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Century To Consider Forming CRA To Improve Community
January 15, 2016
The The Town of Century held a special workshop Thursday to learn more about the possibility of forming a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).
Upon declaration of an area as blighted, the CRA works to improve conditions. As property tax values rise, most of the increase is funneled back into the redevelopment area for further improvements. Additional tax incentive and redevelopment funds are available within a CRA.
Essentially, CRAs use redevelopment funds within a deteriorating area to transform it into one that again contributes to the overall health of a community.
CRA funds can be used for a variety of public purposes, including items specified in the agency’s redevelopment plan, planning and surveys, acquisition of real property, affordable housing development and community policing innovations.
Century council members did not make any decision on forming a CRA at Thursday’s meeting. Instead, they decided to seek more information and invite area CRA experts to a future meeting for input.
There are currently eight other redevelopment districts in Escambia County — Barrancas, Brownsville, Cantonment, Englewood, Ensley, Oakfield, Palafox and Warrington — and three within the City of Pensacola.
Pictured top: Century Council members Ben Boutwell, Sandra McMurray Jackson and Ann Brooks watch a Powerpoint presentation on CRAs. Pictured below: A slide from the presentation. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
4 Responses to “Century To Consider Forming CRA To Improve Community”
This is a great idea. We need an outsider’s perspective. Just look at how nice Fairhope is. It used to be a sleepy little dumpy town . But they got a great plan to improve. The restrictions were mandated and everyone was forced to comply, but the outcome was well worth the growing pains. Now it is a lovely town.
I am also researching info about this and happy to see the town council carefully considering this. In my research I am becoming more aware of the thought and effort that comes into attempting to improve an area. It is complex. You can’t just snjap a finger, point or complain and see anything happen. You can’t guarantee the property values will improve and the consequences of that particularly in a residential area that is in poverty may effect the ability of the residents to pay. The eminent domain could effect and displace some one who may not see that their home is an eyesore or in the way. I think to be on the town council or mayor in Century is an enormous responsibility with little financial compensation. Bless you in your efforts. I still think the area along highway 29 could improve as the gateway and wonder why the county hasn’t enforced that blight even without the necessity of forming the CRA. I have also seen downtown areas in other places revitalized and thriving via the redevelopment efforts but I think these areas had abandoned buildings not residents. Thank you for your efforts toughtful consideration for the town. I don’t know much about this but am interested.
This can be a good thing. But as I understand it any results take a very long time to occur.
When the CRA is established, the current amount of property taxes generated are frozen at that level and continue to go to the county and Century’s general funds.
Then if and when something is built or improved that would add/generate more property taxes, those taxes and only those taxes would go to the CRA fund.
Which would then be plowed back into the CRA district to make improvements that might attract more construction, etc.
So there is a “snowball effect” where it takes awhile to get the new property taxes rolling into the CRA fund.
The above is how I believe it works, but some of it could be incorrect.
This is something that we desperately need! As one of the POOREST CITIES IN FLORIDA we need all the help we can get! If this is an opportunity to bring in investors and/or different businesses I consider this a win. I hope the Town of Century really puts some effort into finding out the most about this.