Avon Park CRA approves demolition grant, facade grant reallocation and airport gateway sign

The Avon Park Community Redevelopment Agency approved several routine but tangible spending measures during its meeting Monday, including a demolition grant for a blighted property, a $35,000 reallocation to a facade grant program and a gateway sign for the Avon Park Airport.

Ms. Windsor, the staff member presenting the demolition request, said the advisory board reviewed the application and recommended moving forward with Excavation Point’s low bid of $10,350 to demolish the structure at 1921 White Horse Road. She said the property had needed asbestos remediation and had been treated twice for bees. "We had to treat it and it also had to be asbestos remediated as well," Ms. Windsor said. Staff clarified the demolition funding covers the home only and excludes septic removal, large trees, sheds and utility disconnection; questions from council members about tree removal were answered that the demolition grant would not pay for trees.

Council then approved a motion to award the demolition grant to Excavation Point for $10,350; the motion carried on a roll call vote of members present.

On the Southside Facade Grant, staff asked to reallocate $35,000 from special projects into the facade grant program to serve applicants on an existing wait list and to reopen the program to all districts if funds remain. Staff referenced coordination with the finance director on available funds. Council approved the $35,000 budget revision on a unanimous roll call.

The board also approved installation of a gateway sign at the western entrance to the city on State Road 64 at the Irvington Road intersection for the Avon Park Airport. Jason, a city staff member, presented a proposal from I2 Visual for the same sign style used previously; the quoted purchase cost is $28,050 out of the airport CRA fund, leaving an estimated $71,950 balance in that fund. Jason noted additional installation expenses for electrical, irrigation and hardscape could total about $3,000. A motion to approve the airport gateway sign passed on a unanimous roll call vote.

Separately, the CRA approved a staff member’s request to attend the Leadership Highlands program at a cost of $1,696 after noting the CRA advisory had recommended the enrollment. That motion also passed.

All of the above motions were carried by roll call votes of members present. Staff said it will issue letters to awardees, return with scheduling details for contracted work, and follow up on any additional scope or funding needs.