The City of Ocala Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) Agency Board on Oct. 21 approved a slate of East Ocala property‑improvement grants, awarding funds for residential reroofing, a commercial mural, façade and parking improvements, HVAC replacement and exterior repairs. One application for Ocala Suites drew a split recommendation: staff supported the grant while the East Ocala CRA advisory committee recommended denial.

The approvals addressed seven agenda items under “Item 5,” each requesting reimbursement under the East Ocala Community Redevelopment Area property improvement programs. Economic development manager Roberto Ellis presented each application and recommended approval on the staff reports before the board voted.

The grants are part of the CRA’s program to address blight and improve corridor visibility in East Ocala, Ellis said. “Based on the recent changes to the guideline, the grant covers up to 50% of reroofing cost, and we are recommending approval,” he said when presenting an application by Patrick and Angela Hadley to replace a shingle roof with a metal roof at 1127 Northeast Second Street.

Why it matters: The awards direct CRA funds into property upgrades intended to improve energy efficiency, curb appeal and corridor aesthetics in a neighborhood the city identifies for redevelopment investment. The board also used the meeting to weigh whether the program rules should limit how many grants a single property owner may receive.

Most significant items and details

- 1127 Northeast Second Street (residential): Applicants Patrick and Angela Hadley sought reimbursement to replace a shingle roof with a metal roof. Staff recommended approval under the revised guideline that covers up to 50% of reroofing costs. The board approved the motion.

- 1525 Northeast Eighth Avenue (commercial mural): NSC Eighth Avenue LLC applied for the new mural component of the commercial improvement grant. The mural design, by local artist Justin Alsadeck, celebrates East Ocala’s natural and cultural identity; staff and the East Ocala CRA advisory committee recommended approval and the board approved the grant.

- 2225 East Silver Springs Boulevard (commercial façade/parking): The property, vacant for several years and recently acquired, applied for interior and exterior improvements. Ellis said the project’s total planned work is substantially larger but the application requested reimbursement for façade improvements estimated at $121,620; the maximum grant was recently increased to $50,000. Staff recommended approval; the board approved the grant.

- 1122 Northeast Ninth Street (residential): The property owned by TC Opportunity for LLC is a 1951 home occupied as a rental. The application proposed window replacement, added insulation and perimeter improvements to improve energy efficiency and curb appeal. Staff recommended approval and the board approved the grant.

- Ocala Suites (commercial): The applicant, represented by Nancy Dietman and Chrissy Garcia, requested funds for exterior repainting and parking‑lot work. Ellis said the full scope of proposed work — which includes interior room improvements, a covered walkway and signage — totals roughly $450,000 and several of those items fall outside the grant scope; the application sought reimbursement for eligible exterior work. The East Ocala CRA advisory committee reviewed the application on Aug. 27 and recommended denial “based on the fact that they do not consider this an immediate need,” Ellis said. Staff recommended approval, stating the work is eligible and visible from major corridors; the board approved the application.

- 207 Northeast Eleventh Avenue (residential HVAC): Applicants Tracy Alderson and Randy Alderson applied to replace a window unit with a centralized HVAC system. Ellis said the applicants were eligible for a grant of $8,175 based on the proposed work; the total job cost listed in the presentation was $10,908 and the grant would cover 75% of that amount. The board approved the grant.

- 1121 Northeast Second Street (residential): A second application from Patrick and Angela Hadley — for a rental property adjacent to their primary residence — requested reroofing reimbursement under the same 50% rule. Board members discussed whether owners should be limited from receiving multiple residential grants for different properties; staff said current guidelines allow separate applications for separately titled properties. The board approved the grant.

Board discussion and dissent

Several board members questioned whether the CRA should place limits on how many residential grants a single owner may receive. One board member voiced concern about a single family receiving two grants: “we're gonna give this family two different grants for two different houses,” the member said, arguing that future funding cycles could create a scarcity for owner‑occupied homeowners. Roberto Ellis and other staff said the program’s stated purpose is to address neighborhood blight and that current guidelines do not differentiate between homesteaded and investor‑owned rental property. Staff offered to return with options for revised criteria, including possible separate homesteaded and non‑homesteaded grant categories.

Advisory committee split on Ocala Suites

The Ocala Suites request illustrated the board’s role in reconciling advisory committee recommendations and staff analysis. Ellis told the board the advisory committee recommended denying the Ocala Suites application because committee members did not view the work as an immediate need; staff concluded the eligible exterior work aligned with corridor improvement goals and recommended approval. The board voted to approve the application.

Budget and next steps

Ellis told the board the CRA has funds budgeted for grants for the fiscal year and that, after the grants approved at the meeting, staff estimated the available balance for new applicants would remain in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Staff also said reserves exist that could be appropriated if needed. Ellis said staff targets December to bring back a resolution to extend the four CRA districts: downtown and North Magnolia to 2048, and east and west districts to 2055. According to staff, the extension will be handled by resolution with public notice and a letter to the county.

Votes at a glance

- Item 5A — 1127 Northeast Second Street (Hadley) — motion to approve: outcome approved. Vote: recorded ayes during roll call by Board members Bethea, Mansfield, Hilty and Dreyer.

- Item 5B — 1525 Northeast Eighth Avenue (NSC Eighth Avenue LLC; mural by Justin Alsadeck) — motion to approve: outcome approved. Vote: recorded ayes during roll call by Board members Mansfield, Hilty, Bethea and Dreyer.

- Item 5C — 2225 East Silver Springs Boulevard (façade reimbursement; est. façade cost $121,620; max grant $50,000) — motion to approve: outcome approved. Vote: recorded ayes (several board members voiced “Aye” during the roll call).

- Item 5D — 1122 Northeast Ninth Street (TC Opportunity for LLC) — motion to approve: outcome approved. Vote: recorded ayes (board roll call recorded “Aye” responses).

- Item 5E — Ocala Suites (represented by Nancy Dietman and Chrissy Garcia) — motion to approve: outcome approved. Advisory committee recommended denial; staff recommended approval.

- Item 5F — 207 Northeast Eleventh Avenue (Tracy and Randy Alderson; HVAC) — motion to approve: outcome approved. Staff stated eligible grant $8,175; total cost presented as $10,908 with grant covering 75%.

- Item 5G — 1121 Northeast Second Street (second Hadley property) — motion to approve: outcome approved. Vote: recorded ayes during roll call; board discussed policy options for limiting multiple grants to a single owner.

Ending

The board adjourned after staff noted the planned December resolution to extend the CRA districts and said staff would return with any recommended guideline changes regarding grant eligibility. The board will take up approval of minutes at the next meeting.