Agenda Item Name:
Title
Update on Fairgrounds Redevelopment
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Presenter:
Michele Lieberman, County Manager
Description:
An update on the timeline and economic benefit of a US Army Reserve Equipment Concentration Site at the old Fairgrounds site.
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Hear presentation.
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Prior Board Motions:
At the May 28, 2019 Regular Meeting the Board Authorized the Chair to sign the Temporary Right of Entry Agreement between Alachua County and The Department of the Army for due diligence related to the Army's potential use of the Fairgrounds Redevelopment Area, once the final terms have been negotiated by parties and approved by the County Manager and the County Attorney.
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
The County would consider a donation of the property with a reverter clause to secure the long term economic benefit to the local community. Conservatively, the economic benefit estimated at $126,000,000 over the next 30 years.
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Background:
In 2018, the US Army Reserve contacted the County regarding availability of the old Fairgrounds site on 39th Avenue to house an Equipment Concentration Site (ECS) by 2021. ECS facilities support the public works-type and disaster preparedness roles of the US Army Reserve. Alachua County has acquired an alternative site in Newberry, Florida to host Fair and agricultural events.
Alachua County has attempted to market the property directly and indirectly through the adjacent airport authority for private sector redevelopment. To date, those efforts have met with no success. The commercial viability of the site is hindered by the surrounding institutional uses: homeless camp, jail, work release and other governmental institutions surround the Fairgrounds property.
An ECS represents not only a best redevelopment option because of its general compatibility with the surrounding land uses and specifically because of the significant economic opportunities for East Gain...
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