Gilbert Drugs plans three Rockwell-style murals

Already in a new location at 2190 Lakeview Drive, Gilbert Drugs' owners Jack and Patricia Kasmer will seek a $1,350 façade grant at today's Community Redevelopment Agency meeting for three new Norman Rockwell-style murals.

The building was formerly the office of Dr. Sanford Boley, and already has a mural of Norman Rockwell's illustration, "Before the Shot."

Jack Kasmer said Friday the murals were his wife's project.

The murals the Kasmers have proposed are: "The Druggist," "Mysterious Malady" and "He's Going To Be Taller Than Dad."

The artist they've selected is Molly Pearce, who priced two murals at $1,350 each and one at $1,800, for a total of $4,500, including supplies and labor.

Two would go alongside the existing mural and one would go on the rear wall of the building.

Pete Pollard, CRA executive director, said Friday this wasn't the first time the CRA has considered and approved façade grants for murals.

There's one on the wall of Steve and Company of an old Florida scene and a woman in a 1920s-style dress. A second mural is on the old gas station in front of Bank of America, and the CRA also paid for one where the old Tony's Restaurant was, he said.

The Tony's mural was painted over by a new owner as it depicted Italian restaurant type imagery.

"So yeah, they've done it a number of times," Pollard said.

The CRA board meets at 5:30 p.m. at Sebring City Hall, located at 368 S. Commerce Ave.

Redeveloping Park Street

In light of recent comments by CRA commissioners over the slum-like and blighted conditions along Franklin, Park and Cypress streets, which is in part due to messy city-owned facilities, Pollard is presenting a Redevelopment Concept for Park Street.

"The city owns a rather large tract of land that runs from the existing utilities area and the old power plant building, all the way to Cypress Street and eastward to the (Sebring) Parkway," Pollard wrote in his summary.

The property is strategically located on the north side of the downtown and CRA District, Pollard said.

"At some point in the future it would be advantageous for the city to consider relocating the existing utilities, maintenance and storage facilities at a different location," he said.

"If you look at its geographic location, it is in an ideal place for the development of multi-family housing. It may be years before the market turns and developers begin to look for development opportunities, but, now is the time to begin looking at and planning for the future."

One suggested location to relocate the city facilities is alongside the city's Solid Waste Department on Dinner Lake.

Pollard is proposing the development of a linear park that runs from the Sebring Parkway on the west side of the property, eastward to connect with Franklin and Park streets.

"The surrounding property on the boundaries of the park could then become prime property for development of multi-family and or mixed use projects," he wrote. "The best incentive to attract this type of quality development is control of the land. If the CRA and the city own the land or at least the majority of it, a public/private partnership could be structured with developers to make such a project a reality."

Pollard envisions the linear park with winding walkways, attractive landscaping, benches and possibly picnic tables. The old power plant building could be incorporated into the plan after being cleaned up.

The old power plant building was recently on the city council's agenda because it was in violation of the city's own code enforcement ordinances, due to its run-down appearance.

Once it's cleaned up, the old power plant building could serve as an entryway with spaces sectioned off and rented in the old building to serve as a farmers market or flea market, "providing protection from the weather in a rustic environment," he wrote.

Some of the property the city needs to acquire is currently for sale, Pollard pointed out, and some at a very reasonable price.

It is "time to look ahead and prepare an aggressive and progressive plan that could eliminate an area of slum and blight," said Pollard, "improve and stabilize the neighborhoods surrounding this property and provide the city with the most marketable commodity there is; land."