SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve staff recommendation to deny the request to purchase the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church located at 409 S. Madison Avenue, Clearwater.
Body
SUMMARY:
This memorandum addresses the request by Ms. Barbara Sorry-Love, Ms. Allison H. Dolan, President of the Clearwater Historical Society, and Ms. Patriva V. Mack, Treasurer of the 3C Society, for the Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) to purchase and renovate the property located at 409 S. Madison Avenue, Clearwater, known as the former Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. The asking sale price for the property is $695,000, and the estimated site/structure renovation costs, as provided by the proponents of the request, are an additional $2,000,000. After a thorough review of the request, staff recommends against proceeding with the acquisition of this property for the reasons outlined below.
Analysis and Justification
1. Alignment with the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan
The subject property is located within the Prospect Lake District of the Downtown CRA. The Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan provides specific guidelines and policies to guide redevelopment efforts in this district. These policies prioritize urban, walkable environments and support infrastructure improvements, housing diversity, and neighborhood-scale commercial uses. The policies explicitly do not include the acquisition or preservation of properties in the Prospect Lake District for donation to any nonprofit organization for historic preservation.
The following Prospect Lake District policies from the Downtown Redevelopment Plan (p. 74) illustrate why this acquisition does not align with the CRA’s mission and goals:
o Policy 1: Preferred housing styles north of Laura Street are small-scale residential types, including quads, multiplexes, bungalow courts, and townhouses.
o Policy 2: Centrally located parking is to be explored as infrastructure for commercial uses.
o Policy 3: Existing neighborhood-scale offices and commercial uses north of Laura Street are encouraged to remain and be renovated.
o Policy 6: Amendments to the Future Land Use Map and Zoning Atlas are recommended to ensure parcels in the district align with Central Business District (CBD) and Downtown (D) zoning.
Acquiring this property for historic preservation would neither enhance housing diversity nor support neighborhood-scale commercial activity. Moreover, the intended use is not compatible with the area's zoning vision or the infrastructure improvements prioritized in the Prospect Lake District.
2. Lack of an Operational Business Plan
Neither Ms. Sorry-Love, the 3C Society, nor the Clearwater Historical Society has provided a comprehensive business plan demonstrating how the property would be maintained, operated, or sustained. Furthermore, their vision is unclear on what specific entity would ultimately own or operate the property. There is also ambiguity regarding whether the organizations' listed boards are in alignment with the individuals advocating for this initiative, as noted in the memo. Without such assurances, the CRA would face significant legal and financial risks if the property were to fail or require substantial ongoing support.
3. Legal and Procedural Compliance
Florida Statutes Section 163.380 mandates specific procedures for the disposal of property acquired by a CRA. If the CRA were to acquire the property, any subsequent disposition-including donation to the Historical Society or other entity-would require compliance with public notice, open bidding, and proposal evaluation processes. This means the CRA could not directly transfer the property to any individual or entity without first soliciting proposals from other interested parties. These procedural requirements further complicate the feasibility of the requested action.
4. Fiscal Constraints
The CRA’s budget for the current fiscal year has already been allocated to other projects and initiatives outlined in the Downtown Redevelopment Plan. These initiatives include infrastructure and transportation improvements, affordable housing projects, economic development and grant programs, and other downtown core revitalization efforts. Redirecting funds to acquire this property would undermine our ability to meet these existing commitments and strategic goals.
5. Commitment to Historic Preservation
While the CRA fully supports historic preservation and recognizes the cultural significance of the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, our role is to align redevelopment efforts with the Downtown Redevelopment Plan’s strategic priorities. The proposed acquisition does not meet these priorities, and the CRA lacks the resources to manage or fund such a project outside of its current plan.
Conclusion
Based on the analysis above, staff recommends the CRA Trustees decline the request to purchase the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church property. This recommendation does not signify opposition to historic preservation or the history of the property but reflects the need to adhere to the legally binding objectives and policies of the Downtown Redevelopment Plan, as well as fiscal and procedural constraints.
We encourage the requesters to explore alternative funding sources, partnerships, or grant opportunities for their preservation efforts. The CRA remains open to supporting initiatives that align with the Redevelopment Plan and comply with applicable legal and financial requirements.