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CRA advisory board tables requests for $100,000 and $120,000 in additional small-business funding
Summary
The Fort Lauderdale CRA advisory board voted to table two funding increase requests — a $100,000 loan ask for Omega and a $120,000 request for Riddles 2 — and directed staff to meet with the owners and return with detailed sources-and-uses and backup documentation.
The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) advisory board in Fort Lauderdale on Monday discussed two requests for additional funding and voted to table both while staff gathers clearer cost breakdowns and supporting documents.
Corey Ritchie, construction project manager for the CRA, told the board that Omega (1108 Central Boulevard) requested an additional $100,000 loan to complete a renovation after the contractor determined the old building required demolition and upgraded drainage work. "The requested additional funding of a $100,000 to give a loan which enable the project's completion," Ritchie said, and he added that the CRA loan would be secured by a mortgage on the property for five years.
Ritchie also presented a separate request for Riddles 2, a restaurant at 733 (address given in the board packet), asking for $120,000 to cover increased contractor bids, equipment such as a walk-in cooler and grease-trap installation, and longer permitting timelines that raised costs. He described planned work including a kitchen prep area, a walk-in cooler and freezer, and ADA-compliant restrooms.
Board members pressed staff for greater financial detail before authorizing additional public dollars. "How are we to be guaranteed that they're not gonna come back 3 months from now and ask for additional money?" said Mr. Burns, raising common concerns about contingencies and contractor change orders. Vanessa Martin said staff is working to formalize vetting and soft-landing resources and agreed that safeguards are needed.
Members also discussed owner contributions: Ritchie said the Omega project’s total construction cost was discussed at roughly $900,000 and that the owner had contributed funds to date (the transcript records a $205,000 owner contribution). Board member Noel Edwards proposed a partial split (for example, $70,000 CRA and $30,000 owner contribution), but the group did not adopt a revised split.
After debate, the chair moved — and the board approved by roll call — a motion directing CRA staff to meet with both owners to collect detailed sources‑and‑uses, backup invoices/bids, the chronology of cost increases, and a revised budget. Both requests were tabled and will be returned to the advisory board at its next meeting once staff has provided the requested documentation.
What’s next: Staff will meet with the Omega and Riddles 2 owners and return to the advisory board with the requested documentation, revised budget numbers, and a recommended funding structure.
