HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRA-R-05-0039 Cover MemoSOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST
AND OMNI
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Chairman Johnny L. Winton
And Members of the CRA Board
SEOPW & Omni Board of Directors Meeting
September 26, 2005
Item #9
Date: 09/15/05 05-00557
Subject: Ratification of Grant to The Black
Archives for Lyric Plaza Project
Frank K. Rollason References:
Executive Director
Enclosures. Supporting Documentation;
Legislation
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Directors for the Southeast OvertownlPark West Community
Redevelopment Agency (CRA) approve and adopt the attached Resolution ratifying the emergency action
of the Executive Director in authorizing a Grant to The Black Archives, History & Research Foundation of
South Florida, Inc. ("The Black Archives"), in an amount not to exceed $97,000.00 for the purpose of
making surface improvements and installing pavers on the Lyric Plaza located on NW 2nd Avenue between
the Lyric Theater and the 9th Street Pedestrian Mall, a portion of which land is owned by the SEOPW CRA
and a portion of which land is recently conveyed from Miami -Dade County to The Black Archives (copy of
plot map attached);; further, said Grant to be Administered by the Executive Director with payments made
directly to approved vendors for authorized and approved design, construction, supplies, and equipment or
directly to The Black Archives as a reimbursement for funds already expended for authorized and approved
design, construction, supplies, and equipment directly connected to this project.
JUSTIFICATION:
The Black Archives, owner and operator of the Lyric Theater, was selected by the MTV Video Music
Awards to host the 2005 Bacardi Party to take place on August 27, 2005. On July 25, 2005, the SEOPW
CRA Board of Directors approved a $20,000 Grant to The Black Archives to defray the costs of rental of the
Lyric Theater for this event. Parking for the Bacardi Party will be provided by the SEOPW CRA in allowing
the use of Lot 57 located on the north side of the 9th Street Pedestrian Mall along NW 2nd Avenue. Patrons
of the event will need to walk from Lot 57 across the pedestrian mail and across the non-existent Lyric
Plaza (approximately % block of unimproved dirt and rock surface) to reach the entrance to the Lyric
Theater. The open land between the pedestrian mall and the Lyric Theater has been designated the "Lyric
Plaza" and has been identified as a SEOPW CRA capital project for several years. In the FY '05 Budget
(carried over into the FY'06 Approved Budget) is $332,000 earmarked for the design and construction of
this project. Due to the MTV VMA event taking place at the Lyric Theater on such short notice and the
necessity to improve the Lyric Plaza area on an emergency basis, The Black Archives was able to issue a
Change Order (copy attached) to their on -site General Contractor, who is constructing the Lyric Theater
Expansion Project, to design and construct the initial paver element of the Lyric Plaza for an amount not to
exceed $97,000.00. In that the SEOPW Board does not meet again until September 26, 2005, on August 2,
2005, 1 authorized an Emergency Grant in an amount not to exceed $97,000 to allow this project to start
immediately and be completed by the event date of August 27, 2005 (copy of Grant Authorization letter
attached). In addition, permission was given to The Black Archives to allow the surface improvements to
the SEOPW CRA owned parcel with the understanding that The Black Archives will provide General
Liability insurance, at their expense, in an amount acceptable to the Risk Manager for the City of Miami
naming the City of Miami and the SEOPW CRA as additional insureds and said insurance is to be kept in
Chairman Johnny L. Winton and
Members of the CRA Board Page 2
full force and effect as long as the Lyric Plaza is in place and utilized by The Black Archives and the Lyric
Theater. Further, it is understood by The Black Archives that there is no commitment on behalf of the
SEOPW CRA Board of Directors that the CRA owned parcel is to be conveyed to The Black Archives or to
the Lyric Theater and that permission given to make the surface improvements to the CRA owned parcel in
no way obligates the CRA to continue the use of said property as part of the Lyric Plaza. This grant meets
the objectives of the current SEOPW Redevelopment Plan to 1) Develop a magnet area within the target
community for the purposes of re-establishing a special identity for Culmer-Overtown by focusing on one
era in its history, the "Little Broadway" jazz era, 2) Preservation of all of the historic buildings (Lyric Theater
on the "Businesses" list) wherever rehabilitation might be favorable, recognizing economic revitalization
plans for Overtown require extensive new development and expansion, and 3) Recreate the feeling and
atmosphere of "Historic Overtown" with an Afro -American -Caribbean theme.
FUNDING SOURCE: SEOPW TIF Account No. 689001.550108.6.860 entitled Construction in Progress.
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