Century Revisits Establishing A Community Redevelopment Area

June 21, 2016

Back in February, the Century Town Council approved the formation of a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), but that effort stalled as the town recovered from an EF-3 tornado.

At Monday night’s meeting of the Century Town Council, council member Ann Brooks questioned the progress of a CRA.

“We need to get our hands wrapped back around it, and, if we are, let’s move forward,” Mayor Freddie McCall said.

Council members expressed concerns over costs to establish the CRA, and exactly how much help Escambia County might provide.  “We need someone (from Escambia County) to come talk to us and explain how they might help us,” Brooks said.

McCall said he would call Commissioner Steven Barry and start those discussions.

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.  An estimate provide by Escambia County showed Century might, in a best case scenario, receive about $5,300 in tax funds for the first year of a CRA that included a full maximum 80 percent of the town.

Essentially, CRAs use redevelopment funds within a deteriorating area to transform it into one that again contributes to the overall health of a community. The money can roll over year to year, up a 40-year life for a CRA.

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.

In February, the council decided that Century will enter into an interlocal agreement with Escambia County for assistance in forming and managing the CRA. Their next step was to be the formation of a seven member board — the five council members plus two at-large members — to oversee the Century CRA.

There are currently nine other redevelopment districts in Escambia County — Atwood, Barrancas, Brownsville, Cantonment, Englewood, Ensley, Oakfield, Palafox and Warrington — and three within the City of Pensacola.

Pictured top: Century Council members Ann Brooks (left) and Annie Savage listen to discussion Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

3 Responses to “Century Revisits Establishing A Community Redevelopment Area”

  1. Resident on June 22nd, 2016 4:10 pm

    To me this looks like something Ann Brooks could spearhead very well once she and others wraps their head around it. I so hope she runs for reelection as she is so valuable in her accounting skills. This looks like something that keeps the taxes funneling back in but it will benefit our grandchildren more than us. Like planting a pecan tree, it will take years to mature. If Escambia County and Pensacola can do it and keep their money for themselves I believe and hope Century does it. And Old Man I really don”t think the Burden will be on folks like you. Century has a heart, it will be slow and steady. I imagine with tax rolls on the computer, a spread sheet can be generated to be able to account for this. Its not about swimming pools and such yet. It is just a tool to keep tax money from going into the general fund. The taxes will increase in the Commercial and Industrial sector if possible and residents and private home may follow. I hope to see more empty historic homes restored and somehow entice a developer to build more new affordable housing to be built for our wonderful senior citizens and others that need it. That will also increase the property value. A drop in the bucket soon fills up. A hole in the bottom drains it.

  2. old man on June 21st, 2016 6:59 pm

    iremember centry as a youth it was bar after bar and yes i went to a few of them centry is a blighted area most of the people live on s s what centry needs is some kind of industry to improve the tax base it is had to improve your property when you are either to old or have to make a choice spend money on your property to improve [increase the value increase the taxs]or buy food or meds you need

  3. Melodies4us on June 21st, 2016 1:38 pm

    A community pool. Tennis courts. Skate park.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News