CRA approves $42,500 for site survey and engineering for South Brooksville entertainment district design

The Brooksville Community Redevelopment Agency voted to allocate $42,500 for initial survey and engineering work on a proposed South Brooksville entertainment district.

Vice Chair Tanner made a motion to allocate $25,000 for engineering and $17,500 for site survey for FY 26/27; another board member seconded and the motion passed by voice vote. Board members and staff emphasized that the current funding was intended for site surveying and engineering design and that construction funding would come later if the board approved final designs.

During discussion staff described the entertainment-district concept as a downtown centerpiece with controlled access and pedestrian amenities: “It’s a centerpiece. It’s be a street that has bollards on both ends of it. That’s a brick street, and it would be blocked off as a pure entertainment street where there’d be catering, and ambient lights,” a staff speaker said while describing design elements and the need for surveying and electrical engineering.

Several board members raised liability and insurance concerns. Vice Chair Tanner urged thorough legal due diligence before committing construction funds, saying the board needed “to make sure we have all of our t’s crossed and i’s dotted when it comes to legal, all legal liabilities.” Staff replied procurement language and insurance requirements had been strengthened and that businesses would need to provide proof of additional insurance annually. Staff also estimated survey work could begin with a hired surveyor in early October and that bidding on construction would follow after final design.

The motion to allocate $42,500 for survey and engineering passed with no recorded opposition.