CRA staff update projects: El Camino progress, Golden Gate corridor grant application, New Monrovia Park bid

CRA staff provided a series of capital project updates on Jan. 26, including construction progress, grant strategy and coordination plans to reduce community construction impacts.

Susan Koras, Office of Community Development, said El Camino is approximately 40% constructed with paved roads and pathways visible on site. The Golden Gate multimodal corridor—previously called 'neighborhood improvements'—has been renamed to reflect its drainage resilience and multimodal elements; staff plan to request permission to apply for a federal BUILD grant to fund design and permitting, and estimated two years for design/permits before returning for construction funding.

Koras reported that crews completed two early Hope Sound unpaved road conversions (Eleanor and Hammond) and are working on Sagave and Haslam in the Pettway area with Public Works as a partner. She said Old Palm City Waterfront passive parks design reached 30%, but staff and the community decided to pause the project due to limited NAC support and funding; the 30% design will be retained for possible future phase work tied to Cornell Avenue.

New Monrovia Park: Koras said the Board of County Commissioners awarded the bid to Formax Construction Dec. 9; the county is waiting for the contractor's certificate of insurance before issuing a notice to proceed. Koras said the contract appears to be for about 120 days and that staff expect a ribbon cutting before summer 2026. For New Monrovia neighborhood improvements, staff plan to merge work among capital projects, utilities and the CRA to issue a single bid and limit multiple, consecutive construction seasons for residents.

On the Bridal Streetscape and Civic Center design, Koras said 90% conceptual plans were presented to the NAC with strong community attendance; staff will present the concept to the CRA next month before engineering design.