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CRA says Call of Africa contract signed; board presses for retail activation on 13th Street
Summary
CRA staff reported the commercial incentive contract tied to Call of Africa was fully executed after board approval; members emphasized that grants should drive storefront retail and discussed follow‑up promotional and streetscape steps.
Staff member said the CRA has no new rezoning update but confirmed, “The commercial incentive program, the RFT was approved on February 17. I just received the fully executed contract later today,” and added staff will work with the property owner so construction can begin.
Board members welcomed the news but pressed staff to prioritize retail activation rather than only cosmetic enhancements. One committee member said retail is ‘‘desperately needed’’ on the corridor and urged the CRA to insist on retail uses in grant follow‑through. Members also discussed promotional signage for grant recipients and the use of photographs and ribbon‑cuttings to publicize retail openings.
Staff noted the contract terms are what the board approved and that changes would not be made post‑execution; the item remains on staff’s list for the CRA annual report and ongoing coordination with the developer. The board asked staff to return with specific next steps for tracking tenant recruiting, storefront programming and any promotional materials.
