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The RMPK Group of Sarasota, hired by the city to prepare a downtown redevelopment
plan, held two focus group meetings Tuesday to get input from businesses and
property owners as the city works on creating a Community Redevelopment Agency.
"These focus groups are very important to the outcome of the planning process," said Kurt Easton, RMPK's project manager and leader of the groups.
Representatives from Mainstreet Winter Haven, the Greater Winter Haven Chamber
of Commerce, Winter Haven Hospital and other business organizations attended
the morning session. Those who attended the afternoon session included representatives
from Publix, TECO, Gessler and Bond Clinics, Wm. G. Roe & Sons, Central Florida
Gas, Peterson Myers and Trammell Crow Co.
Ronni Wood, Mainstreet's executive director, found the morning session to be particularly insightful on what the big picture for the redevelopment of downtown looks like.
"There's not a better window right now for a CRA," said Wood, who was the
director of a CRA in Lake Wales.
"We really have to follow through as a community in making sure (the comprehensive plan) is implemented," she said. The CRA plan "solidifies everything we've been working on for the past year."
The area for the CRA includes some 850 acres of land that run adjacent to
lakes Spring, Howard, Lulu, May, Shipp and Silver. It also includes land running
along lakes Elbert and Martha.
The CRA would provide oversight of land development while improving the appearance
and marketability of the area. Funding is administered through a trust fund,
which provides for the collection of tax increment revenues to finance capital
improvements identified in the plan.
Some companies attending the afternoon focus group expressed possibilities
of expansions, renovations and their intentions to stay in the downtown area
such as Gessler and Bond Clinics, Central Florida Gas, TECO and Publix.
Judy Goodwill with Gessler Clinic said the clinic has future plans of renovations
and expansions within three to four years. She also added that parking is a
concern for the clinic and its satellite offices and employees complain about
not having anywhere nearby to shop or eat lunch.
Easton said, "The internal demand is so strong, both clinics and the hospital
are looking to expand," adding that the clinics seem somewhat constrained at
their current locations.
The future was also on the mind of Publix representatives at the focus group.
They will be taking a look at the future of the Northgate Shopping Center store
and mentioned conducting an economic analysis of the shopping center in the
future.
"We want to make sure five years from now we are not looking at a rundown
situation," said John Zielinski of Publix. "The possibility of a larger store
is certainly there."
TECO representative Jennifer Cone also expressed her company's plans for some
changes, such as utilizing the downtown Winter Haven office in different ways,
as well as a possible expansion.
"There will be a lot of construction activity in the downtown area in the
next year," Easton said. "People will get excited and supportive."
The city needs to "get some successes underneath its belt right up front,"
Easton said. "As the community needs to evolve, so does this program."
To get Winter Haven residents' input on the future of downtown, two meetings
will be held at City Hall at 7 p.m. on March 14 and April 12. For more information
contact Alan Close, with the planning department at 291-5891.
"I would look to see some real progressive changes in the next six months
to a year," Easton said.
Two more focus groups will be held today at City Hall Commission Chambers.
Government agencies and organizations with regional influence will meet from
9 a.m. to noon and government leaders will meet from 2 to 5 p.m.