- April 19, 2024
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WINTER GARDEN City commissioners unanimously approved spending $282,339.78 of Community Development Block Grant money to rehabilitate five houses. The city awarded the contracts to the lowest bidder, Construction 360.
Construction 360 will demolish and rebuild the home at 1015 Lincoln Terrace for $100,210.78 and rehab four others: 646 Bethune Ave. ($34,418), 1100 E. Bay St. ($51,523), 1040 Mildred Dixon Way ($55,247) and 1046 Mildred Dixon Way ($40,941).
No companies bid on the homes at 526 S. Boyd St. and 500 Seminole St., which also were eligible for rehab. Consultant David Fox, of Fred Fox Enterprises, told commissioners bidders were concerned about lead in those homes. Fox said those properties are now clean and he expects to have bids on them by the next city commission meeting on Oct. 22.
Construction costs for each home includes new roofs. Commissioner Colin Sharman said he thought the rehab amounts seemed excessive until he learned new roofs were part of the bid.
CRUZ-N-CAR SHOW
City Manager Mike Bollhoefer provided an update on the status of the Cruz-N-Car show. He met with a representative of the show to see if there was a way it could continue. He outlined some of the concerns of local merchants and told commissioners that talks are ongoing.
“We’re committed to holding an event every third Saturday,” he said.
Bollhoefer said many merchants favor a variety of events and staff is considering events in addition to the car show that can draw people to downtown. For example, the Villages hosts a popular golf-cart event during which residents park their tricked out and modified golf carts in downtown. Hosting a variety of events could be better for Winter Garden in the long run.
Mayor John Rees said that in choosing events city staff should keep in mind what events the residents will like to attend.
NEW REGULATIONS
Bollhoefer asked commissioners to provide feedback before the next meeting about proposed regulations for vendors at city events. The city would like to encourage organizers to enforce higher quality standards for vendors.
Bollhoefer also said city staff will draft new codes to regulate bars on windows in downtown.
“Bars on windows aren’t very inviting,” he said.
He hopes to develop rules that will satisfy safety concerns while preserving Winter Garden’s unique downtown character.
- Commissioners unanimously approved the Developer’s Agreement for Sonata West, a 115 unit assisted-living facility at 420 Roper Road. The developer agreed to pay alternative impact fees, sidewalk construction costs and a fair share of a traffic light at Roper Road.
- City Manager Mike Bollhoefer said the Avalon and Tilden Road traffic light will turn on “any day now.”
- Construction in downtown for the long-awaited parking garage will begin after the Bloom and Grow Festival in April 2016.
- The commission unanimously approved the second reading of ordinances to annex and rezone about 0.23 acres on the east side of northwest Crown Point Road north of Macy Du Lane and South of East Fullers Cross Road to city R-1. This was a voluntary annexation. The property owner plans to build a single-family home on the site and would like city services.
- Commissioners unanimously approved the appointment of Christopher Lee to the Planning and Zoning Board to fill Eric Weiss’ vacated seat. Mr. Lee’s term will expire on October 30, 2017.
