Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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Business is booming for many local enterprises, no less so for Lake Wales entrepreneur Chad Riedel, who grown his operations beyond the capacity of several facilities since starting work here in 2002. Riedel, 48, now has plans to construct a new building at the Lake Wales Commerce and Technology Park that will allow him to grow his business to meet demand. The Lake Wales Community Development Agency approved the sale of lot five at the park, formerly known as Longleaf...
Details of the pending redevelopment of the Walesbilt Hotel continue to emerge as members of the development team prepare to share plans with the City Commission at Tuesday's meeting. The long-awaited hotel project is seen as the lynchpin of downtown project being sparked by the Community Redevelopment Agency. The CRA has authorized the issuance of bonds up to $18.5 million to fund extensive reconstruction of downtown streets as part of the Lake Wales Connected plan. That...
The long-delayed resolution of the contract between the City of Lake Wales, the Community Redevelopment Agency and Walesbilt Hotel owner Ray Brown may be heading to a concluding chapter. Brown had been granted title to the building more than a decade ago on an agreement to redevelop the structure. Tuesday's City Commission agenda will include consideration of whether the city should file a lawsuit or take other action to regain possession of the eleven-story structure after...
In hope of landing an additional infusion of grant monies to aid in the revitalization of downtown Lake Wales, the City Commission has authorized engineering design work for portions of both Orange and Crystal Avenues. The proposal on Tuesday's agenda approved the expenditure of $34,975 for Orange Avenue and $34,895 for Crystal Avenue designs. The work will cover the intersections of North Market Street, providing a visual corridor to the redesigned MarketPlace. From there...
The process of converting barren downtown streets into a shady pedestrian oasis got a financial boost as the City expects to receive a Federal grant. In a presentation to area citizens via an Internet link from Washington DC Tuesday evening, Congressman Darren Soto mentioned that an $800,000 infusion for downtown street rehabilitation had been included in the recent bi-partisan Infrastructure package approved by the US House. The package is now awaiting Senate approval. Soto gave Mayor Eugene Fultz credit for having brought...
A detailed project to restore the original windowed façade to a 100-year-old building is underway as workers begin the meticulous work of chipping away hundreds of square feet of black stucco. The work is expected to reveal much of the original design of the one-time department store. The project is being funded by local attorney Robin Gibson, who also serves as the chair of the Community Redevelopment Agency and purchased the building recently with the intent of completing...
A multi-million-dollar effort to create a three story building to host start-up businesses will receive the consideration of the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency Tuesday afternoon. The board will contemplate the annual contribution of $300,000 for three years to help spur the project. The project is proposed to address an "innovation infrastructure deficit," according to documents shared with the CRA board last month. The proposed solution is a "high-tech...
Riding on the success of his downtown seafood restaurant, Steve Manwell has big plans to add an ice cream shop just across the street. That idea received a solid boost this week. when the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency board unanimously approved his request for a $50,000 matching grant at Tuesday's meeting. Manwell and his wife, Allie, own and operate Melanie's Seafood Company at 120 East Park, and utilized a prior incentive grant to get that operation started....
A million-dollar second mortgage will fund the renovation of the original 1919 Lake Wales school building into new classroom space under action taken by the Lake Wales Charter School System. The building has been a white elephant and neighborhood eyesore for many years, and the plan brings relief to many. The path to the new loan was cleared Wednesday evening by the Community Redevelopment Agency board, which recorded no opposition to the mortgage being offered by Citizen's...
A 30-year extension of the life of the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) will guarantee a continuing flow of revenue for community improvements, including street and sidewalk construction, lighting, street trees and more. Community Redevelopment Agency funds are being used to pay for the Lake Wales Connected plan reconstruction and landscaping of Park Avenue and First Street, expected to begin shortly. The CRA is funded by capturing about 90% of the City and...
The Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency took "first steps toward a pretty major transformation of Lake Wales" Wednesday evening, City Manager and CRA Executive Director James Slaton told the five board members after their historic vote to move forward on a major bond issue. "I hope you realize the weight of that." The vote to retain the law firm of Bryant Miller Olive, PA (BMO) to guide the borrowing of up to $18.5 million dollars set in motion the full implementation of...
Ardella Green has been a resident of Lake Wales since 1942 and at 97 years old, she has gotten to the point in life that climbing up to fix the roof of her aging home on Alabama Street was no longer an option. Thanks to a grant from the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency, that is no longer a challenge she must contemplate. Hers was one of several aging homesteads in the city that have been repaired thanks to a $68.000 fund established by the CRA board. Referred to the p...
A bond issuance exceeding $18 million dollars is contemplated under an agreement being considered by the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) at their next meeting Wednesday evening. Funds from the bond sale would be utilized for a variety of community redevelopment projects within the boundaries of the CRA, including the Lake Wales Connected plan. Under the award-winning Connected concept, the CRA plans to revamp several blocks of Park Avenue between Scenic...
Twenty-four young oaks planted this week along South Scenic Highway in Lake Wales mark the first step in the development of a new "pocket neighborhood," being created by noted urban planner Victor Dover and his wife, architect Maricé Chael. The innovative infill project will occupy a long-vacant parcel lying between the Grove Motel and the SR 60 overpass. The development will be built over several years in "micro-phases" beginning with "phase zero," Dover told...
The Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency has agreed to sell a parcel of land at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and B Street on which developers have proposed a mixed-use building that includes both commercial and residential space. After the city issued a request for proposals, two bids were received to develop the vacant tract, currently owned by both the city and CRA. Florida Development Corporation was unanimously approved as the firm to move forward with its...
The Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency has given its tentative approval to contribute $1 million towards the proposed redevelopment of the Grove Manor housing complex. Officials from both the city and the Lake Wales Housing Authority have been meeting for a number of months now, largely to ensure the project fits in with the award-winning "Lake Wales Connected" redevelopment plan that includes both the historic downtown business district and northwest neighborhood. Thos...
Lake Wales City Attorney Chuck Galloway has been tasked with trying to find out if Gov. Ron DeSantis plans to suspend City Commissioner Kris Fitzgerald from office pending the outcome of her criminal case. Fitzgerald was arrested June 3 on two felony charges for allegedly taking an 11-year-old boy from his home without permission and threatening him with a loaded handgun. She was released from the Polk County Jail Saturday, June 5 after posting $11,000 bond. At the end of thei...
The Lake Wales City Commission, serving as the city's Community Redevelopment Agency, has set aside up to $68,000 for a new Legacy Housing Rehabilitation Program. This program is designed to pay respect to the seniors living in the Northwest Neighborhood by doing exterior improvements to their homes. These improvements include repairs or replacements of the roof and painting the outside of the home. In addition to the improvements, each home will receive a raised planter to...
Lake Wales Main Street is proud to launch a vibrant new logo and brand. The rebranding initiative reflects the alignment with the revitalization of Downtown Lake Wales. The new logo draws inspiration from the distinctive Rhodesbilt Arcade building in downtown. The rebranding includes a redesign of the non-profit's logo, printed materials, signage, and other marketing communications. "Downtown Lake Wales is experiencing an explosion of growth with new businesses, events, art,...
Eleven shovels broke ground Saturday, May 1 to signal the ceremonial start of an affordable housing initiative in the city's northwest community. "I hope you feel as optimistic as I do about the future of Lake Wales," said Lake Wales City Manager James Slaton. "We are providing hope to families to move into beautiful homes." The groundbreaking was for the first two homes being built as a partnership of the Keystone Challenge Fund, the city's Community Redevelopment Agency,...
At the end of his last official meeting April 20, City Commissioner Curtis Gibson announced plans to run for Lake Wales mayor in 2022, saying he is "excited for new adventures." Gibson decided to not seek re-election this year, saying he wanted to spend more time with family – including an infant son – and complete his bachelor's degree this summer. Mayor Eugene Fultz has publicly stated he plans to step down in 2022. Gibson and outgoing Commissioner Al Goldstein will be rec...
Lake Wales Main Street's most recent mural project at Scenic Highway and Stuart Avenue called "Slice of Happiness" is about to get a whole lot happier. With a new full-time horticulturist hired by the city, Lester Gulledge is making one of his first priorities the beautification of the area around the nearly 100-foot long mural that was completed by artist Gillian Fazio late last fall. "If you go out there right now, you're going to see some piles of debris and dirt. That...
The Ranch Taproom and Coffeehouse in downtown Lake Wales officially opened April 16 with enthusiastic crowds and rave social media reviews. Owners Jessica Garrett and her mother, Cathy Becton Garrett, were pleased with the successful opening. "Opening weekend was incredible and the support we received from the city, Mainstreet and the community was greatly appreciated," Garrett said. "Being Lake Wales natives we are excited to be a part of downtown. We look forward to being a...
Collaboration between different city departments is a daily occurrence at Lake Wales City Hall. But one of the more unique partnerships help show the good side of Lake Wales and is an important tool in putting bad guys behind bars. A city police drone is one of the latest tool's in the department's crime fighting tool kit. But part of the purchase price was covered by the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency, which uses the drone to provide aerial video of projects like...
Lake Wales City Commissioners have adopted a new incentive program to encourage redevelopment or restoration of distressed properties. Commissioners earlier this month approved a memorandum of understanding that can be used as a framework for future redevelopment agreements. The program would allow redevelopers access to funds they provided to purchase publicly owned properties or to pay off code enforcement liens. Instead of the city keeping or spending the funds, the...
