Palmetto eyes new projects in five-year plan

Working with about a $3.5 million budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year, the Palmetto Community Redevelopment Agency isn’t sitting still in planning for the future. With much of its funding tied up in existing projects, the CRA is still introducing new proposals for the coming five years.

CRA Director Jeff Burton outlined the new initiatives this week, which include a new building on the point of the Manatee River west of the Green Bridge and a multi-modal trail currently under construction.

The proposed 2,500-square-foot building will feature glass windows for optimal viewing of the river and a deck. The city plans to rent out the space for weddings, receptions and other events.

“It’s a piece of the property the city has owned for decades, and it’s a great piece of ground on the point,” said Burton, who noted that he hopes to have the funding in the 2017-18 fiscal year budget to complete the project.

Not far away from the new planned facility, between two reef balls on the city’s new living shoreline, Burton plans to construct a new floating dock that could accommodate up to 21 smaller boats. The dock would provide access to the proposed facility, as well as the multi-modal trail. Burton has budgeted for the permits this year with construction set for 2018.

Another new proposal is for the property to the east of It Works! Global and north of Riverside Park West. Part of the four lots used to be a gas station and is designated as a brownfield awaiting cleanup. Burton hopes to have that property ready for sale by next year.

“That piece of property is becoming more and more important to the city with all of the improvements going on around it,” said Burton.

Burton is proposing to take two city-owned lots to the north of the old gas station property to provide more parking for the Riverside Park boat ramp, which was renovated last year for $1.3 million. The initial design would allow for about 20 more parking spaces for boaters to park their trailers.

The CRA continues to plan for ongoing projects, including improvements at Sutton Park. Burton has budgeted $20,000 for community meetings to determine what improvements will be made. Design will start following public input, and the work is scheduled for 2020.

Other planned projects include:

2017: $10,000 for new landscaping along Haben Boulevard. Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant said the landscaping project is important because, “We are anticipating a large adjustment in that area and that’s more of a reason to do the landscaping.” Local officials hope to attract a new hotel to an area near the Bradenton Area Convention Center.

2018: Design work continues to construct the Seahorse facility to replace the existing pavilion at Riverside Park West. However, the property was purchased under a federal grant and has restrictions on its use. The CRA is working to meet those requirements.

2018: The Martin Luther King Jr. Park opened in October 2014, but is still awaiting some improvements such as new restrooms and a walkover bridge to provide better access from a nearby neighborhood.

2019: 11th Avenue improvements. The CRA is working with a local church that purchased property from the CRA a few years ago to reacquire that property for the expansion of the Palmetto Historical Park.

2019: The complete renovation of the historic National Guard Armory building is planned to be completed. The CRA purchased the building from the VFW earlier this year. Burton is pursuing tax credits that could help fund the project. Design, permitting and some of the work is planned for this year.

2021: A 14-block improvement project on 10th Street West, as part of the 10th Street Complete Street project.

2021: Phase 2-6 of the Florida Department of Transportation multi-modal trail that will connect all of the city’s parks system will get underway. The city has partnered with the University of South Florida-Tampa campus in the USF Community Sustainability Partnership Program.

USF students and staff representing a variety of expertise will begin this summer, but a lot of emphasis will be placed on helping the city with designing the multi-modal trail, which also is an intricate part of the 10th Street Complete Street project.

This story was originally published August 16, 2016 at 2:22 PM with the headline "Palmetto eyes new projects in five-year plan."