PHOTO COURTESY SPRING HILL CRA
Making way for affordable housing — The Spring Hill Community Redevelopment Agency makes way for affordable-housing options by tearing down a building on the corner of Mathis and Adelle avenues. The building stood behind Vibes nightclub, which is also owned by the CRA. The former club could become a haven for education, housing or a local business.
posted Oct 2, 2008 - 8:43:28am
The Spring Hill Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) recently purchased two properties: the Vibes nightclub and the residential property directly behind it.
On Sept. 30, bulldozers took down the building behind Vibes, on the corner of Mathis and Adelle avenues, and the CRA is exploring new uses for the property, hoping to promote affordable housing or neighborhood retail.
City Manager Michael Pleus said there had been numerous reports of drug sales and other illegal activities on the nightclub property, which the CRA bought for $155,000.
"When the opportunity came to purchase, we took it," he said. "We're excited."
A CRA, or Community Redevelopment Agency, is a special taxing district that uses the taxes on increases in property values in a designated area to improve that area. The City of DeLand and Volusia County jointly created the Spring Hill CRA, the first such city-county agency in the state.
The CRA long-term plan, possibly within five years, is to build a new facility at another CRA-owned property on Green Street, where the Spring Hill Boys and Girls Club is.
The CRA would like to see a multiuse facility there, with the Community Resource Center and the Boys and Girls Club in one area.
"Congressman Mica has done the Safehaven project in Sanford — that's why we think it's possible," Pleus said.
The current Community Resource Center and the former Vibes nightclub could then be used for affordable housing and office or retail space for local entrepreneurs.
In the interim, Pleus said, if the Vibes building can be restored for a reasonable amount of money, it would be a benefit to the resource center and its executive director, Donna Banks.
"During those five years, Donna can use it," Pleus said. "And she could charge for the space, which would make it pay for itself."
Banks said expansion of community services for Spring Hill is desperately needed right now, and if the building can be restored, she can fill it up.
"I guess the real question is can the building be preserved. It's an old, old building," she said.
"The resource center is just outgrown. People are desperately looking for low-cost office space to start their own businesses," Banks said.
She also wants more space for children's programs and literacy programs.
"Most of our problems start with reading," she said. "We need more reading programs."
Additional education, including a class to train certified nursing assistants, is also vital, Banks said.
She sees potential for the former Vibes as an education service center.
Banks said she knows young people need places to socialize, but there are so many worthy causes clamoring for space.
"I think young people do need a place to go; they do need their own avenue," she said. "But right now, we need a place for people to get their GEDs. I had no idea there were so many people without GEDs."
Banks believes working from the ground up and using the resources available, such as the former nightclub, is the best way to build a strong community.
"If we take care of the little things, the big things will take care of themselves," she said. "Who knows, maybe one of our young people can become an entrepreneur and open their own nightclub, or open their own restaurant."
The Spring Hill CRA was created in 2004, and is a public entity with a board of directors who oversee expenditures and approve plans.
Pleus said the agency's dollars, so far, have been used for large projects such as sewer and sidewalk improvements, grants and social services.
He said a large part of that had to do with state Rep. Joyce Cusack's advocacy for the CRA.
"She's secured almost a million-five," Pleus said.
Cusack, who will step down this year as the District 27 representative, said progress in the neighborhood on DeLand's southwest side has been amazing.
"Makes me feel proud of all of the work that we have done," she said. "It's sad that I won't be there to see the work completed, but where one leads off, another takes on. I am pleased with what we were able to accomplish. It was a lot of hard work and a good team."
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