Renovated Crystal Lake Apartments Dedicated by Care Center

An attractive renovation of the historic Crystal Lake Apartments was unveiled in Lake Wales Tuesday, showcasing a development which will contribute to ongoing efforts to increase residential uses in the city's downtown area. The two-story building at 282 East Park Avenue offers eight fully-remodeled one and two-bedroom apartments.

Robert Connors

Care Center Executive Director Rob Quam was smiling constantly during the dedication of the new Crystal Lake Apartments on East Park Avenue in Lake Wales. The fully-renovated eight-unit building includes both two and one-bedroom apartments, a laundry, and a conference center.

Officers and directors of the Lake Wales Care Center hosted some 100 guests who toured the like-new facility and enjoyed refreshments following the dedication ceremony Tuesday evening. Care Center executive director Rob Quam was all smiles at the event, obviously pleased as he led guests on a tour of the final product, which was almost two years in the making.

The renovations were made possible by a $1 million dollar grant from the county commission, part of the county's federal Recovery Act funding. The completed building features compliance with current codes, including sprinklers, new ceilings, windows, doors, and floors Two of the apartments are equipped to accommodate disabled residents.

Prior to the Care Center's acquisition, the building had become an eyesore and had accrued significant fines and a lien due to code violations.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the city and the Lake Wales Care Center allowed the Care Center to deposit $200,000 into an escrow account to avoid a foreclosure action on the property. Those funds are being returned to the Care Center to mark the completion of the project.

Robert Connors

Care Center volunteers and staff provided guests with a sumptuous array of refreshments provided by several local restaurants. The outdoor service took place under tents in ideal temperatures.

Recognizing public concerns about the loss of taxes on properties owned by the non-profit Care Center, the organization voluntarily entered into a PILOT agreement, which offers "payment in lieu of taxes" on the property. The property was purchased by the organization for $340,000.

The apartments will offer long-term shelter to clients of the Care Center who have moved beyond the "transitional" housing offered to newly-divorced families or those recovering from other setbacks. The longer-term nature of the use will allow those individuals and families to continue their progress, potentially toward eventual home ownership.

"These are for people who have graduated from our entry-level program and have personal income, so they will pay a 'program contribution' in lieu of rent," Quam told the News at the time the project was launched.

Members of the Lake Wales Woman's Club just across the street on Park Avenue welcomed the improvements to the building. The club's historic auditorium has been undergoing a restoration project of its own, funded in part by a grant from the City of Lake Wales.

Robert Connors

Guests touring the new apartments Tuesday included Lake Wales Mayor Jack Hilligoss (C) and City Commissioner Daniel Williams (R).

In addition to the apartments, Quam pointed out that the building contains a shared laundry for residents, as well as a conference room.

The renovation of the building was also accompanied by a landscaping effort which saw the installation of several Italian cypress trees and various shrubs to create a garden area around the building.