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Stuart CRA board approves multiple business-improvement grants for downtown properties
Summary
The City of Stuart Community Redevelopment Board approved awards under the business improvement reimbursement grant program for five downtown properties, including funds for painting, awnings, parking-lot repairs and impact windows. Staff said the program reimburses up to $10,000 per property and has awarded 61 businesses to date.
The City of Stuart Community Redevelopment Board on June 2 approved a set of business-improvement grants intended to encourage visible exterior upgrades in the City of Stuart Community Redevelopment Area.
The board considered Resolution 03-2026 and approved funding for five applicants: Avanley Commerce Center (exterior painting and wayfinding signage), Gary Law Building (parking-lot resurfacing and restriping), Geer Downtown LLC (exterior painting and awning replacement for multiple downtown businesses), Kaiser Dermatology (landscaping and parking-lot fixes), and Owl House properties (impact windows for the historic Owl House and parking-lot repairs for Napolei Orthodontics). Staff recommended approval of each application.
Jordan Kingston, CRA program manager, described the grant as a reimbursement program that "provides a reimbursement grant of up to $10,000 of public funds per property to match the private funds to pay for the design and completion of property improvement" and summarized the program's history and prior outcomes. Kingston told the board the program has awarded 61 businesses to date and that the CRA's $444,000 investment has leveraged approximately $2.0 million in private investment.
Board discussion varied by application. Members sought clarification that the grants are reimbursed after project completion and receipt of invoices; staff confirmed that the program issues reimbursement checks only after proof of completion and a site inspection. For the Gary Law Building application, several board members debated whether parking-lot resurfacing fit the program's historic emphasis on façades and streetscape improvements; an applicant and a public commenter argued resurfacing improved safety and visual appeal by eliminating trip hazards and standing water.
Chuck Gary, owner of Gary Law Offices, told the board his parking lot has "never been repaid" since he bought the building and described persistent drainage and safety problems, saying the repairs were needed "right away." After public comment, the board approved each application by roll call. Recorded roll calls in the meeting transcript indicate successful votes for each project; staff recommended approval for all five awardees.
What happens next: staff will process grant agreements and require each awardee to complete the approved improvements and submit receipts and after-photos for reimbursement. The board noted it can add conditions to approvals if a specific project requires them, and that future program guidelines can be revised to clarify eligible project types.
