Interesting! ROLOH Members, Individually what is your feed back and feelings? (See way below then my thoughts)
Here is my thoughts,
For me, some of these items, we (ROLOH) benefit from the Publix, Festivals, Etc....ROLOH for the most part does not receive much benefit from CRA or CDBG funds directly as a neighborhood and please correct me if that statement is incorrect.
Its hard to take a stand on these issues other than, what are they doing to help our city thrive and grow and clean up our blighted area's so that even our property values in ROLOH will eventually increase. I'm happy to see that is the target goal and hope that the goals are achieved.
For all the work and good deeds we do in ROLOH there are a couple of things that bother me.....For instance the 6th Ave gate way looks beautiful EAST of I-95 however our section West looks horrible yet we are still a part of the City of Lake Worth. The same can be side for the West side of I-95 for 10th ave which is also part of the City and a business district.
We have a Great Neighborhood but what will happen in the future with the Park Of Commerce that will dump traffic onto our streets? What will happen when the TOD is developed and dumps more traffic onto our streets. These are great concerns that we need to start asking questions about and I personally have been asking the questions however the staff I ask questions to, seem to "disappear" and well probably the questions and concerns leave with them.
Where I feel that the CRA and CDBG Grants are crucial to the area's that they are targeted for, I don't want to see our wonderful part of Lake Worth, have to fall into a blighted situation for a future grant or program to come in and "fix" our area. In the mean time we as neighbors need to be the bearers of our own future and ensure that the City does not forget about our neighborhood since we do not fall into the CRA & CDBG target areas of the City.
I Personally support the efforts of any kind to help our worst area's of Lake Worth to become revitalized and hopefully that will attract more homeowners and business opportunities but cautiously want to make sure that the TRUE western side of Lake Worth does not get neglected in the process.
Last from a Non-Profit point does the CRA or CDBG funds work with Rebuilding Together of the Palm Beaches, Paint Your Heart Out and Neighbors Helping Neighbors Project to help with charitable events in their districts? as we have many projects and should be contacting them for future help, which I have to say, I did not even know that was an avenue for us until Beth sent out the below email.
As always I wish and hope and pray that our Great City of Lake Worth continues on an upward climb while preserving our wonderful neighborhoods through out the whole of Lake Worth. And Lastly that we are not forgetting about the Dixie Hwy Corridor that has plenty of opportunity for business development with infrastructure already in place.
These are my personal thoughts and do not reflect all the individuals of ROLOH and they can respond accordingly....
Thanks
Robert Waples
President of Resident of Lake Osborne Heights, Inc.
Neighbors Helping Neighbors Project
Rebuilding Together of the Palm Beaches.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ryan Anderson <ryan@tropicalridge.org>
Date: Thu, Feb 24, 2011 at 1:45 PM
Subject: Chamber of Commerce on Lake Worth's CRA
To: robertwaplesii@yahoo.com
Hello,
Over the past week I have been receiving a lot of questions from TRNA members regarding the Lake Worth CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency). These questions range from "How are CRA members selcted?" to "What has the CRA done for me lately?". Recently Beth Johnston, the Executive Director of Lake Worth's Chamber of Commerce, sent an email to members of the Chamber. This email doesn't answer everything you may want to know about the CRA but it'll give you a good start. Enjoy...
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Dear Chamber Members,
In the past week, the Chamber has received many requests for information concerning the function of the Lake Worth CRA. A CRA works on eliminating blight, creating a sustainable downtown and encourages economic growth.
The Chamber supports the work of the Lake Worth CRA, and below, we have listed recent accomplishments. At the March 1st City Commission meeting, there will be a discussion about the dissolution of the independent CRA Board. The Chamber encourages you, as business people in Lake Worth and the surrounding area, to come to the City Commission meeting and support retaining the CRA board in its current state. Successful cities have a Chamber, Independent CRA Board and City Government that work cohesively toward progress.
CRA Accomplishments
1. Awarded $23.2M in Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds from federal government after partnering with over 20 local profit and non-profit partners
2. Completed the Transit Oriented Development Master Plan
3. Completed and are implementing the Bicycle Network Program
4. Attracted a Publix to downtown Lake Worth
5. Created the Cultural Renaissance Program – which led to the attraction of the headquarters for the Palm Beach Cultural Council
6. Development of a much needed parking area on Dixie Highway – 812 Dixie Highway
7. Redeveloped the Gateways – 6th and 10th, providing all new infrastructure to the City and pay on-going maintenance
8. Pay for maintenance of the downtown
9. Purchase and plan future redevelopment for 1000 Lake Ave. – a blighted and underutilized, historic structure
10. Through a partnership with Adopt-a-Family developed and implemented a residential rehabilitation program
11. Provided funding for existing and start up businesses over the years through façade and tenant improvement grants
12. Sponsored many local events including the Tree Festival, Street Painting Festival, Bike Night, Holiday Tree Lighting and many more.
Sincerely,
Beth Johnston
Executive Director
Greater Lake Worth Chamber of Commerce
501 Lake Avenue
Lake Worth, Florida 33460
Phone: 561.582.4401
Fax: 561.547.8300
beth@lwchamber.com
