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Newtown CRA details sidewalks, MLK corridor, Legacy Trail and business incubator priorities
Summary
The Newtown CRA advisory board presented an annual report listing near‑term priorities including sidewalk replacement (phase‑based), electric power for street fixtures, MLK Corridor visioning, Legacy Trail extension planning, business grant awards and a pilot business incubator tied to CareerSource and SCORE.
City staff and the Newtown CRA advisory board presented their annual report to the commission, outlining redevelopment priorities and early outcomes.
Wayne Appleby (S16), staff assigned to the Newtown CRA advisory board, and Carlos Yancey (S17), the board’s vice chair, reviewed the CRA’s legal basis (Chapter 163, Florida Statutes), district boundaries and advisory role. Key priorities included a multi‑phase sidewalk replacement program (Appleby said about $2,000,000 of CRA and earmarked federal dollars are anticipated but will not complete all needed sidewalks and that prioritization is required), adding power to downtown light pole outlets to enable holiday lighting and community activation, and continued MLK Core corridor redevelopment and land‑assembly discussions.
The advisory board listed accomplishments and ongoing work: extension of the Legacy Trail planning into Newtown, MLK Park improvements (CRA agreed to fund a gap that parks staff identified), Frederick Atkins Park lighting upgrades, a Newtown business grant program with nine awards completed, a home painting program that has completed 28 homes (14 more in process), and a cultural events grant and in‑kind support program including a Taste of Newtown community event.
Rochelle Gallant (S15), business relations coordinator, described branding and marketing work, a new advisory board website to list programs and accept online applications, and interactive MLK corridor renderings under development to gather community input.
Commission discussion covered design timelines, sidewalk ADA work and curb ramps, funding sources for inventoried projects, and the business incubator pilot (planned partnerships with CareerSource CEO program and SCORE; funding examples cited: CEO ~$20,000; SCORE ~$4,900). Commissioners requested transportation planners to report back to the CRA and asked staff to provide timeline updates on MLK Park work and Legacy Trail coordination with county partners.
The commission accepted the advisory board report unanimously and later confirmed an advisory board appointment.
Speakers quoted in this article are listed in the speaker roster below.
