FPRA Annual Report FY2019

FY2019

FORT PIERCE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ANNUAL REPORT

LINCOLN PARK

FISHERMAN’S WHARF/PORT

DOWNTOWN/EDGARTOWN

SOUTH BEACH

PEACOCK ARTS DISTRICT

#REDEVELOPMENTWORKS

TABLE OF

CONTENTS OVERVIEW ›

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FPRA LEADERSHIP ›

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ACCOMPLISHMENTS ›

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KING PLANT SITE ›

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ST. ANASTASIA SCHOOL ›

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PEACOCK ARTS DISTRICT ›

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SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS ›

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CRA PLAN UPDATE ›

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LINCOLN PARK POPUP ›

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FISHERMANS WHARF ›

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SUNRISE THEATRE ›

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FINANCIAL DATA

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OVERVIEW

The Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency (FPRA) was established in 1982 to guide the City of Fort Pierce in redevelopment. The purpose of the agency is to revitalize both the physical and economic environment of the Community Redevelopment Area. In 1995 and 1996 the City Commission expanded the boundaries of the CRA and included an area south of Atlantic Avenue to Citrus Avenue and Delaware Avenue. In 2000 the City Commission expanded the boundaries of the CRA and included the neighborhoods west of 7th Street, the Port and the Beaches. The City of Fort Pierce Commission included these areas since they were in a state of economic and physical decline and in need of redevelopment.

The Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report is required by Florida Statutes 163.356 (3) (c), the governing statute for all community redevelopment agencies across the state, and covers highlights from October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019. The statute also requires the report contain a complete financial statement and a record of key accomplishments for the fiscal year.

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DIRECTING

REDEVELOPMENT

FPRA BOARD

Pictured above from left to right: RUFUS J. ALEXANDER JEREMIAH JOHNSON LINDA HUDSON, CHAIR REGINALD B. SESSIONS THOMAS K. PERONA

CRA ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHARLIE FRANK MATTHEWS, CHAIR LILLIAN JIMENEZ CURTIS JOHNSON KRISTINA GIBBONS JON NEPRUD AL JOHNSON HOYT MURPHY, JR. PLYTHE FREEDMAN MICHAEL BROWN, JR.

FPRA STAFF

NICHOLAS C. MIMMS, P.E., EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 05

KING’S LANDING

A CREATIVE AND CONTEMPORARY WATERFRONT ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND LIVING DISTRICT IN FORT PIERCE.

Ten years ago, the City demolished the old H.D. King Power Plant and spent the last decade cleaning up the 7-acre site. The City of Fort Pierce and Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency worked tirelessly for years to find the right redevelopment project for the former H.D. King Plant site in Downtown Fort Pierce and in 2019, history was made. Following a competitive bid process, the FPRA Board selected Audubon Development as the highest ranked bidder in June 2019. After approximately six months of negotiation, the development agreement for King’s Landing was approved by the FPRA Board and was officially executed by the Fort Pierce City Commission.

King’s Landing, an $85 million mixed use project in downtown Fort Pierce promises to be one of the most exciting and transformative developments ever to come to the Treasure Coast. The site will feature a hotel, residential, restaurants, retail, office space and public infrastructure improvements like the Moore’s Creek promenade and pedestrian bridge. The Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency is looking forward to the completion of this monumental project.

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REVITALIZATION OF THE OLD ST. ANASTASIA CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Following a request for proposals, the Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency approved the lease agreement between the Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency and The Lindsay School of the Arts to lease and improve the Old St. Anastasia School.

Built in 1914, the historic St. Anastasia Catholic School is located prominently on the corner of Orange Avenue and 10th Street, the western gateway to the new Peacock Arts District. In 2000 the building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and in 2007 the Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency was able to acquire the property. After damage from Hurricane Frances and Jeanne in 2004, the structure was in a state of decline. The building has since been stabilized with a new roof in 2008 and new impact resistant windows in 2014.

The Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency is looking forward to The Lindsay School of the Arts restoring the building to its former glory and creating a community facility to showcase the vibrant arts in Fort Pierce.

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BEAUTIFYING

THE PAD Thanks to efforts led by the City of Fort Pierce, the Peacock Arts District (PAD) continued to be beautified in 2019 with the installation of new street pole banners and decorative street signs. New banners were installed on Orange Avenue, Delaware Avenue, 7th Street and 10th Street. The new artwork created by the community demonstrates the vibrancy of the city and highlights Fort Pierce as an arts destination by celebrating the creativity of local artists and delineate the new arts district.

Over 100 entries were received during the PAD banner contest and a total of 23 designs were selected to be displayed. The contest highlighted incredible talent in this community, ranging from elementary-age students from Creative Arts Academy of St. Lucie (CAST) to professional local artists. Furthermore, new decorative street signs were also installed throughout the PAD. The City brightened up the corners with purple street signs featuring the PAD logo, firmly branding the district with its own unique flair.

The new banners and street signs join other PAD beautification efforts such as the painted pot project and the mural program. The goal for the Peacock Arts District is to create a bright, attractive, eclectic environment that celebrates the arts and encourages private investment that builds and supports the local economy.

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SCHOOL RESOURCE

OFFICERS

PROVIDING SAFE AND SECURE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS

In September 2019, the Fort Pierce Police Department received funding from the Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency to provide three Police Officers to serve as School Resource Officers (SRO). In partnership with the Saint Lucie County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officers Program, Fort Pierce Police Officers were assigned to Chester A. Moore Elementary and Dan McCarty Middle School.

The SRO’s main purpose is to safeguard the students, staff, visitors and school campus. SRO’s also provide positive student engagement, such as reading in the classrooms and crime prevention presentations Officers have a visible presence on and off campus and participate in weekly off campus activities with students. In this first school semester, they have successfully united students suffering mental health crisis with the proper resources.

They have worked with students, families and school officials to give several first-time juvenile offenders alternatives to arrest through providing opportunities to rehabilitate outside of the criminal justice system through the Juvenile Civil Diversion program. Additionally, the officers provide monthly Code Red active shooter training for staff and students.

The Police Department has recently purchased two Segway Patrollers to increase visibility and improve response time to incidents on the school campus.

With the help of the funding from the FPRA, the Fort Pierce Police Department has taken their mission of “Reducing crime and improving the quality of life through collaborative partnerships” into our classrooms to safeguard our children.

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CRA PLAN UPDATE

Throughout 2019, the Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency collaborated with both public and private partners to update the Community Redevelopment Plan which addresses new and emerging issues and opportunities within the City of Fort Pierce Redevelopment Area.

The city hosted five community outreach meetings in various neighborhoods to gather integral input from the citizens and stakeholders in Fort Pierce.

The City of Fort Pierce Community Redevelopment Plan is being updated to reflect the newest challenges and opportunities currently facing the redevelopment area. This Plan will primarily address existing conditions within the Redevelopment Area and provide Goals, Objectives, Policies, and Projects that will guide future redevelopment within the community.

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LINCOLN PARK POP-UP

The Lincoln Park Pop-Up held on April 30,

and board member recruitment, and Lincoln

2019 gave residents an opportunity to share

Park Young Professionals BOOM! Project.

input, ideas, and feedback for the future of the Lincoln Park Avenue D District.

About Lincoln Park Avenue D District The historic Avenue D Business District

The following topics were discussed

is along Avenue D, west of 7th street to

during the open-house style meeting –

15th street was once a thriving economic

beautification, activity generation, economic

center for the African-American citizens.

development, open grant opportunities,

Shops, salons and markets lined the street

community policing and more.

and created an abundance of activity from residents who lived in the immediate vicinity

Community partners were also in attendance

and beyond. Today, the City and FPRA are

to provide information and seek feedback

keenly focused on the revitalization of this

on other Lincoln Park happenings including:

district.

Lincoln Park Career Pathways Initiative openings, Lincoln Park Main Street business

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FISHERMAN’S WHARF

The City of Fort Pierce launched a community input survey in an effort to garner public feedback for the future development of Fisherman’s Wharf. A

PROJECT GOALS PUBLIC WATERFRONT SPACE

total of 632 responses were received.

Create a unique place where people will want to visit and

Based on the community input, in

gather, in addition to shopping, dining, working and living.

2020 the City of Fort Pierce and the

Retaining waterfront accessibility all residents and visitors and

Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency

enhancing the waterfront for public use is a top priority

(FPRA) will solicit proposals for the redevelopment of approximately 3.2 acres comprising of three parcels generally known as Fisherman’s Wharf.

Fisherman’s Wharf is located at the southern end of the Port and acts as a buffer between the working port area

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Achieve redevelopment of parcels that will add to the tax base and stimulate the economic activity in the redevelopment area

and historic downtown Fort Pierce. It is currently underutilized and prime for redevelopment.

QUALITY DESIGN Development will be of high architectural quality and wellplanned site design for maximum efficiency while taking into consideration the surrounding parcels that are not included in the solicitation

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SUNRISE THEATRE The pristine, beautifully restored, intimate

including outreach and fundraising part-

1,200-seat Sunrise Theatre, located in

nerships with the following organizations:

Historic downtown Fort Pierce, presents

IMPACT, Bluebird Educational Foundation,

national touring Broadway shows, musical

The United Way, Delta Theta Sigma, and

and comedy acts, ballet, country stars and

St. Lucie County Children Services Council.

classic rock icons.

The Sunrise Theatre also continued their School Time Performance series with 3 per-

The Sunrise Theatre directly benefits the

formances bringing in over 3,000 students

economy and quality of life in St. Lucie

to educational events.

County by attracting visitors from other cities, counties and states. Also located within the theatre complex is the 220-seat Black Box Theatre, a state-of-the-art venue offering a variety of national, regional and local programming.

The programming at the Historic Sunrise Theatre was expanded in 2019 by offering a wider variety of shows for all to enjoy.

Additionally, the Sunrise’s involvement in community events was greatly intensified

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Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency 100 N. US Highway 1 Fort Pierce, FL 34950 772.467.3034