This part of Bradenton is still a food desert. Can these new CRA incentives fix that?

Recent efforts to attract a grocery that serves residents in Bradenton’s central core, labeled a “food desert” by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, have all fallen flat.

A food desert is an area where residents lack access to vehicles and the nearest grocery store is more than half a mile away. An estimated 13.5% of residents within the downtown area lack access to a vehicle.

But a new and improved policy aimed at attracting developers and providing them with the resources they need to improve the community could change that.

Last week, the Bradenton Community Redevelopment Agency approved a package of new grants and financial incentives that officials hope will spur the development of new housing and businesses, including a grocery, in the downtown core.

Under the new financial package, businesses could be eligible for matching grants of up to $50,000, and much larger incentives, depending on the value of improvements made by the developer.

Over the years, Ideal Food Basket and Save-A-Lot are two of the grocery stores that have been proposed for the CRA area. Both of those stores failed to open, leaving a food desert in place.

The most likely candidate to fill the need for fresh food and produce in the area is the former Miller’s Market at 420 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. E., also known as Ninth Avenue East.

The property owner, Downtown Samad LLC, was previously approved for a CRA grant to complete renovations needed to reopen the market. But the owner concluded that available incentives were not enough to move forward.

“I’ve spoken to Rami (Samad) and he’s interested in trying to sort things out,” Chris Munyon, CRA manager, said this week.

Are new incentives enough?

Jeff Burton, CRA executive director, said the new incentives program gives developers and the CRA a starting point where everyone knows what to expect.

“You don’t have to start from scratch every time,” Burton said.

Interested developers will know at the onset of talks with the CRA how much they can anticipate in incentives. Under one example, the developer of a $10 million commercial project could be eligible for an economic incentive of roughly $502,000, and the developer would have 16 years to repay the CRA.

“We have the process in place and we can get them quickly in front of the CRA board,” Burton said.

An ‘aggressive’ approach toward redevelopment

Marshall Gobuty, the developer of The Met, which provides 199 units of affordable housing at 1405 14th St. W., Bradenton, applauds the revamped grants and incentives schedule.

“The CRA has taken a very aggressive, smart approach to motivate developers to do projects in the CRA area,” Gobuty said.

“What Dr. Burton has done is make a statement that says if you qualify, you’ve got this. If it’s predetermined, it’s not like you’re taking a risk. The incentive is there as long as you follow the rules,” he said. “He brought the transparency.”

The Met has been successful not only in providing housing but in revitalizing part of the downtown area.

Gobuty is in negotiations with the CRA to purchase the former Bradenton Police Department property across the street from The Met. If successful, he plans 120 homes there along with retail space — possibly a convenience store and dry cleaner.

Burton calls the redevelopment sustainable because the incentives are funded by the businesses that invest in the CRA area.

“The money doesn’t exist until the building is built and the developer begins paying tax dollars,” Burton said.

Free rides to the grocery store

In recognition of the food desert problem, where residents may not have transportation to go shopping, the CRA and the City of Bradenton entered into a public-private partnership with Freebee to provide free on-demand ride service.

Three all-electric Tesla vehicles provide point-to-point service within the Downtown, Tamiami Trail, and Central redevelopment areas. The service is available to Bradenton CRA residents and business customers.

Free trips are available anywhere within the CRA area.

The Bradenton Community Redevelopment Area is generally located between between 15th Street West and 15th Street East , from the Manatee River down to Ninth Avenue.

Excluded are two interior enclaves between Ninth Street West and First Street East and between Third Avenue West and the Bradenton Riverwalk.

Rides can be requested via the Freebee app .

Hours and days of operation:

▪ Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

▪ Thursday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

▪ Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to midnight

▪ Sunday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

▪ Monday to Tuesday: No service