Notice of eligible property for the National Register of Historic Places (City Hall) within the Project Limits.

ABOUT THE PROJECT
The City of Winter Haven, with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), District One, is designing and constructing a complete streets project along 3rd Street NW that includes minor widening to accommodate new roundabouts at the intersections of Avenue E NW and Avenue F NW, sidewalk widening to 8-feet, pedestrian crossings with ADA ramps, on-street parking, and decorative lighting.

The City of Winter Haven City Hall building (site #8PO10812) was identified as a historical property considered eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) as a work of master architect Gene Leedy and as an outstanding example of New Formalism style architecture as adapted for civic architecture.
The minimal improvements to the City Hall parcel include:

• Replacing the current 5-foot-wide sidewalk in front of City Hall with an 8-foot-wide sidewalk, which will be approximately 17 feet from the City Hall building at the closest point.
• Replacing the current 16-foot-wide entryway sidewalk on the west side of 3rd Street NW with an ADA-compliant transition to the widened sidewalk.
• Making minor adjustments to the north side parking lot to accommodate entry into the proposed roundabout and the installation of a crosswalk

All improvements aim to enhance safety and accessibility for vehicles and pedestrians at City Hall.

HISTORICAL AND SECTION 4(f) PROPERTY
The project improvements and associated involvement with the NRHP-eligible City Hall building (site #8PO10812) requires compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (as implemented by 36 CFR 800) and Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966 (as implemented by 23 CFR 774). The FDOT determined that the proposed sidewalk and roadway improvements will not damage the historic site in a negative way that will diminish or destroy the qualities and characteristics for which it is considered eligible for listing in the NRHP. FDOT notified the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) that the project will have no adverse effect on historic and archaeological properties protected under Chapter 267, F.S. and concurrence was received on December 15, 2025. Additionally, this SHPO concurrence confirmed that the proposed improvements will have no adverse effect on activities, features, and attributes of theWinter Haven City Hall under the meaning of Section 4(f). Therefore, FDOT intends to pursue a “de minimis” determination for this property and is asking for the public’s input.

VIEW THE CULTURAL RESOURCES ASSESSMENT REPORT [HERE]

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
Your comments are very important to us. We look forward to receiving community input on this proposed project and the anticipated minor impacts to the City Hall building. Public input received or postmarked by Monday, February 2, 2026 will be taken into consideration prior to a final determination for this Section 4(f) protected property in accordance with 23 CFR 774.

SUBMIT COMMENTS TO:
Emily Barnett
Emily.Barnett@dot.state.fl.us
FDOT District 1, MS 1-40
801 N. Broadway Avenue
Bartow, FL 33830

FDOT solicits public participation without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status. Persons who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or person who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Cynthia Sykes, Title VI Coordinator, at (863) 519-2287 or by e-mail at Cynthia.Sykes@dot.state.fl.us.
The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried out by FDOT pursuant to 23 U.S.C. § 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated May 26, 2022 and executed by the Federal Highway Administration and FDOT.