Final agreement for Cascades Project

Final agreements reached for Cascades Project https://t.co/hml1u36Wul

— Hammond Design Group (@HDGarchitects) January 15, 2018

http://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/money/2018/01/14/final-agreements-reached-cascades-project/1031326001/

The developer has signed the last five documents with the Tallahassee Community Redevelopment Agency to build its Cascades Project on the hem of the city's 24-acre public park. 

Two city blocks that are home to the Firestone and Bloxham Annex buildings will be leveled to make room for the North American Properties development, which is the largest of any downtown CRA project in Tallahassee's history. The mixed-use plans include apartments, brownstones, retail, restaurants, a hotel, a gym and a $353.6 million total economic impact. 

"This is a major step in the creation of a transformational, $150,000,000 project," Manning wrote. "Thanks to the CRA board’s leadership and vision, we are looking forward to the creation of a project which will enhance Tallahassee’s downtown with a new activity center adjacent to Cascades Park."

If all goes well, McIntyre said he hopes to break ground this summer. The grand opening is slated for November 2020.

When early rendering designs of the massive project were unveiled for the public, the reaction was a mixture of strong support and stinging criticism. The signature projects resembles nothing like any existing structure in Tallahassee, a city eager to discard its image as a football-centric government town. 

According to Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality and Florida State's Center for Economic Forecasting and Analysis, the Cascades Project will spur 2,209 construction-related jobs and an estimated $94.6 million in income and wages.

Manning, in her email, said the project's permanent impact is expected to create roughly 700 jobs, representing nearly $23.2 million in annual income or wages and more than $64.4 million in total economic output including sales and revenues.