TO: Mayor and Commissioners
FROM: Timothy Stillings, Planning, Zoning, and Building Director
THROUGH: Chief Neal de Jesus, Interim City Manager
DATE: September 26, 2017
Title
APPROVAL OF A HISTORIC PRESERVATION SMALL MATCHING GRANT AWARD AGREEMENT FOR $50,000 AND PRESERVATION AGREEMENT FOR THE SEABOARD AIR LINE RAILWAY STATION AT 80 DEPOT AVENUE.
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Recommended Action:
Recommendation
Motion to Approve the Historic Preservation Small Matching Grant Award Agreement for $50,000 and Preservation Agreement for the Seaboard Air Line Railway Station at 80 Depot Avenue.
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Background:
In 2016, a Historic Preservation Small Matching Grant application ("Grant" or "Grant Application") was submitted to the Florida Department of State, Division of Historic Resources for necessary improvements to the Seaboard Air Line Railway Station located at 80 Depot Avenue. Approval of the grant application of $50,000 (maximum) was confirmed in June 2017. The project associated with the Grant consists of the strengthening of the Seaboard Air Line Railway Station building (removal of the roof, strapping of roof to wall framing, and tying walls to the foundation), exploration of the structure, and reroofing (replacement of barrel tiles in kind, as needed, and replacement of flat decks). The total estimated project cost is $105,000, with the City required to provide $55,000 of matching funds.
The terms of the Grant Award Agreement require that the associated work and all expenditures be completed by June 30, 2018; the terms of the Preservation Agreement require that the work completed by the Grant be maintained for a five year period.
The Grant Application (provided as an attachment) specified that The Caring Kitchen would be occupying the southern portion of the Station, which complied with the Grant's public benefit criteria. However, the City Commission has since determined that The Caring Kitchen would not be relocated to the Station. This change has been communicated to the State's Grants Administrator who has indicated that if the current use of the Station for training is maintained then the Grant Application could be adjusted to continue to satisfy this criteria. Additionally, the City Commission has discussed the sale of the property. If the Station is sold and the City accepts the Grant funds, the terms of the Preservation Agreement (attached and required for the Grant), would be transferred to the new property owner. However, the qualifying property owner would need to be “a public entity governed by a county, municipality, school district, community college, college, university, or an agency of state government, or a non-profit organization” to continue to meet the Grant criteria.
City Attorney Review:
Approved as to form and legal sufficiency.
Finance Department Review:
Funding is available from account number 334-6112-519.63-90, General Construction Fund, Other Improvements.
Funding Source:
Florida Department of State, Division of Historic Resources, Historic Preservation Small Matching Grant
Timing of Request:
Agreement must be approved to begin the project.