East Gateway District
...on the path to revitalization!
ABOUT THE EAST GATEWAY
The East Gateway District is a downtown neighborhood and designated redevelopment area of the City of Clearwater. As the main entryway to Clearwater's primary destination areas - downtown, Cleveland Street District and Clearwater Beach - the East Gateway District is strategically positioned to capitalize on the successes of its neighbors.
Recognizing the area's needs and potential, the Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency added the 176-acre East Gateway District to the redevelopment area in 2004. The Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan was amended to establish a vision for the East Gateway District, strategies to resolve neighborhood needs and policies to guide future redevelopment. The East Gateway District Five-Year Action Program (FY 07/08 - 11/12) was approved in 2008, setting forth a series of implementation steps to help restore vitality and livability to the area and integrate local Hispanic residents and businesses into the community.
VISION
The Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan describes the vision for the East Gateway Character District as:
"...a vibrant, stable, diverse neighborhood defined by its unique cultural base and mixed land uses. It will continue to be developed as a low and medium density residential neighborhood supported with neighborhood commercial and professional offices concentrated along the major corridors of Cleveland Street, Gulf to Bay Boulevard, Court Street and Missouri Avenue. The areas northeast of Gulf to Bay Boulevard and north of Cleveland Street and east of Hillcrest Avenue should be maintained as a primarily low density, low-rise residential neighborhood. The areas southwest of Gulf to Bay Boulevard, south of Cleveland Street, and north of Cleveland Street west of Hillcrest Avenue are appropriate for medium- and high-density multi-family residential. Institutional uses should remain primarily south of Cleveland Street."
In response to a recommendation by the East Gateway Stakeholder Advisory Group, the community is currently discussing the merits of redefining the district vision through a highly participatory visioning process.
SETTING THE STAGE
The community endorsed Five-Year Action Program is setting the stage for the East Gateway's renaissance. Based on input from residents, businesses and organizations, the Action Program aims to:
- Engage the neighborhood's diverse interests in the revitalization effort
- Achieve stability by addressing social, economic and physical issues
- Establish a unique and positive identity for East Gateway
- Attract new investment in both residential and business sectors
Part of the Action Program involves in-depth examination of the area's physical and economic opportunities and challenges. Planning, regulatory and economic strategies coupled with strategic partnerships will be used to address neighborhood issues and capitalize on existing assets. The program's approach is to address complex issues from many different angles by employing technical expertise in public policy, public health and safety, planning, engineering, communications and neighborhood relations.
ACTION
The East Gateway District Task Force is a team of City staff from various departments responsible for implementing the Five-Year Action Program. The Task Force meets regularly to report progress, share information and ideas, and collaborate on solutions to neighborhood issues. The April 2009 Progress Report identifies the accomplishments and progress of the City and the East Gateway community in achieving the neighborhood's revitalization goals. In the following, a summary of current Task Force efforts is provided:
Facade & Building Lot Improvement Program
Because strong commercial districts have a stabilizing influence on neighborhoods, the Community Redevelopment Agency established the East Gateway District Façade & Building Lot Improvement Program. The program provides incentives for private reinvestment within East Gateway's aging commercial corridors as a way to enhance the physical environment and, in turn, the economic and social viability of the area. Funding for improvement projects will be allocated to eligible commercial property owners on a first come-first served basis until funds are depleted.
Sidewalk Program
Many streets in this part of downtown do not have sidewalks--basic infrastructure for a walkable neighborhood. Priorities for new sidewalk projects were set by the East Gateway Stakeholder Advisory Group and Business & Neighbors Association. Sidewalk projects are currently being developed for segments of Deleon Ave, Franklin Ave, Grove St, Jefferson Ave, Missouri Ave, Pierce St, Laura St, Park St and San Juan Ct.
Multicultural Celebrations
A primary goal of the East Gateway Five-Year Action Program is to meaningfully involve residents, businesses and others in the neighborhood revitalization process. By doing so, the City can be more informed and responsive to the needs, values and preferences of people that reside, work, serve and invest in the neighborhood. To get the word out about the Action Program and to invite greater public participation by the neighborhood's Hispanic community, the East Gateway Task Force held an ice cream social and celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month on September 27, 2009. During the event, members of the Stakeholder Advisory Group and the Business and Neighbors Association distributed neighborhood information and discussed East Gateway needs and efforts. There was some fun stuff, too. Thanks to our East Gateway businesses La Feria del Sabor for the wonderful Mexican ice cream and Piñatas Arcoiris for the delightful piñata. A Spring 2010 event is in the early planning stages with more information to come.
Downtown/Beach Gateway Project
The "gateway" project is an early component of the city's future Cleveland St and Gulf to Bay Blvd streetscaping project. Decorative entryway features including a landscaped median with obelisk and street trees, neighborhood identity markers, public art and colorized crosswalks will be constructed at the intersection of Gulf to Bay Blvd, Court St and Highland Ave. Safety features will include crosswalks at all five legs of the intersection, a right turn lane modification with directional signage on westbound Gulf to Bay at Highland Ave and mast arm supported traffic signals. The estimated project cost is $1 million, funded through Penny for Pinellas. Design and construction will be start in 2010.
Neighborhood Crime Watch Organizations
The East Gateway Business & Neighbors Association (BNA) and the Clearwater Police Department are working together to improve safety and security in East Gateway by fostering neighborhood crime watch organizations. To date, crime watch organizations have been established in the northwestern part of the East Gateway District and on Park Street east of Gulf to Bay Blvd. The BNA is seeking leaders from other areas of the neighborhood to expand the reach and results of crime watch organizations. On August 20, 2009, the BNA hosted their first "Take Back the Streets" Neighborhood Walk, sending a message that residents will not tolerate crime in East Gateway. A third neighborhood walk is scheduled on Thursday, January 28, 2009, at 5:45 pm on the corner of Gulf to Bay Blvd and San Remo Ave. For more information on the walk or to find out how you can be part of a BNA neighborhood crime watch organization, e-mail Duggan Cooley, BNA President, at duggan.cooley@rcspinellas.org.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT & PARTNERSHIPS
Because change is inherent to the revitalization process, meaningful community involvement is critical to successful implementation of the Action Program. Empowerment of East Gateway stakeholders in shaping the neighborhood's future is a primary focus of the Action Program. Opportunities for community input and participation will be on-going during the five-year program period, including bi-monthly meetings of the East Gateway Stakeholder Advisory Group and monthly meetings of the East Gateway Business & Neighbors Association (BNA). The BNA meets at 6:30 pm on the second Tuesday of each month in the banquet room of the Greektown Grille, 1222 Cleveland St, Clearwater. If you have an interest in the East Gateway District, you are encouraged to participate. All meetings are open to the public.
East Gateway Stakeholder Advisory Group
- 10/2/08 Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting Agenda and Summary
- 12/11/08 Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting Agenda and Summary
- 2/12/09 Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting Agenda and Summary
- 4/9/09 Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting Agenda and Mural Presentation
- 6/11/09 Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting Agenda and Summary
- 8/13/09 Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting Agenda and Summary
- 10/08/09 Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting Agenda and Summary
- 12/10/09 Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting Agenda
- 1/14/10 Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting Agenda and Summary
- 2/11/10 Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting Agenda
- 3/14/10 Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting
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EAST GATEWAY NEWS CLIPS
