The panel discussion summarized the challenges of food deserts in Orlando and throughout Florida. A food desert is defined as an urban neighborhood or rural town without ready access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food. Examples of food deserts discussed included the Parramore district in Orlando. Potential solutions that were proposed included developing new grocery stores, facilitating mobile farmers markets, identifying funding opportunities, and implementing healthy community design principles to promote access to nutrition.

1. Architects/Design and Construction
Special Industry Groups (SIGs)
Food Deserts
Orlando and Throughout Florida
ICSC Florida conference August 31 2015

2. SteveDuffy
VPGrocery
Cuhaci&Peterson
Jason Burton
ChiefCityPlanneratCity
ofOrlando
Curtis Ostrodka
VHBManagerPlanning+
DesignStudio
RonieceWeaver
ExecutiveDirector,MS,
RD,LD HebniNutrition
John Crossman
President
Crossman&Company
ICSC Florida conference August 31 2015
Our Panel
Considers the challenges of Food Deserts Orlando and Throughout Florida

3. WHAT IS A FOOD DESERT?
ICSC Florida conference August 31 2015
A. The opposite of a food oasis.
B. Neighborhoods/towns without ready
access to fresh, healthy or affordable food.
C. What you eat for dinner.
Theopposite
of afood
oasis.
Neighborhoods/tow
nsw
ithout...
W
hat you
eat fordinner.
9% 8%
83%
Please answer via the Turning Point Response Device on your seat.

4. WHAT IS A FOOD DESERT?
Food deserts are defined as urban neighborhoods and rural
towns without ready access to fresh, healthy, and
affordable food.
• No Food Access or Fast Food/Convenience Store only
• Lack of access contributes to poor diet, which can lead to multiple
health issues
ICSC Florida conference August 31 2015

5. • Is it a local, state or national issue?
• How does the issue vary from urban to rural
locations?
• Parramore District in Orlando
• What is the economic reality?
• How can everyone (retailer/community)
benefit from development in food
deserts?
WHAT IS A FOOD DESERT?
ICSC Florida conference August 31 2015

6. ICSC Florida conference August 31 2015
WHERE ARE FOOD DESERTS

7. ICSC Florida conference August 31 2015
WHERE ARE FOOD DESERTS

8. WHERE ARE FOOD DESERTS FOUND?
A. Big City
B. Little City
C. Suburban Areas
D. Rural Areas
Big
City
Little
City
Suburban
Areas
RuralAreas
27%
51%
15%
7%
ICSC Florida conference August 31 2015
Please answer via the Turning Point Response Device on your seat.

9. ABOUT HEBNI NUTRITION
ICSC Florida conference August 31 2015

10. Orlando Food Deserts, Low Income and Low Access Areas
ICSC Florida conference August 31 2015

11. Comprehensive Nutrition assessment
Conducted in 2009
 Assess need of community
 Select strategy
 Craft a plan
 Execute & Assess
ICSC Florida conference August 31 2015

12. SUN LIFE GROCERY STORE
Parramore, Orlando
BEFORE AFTER
ICSC Florida conference August 31 2015

13. FRESH STOP
• Mobile farmers market created to
serve Central Florida’s food desert
neighborhoods.
• Launched in January 2015, the mobile
market offers fresh fruit and
vegetables at budget-friendly prices.
• Fresh Stop helps to drive positive
health outcomes and create a road
map for generational change for
families in communities hardest hit by
diabetes and heart disease.
ICSC Florida conference August 30 – September 1, 2015

14. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO US?
A. Helping people
B. Improving communities
C. Healthier children/families
D. New/renovation development project = $$
E. Exposure and recognition by city
F. Name in paper/on news
Helpingpeople
Im
provingcom
m
unities
Healthierchildren/fam
ilies
New
/renovation
developm
entp...
Exposure
and
recognition
by
city
Nam
e
in
paper/on
new
s
18%
37%
2%2%
5%
37%
Please answer via the Turning Point Response Device on your seat.
What is the benefit to you and others of identifying a food
desert and working to solve the issue?
ICSC Florida conference August 31 2015

15. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO US?
A. Create a pro-forma
B. Have a vision and a
champion
C. Be aware/find incentives
Create
a
pro-form
a
Have
a
vision
and
acham
pionBe
aw
are/find
incentives
0% 0%0%
Please answer via the Turning Point Response Device on your seat.
What can your team do to move a project/plan forward to
deal with a food desert?
ICSC Florida conference August 31 2015

16. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO US?
A. Façade improvements
B. Local property tax rebates
C. USDA grants
D. CDBG
E. All of the above
Façade
im
provem
ents
Localpropertytaxrebates
USDA
grants
CDBGAllofthe
above
0% 0% 0%0%0%
Please answer via the Turning Point Response Device on your seat.
Which incentives/types of assistance below does the City
of Orlando and/or partner agencies offer?
ICSC Florida conference August 31 2015

17. WHAT CAN BE DONE?
Cities have to set the table for future development of their neighborhoods:
• Accommodate future development beyond the existing zoning.
• Are there strategic Growth Management policies that support rezoning that allow for
development, tailored for transitions to the surrounding neighborhood?
• Does the City identify catalytic sites as a case study?
• Does the vision support accessibility through transit and other modes?
• Is there parity between the nice side of town where redevelopment is occurring and
more neglected communities in terms of infrastructure and incentives?
• Does the City attempt to bridge traditional divides (interstate highways, railroads).
ICSC Florida conference August 31 2015

18. WHAT CAN BE DONE?
Funding Pro-Forma Gaps:
Tax Rebates (over a period of up to 10 years)
Tax Increment Financing by a CRA
Cash as an incentive (includes construction of parking and other amenities).
USDA Food Desert incentives
Moral of the story: Even if the City does not have a formal incentive program in place, it is helpful in
crucial areas that a potential developer bring forward a pro-forma that the City may be able to
contribute, especially if there is a vision and a champion (e.g. Commissioner Hill). A developer may
be able to garner support for incentives more quickly than staff.
ICSC Florida conference August 31 2015

19. WHAT CAN BE DONE?
A. Miami
B. Orlando
C. Jacksonville
D. Tampa
E. Gainesville
F. Tallahassee
G. Elsewhere
M
iam
i
Orlando
Jacksonville
Tam
pa
Gainesville
Tallahassee
Elsew
here
18%
35%
0%
26%
0%
9%
12%
Please answer via the Turning Point Response Device on your seat.
Who in the room is familiar with food issues in?
ICSC Florida conference August 31 2015

20. CASE STUDY
PARRAMORE TODAY
Existing Conditions:
• 6000 residents
• Median Household Income $15,500
• Unemployment Rate 23%
• Homeownership Rate 9%
• Low Educational Attainment
• Chronic Health Problems
ICSC Florida conference August 31 2015

21. CASE STUDY
PARRAMORE TODAY
Typical Retail Shopping OptionsThe challenge: balancing heritage and
economic development
The Grocery Store
ICSC Florida conference August 31 2015

22. The relationship
between Parramore
and downtown’s
central business
district is changing
CASE STUDY
PARRAMORE TODAY
ICSC Florida conference August 31 2015

23. CASE STUDY
PARRAMORE TODAY
Healthy Community Design Principles
Drive economic development by creating a unique identity
Improve access to job opportunities
Promote social and environmental justice
Increase housing opportunities
Make education the cornerstone of revitalization
Empower champions for a healthy community
Promote access to healthy food
Invest in people, not cars
Maximize the opportunity for all residents to get physical activities
Encourage mixed-use development
ICSC Florida conference August 31 2015

24. ICSC Florida conference August 31 2015
CASE STUDY
PARRAMORE TODAY

25. City of
Orlando
ICSC Florida conference August 31 2015

26. Thank you!
ICSC Florida conference August 31 2015