Federal Community Development Block Grants could bring sidewalks to Bayshore Gardens
MANATEE -- After years of requests from local residents, sidewalks could soon be coming to Bayshore Gardens.
A sidewalk project in the south county neighborhood to install three sidewalks is included in Manatee County's draft 2016-17 Community Development Block Grant Action Plan.
"These particular ones that are being recommended in Bayshore are connected to getting kids to school," said Cheri Coryea, the county's neighborhood services director. "It is a pretty busy area down there."
The sidewalks, which would be installed on Dartmouth Drive, from Harvard Avenue to 60th Avenue West; Columbia Drive, from Bayshore Gardens Parkway to 60th Avenue West; and Roslyn Avenue, from Dartmouth Drive to Bayshore Gardens Parkway, would cost $421,132.
"It is going to directly impact Bayshore Elementary but is also helpful with the bus stops," Coryea said. "We have an overwhelming amount of public participation requesting them."
The Bayshore Gardens Sidewalk Project is one of the projects meeting the county's priority housing and community development needs that is on the county's 2016-17 Action Plan, which runs from Oct. 1, 2016, through Sept. 30, 2017. The county received 17 applications for projects and services to be funded with the nearly $1.63 million Manatee County will receive in CDBG funds. The county will also receive $145,858 in Emergency Solutions Grant funds and $461,291 from the HOME Investment Partnership program to be used toward home restoration and replacement.
"These are services or projects that would be happening in their community," said Denise Thomas, the county's housing and community development coordinator.
There are eight projects -- five community development and infrastructure projects and three public service projects -- on the county's action plan for CDBG funds, which will go before the county commission at its June 21 meeting for approval. If approved by the county, the plan will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for approval.
The four other community development and infrastructure projects besides the Bayshore project are $275,000 for safety and security improvements at Centerstone Hospital and Addiction Center; $254,000 for resurfacing nine roadway segments; $122,000 for installing new sidewalks on 15th Street East, from 14th Avenue East to 17th Avenue East in Bradenton; and $30,000 for an emergency generator at the Meals on Wheels PLUS Manatee adult care facility.
The three public service projects being recommended for funding are $49,999 for Sara's Place Empowerment Center to purchase a 12-person passenger vehicle; $70,000 for Turning Points' Project Smile; and $80,000 for Centerstone of Florida's Emergency Transitional Housing for Substance Abuse.
"The policies and priorities of the action plan are drawn from an analysis of housing, community development and service needs within the county," the action plan states.
The public can comment on the draft action plan for the next few weeks by emailing bill.oshea@mymanatee.org or by attending the June 21 public hearing.
Claire Aronson, Manatee County reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7024. Follow her on Twitter@Claire_Aronson.
This story was originally published May 16, 2016 at 4:46 PM with the headline "Federal Community Development Block Grants could bring sidewalks to Bayshore Gardens ."