LWMS Newsletter Sept

NO. 03

All of your downtown news, activities, events and more!

O N THE

COVER

Welcome to The Local Downtown Newsletter.

We hope you find this magazine informative and fun. If you are local we hope this finds a place on your coffee table and makes you proud of your community as well as inspires you.

The Local Downtown Newsletter is our attempt to capture the lifestyle of downtown living as well as capture the essence of what makes our area so special. This is our attempt to keep everyone in the downtown loop and apprised of all Main Street’s happenings. Between our covers you will find all your downtown news, activities, events, projects, businesses and more. Your advertising enables us to bring these to print so if you’re interested in advertising, please let us know.

Photo by: Greenprint Photography, Lexi Wharem

B OAR D OF

DIRECTORS Lake Wales Main Street, Inc. Board of Directors 2019 Karen Thompson, Executive Director Ryan Buskirk, President Rusty Ingley, Past President Andy Oguntola, Vice President Kristie Reed, Treasurer Leigh Ann Lightsey Wynn, Secretary Larry Bossarte Ellis Hunt Caroline Jahna Margie Sikes Joshua Watson

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LAKE WALES MAIN STREET

Downtown has an exciting future ahead. We have many opportunities for YOU to be involved and to invest in your downtown. Part of the Main Street philosophy is that downtown belongs to the entire community. Everyone has a stake and a role to play in the revitalization of their downtown. Lake Wales Main Street, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization involving the entire community where the objective is to improve the image of downtown by facilitating change and growth. Please give us a call for more information how you can get involved and help!

Executive Director, Lake Wales Main Street Assistant Director CRA, City of Lake Wales

Lake Wales Main Street, Inc. 277 East Stuart Ave. Lake Wales, FL 33853 863-259-1503 karenlwmainstreet@outlook.com

FIND US ON

For Market and Vendor Information call: Lynn @ (863) 676-8782

A LETTER F ROM THE

DIRECTOR Photo by:Williamson Photography

Since 2017 when I was hired as the Lake Wales Main Street Executive Director, I have made a habit of walking around downtown to acquaint myself with its history and its citizens.

Most of the time my journey would start at the Bullard Building, which was the home of the first post office and a second-floor bowling alley. Yep, a bowling alley.

Sometimes, my journey led me through the arcade - truly downtown’s crown jewel west toward First Street, and ultimately to Central Avenue, our main drag, pumping cars from either Highway 27 or Scenic Highway.

On multiple occasions, I was lost in a time warp, imaging 4 •••

what downtown was like in its Florida boom-town days of the 1920s and 30s.

Jumping ahead to 2019, it’s clear that downtown Lake Wales has not kept pace with its competition, and something was missing. So, I set out on another journey in hopes of discovering that missing link.

The more I talked with people, it became evident that with all the obvious distractions, such as big box stores, and attractive competition, it was time for us – you and me – to honor the past. We owe it to downtown to invest in its future and re-generate that sense of place and community.

AND never has there been a better time!

After a thorough search and vetting, Lake Wales Main Street, Inc. hired the urban planning firm Dover Kohl & Partners. The evening of

LAKE WALES MAIN STREET

April 1, 2019 Lake Wales Main Street, the City of Lake Wales, and Dover Kohl & Partners hosted a “Design Charrette” where Lake Wales citizens came together in a participatory process to plan and shape downtown’s future. Over the ensuing three days, the team of Dover Kohl continued their path of exploration by talking to different organizations, interest groups and individual citizens about their view for downtown’s future. On Friday, April 5th, Dover Kohl unveiled the Vision Plan’s “Workin-Progress.” The room of citizens gasped with awe and excitement, “Wonderful! Awesome!

Let’s do it!”

On August 13, 2019 Dover Kohl & Partners paid another visit to Lake Wales to reveal the draft plan.

“The core neighborhoods of Lake Wales are meant to be inspiring beautiful places,” said Victor Kohl.

“The famous Olmsted Brothers firm, the landscape architects who planned both the town and Bok Tower, had a bold, green vision that Lake Wales should be a living, growing work of art, a city as a garden. The new plan for Downtown and Northwest Lakes Wales is to revive that Olmsted vision.”

As we look to the future, let’s remember and agree that it is our collective responsibility to preserve and make our downtown vital and successful and sustainable. Downtowns are where we can all come together and treasure what we value most – our community, our family and our neighbors.

Thank you for your commitment. See you Downtown!

Lake Wales Main Street, Inc. 277 East Stuart Ave. Lake Wales, FL 33853 863-259-1503 karenlwmainstreet@outlook.com

BEN·E·FAC·TOR /benə,faktər/

noun A person or organization who confers a benefit; kindly helper.

One who gives aid, especially financial aid.

Lake Wales Main Street is very fortunate to have 9 fantastic organizations committed to Main Street and recognize the success of downtown has an impact on the community as a whole.

OUR BENEFACTORS

GEORGE&ERICA

O’NEILL

The Benefactor Program helped fund the downtown design strategy and will provide the opportunity to consider large scale projects which will make a noticeable impact for downtown Lake Wales.

As a Benefactor your company will be recognized as a leader and applauded for the role you play in supporting the community. Your return on investment is found in the marketing opportunities but perhaps the biggest return is a vibrant downtown serving as the economic engine for the entire community.

We hope your company will seriously consider becoming a Lake Wales Main Street Benefactor.

If you’re contemplating this investment please contact Karen Thompson Karenlwmainstreet@outlook.com for more information!

A MESSAGE F ROM OUR

PRESIDENT Your Lake Wales Main Street organization has been working hard behind the scenes as we continue the march toward revitalizing our beloved downtown.

This has already been such an extraordinary year and there is certainly more to come.

A major and exciting development took place at a recent City Commission meeting. For quite some time, it’s been our organization’s aim to obtain a design plan that sets

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LAKE WALES MAIN STREET

the tone for the future of our downtown. We would not accept anything less than a top-flight plan that reflected the true excellence of this community.

Without a doubt, this is what we received at that City Commission meeting.

Victor Dover, of Dover Kohl Town Planners, gave a visually compelling overview of the plan, known as “Lake Wales Connected.” It was an extraordinary look at what

our downtown could be, and should be. You need to see it for yourself!

We were so energized by your involvement and support during the community input phases of the planning process.

This is just the beginning of what will be a story of steady progress and great transformation.

President, Lake Wales Main Street, Inc.

MARKET PLACE

DOWNTOWN

LAKE WALES

LAKE WALES M AIN STREET

OCTOBER

25

th

AT 6-10 PM GERMAN FOOD CRAFT BEER LIVE MUSIC

CONTACT:

Karen Thompson

863.259.1503

kthompsonlwmainstreet@outlook.com

GEORGE&ERICA

O’NEILL

BUSINESS SP OTLIGHT

Carolyn Friedlander is a designer working from her hometown of Lake Wales, Florida, an environment she enjoys for its warm weather, few distractions, and potent community of creative folk. In her work, she draws inspiration from features of the Florida landscape--its long leaf pines, palmettos, scrub land, sand, vibrant colors--as well as her background in architecture. carolynfriedlander.com /carolynfriedlanderllc @carolynfriedlander

COMI NG S OON!

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LAKE WALES MAIN STREET

L A K E

W A L E S

INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOOD-RELATED SERVICES

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND APPLICATION CONTACT:

Karen Thompson Assistant CRA Director City of Lake Wales, CRA 863-259-1503

THE

PROGRAM The Food-Related Services Incentive Program offers up to $50,000 in dollar-fordollar matching funds to assist in establishing foodrelated businesses in the NW Redevelopment Area and Downtown Main Street District.

Matching funds are a grant that can be used to offset the cost of eligible leasehold improvements necessary to establish and operate a food service or restaurant business.

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LAKE WALES MAIN STREET

APPLICATION 1 A completed and 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

signed application Notarized letter from property owner Food-related service resume(s) Conceptual business plan Proposed site plan Project Schedule Three (3) cost estimates All the above documentation must be submitted as one complete packet

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS 1. Eligible businesses are food-

related ventures such as sit-down restaurants, coffee/tea shops, bakeries, commissary kitchens, mobile food establishments, grocery stores, produce markets, micro-breweries, distilleries, health food stores and other specialty food stores.

2. All properties within the NW CRA and Downtown Main Street District are eligible.

3. Drive through facilities, convenience stores with motor vehicle fuel sales, bars, lounges and related entertainment uses are not eligible for the foodrelated services incentive.

4. Governmental entities and notfor-profit entities are not eligible, with exception for those paying property taxes.

5. Grants are intended for rehabilitation and restoration of existing properties only.

6. Property must pay all taxes

ELIGIBLE IMPROVEMENTS The City of Lake Wales Food-Related Services Incentive Program is for leasehold improvements to an existing property in order to make it functional for a food-service business. Funds may not be used for normal maintenance or repair. Specific improvements for which grant funds may be used include, but are not limited to: Electrical/ Plumbing upgrades Installation of attached fixtures Grease traps Utility connections Venting systems Sprinkler systems Solid Waste and recycling management

Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing engineering services (not to exceed 20% of the grant total) Monitoring man-hole system installation

The following items are specifically ineligible for the program: Equipment (not attached/affixed to building/ structure) Furniture Interior design fees New construction is ineligible.

Improvements must be consistent with the City of Lake Wales Land Development Regulations and Engineering Standards. Any improvements visible to the exterior in CRA must comply with the CRA Commercial Corridor Design Guidelines. Grant funds may not be used to correct code violations or to bring structures up to code.

As a condition of approval, the Applicant will agree that improvements made using these funds will stay in place a minimum of five (5) years. If improvements are replaced within five (5) years of construction completion, the grant recipient must pay a pro rata portion of the grant proceeds invested in the project for the number of months remaining.

Applicant is responsible for obtaining or having obtained all required local and state approvals and permitting for work undertaken.

Once a maximum grant for any property has been awarded, businesses occupying that property or the building owner cannot reapply for another grant for the same location for a five (5) year period.

Applicant agrees to allow the LWCRA to photograph the project for use in future publications.

PROCESS

Qualified applicants must schedule an appointment with the LWCRA staff prior to preparing an application for submittal. The City of Lake Wales (CRA) office is located at 201 West Central Ave., Lake Wales, Fl 33853. Appointments may be made by calling (863) 259-1503. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and grants will be awarded on a first-come, firstserved basis.

CRA staff will review the application for completeness.

A post-application submittal conference will be held with the Applicant to discuss any deficiencies or issues with the application. At this time, the CRA may request that the Applicant provide additional information.

CRA staff will review the completed application against the review criteria.

The reimbursement payment will be awarded in one payment after proof of building permits and Certificate of Occupancy.

*Once reimbursement check has been issued, no further documents will be considered as the process has since closed. All documentation necessary for disbursement of funds must be provided to the CRA within thirty (30) days of issuance of occupancy certificate.

Selection Criteria CRA staff will review completed applications against review criteria and will state his/ her findings in a recommendation to the applicant.

Applications that score below 60 points will be recommended for denial. Applicants that are denied for this program may appeal their request to the CRA Board at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The CRA Board will determine by super majority vote that an appealed application is approved or denied without conditions. The applicant will be notified in writing of the Board’s decision within five (5) business days of the Board meeting.

Applicants are advised that grant funds are provided at the sole discretion of the CRA Board and the findings stated in the recommendation do not create an entitlement to funding. *Please refer to Exhibit C for scoring criteria.

ISSUE NO. 3: 2019

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T HA N K YO U !

LAKE WALES MAI N STREET, I NC. BENEFACTORS

GEORGE&ERICA

O’NEILL

W H Y S UP P O R T D OW N T OW N ?

IMPROVED

IMAGE! INCREASED

BUSINESS

HEALTHY ECONOMY

HISTORICAL AWARENESS!

preservation of architecture and human history!

Attract and retain employees!

ENHANCED

MARKET PLACE! (shopping locally)

SENSE OF

PRIDE in downtown

SOCIAL/CULTURAL

ACTIVITIES!

Sense of hometown community!

Tax dollars stay in the community!

HOME VALUES increase!

Opportunity to participate/ volunteer!

Quality of BUSINESS!

IN SUMMARY, THERE ARE PLENTY OF REASONS TO BECOME A BENEFACTOR, YET THEY ALL COME DOWN TO ONE:

QUALITY OF LIFE!