City of TARPON SPRINGS COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AREA

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1 City of TARPON SPRINGS COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AREA ANNUAL REPORT March 21, 2017

2 2 An aerial view of the Tarpon Springs CRA District

3 Tarpon Springs Community Redevelopment Area 2016 Annual Report The Tarpon Springs Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) Fiscal Year 2016 Annual Report describes activities for the period October 1, 2015 through September 30, T h e report includes a financial statement of CRA revenues and expenses, amount of tax increment funds collected, and a compilation of activities for the fiscal year. The City of Tarpon Springs established its CRA and TIF in September In 2003 the CRA was expanded to include the Pappas restaurant property and the Downtown Redevelopment Plan was amended to address the redevelopment needs of this property. Other changes to the plan included provisions for special overlay or zoning designations to adjust density/intensity within the CRA. The adoption and implementation of the Special Area Plan and SmartCode based regulating plan have been a focal point since CRA Board Mayor Chris Alahouzos Vice Mayor Townsend Tarapani Commissioner David Banther Commissioner Rea Sieber Commissioner Susan Miccio-Kitka Staff Mark LeCouris, City Manager Karen Lemmons, Economic Development Manager Heather Urwiller, AICP, Planning & Zoning Director Pinellas Avenue Beautification City of Tarpon Springs Community Redevelopment Agency, 324 E. Pine St., Tarpon Springs, FL

4 Tarpon Plaza SAFFORD AVE LINCOLM AVE RING AVE GROSSE AVE NORTH AVE HARMONY WAY WALTON AVE BAY ST PINEAPPLE ST SHADDOCK ST BATH ST BANANA ST HUEY AVE WALTON AVE GROSSE AVE LEVIS AVE DISSTON AVE HIBISCUS ST AFARAS BLVD AFGROVE AVE CENTER AVE HIGHLAND AVE DS BAYOU AVE VIRGINIA AVE BAYOU VILL PENNSYLVANIA RIVERV VERON PL CRA OPERATIONS A Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is a taxing district established by local government for the purpose of carrying out redevelopment activities that include reducing or eliminating blight, increasing the tax base, and encouraging public and private investments in the redevelopment area. The members of the City Commission also serve as CRA board members. All meetings are open to the public and agendas, minutes, and video of meetings are posted on the City s website. CRAs are designed to breathe new life into areas in need of revitalization and economic development. Successful redevelopment projects attract private investors that otherwise may have overlooked the community. By establishing a CRA, local governments receive planning and financial mechanisms to help redevelop areas where private market forces are not working. AS AVE Map of CRA The 227-acre CRA comprises the central business district along Pinellas Avenue north from the Anclote River and south to Meres Blvd, including Downtown and the Lemon Street corridors. CLOTE RD Sponge Docks HILL ST HIGH ST CENTRAL CT FOREST LIMOSA LAKE BLVD CANAL CROSS ST Spring Bayou Craig Park MARAGOS MARAGOS ROSELEVELT BLVD HOPE MILL ST ARCACIA SPRUCE ST DIVISION ST GRAND READ ST PARKIN CT SPRING BLVD ATHENS ST OSCAR HILL RD DODECANESE BLVD BLVD CEDAR ADA ST PARK ST READ ST CENTER ST ORANGE ST COURT ST. LEMON ST. ST SPRUCE ST ATHENS PARK ST CYPRESS CENTER ST BOYER ST. LIME ST. Anclote River Parking Dog Park LIVE OAK ST PINE ST BOSTON ST TARPON AVE Downtown Historic District MIDWAY LN Pinellas Trail Tarpon Springs Elem School ORANGE ST LIVE OAK ST SPRUCE ST BOSTON ST PENT ST CYPRESS ST CENTER ST VIEW LN DRIFTWOOD LN SEABOARD DR RIVER VILLAGE DR BACKWATER DR PINE ST LEMON ST. Sweet E s Gourmet Popcorn on N. Pinellas Ave. SPRING BLVD BVLD GO ST MOORINGS LN MOORINGS COVE DR. CALLISTA KAY MERES BLVD OAK CIR Rotary Park MORGAN OAKWOOD ML KING ST. Manatee Shopping Center l ST. JR DR CRA Area MORGAN ST HARRISON ST Tarpon Springs Dorsett Fundam. Park School DIXIE LN SEAGULL LN ROYAL PALM MELODY LN RACHEL LN DRURY LN AVE AVE See detailed map of CRA area on back cover DR M D 4 The corner of E. Tarpon Avenue and Hibiscus Street is now a vibrant, lively place both day & night.

5 New Businesses The CRA continues to experience new business openings and building renovations, sparked by the façade and restaurant grants and growing popularity of the Downtown. New business openings in include BJ s Asian Fusion Restaurant, Mike s Blue Crab Seafood Market, BackDraughts, Sweet E s Gourmet Popcorn, Cliché Piano Bar & Pool Lounge, Anclote Coney Island and Meats, Tarpon Art Guild, and Save-a-Lot Grocery Store. New openings in the coming year include Hello Sunshine Café, Copenhagen Café, Two Frogs Brewing Company, KCQue BBQ, Tuscan Sun Italian Bistro, and Back in the Day Books. BJ S Asian Fusion Back in the Day Books is back on Tarpon Avenue. BackDraughts Chefs & Tarpon Ave. location Mike s Blue Crabs Fresh Seafood Market on S. Pinellas Avenue 5

6 New Businesses Above: Anclote Coney Island & Meats Right: Sweet-E s Gourmet Popcorn Cliché Piano Bar & Pool Lounge on Tarpon Avenue Tarpon Springs Art Guild, located in The Taylor Arcade 6

7 New Businesses Brasserie Saint Somewhere This project brings a wellestablished Belgian style craft brewery, tasting room and inn into two longvacant Downtown buildings. The brewery is housed in a former City-owned Public Works building, and the tasting room/inn in an adjacent two-story, historic home on Tarpon Avenue. Both structures underwent complete renovations. The redevelopment was made possible through façade and restaurant grants, development fee credits, and a historic preservation tax abatement. KCQue BBQ Before renovation Save-A-Lot Plaza THE 16,250 sq. ft. grocery store is breathing new life into the shopping plaza on S. Pinellas Ave. In addition to major building renovations, extensive landscaping and parking lot improvements were made. The CRA contributed through a façade improvement grant. Brasserie Saint Somewhere, above & left KCQue BBQ A decades-long vacant Queen Ann style house is undergoing total renovations for a new restaurant on Tarpon Avenue next to Brasserie Saint Somewhere. In addition to extensive interior renovations, the owners are adding an outbuilding for a smoker, and an enlarged wrap-around porch for outdoor seating. Façade and restaurant grants are helping make this project possible. Save-A-Lot Plaza, before and after renovations 7

8 CRA Incentive Grants Façade Improvement Grant The Façade grant program was created in 2011 to encourage property owners and businesses to improve the exterior appearance of their buildings. In the past five years, the program has approved 52 grants totaling $268,000. These grants have leveraged more than $1.6 million in private investment. In , nine façade grants were approved. To date, six of those projects have been completed. The grants totaled $70,000 and improvements valued at $370,000. Restaurant Recruitment Grant The Restaurant grant program began in 2015 to attract more restaurants by creating a grant that helps fund interior improvements. Since then, 10 grants have been approved. These grants have attracted five new restaurants, two breweries, two bakery/cafés, and a gourmet popcorn store. To date, seven projects have been completed. The grant awards total $49,686 and leveraged $1 million in private investment into the buildings. Two new establishments with approved grants, Tuscan Sun Italian Bistro and Two Frogs Brewing Company, will be opening in the coming year. FAÇADE GRANTS 50% reimbursable grant up to $10,000 (single story) or $15,000 (two-story) for exterior improvements RESTAURANT GRANTS 50% reimbursable grant up to $7500 for interior improvements Brasserie St. Somewhere on E. Tarpon Ave., before & after renovation Grant amount vs private investment Grants: $268,000 Private Investment: $1.6 million PRIVATE INVESTMENT $1,600,000 GRANTS $268,000 8 Johnny s Tap House on E. Tarpon Ave., before & after renovation

9 New Openings in the coming year include: Tuscan Sun Italian Bistro on Safford Ave. Hello Sunshine Cafe on Tarpon Ave. Two Frogs Brewing Company on Tarpon Ave. Copenhagen Cafe on N. Pinellas Ave. 9

10 Public Improvement Projects North Safford Recreational Corridor The North Safford Recreation Corridor began five years ago with the development of a Fitness Park, Dog Park, and Splash Park. The area now includes a canoe/kayak launch on the banks of the Anclote River. The launch, which is handicapped accessible, opened in winter Municipal Parking Lot and Ring Avenue Reconstruction With the recent additions of new breweries and restaurants, a new municipal parking lot is planned for the 100 block of S. Ring Ave. The new parking lot will benefit nearby new businesses including Brasserie Saint Somewhere, Silverking Brewery, KCQue BBQ, and Johnny s Taphouse & Grill. The parking lot construction is being coordinated with the reconstruction of Ring Avenue from Tarpon Ave. to Lemon St. Construction will begin in late spring Canoe/Kayak Launch Site of the future Municipal Parking Lot on S. Ring Ave. Tarpon Avenue Mid-Block Crossing A new brick crosswalk was constructed in 2016 in the 100 block of East Tarpon Avenue, and a decorative streetprint will be installed at the intersection of Tarpon and Safford Avenues in The new streetscape is designed to slow traffic, add a pedestrian crossing, and beautify the main business corridor. 10 New Mid-Block Crosswalk on Tarpon Avenue

11 Villages of Tarpon Thanks to a $12 million federal grant, the public housing complex at 200 E. Lemon St. along the Pinellas Trail has been renovated and reconstructed. The renovations have greatly improved the southern entry to Downtown and have sparked interest in the viability of adjacent commercial properties. EcoVillage EcoVillage, a 12-unit townhome and 2-unit single family development adjacent to the Pinellas Trail and Downtown, will break ground in The second residential project within the CRA, it furthers the goals of walkability and balancing new development with historic preservation The energy-efficient homes also feature front porches and rear detached garages with backyards. The renovated Villages of Tarpon, public housing complex, before left, after above. EcoVillage will feature energy-efficient homes, the site is pictured above. 11

12 First Friday Downtown is the place to be on the First Friday of every month. Launched in 2016 by the Tarpon Springs Merchant s Association with support from the City, First Friday features entertainment, bands, vendors, food, refreshments, children s activities, and more within a five-block area of Downtown. The monthly event attracts thousands of residents and visitors and boosts visibility for local businesses.

13 Festivals and Events Downtown and beyond is becoming more vibrant through festivals and special events geared toward local residents and tourists. A strong partnership among the City, CRA, Merchant s Association, and Chamber of Commerce has created numerous festivals. Wine Walks, Oktoberfest, Antique Car Show, Arts & Crafts Festivals, a Fine Arts Festival, and one of the area s largest Christmas festivals, There s Snow Place Like Tarpon Springs are among the many events luring people to the Downtown. A monthly First Friday began in 2016 and has been very successful. Festivals and special events have proved to be an integral part of an overall economic plan to promote and market Downtown that is reaching tourists, bringing local residents into the stores, and increasing foot traffic both night and day. Be sure to visit the City websites: for information on the CRA, and for listings of events and tourism-related happenings, and stay connected on facebook & twitter. Arts & Crafts Festival in Craig Park Wine Walk Antique & Treasure Sale at Mother Meres Park Autos for Autism Car Show Christmas Boat Parade Snow Festival 13

14 FINANCIALS* City of Tarpon Springs CRA Fiscal Year 2016 Balance Sheet Year Ended Sept. 30, 2016 ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $304,372 Investments $800,000 Accounts Receivable $88 Prepaid items $881 Total Assets $1,105,341 LIABILITIES Accounts Payable $1,875 Accrued liabilities $663 Deposits $3,010 Advance from other fund $510,205 Total Liabilities $515,753 FUND BALANCE Nonspendable Prepaid items $881 Restricted for CRA $588,707 Total Fund Balance $589,588 Total Liabilities & Fund Balance $1,105,341 REVENUES Taxes $169,414 Intergovernmental $165,527 Other $28,098 Total Revenues $363,039 EXPENDITURES Economic Environment Other $204,748 Total Expenditures $204,748 Net Change in Fund Balance $158,291 Fund Balance, Beginning of Year $431,297 Fund Balance, End of Year $589,588 *Unaudited City/County TIF Revenues COUNTY $165,527 CITY $169, Financial Summary Revenues Tax Increment Revenues: $334,941 Interest / Miscellaneous $ 28,098 Total Revenues $363,039 Expenditures Façade Grants $79,388 Landscape Maintenance $116,835 Operating $8,525 Total Expenditures $196,223 49% City TIF $169,414 County TIF $165,527 Total $334,941 51% Tax Increment Revenue Sources City of Tarpon Springs $169,414 Pinellas County $165,527 $334,941 14

15 Tarpon Springs, once known as The Venice of the South, is surrounded by waterways. 15

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