Century Seeking Legal Help To Establish Community Redevelopment Area

June 7, 2017

The Century Town Council has taken the next step in establishing a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), voting to use the services of an attorney to review documents.

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.

The Century Town Council voted in mid-May to move forward with developing a legal description of the 510 acre area depicted in a preliminary map.  Town consultant Debbie Nickles returned to the council this week, requesting permission to have the documents reviewed by an attorney for legal sufficiency.

The area is bounded by Jefferson Avenue to the south, Jefferson Avenue to the east, State Road 4 to the north and the centerline of North Century Boulevard to the west. It also extends north on the east side of North Century Boulevard to include commercial properties up to, and including, the former Burger King.

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.

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.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News