In Plant City, leaders are looking to the future — including vertical horizons.
At the Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Monday, March 27, City Commissioners approved authorizing three companies to receive the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the city’s Midtown redevelopment project, a 15-acre area adjacent to Historic Downtown.
E2L Real Estate Solutions, Green Mills Group and Lefrois Builders and Developers all submitted responses to the city’s request for qualifications for the project in February.
A committee consisting of City Manager Mike Herr, Assistant City Manager Bill McDaniel, Chief Financial Officer Diane Reichard, Plant City Economic Development Corp. President Jake Austin and Planning and Zoning Director Mark Hudson unanimously approved recommending all three companies to the CRA to receive the proposals.
“Considering that all three firms have a variety of niches, we decided that we recommend all three receive the request for proposal,” City Manager Mike Herr said.
While all three interested developers have experience in Florida, their specialities differ.
E2L Real Estate Solutions has paired with Taurus Investments to create a team. While E2L is best known for the $38.5 million NASCAR headquarters in Daytona Beach, Taurus offers global market experience with projects in London, such as the 163,000-square-foot Aldwych House and the 1,800,000-square-foot Technopark, one of the biggest business parks in India.
The design team lead is Baker Barrios Architects, a Tampa-based firm known for 101 Eola, a condominium complex in Orlando, and multiple buildings in the Orlando arts scene including Orlando Ballet, Orlando Repertory Theatre and Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
Green Mills Group, another company authorized to receive the request for proposals, has completed projects as close as Polk County. Known for developing multifamily housing, past projects include Aida Palms in Polk County, Forest
Ridge in Citrus County and Burlington Place in Pinellas County.
Typically, the company’s developments range from 40 to 300 residences, according to its website.
The company, which also offers consulting, has additional experience in affordable housing projects. One of Green Mills’ recent developments, Karis Village, is a Miami-based project featuring 88 residences for veterans and families who were formerly homeless or considered at-risk.
Besides housing units, Karis Village features meeting rooms, solar panels, a public park and community service. The community is set to receive a Florida Green Building certification.
The third company, Lefrois Builders and Developers, is best known to Plant Citians for the County Line Commerce Center. Located just south of Interstate 4 and County Line Road, the property is 28 acres of mixed use development.
The company offers 65 years of experience, and has developed over 30 million square feet in upstate New York in addition to its work in Central Florida.
In New York, the company’s projects include I-Square, a property that includes an outdoor amphitheater, a community learning center, rooftop gardens and retail and office spaces, as well as Tower280 at Midtown in Rochester.
The three companies received authorization this week following the CRA’s approval. RFPs are due back by May 4, 2017. The CRA will receive responses and presentations, and will have the opportunity to ask each potential developer questions about their proposals.
“I’m very happy with the three companies that have stepped forward,” Mayor Rick Lott said. “I’m optimistic, and I want to see the final product. We just took another step forward in Midtown. It’s a good day.”
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.