FORT PIERCE – The city will need to lower required lot square-footage if it wants to attract more single- and multi-family housing and new neighborhood commercial development, according to a preliminary report on a master plan being developed by the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council (TCRPC) .
At a series of community workshops, residents and leaders said they want a better partnership with Fort Pierce Police Department, including foot and bike patrols. They called for more affordable housing to fill the 1,156 vacant land parcels in Lincoln Park and new commercial development and neighborhood services located in vacant storefront and lots.
But officials said while land is available, current zoning regulations cause more than 60 percent of current Lincoln Park lots to be too small to meet the city’s general 10,000-square-foot minimum lot size. One suggestion is to change that minimum requirement in some areas to 7,000-7,200 square feet to accommodate single- and multi-family and townhouse construction.
Residents in what is generally considered a low-income area also said they could benefit from first-time homebuyer and financing training.
Another issue the final plan may address is “heirs’ properties. Those can be vacant lots or standing buildings that have been in the hands of descendants of deceased family members for years, sometimes remaining untouched. They also want to see tougher code enforcement to deal with some absentee landlords.
Lincoln Park residents said they do not want any more small convenience stores, and youth who responded suggested more sidewalks and better street lighting, more pool access for swimming lessons and more basketball courts.
Residents who attended one of three workshops or meetings at seven neighborhood churches said they’re concerned about “gentrification” that could price lower income residents out of their neighborhood.
According to the report, some called Moore’s Creek a “wonderful asset that is underutilized,” adding that the area needs more supervision because “it can feel unsafe.”
TCRPC is expected to be back in November to present its final plan and request city adoption.
According to the City of Fort Pierce’s website, the Lincoln Park neighborhood is one of the oldest communities in Fort Pierce.
As the city expanded beyond the original Fort established in 1800s, a settlement called Edgartown emerged and over time, the community developed a bustling commercial district.
During its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s, Avenue D was the main corridor in the Village of Lincoln Park – it was St. Lucie County’s bustling center for African American-owned shops, restaurants, businesses and a theater.
Today, the area is experiencing revitalization, celebrating it rich cultural history and making progress to again become the center of pride for the community.