CITY OF OLDSMAR. Community Redevelopment 2007/08 ANNUAL REPORT

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1 CITY OF OLDSMAR Community Community Redevelopment Redevelopment Agency Agency 2007/08 ANNUAL REPORT March 31, 2009

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Community Redevelopment Agency... 1 Historical Perspective.. 2 Overview. 2 Purpose of Annual Report... 3 Progress Report Locational Map of CRA Other Supporting Financial Data COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY The city council of the City of Oldsmar shall be the community redevelopment agency. As the community redevelopment agency the city council constitutes the head of a legal entity; separate, distinct, and independent of the city council. The community redevelopment agency shall have all powers enumerated under F.S. ch. 163, pt. III, and as delegated by the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners by Pinellas County Resolution No L. to R. Council Member Eric Seidel, Vice Mayor Jerry Beverland, Mayor Jim Ronecker, Council Members Doug Bevis and Suzanne Vale Page 1

3 Historical Perspective Ransom E. Olds, founder of Oldsmobile and REO trucks, purchased 37,541 acres at the northern tip of Tampa Bay in 1913 for $400,000. Olds envisioned a city of 100,000 residents and named his new city R. E. Olds-On-The-Bay. Historical photographs and documents describe early Oldsmar as a vibrant commercial and residential development mix with a Bank Building, a large land sales office where City Hall now sits, Wayside Inn, a hardware store and other shops. An automobile garage was located at the site of today s Senior Center. Oldsmar even had a popular casino in a scenic park along Tampa Bay. Plans were underway for an impressive resort hotel in Oldsmar when the 1920 s land bust halted continued development. After World War II, Oldsmar was overshadowed by the growth of Pinellas County beach communities and other areas of Florida but is now a growing and vibrant community. Overview The City of Oldsmar, Community Redevelopment Agency (Agency) was established in The primary function of the Agency is the redevelopment of a designated geographic area also called the Town Center area. This reporting period is the thirteenth year that funds have been budgeted and the total annual budget is $749,303. The City Council of the City of Oldsmar functions as the Redevelopment Agency Board and performs the legislative and governing duties and responsibilities of the Agency. The Planning and Redevelopment Director performs the day to day administrative duties as the Director of the Agency under the general oversight and supervision of the City Manager, who is the registered agent for the Agency. City of Oldsmar Page 2

4 Purpose Of Annual Report This report is being filed concerning the annual redevelopment activities of the Oldsmar Community Redevelopment Agency for the fiscal year This report is being prepared and filed consistent with Florida Statute chapter (3) (c). The notice of this report is being published in the Tampa Tribune on March 31, The Oldsmar Community Redevelopment Agency is required by the Community Redevelopment Act to submit a progress report of the year s community redevelopment activities, including a complete financial statement of assets, liabilities, income and expenses (FS (3)(c)). This report is due and must be reported to the governing body by March 31 st following the reporting year. Additionally, FS requires the governing body of the special district (Agency) adopt a budget by resolution each fiscal year and under FS (8) provide each year an independent financial audit of its trust fund to each taxing authority that pays into the trust fund. Page 3

5 Progress Report During the reporting year, a number of activities occurred consistent with the budget. These included the continuation of the streetscaping along State Street, improvements in intersections, completion of the New Library, structural and utilization assessment of Oldsmar Bank Building, completing the remaining phase of undergrounding the utilities on State Street as well as commencing the undergrounding of the overhead utilities on St. Petersburg Drive from State Street to Dartmouth. Additional information regarding these activities are described in this report. Photo of THEN Bank Bldg Oldsmar Bank Building The Oldsmar Bank Building is located across State Street from City Hall. Previously the home of the Oldsmar Library, the Bank Building was designed in the old Florida style of white glazed brick exterior with a Terra Cotta tiled roof. The façade is accented with columns that extend above the roof line and architectural accents. The Oldsmar Bank building is a historically significant building, listed on the Florida Master Site File. The building is undergoing interior renovation to house City Council, Upper Tampa Bay Area Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Oldsmar Historical Society and other city offices. The renovation will maintain the historic characteristic of this significant building within the CRA. City of Oldsmar Page 4

6 Development and Redevelopment The Oldsmar Galleria, constructed in 2007, is a mixed use development located at the east end of the Oldsmar Town Center at the corner of State Street and St. Petersburg Drive The first floor, approximately 15,500 square feet, is commercial and retail space. The second floor contains nearly 9,500 square feet of office space and 20 condominiums. Outdoor dining at the Galleria strengthens the Town Center s pedestrian atmosphere. The City s agreement with the developer permits outdoor dining with reasonable limitations. The current financial market has had an impact on the development of the downtown. Residential and commercial units are slowly being sold, leased and occupied in the most recent projects, while other projects have been delayed due to the market conditions. The opening of two new restaurants on the first floor of the Oldsmar Galleria, has provided more nighttime activity in this area of the CRA. The contemplated development of Olds Square on property adjoining City Hall is still in the planning stages with the developer that had been selected utilizing the financial feasibility report. A paint-up, fix-up grant program has continued to assist property owners within the CRA to improve their home s appearance. On June 5, 2007, the City Council, acting as the Community Redevelopment Agency modified the program to include hazard mitigation projects such as hurricane shutters, panels, etc. and increase the reimbursement amount from $ to $1, The program now provides a 50% reimbursement of costs, up to $1, to qualified homeowners that want to complete exterior beautification such as exterior painting, replacing windows, doors or roofs and other similar home improvements, in addition to the hazard mitigation projects. Since implementation 15 applications have been approved. Page 5

7 City of Oldsmar Library The construction of a new Library within the CRA was completed and opened to the public in January The 25,000 square foot building was designed with an Old Florida architectural theme consistent with the historic drawings for the originally proposed train station and hotel designed for R.E. Olds. The $5 million Library was paid mostly with Penny for Pinellas funds, a 1% local option government sales tax. The City also received a state library building grant of $500,000 and $200,000 from the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative Grant. A donation from Tampa Electric created TECO Hall meeting room. During 2008, the Library was awarded the Outstanding New Building Project by the Florida Redevelopment Association (FRA) during its annual conference held in Tampa., Florida As part of the annual FRA conference, the City hosted a tour for conference attendees of the CRA which included stops at various areas of the CRA, informational brochures and ended at the Library for refreshments and a tour. City of Oldsmar Page 6

8 Other Activities Oldsmar Downtown Fresh Market opened in November 2008, next to City Hall, offering residents and visitors fresh produce, coffee & smoothies, breakfast and lunch foods and even homemade dog treats. The City continues to evaluate offering other activities such as craft fairs and street events for residents and visitors in the downtown area. Center Plan will be updated to reflect these revisions. The Town Center Water line reconstruction project continued during This project involves replacing old and undersized water lines and installing reclaimed water lines in the downtown. A consultant was selected by the CRA Board of Directors to review the architectural standards within the District and develop recommendations for changes to the Town Center Code. The Code is currently being revised to reflect the recommendations which include ease of use, additional architectural requirements and clarification of regulations in the Town Center Code. The Town A downtown traffic study program was initiated to evaluate transportation impacts in the downtown area based on anticipated development and growth. Defining preliminary intersection and roadway concepts as well as appropriate pedestrian crossings was also evaluated in this study. The City is considering closing Commerce Blvd between the RR tracks and SR 580, removing the eastbound left turn lane on SR580 at Commerce. Page 7

9 Other Activities (cont.) Streetscaping along State Street included modifying the intersection of State Street and St. Petersburg Drive and replacing culverts. The City intends to continue this design along St. Petersburg Drive in the next budget year. When opportunities arise, the City has purchased lots within the CRA for future redevelopment opportunities. During 2008 the City acquired 512 East St. Petersburg Drive which is in close proximity to the library and demolished the nonconforming building. Private reconstruction activities included the conversion of a residential two story house along Park Boulevard to accommodate the owners architectural office on the first floor and a residential unit on the second floor. The City staff continues its membership in the Florida Redevelopment Association which provides resources for redevelopment efforts and access to other communities with Community Redevelopment Agencies. The CRA s specific goals continue to be to enhance the Town Center s business appeal through implementation of streetscape improvements; transportation improvements to increase safe accessibility to the downtown, market the Town Center to attract additional office, retail and residential development; and to preserve the Town Center s unique small town character while maintaining its potential for business activity. All of these improvements and projects that are discussed and have been completed are consistent with the parameters and intent of the Downtown Redevelopment Plan as adopted by the Community Redevelopment Agency Board of Directors. City of Oldsmar Page 8

10 Locational Map of CRA Page 9

11 Other Supporting Financial Data /09 Annual Operating Budget; Revenue Forecast Methodology 2. Capital Improvement Budget -Community Redevelopment Department /09 Annual Operating Budget 4. Annual Budget for the Year Ended September 30, Budgetary Comparison Schedule for the Year Ended September 30, Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balances for the Year Ended September 30, 2008 City of Oldsmar Page 10

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20 City of Oldsmar 100 State Street W. Oldsmar, FL Any comments or questions should be directed to: Marie Dauphinais, AICP, CFM Director of Planning and Redevelopment voice fax