Business View Magazine | September 2019

247 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2019 Evans Center is a $1.5 million project funded by the Florida Community Loan Fund, contributions from an anonymous donor, the Corporate Property Group, the Community Foundation for Brevard, the Space Coast Health Foundation, local businesses, churches, and residents, as well as a $250,000 allocation by the BCRA Board, to assist with the construction of a new building. The Center features a multi-purpose room for classes and community gatherings such as technology training, financial literacy, and community activities, a health clinic in collaboration with the Brevard Health Alliance, and offers a full-service market and deli. The Driskell Heights sub-district is located within a USDA-designated “food dessert” where more than 5,000 residents live in a one-mile radius that lacks access to healthy, affordable food. The closest grocery store is 1.4 miles away and, in this community, 54 percent of households earn less than $24,999 annually, and 63 percent own one or no vehicle. The Evans Center is a critical project for stabilizing the community and stimulating economic growth of the City’s Bayfront Community Development Area. Commercial Waterfront Development The City of Palm Bay and the Bayfront Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) jointly own approximately seven acres of uplands on U.S. Highway 1/Dixie Highway. A portion of this assemblage includes the Pelican Harbor Marina, a former active marina providing rental of boat slips and facilities. Currently, the City and CRA lease the existing building to Paddling Paradise, a recreational paddling and kayaking rentals company and long-standing partner of the City. The City and CRA are actively seeking development opportunities for the waterfront property, specifically commercial restaurant, retail, boating, and other water-related recreational services. Such development will serve as a catalyst for future waterfront development, an integral component for the creation of a Bayfront downtown village concept. PALM BAY , FLOR IDA