Proposals resurface to extend Maitland downtown

The proposed developer of the north block of Horatio Avenue in Maitland is looking to gain some independence with pre-application redevelopment plans submitted to the city in late July.

Developer Scott Ryan of Urban Redevelopment Concepts has two visions of what the north block of Horatio between Maitland Avenue and U.S. Highway 17-92 could become, and both hinge on the fate of Independence Lane.

In January, the city of Maitland agreed to continue talks with Ryan and consultant Bob Beaumont to see if an agreement could be reached between landowners and the city to acquire land needed to extend Independence Lane north toward George Avenue. Beaumont had estimated back then that it would cost the city upwards of about $1.45 million to purchase all the land needed to extend the road.

Maitland Community Development Director Dick Wells has said that extending Independence Lane is a long-term goal of the city, as stated in the Downtown Maitland Revitalization Plan.

Ryan, who represents the owners of the Snodgrass property at the northwest corner of 17-92 and Horatio, said he has most of the land – and plans to redevelop it – he just needs to know if the city is still ready to buy room for the right of way.

“We need to clean up this corner,” Ryan said. “Somehow we need to upgrade this property and make something out of it.”

On July 23, Ryan submitted two proposed plans to the city: one for if the city decides to go through with extending Independence, and another if they choose not to.

“One way or another we’re going to do A or B,” Ryan said.

Plan A, the one Ryan said he prefers, bisects the lot with the Independence Lane extension and includes putting a casual dining restaurant on the corner of 17-92 and Horatio in the place of the current used car lot, and renovating 1,842 square feet of existing office space on the Snodgrass property. In the paper plans submitted to the city, this option includes a drive-through on the restaurant, but Ryan said he’s since rescinded that idea.

Plan B, which excludes the road extension, adds the restaurant and renovated office space, and keeps an existing bank property that would otherwise be demolished by the road cut-through.

Ryan said if Plan A is approved by the city, Urban Redevelopment Concepts has further plans to redevelop the city-owned parking lot to the west of the pending Independence Lane extension. Ryan previously proposed placing a retail-fronted parking garage on the city-owned lot, which received primarily positive feedback from the City Council. Ryan said details of his new proposal for that piece of property are similar, but still being finalized.

Ryan said he hopes to present his new plans to the City Council by September at the latest. Meanwhile, his plans for the Snodgrass property are awaiting an assigned date of discussion with the city’s Planning & Zoning Board.

“I’m hoping that we can make something really wonderful happen here to really compliment what’s going in at the Maitland City Centre,” he said.