Connect with Downtown

In the midst of the present economy one may wonder how the downtown areas in small towns like ours are coping. I believe that many people judge the vitality of a town by the condition of the downtown – so the downtown area takes on additional weight as it represents the entire area.

The Big Picture

The goods and services available in many downtowns across the country have changed over the years. In the 1950’s and 60’s new highways were built, and new “shopping centers” appeared. The historic downtown areas often evolved over the years into a mix of specialty retail shops, professional offices, and restaurants.

I have a personal connection to the downtown area of a small town, and over the years I have witnessed these changes. As a boy I would frequently go with my mom or grandfather to the downtown where I grew up in Cheviot, Ohio. At one of the two drugs stores there was a counter with a soda fountain. As often as possible I would indulge in a chocolate soda with hand-dipped vanilla ice cream, a concoction that I believed was brought down from heaven by angels. I could have eaten my weight in chocolate sodas if my mom would have let me!

A few years later that drug store closed and was replaced with a furniture store. As the years went by several historic buildings were demolished and replaced by national chain fast food restaurants. Their familiar architecture that we typically see along major highways looks out of place in a downtown. Cheviot has changed and survived, but I can’t say that what is there now was well planned.

Lake Wales’ Success

By contrast, there have been several plans prepared for downtown Lake Wales, and the process of successful planning involves placing building blocks upon a solid foundation. We have had both “foundation shoring” activities, as well as some celebrated success with new building blocks. Some of the foundation shoring accomplished in the past few years are as follows:

• The City Commission’s approval of the historic district, companion boards, and regulations downtown. This ordinance will go a long way towards preserving the charm of downtown.


• The CRA’s approval of the capital improvement’s bond, which paid for the resurfacing of the streets downtown and elsewhere in the district.


• The City Commission’s approval of the water main improvement projects downtown, which enabled the build out of the Bank of America building.

Following these foundation-shoring moves, some important building blocks have been laid:

• The opening of the JD Alexander Center, the newest Polk Community College branch campus, made possible by Senator Alexander, our legislative delegation, the City Commission’s donation of the property and willingness to assign and construct parking, and the foresight of Robin Gibson in suggesting this use for the building.


• The renovation of a number of buildings are now underway, including The Bullard Building, One Scenic Place, and the Gifford property at 251 Park. The north Arcade building has been restored, and negotiations are in process for the renovation of the Grand Hotel.


• The Murals and Enhancements Group, led by Cliff Tonjes, has added energy and interest in downtown.


• The opening of a number of retail stores in recent years, including the Else Group, the Polka Dot shop, Brenda’s Gifts, and the just opened Village Kitchen shop that moved from the mall, are all signs of good progress. These are important retail businesses that have become part of the core of retail stores that include True Value Hardware, Mayer Jewelers, and art stores such as BSD Galleries, Bellissimo, the Gallery and Frame Shop, and the Artists’ Guild.


• At lunchtime there are now a variety of fine restaurants to choose from downtown, and a number of them are staying open for dinner. A new Puerto Rican restaurant has now opened in the arcade.


• Ed Pilkington has remodeled a storefront to a professional office.

If you grew up with a connection to a downtown area as I have, you can renew your connection now! Become a part of this process by patronizing downtown stores, or by helping Lake Wales Main Street. This wonderful organization markets our downtown, puts on events such as the recent World Dance Bazaar, and coordinates planning efforts. Call them at 676-2028 or visit their website at www.lakewalesmainstreet.com.

Mark Your Calendar

February will be a busy month! Let’s take a look at just a few of the activities, meetings, and events planned for this month:

• Thursday, February 5, 5:30 pm, City Hall: the regular meeting of the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee. Agenda items include a discussion of the feasibility of applying for a grant to fund the next section of the trail that now ends at Buck More Road.



• Friday, February 6, 6 – 9 pm, in the Park Ave. Rhodesbilt Arcade: James R. Hahn Productions presents “A Taste of Lake Wales” featuring drinks, food, art, and music, with a portion of the proceeds to benefit the Vanguard School Performing Arts Center project. Tickets are $25 and are available at the Gallery at 230 E. Park Ave or by calling 863-241-3852.



• Friday, February 6, 5:30 pm, City Hall: a meeting of the City’s Finance Committee. The agenda will include:


• a discussion on the feasibility of applying for $200,000 swimming pool construction grant. While the City has over $1,000,000 in the swimming pool construction fund, there is not an available revenue source to pay for the operation and maintenance of the pool. City staff recommends passing on this grant opportunity until there are more funds built up in the pool fund. The cost of construction is over $800,000, and user fees are not likely to support the on-going costs of operating the pool. This item will come to the City Commission for the final decision on this grant opportunity at the February 17 regular meeting;


• Paul Simmons will discuss the requested donation to the Winter Haven Area Transit (WHAT) system of over $5,000 for the route that serves Winter Haven and the area around the Eagle Ridge Mall. Mr. Simmons is also on the February 17 City Commission meeting agenda to formally make this request.


• Saturday, February 7, 9:00 am – 1 pm, City Hall: Polk County will hold its annual Household Hazardous waste drop off event in conjunction with Keep Polk County Beautiful. Area residents can bring a variety of hazardous items to City Hall and dispose of them for free. The items accepted include cleaners, polishes, solvents, automotive products, aerosol cans, insecticides, disinfectants, paint products, batteries, and pool chemicals. Residents can drop off up to five electronic items per household, including computers, monitors, keyboards, terminals, televisions, stereos, printers, fax machines, VCR/DVD players, video cameras, and video game consoles. Business waste will not be accepted. If you are planning on buying a new television to prepare for the changeover this month to the digital signal, this would be a good place to take your old television. In addition, up to 10 standard vehicle size tires without rims will also be accepted per household with a photo ID and proof of Polk County residency. For further information call (863) 284-4319 or (863) 399-2689, or visit the Polk County website at www.polk-county.net, or call Keep Polk County Beautiful at 676-7019 for questions about tires.



• Saturday, February 7, 10 am, Kiwanis Park: the Grand Opening of Barney’s Dream, the new playground constructed at Kiwanis Park by the Lake Wales Kiwanis Park for children of all abilities. Kawanian Barney Moore initiated this project and the Kiwanis Club raised the money through a variety of fund raising efforts to see the project to reality. Congratulations Barney and the Lake Wales Kiwanis Club for an outstanding job!



• Monday, February 16, 6 pm, City Hall: I will give the “State of the City Address” as requested by the Mayor and everyone is cordially invited. This address was given to the Chamber of Commerce at their January luncheon. Arrangements are being made to televise the address on Comcast Channel 33. (I will also give the address at the coffee meeting in Lake Ashton on Monday, March 23.)



• Tuesday, February 17, 6 pm, City Hall: The City Commission will hold their regular meeting.



• Thursday, February 19, 5:30 – 7:30 pm, City Hall: The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will hold its anticipated Open House on the proposed project to construct medians on State Road 60 from 11th St to Capps Road. Consultants to FDOT have stated that they will be mailing a notice to all property owners along this route, as well as distributing flyers.

Opportunities & Challenges

Our town is presented with a number of exciting opportunities as well as some difficult challenges. Let’s explore some of the more prominent opportunities and a difficult challenge that are before us.

Some Exciting Opportunities

• Downtown Investment - It has been estimated that there is more money being invested in downtown in 2007-08 than in any time in the last 20 years. Planning and renovations are in process or just completed at the North Arcade, Bank of America building, old City Hall, the Bullard Building, and Ed Pilkington’s building on Park Ave. next to the Arcade. Substantial investment has also been made at Tres Jolie and the Arcade Coffee Shop. Brenda’s Gifts adds another fine retailer, and another restaurant is opening in place of the Stuart Ave. Café. These improvements will help crystallize our position as a premier destination in Central Florida.



• Downtown Study - The study of downtown by Martin Vargas, funded by Richard Quaid, is nearing completion. It will be the starting point for healthy discussions on the direction for downtown capital improvements.



• Grand Hotel - The City’s acquisition of this landmark building is a step forward. On March 30 the CRA board and the Chamber’s CRA Steering Committee will meet at 6 p.m. in the Commission Chambers to discuss the downtown study and the next round of requesting proposals.



• CSX - The CSX development proposed in Winter Haven is expected to bring companies that will use the facility to SR 60 in our town’s utility service area (and future city area) east of the railroad track at Petersen Industries. The City Commission recently gave an endorsement of this project with conditions relating to the abatement of pollution and traffic.

A Difficult Challenge

Budget Woes
The downturn in the economy is affecting cities as well as households. At this point City staff projects that at year end, budgeted revenues will be short nearly $400,000; however, because of spending cutbacks to this point, the current difference between revenue and expense is projected to be $91,550 in the General Fund. The City’s Finance Committee and City Commission will hold special meetings to determine how this shortage will be corrected. The dates and times of these meetings are now being arranged and will be announced in the near future.

The need for spending cuts comes at a time when the City needs to improve the amount of reserves in the General Fund. The General Fund contains the funding for critical emergency services (police and fire) as well as culture/recreation, and many of the departments in City Hall. A major funding source in the General Fund, property tax revenue, has the bulk of its receipts after January 1. The General Fund reserves are used not only in case of unanticipated, emergency expenditures, but to “carry” the General Fund in the early part of the fiscal year (October, November, and December) until the bulk of the tax revenue is received.

Our town has been through difficult times in the past, and the City Commission will make the necessary corrections. In this process, your input is welcome.

Mark Your Calendar

Coming off the heels of our town’s fabulous exposure on Tampa’s Fox Channel 13 last Friday morning, March is shaping up to be a busy month with some exciting events for every age group:

• Wednesday, March 5, at 8 a.m. at the Albert Kirkland Gymnasium, near the intersection of Third Street and Seminole (one block east of the Scenic Highway): the Polk Senior Games will hold the basketball shooting contest, one of many events to be held throughout the County. For further information call Jennifer at the Depot Museum at 676-4209.



• Wednesday, March 5, at 5 p.m. in the City Commission Chambers at City Hall: CALLING ALL SKATEBOARDERS! City staff will seek input on the final design of the skate park being built in Kiwanis Park (at the corner of Lakeshore Blvd and Tower Blvd.) Our skate park will be similar to the skateboard area in Mary Holland Park in Bartow, consisting of a large, smooth concrete slab which is currently being constructed. The specific skateboarding elements, such as rails and ramps, will then be selected, purchased and bolted to the slab. The park is being funded by a grant from the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program, and by a generous donation from the Jahna Corporation here in Lake Wales. City staff will have catalogues of skateboarding elements for skateboarders to review. Please participate in the design of your park!



• Saturday, March 8, 10 a.m., at the 1919 building across Third Street from the Kirkland Gymnasium: Open House at the 1919 building hosted by De. Gabe Statom. Representatives of the architect, contractor, and City will be present to answer questions regarding design, construction, and financing of the project. Everyone is cordially invited to hear Dr. Statom’s exciting vision for this magnificent building, which is expected to become both a premier performance venue for our town as well as Central Florida and a community center for music education. This will enhance our tradition of superior student music performance at the middle and high school level. Everyone is also invited to see for themselves the progress that is being made, and to view the section of the south exterior wall that is being reconstructed. A brick column between two second floor windows in this section was found to have buckled, and it was inspected by a structural engineer. Following the engineer’s recommendation, that section of the wall was taken down by the contractor and is being re-built.



• Saturday, March 15, 2-6 p.m., downtown in the Marketplace between Stuart and Park Avenues: The World Dance Bazaar, an event featuring a variety of dancing exhibitions. This will be followed by a street dance party from 6-9 p.m.

This last item deserves special attention: It is one of a number of events that is sponsored by our Main Street organization. It would be a perfect opportunity for individuals who have not been downtown lately to come and see the dancers and check out what Channel 13 found last Friday: that we have an inviting, interesting, and charming downtown.

The Main Street organization is dedicated to preserving our downtown and is seeking new members. You need not be a downtown business owner to join –everyone is invited for membership. This organization has a particular appeal to those who grew up, as I did, in a community with a historic downtown. You are cordially invited to join the preservation effort. Please call the Main Street manager, Dolly Pelletier, at 678-4182, extension 270, for more information, or visit the Main Street section of the City website.

State of the City

On January 18 I will make my annual “State of the City” presentation at the Chamber of Commerce luncheon. This event will be held at the First Baptist Church at noon.

This year’s presentation will reflect the accomplishments of the past year but will focus on what we expect in 2008. The new year has the potential to be the most rewarding year in quite some time, as a number of projects that are being planned are scheduled to come to fruition. The areas of high expectation include downtown re-development, Lincoln Ave re-development, and City capital projects.

Downtown Re-Development

There are signs of a positive momentum beginning to take shape downtown:

• The renovation of old city hall is now well-underway, with a new branch campus of Polk Community College set to open in 2009;


• The Bullard building at Scenic and Stuart is being re-modeled at a sizeable cost to create office and apartment lofts upstairs;


• Tres Jolie has opened in their new location on Park Avenue with a substantial investment for its bakery, restaurant, and catering business;


• In anticipation of their mall lease expiring, Brenda’s gifts has opened a new store on Park Avenue;


• The Bank of America building has been sold to the 610 Corporation, a firm with holdings that include properties in downtown Winter Haven. Peterson Myers has leased the upper two floors and construction plans are being drawn. The third floor of that building has never been occupied!


• The City and the County have agreed to waive impact fees (except City water and sewer impact fees) in a “core improvement area” that includes downtown and the Lincoln Avenue neighborhood commercial district;


• The Chamber’s new CRA (Community Re-Development Agency) steering committee has hired Martin Vargas to do the first phase of a downtown study with a $25,000 donation from Richard Quaid, who purchased and just completed the remodeling of the north arcade. The study is scheduled for completion in February, and it is anticipated that some recommendations will be implemented immediately with CRA funds budgeted in this fiscal year;


• The City has received title to the Grand Hotel, and proposals for its use are being solicited with a deadline of March 31.

Lincoln Avenue Neighborhood Commercial Re-Development

There is progress being made in re-developing the Lincoln Avenue Neighborhood Commercial District:

• The first new business on Lincoln Avenue since the hurricanes is preparing to open! Massey’s Meat Market is located at 344 Lincoln Avenue, between C and D Streets;


• The Green and Gold Foundation operates a Farmer’s Market in the vacant lot at the SE corner of Lincoln Avenue and C Street on Fridays and Saturdays;


• The CRA has acquired the Walker Building at the SW corner of Lincoln Avenue and C Street and is working with an architect to explore re-modeling options;


• City staff is also exploring the feasibility of building a police sub-station at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and B Street with the help of an investor who is working with the Green and Gold Foundation.

City Capital Projects

The CRA Board, consisting of the City Commissioners, recently approved a $9.5 million bond issue for capital projects. The biggest single project will be street re-surfacing, with funds also budgeted for utility projects. All funds will be spent in the CRA area, which is generally the historic area of the City and includes downtown and the Lincoln Avenue/Northwest area.

Our town is welcoming the new year with great anticipation. Happy New Year, Lake Waleans!

The Historic District Ordinance

On January 2 at 6 pm the City Commission will continue the public discussion of the historic district ordinance. The draft document, presented at the December 4 Commission meeting, is available for review on the City’s website at www.cityoflakewales.com. (The City’s website can be viewed from internet access computers at the library.)

The ordinance has been recommended for adoption by the Planning Board, which reviewed its provisions at their October and November meetings, and will be fine-tuned before adoption hearings by the City Commission early in 2008.

Some frequently asked questions about the ordinance

• Who wrote the historic ordinance? Where did it come from?
  
  The ordinance was written by Planning and Development Director Margaret Swanson, following a review of a number of ordinances from various cities around the state and guidelines from the state’s historic preservation office.



• What does the ordinance do?
  
  The ordinance primarily does four things:
  
  
  1. It designates our downtown area as a historic district, specifically the area between the Scenic Highway and First Street including the Dixie Walesbuilt Hotel and the post office block, and both sides of Park and Stuart Avenues. This area includes twenty-seven buildings identified in a 1988 study as potential National Register properties. The portion of the proposed district east of Market Street was designated a historic commercial district on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
  
  
  2. It requires review of new construction or exterior changes, including signage, to buildings within the district. The purpose of the review is to determine if the proposed work complies with standards for historic renovations based on the Secretary of the Interior’s guidelines. These standards are used nation-wide by local historic boards. Property owners will be issued a “certificate of appropriateness” if the proposed work complies with the requirements and will be allowed to move forward with their plans.
  
  
  3. This review will be the responsibility of a new board, the “historic district regulatory board.” Board appointments are made by the City Commission and must include persons with demonstrated technical expertise in areas related to construction and historic preservation.
  
  
  4. It sets up criteria for evaluating other districts that may be proposed. New districts may be proposed by the City Commission, the Planning Board, or by property owners. If initiated by property owners, a petition with signatures of at least 51% of the owners of property within the proposed district is required.
  
  
• Don’t we already have historic districts?
  
  Yes, we have three National Register Historic Districts. The register is recognition of the historic value of a district, but does not regulate changes to buildings within the district.



• Don’t we already have a historic preservation committee?
  Yes. The existing historic preservation commission will continue with its current charge to carry out educational programs, undertake studies, and make recommendations on general historic preservation matters.



• Does the ordinance say anything about the murals downtown?
  The ordinance also provides for the regulation of murals, as do many of the ordinances that were reviewed prior to the preparation of this ordinance. Gainesville has one such ordinance.



• Is there a charge for the review?
  Yes. The ordinance contains a fee schedule. City staff is already working on a revision of the schedule, to require a low or no fee for signs and minor projects. The fee for a major project or new building is proposed at $200 plus $75 advertising fee.



• Will downtown property owners receive a letter about the ordinance?
  City staff plans to send an informational letter to downtown property owners to let them know about the January 2nd discussion. Legal advertisements will be published prior to formal readings of the ordinance, as required by law.

In order for an ordinance to become law, it must be approved by the City Commission at two separate meetings; that is, to have two “readings.” The historic district ordinance has not yet been “read” as it is still under review by the City Commission. Comments and suggestions are welcome.