More downtown beautification ahead

The approach into the downtown will get another facelift now that the Community Redevelopment Agency purchased two lots formerly belonging to the Bank of America — one at the triangle where South Ridgewood and Lakeview drives meet.

The second is a parking area at South Ridgewood Drive and Wall Street. The CRA completed the combined purchases on May 25, for a total of $77,893.70.

What has often been an unkempt parcel of land, the triangle may be transformed into a park-like entryway.

The property now belongs to the city, CRA executive director Pete Pollard wrote in his project status report to the CRA board that meets at 5:30 p.m. today at Sebring City Hall.

"Staff is developing cost estimates for landscape design and irrigation," he wrote. "There is electricity and water already on the site at the triangle.

"We propose the creation of a park setting with a small circle in the center surrounded by landscaping and several benches. Sidewalks would be redone in keeping with the new streetscape design, utilizing pavers."

CRA President Gene Brenner cautioned that although it is on Monday's agenda, the idea of a park has not yet been presented to the board. He had been so busy he hadn't looked at the agenda yet, he added.

"We asked (Pollard) to look at the possibility of some entryway signage with a changeable panel, maybe with something electronic," he said.

Pollard said he was looking into a possible electronic events sign on the corner to advertise upcoming downtown events, with the entryway sign.

The triangle lot was sometimes used by the Sebring Police Department to park a police cruiser with a stuffed teddy bear, some call "Smokey," at the wheel.

"I don't think Smokey is going to be able to park there," Pollard said. "The sign we're planning to put there will block Smokey's view. He won't be able to see down the road."

Pollard said he has not yet spoken with Police Chief Tom Dettman.

The parking lot at South Ridgewood Drive and Wall Street will be for public parking and currently has about 21 or 22 spaces, Pollard said.

It holds a wall that may be torn down and the lot may be reconfigured with added landscaping and greenery, he said.

Brenner said he was pleased to obtain the parking lot.

"We didn't have to pull any permits," he said. "We turned it over to the city."

At its May 17 meeting the Sebring City Council granted the seller until June 1 to close on the property or the offer would be withdrawn.

The action resulted from the filing of a lis pendens on the properties previously owned by Bank of America by the mortgage holder, which is the initial step in a foreclosure, Pollard wrote in his report.

The mortgage holder agreed to break out the two parcels under contract to accommodate the sale, he stated.