BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Telegraph Editor
STARKE — The Citywalk project to revitalize Starke’s downtown involves building 45 modern and environmentally sustainable townhomes if the city commission agrees to a land swap.
The project was discussed in detail with city commissioners Oct. 17 by Dwight Hewett of The Doran Jason Group of Florida and engineer Chris Raley, president of Sustainable Construction Group.
Hewett said the original vision 18 years ago was an 84-unit apartment complex on the same parcels just east of the city’s Downtown Square on Call Street. It even predates the square and its bandshell, which were developed on the site of the city’s former powerplant.
As a proof-of-concept that people living downtown would support local merchants and restaurants, Hewett purchased the former Rexall drug store (now Tip Thai) in 2005 and renovated it into a multiuse building with commercial space on the ground floor and studio apartments above.
It was crash of the housing market and the economic collapse in 2008 that derailed the apartment project. Then, the Florida Department of Transportation took a portion of the target property to extend St. Clair Street to State Road 100 as part of the railroad overpass project. That split the land and ruled out later development of an apartment complex.
Excited by his friend Raley’s work on sustainable living projects, Hewett introduced him to Starke and city officials in hopes of partnering on a new housing development concept.
From the collaboration, the Citywalk townhome project was born.
Environmentally sustainable characteristics include solar arrays on the top of each townhome, which Raley said could potentially provide all the electricity needed.
“We think that we’re going to be able to hit net zero for electric — that you will not have to pay for an electric bill if you’re living here,” he said.
Hewett said they also have a partnership with Coca-Cola to turn former syrup vats into underground water storage tanks. Rainwater collected on the properties in these tanks would be used for landscape irrigation. Open spaces they call rain gardens will serve as dry retention ponds for stormwater, providing more green space in lieu of a retention pond. Pervious pavers will be used for the driveways, which will also reduce runoff.
In addition to a low carbon footprint, Hewett said the development will be built with high efficiency building materials and use energy efficient appliances. The lightly tinted glass windows reduce the transfer of heat and humidity. The townhomes will also be loaded with smart technology controlled by a tablet at home or via a smart phone application away from home. Residents will enjoy added convenience, comfort and security.
The 1,560-square-foot townhomes will have three bedrooms and two and a half baths, and 12-foot ceilings on both floors, as well as a garage, patio, backyard and terrace. Built to Miami codes, the buildings can withstand hurricane-force winds.
A covered fitness area is proposed as well as electric vehicle charging points and a walking trail along Alligator Creek — all of which would be available for public use. This is not a gated project, Hewett said.
Units will be available first to teachers, nurses, first responders, correctional officers, military members and veterans.
“We’re trying to reach out to those people that are here that are searching for homes, they want to have a place to live. So, we will make it available to them as a priority,” Raley said.
This is not a subsidized housing project, however. Hewett said that was a rumor that plagued the apartment concept years ago. Units will be priced based on the market. Those who can afford to will be able to purchase outright. Raley said there will also be a rent-to-own option that will benefit their target residents.
Hewett later explained that instead of paying for the first and last month’s rent plus a security deposit, which is difficult for some, residents would be able to move in by paying for the first month alone. Every subsequent on-time payment will benefit the tenant’s credit score. In the third year, the market would be used to determine the purchase price of the home, giving the tenant the option to buy.
“The rent-to-own model is to help younger prospects become homeowners. Our view is that homeowners will stay longer, be more involved in the community and be better citizens,” he said.
With 1.4 million people living within 50 miles of Starke, Raley said they will not have a problem filling 45 homes. But again, local residents in the above professions will receive the priority.
“What we’re trying to do here is create something that people can live in, easily move into and then have a pathway to homeownership,” he said.
“The reason why we call it Citywalk is that these people, which will be 90-plus residents — there will probably be some with children — these 90-plus residents will be able to walk downtown. This is one of the things that makes it more sustainable. They’re not getting in a car driving; they’re walking, and it’s good for them good for their health, good for the downtown merchants. This plays into the whole concept of having people living in and around downtown. We think it’s going to help the downtown merchants dramatically,” Hewett said.
Another interesting feature of the proposed development is that the townhomes are manufactured offsite, transported and then installed with the assistance of a crane, resulting in no construction waste, Raley said. A four-unit building requires a week to install, and then they finish up the inside work using local contractors.
“If all goes as we would like, we would be able to probably start construction sometime here in the next eight to 10 months on this project,” he said, adding the development is an easy solution to the lack of affordable housing, but also sustainable and resilient housing.
Hewitt said it will also be a “disruption,” in the best sense of the word — a change from the norm that leads to new opportunities. This could be first of many such projects they bring to Starke.
“I’m excited about the opportunity here to work with you guys, and I think there’s more opportunities here and then around Gainesville,” he said.
The concept requires using the site of the current veterans memorial park to squeeze in a few more units. After some back and forth about moving the park, city commissioners and veterans eventually agreed to move the park closer to the city square and away from the highway.
“We met with the veterans last week, just to make them feel a little more comfortable about what’s going to be in the neighborhood,” Raley said.
The park relocation allows Hewett and Raley to propose a property swap. Starke would receive a slightly larger parcel to the south of the project, originally intended to be a dog park, in exchange for the park property on Call Street.
Just that evening the city commission finalized approval of an ordinance governing the procedure for selling or exchanging city property, including real property, i.e., land, buildings, etc. The procedures chiefly relate to appraisal and notice requirements.
Following the Citywalk presentation, commissioners also instructed their attorney to prepare for the land swap, with the final decision coming back to the board for a vote.
Hewett encouraged anyone with questions about the project to reach out to him at [email protected].
