HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRA-R-21-0036 St. John Community Development Bid Waiver Memo 2021-06-03INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO: Board Chair Ken Russell and DATE: May 6, 2021
Members of the CRA Board
FROM: Jason Walker
Executive Director
SUBJECT: Recommendations and
Findings to Waive Competitive
Negotiation Procedures per City
Code, authorizing the allocation of
Grants funds to St. John Community
Development Corporation, INC
for the Rehabilitation of Property
located at 1445 NW 1st Place, Miami
Florida.
BACKGROUND:
The Omni Redevelopment District Community Redevelopment Agency ("CRA") is responsible for
carrying out community redevelopment activities and projects within its redevelopment area in
accordance with the 2010 CRA Redevelopment Plan ("Plan").
On September 13, 2016, the CRA approved and adopted Resolution No. CRA-R-16-0042,
adopting the City of Miami's procurement ordinance as the process in which any and all services
and goods are procured by the CRA.
The St. John Community Development Corporation, INC submitted a grant proposal request to
the CRA. St. John Community Development Corporation, INC, a for profit entity, possesses a
unique approach to affordable housing. Their proposal for rehabilitation of
approximately 10 affordable housing units concept is an ideal project for the Omni CRA area.
The 2010 Redevelopment Plan on page 41, Section D-2 lists the objective of the CRA to,
"[a]chieve rehabilitation of the maximum number of housing units." The proposal is also consistent
with Section D of the plan on page 41, outlining Omni CRA Redevelopment goals as
being "Improvements to the Public Realm" and to "[e]nhance the areas' visual attractiveness to
businesses and residents."
The plan also highlights working with private entities on page 42 A-1 to, "Provide incentives for
redevelopment of blighted properties." The Plan also lists the objective A-3 to, "Promote
rehabilitation and maintenance of existing viable uses and structures." The St. John Community
Development Corporation, INC group has submitted a proposal to rehabilitate
the property 1445 NW 1st Place within the Omni CRA and now requests grant
funding for rehabilitation of the units in the amount of $564,000.00 to underwrite a portion of the
costs.
RECOMMENDATION
In light of the above -mentioned background information, rehabilitation of the building and the
Grantee's past business successes and the CRA's identified objectives in the CRA's plan to
reduce slum and blight, and in consideration of the Executive Director's pledge to allocate grant
funding to further the plan and activate the area, an approval of a bid waiver is recommended.
An approval of a waiver of the formal requirements of competitive sealed bidding methods as not
being practicable nor advantageous to the CRA as set forth in the City Code of Ordinances, as
amended, specifically Sections 18-85 (a), and the affirmation of these written findings and the
forwarding of the same to
the Board of Commissioners of the Omni Redevelopment District Community Redevelopment
Agency for ratification by a four -fifths (4/5th) vote is respectfully requested.