrator Leseandra Robinson, who described her title on the record as housing administrator, said the city engaged ASK Development after COVID-related funding increases, staffing changes and tight federal deadlines. Robinson said the consultant “helped keep us on track, meet federal requirements, and make sure we didn't risk losing funds,” and described the contractor as experienced with HUD technical-assistance work since 2008.

Robinson said staff will provide information on the consultant’s prior engagements and outcomes on request; she also confirmed the contract term runs through the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30, 2026, and said payments are made on receipt of invoices documenting performed work.

Allegation during Midtown presentation and response

During the public comment period on item 6C, resident John Nicholson raised a complaint about a prior Midtown CRA presentation and urged commissioners to delay action until staff reviewed the recording. Nicholson said an audience member at that meeting reported that the presenter had said he was “only selling to blacks,” and asked the commission to confirm whether that statement occurred.

City staff responded that they had reviewed the meeting and that Director Thomas, who said he attended the Midtown CRA meeting, did not hear the presenter state that he would sell only to one race. Thomas told commissioners the remarks Nicholson described “did not happen.”

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes (April 15, 2026): motion passed (voice/roll call). - Item 6A — Third amendment: Midtown Framework (Framework Group LLC): approved. - Item 6B — Professional services: CRA funds to cover half of a $50,000 agreement with ASK Development Solutions Inc. (CRA portion $25,000): approved. Contract term noted to end Sept. 30, 2026. - Item 6C — CRA funds for building/utility fees for Red River Rock LLC (532 Belleview Ave; 501 Cedar St): approved; public comment requested a review of prior Midtown meeting remarks. - Item 6D — First amendment to Accent Daytona incentive (Accent Daytona Beach LP): approved.

What happens next

Staff said grants and incentives that come forward will continue to require board-level review and separate approval. The housing office and development staff committed to providing commissioners with documentation about the consultant’s past work and to a memo ranking CRA priorities at the next meeting.

Speakers quoted in this report are those who identified themselves on the record or were explicitly named in the meeting transcript. The commission concluded the CRA agenda and prepared to convene the regularly scheduled city commission meeting five minutes later.