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Downtown CRA may be expanded
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New boundaries will allow more development.
By JEFF M. HARDISON
jhardison@lakecityreporter.com
Historic Downtown Lake City is a Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) that is being considered for expansion, according to the 2009 Downtown Action Plan.
The current boundaries go beyond downtown, with north-south borders at Railroad Street and Baya Avenue. Hernando Avenue is the dominant eastern line. The eastern side extends easterly to Lake DeSoto between Hamilton and Justice streets. The main western border is Miller Terrace with extensions at certain blocks farther to the west, including Northwest Hendrix Way.
The proposed addition expands the CRA with a northern boundary at Northeast Washington Street to Hawthorne Terrace, where the line goes south to Leon Street, where it goes east for about four blocks and goes south again. It includes the Lake Shore Hospital property and goes south to Northeast Laguna Drive, with a little jog down to Lake Drive.
Before the expansion, there will be public hearings for affected property owners to provide their input.
The major themes of the CRA expansion, according to the 2008 Downtown Action Plan, are to protect residential neighborhoods; improve the aesthetics around Lake DeSoto; improve pedestrian and cyclist safety; create more recreation and open space; and provide for the hospital expansion.
History of CRA
Lake City first established its CRA in 1981 to help downtown evolve into a more dynamic office, service, financial, entertainment, residential and governmental area. The CRA was revised in 1989 and again in 1993, according to records.
CRA projects must have a public purpose with the intent to alleviate urban blight in the district. Examples of projects are streetscapes, new buildings, parking lots, garages, neighborhood parks, sidewalks and street landscaping.
Among the completed projects are the “Downtown Lighting Theme,” downtown benches and trash receptacles, sidewalks and treescapes, and the “Downtown Facade Grant Program.”
One project that is under way now is the “812 N. Marion Project, “ which consists of a multi-level building at this address with commercial and residential units.
Creating policy related to money generated in the CRA through ad valorem property taxes is the job of the Community Redevelopment Agency. For Lake City, that agency is the City Council.
Funding the CRA
The CRA budget has grown because the funding method grows with increased property values. Tax Increment Financing (TIF) provides money for projects in the CRA.
Harvey Campbell, executive director of the Tourist Development Council explained how TIF works. Increased property values and tax revenue funds the CRA.
“If in 1989, ad valorem property taxes for the city and county generated $150,000, then that $150,000 would still go to the city and county, whatever the percentage is,” Campbell said. “Today, if property values and millage rates generate $300,000 in tax income, the city and county still get their respective shares of the $150,000, but the
added $150,000 goes into the CRA fund.”
Powers within
A CRA can revitalize downtown, preserve historic structures and otherwise enhance communities, according to state law.
To create a CRA, an area must meet the definition of being a “slum” or “blighted,” according to law.
Defining a “slum area,” according to the act, includes that it is “an area having physical or economic conditions conducive to disease, infant mortality, juvenile delinquency, poverty, or crime because there is a predominance of buildings or improvements, whether residential or nonresidential, which are impaired by reason of dilapidation, deterioration, age, or obsolescence...”
Having a high density of population compared to the population density of adjacent areas within the county or municipality is another “slum” factor.
The two manners in which “blighted area” is defined in the law shows even more extensive verbiage.
Among criteria are:
n A substantial number of deteriorated or deteriorating structures.
n Predominance of defective or inadequate street layout, parking facilities, roadways, bridges or public transportation facilities.
n Falling lease rates per square foot in comparison with the remainder of the county or municipality.
n Residential and commercial vacancy at a higher rate in comparison with the remainder of the county or municipality.
n A greater number of violations of the Florida Building Code in comparison with the remainder of the county or municipality.
In the second definition of the act, only one criteria needs to be present as long as the taxing authorities affected, the City Council and County Commission, agree that the defined area is “blighted.”
CRA budget
The Lake City budget for fiscal year 2008-09, which began Oct. 1, shows the total CRA budget as being just over $1 million. Only 15 percent of the revenue to create that amount came from the CRA tax.
The other 85 percent of CRA revenue came from the previous years’ surplus, according to records.
Expenditures this year include an annual salary and benefits worth $29,050 to pay Downtown Redevelopment Manager Jackie Kite. Operating expenses are $4,115, which includes travel, education, postage, books and other publications, printing and office supplies.
The bulk of the budget, goes to capital expenses. They are:
n Trail green space — $500,000
n Phase 1 Lake Desoto Boardwalk and Walking Trail — $240,483
n Redevelopment grant — $200,00
n Lake DeSoto boat ramp — $3,000
n Downtown sign — $25,000
n WiFi infrastructure — $20,000
The current boundaries go beyond downtown, with north-south borders at Railroad Street and Baya Avenue. Hernando Avenue is the dominant eastern line. The eastern side extends easterly to Lake DeSoto between Hamilton and Justice streets. The main western border is Miller Terrace with extensions at certain blocks farther to the west, including Northwest Hendrix Way.
The proposed addition expands the CRA with a northern boundary at Northeast Washington Street to Hawthorne Terrace, where the line goes south to Leon Street, where it goes east for about four blocks and goes south again. It includes the Lake Shore Hospital property and goes south to Northeast Laguna Drive, with a little jog down to Lake Drive.
Before the expansion, there will be public hearings for affected property owners to provide their input.
The major themes of the CRA expansion, according to the 2008 Downtown Action Plan, are to protect residential neighborhoods; improve the aesthetics around Lake DeSoto; improve pedestrian and cyclist safety; create more recreation and open space; and provide for the hospital expansion.
History of CRA
Lake City first established its CRA in 1981 to help downtown evolve into a more dynamic office, service, financial, entertainment, residential and governmental area. The CRA was revised in 1989 and again in 1993, according to records.
CRA projects must have a public purpose with the intent to alleviate urban blight in the district. Examples of projects are streetscapes, new buildings, parking lots, garages, neighborhood parks, sidewalks and street landscaping.
Among the completed projects are the “Downtown Lighting Theme,” downtown benches and trash receptacles, sidewalks and treescapes, and the “Downtown Facade Grant Program.”
One project that is under way now is the “812 N. Marion Project, “ which consists of a multi-level building at this address with commercial and residential units.
Creating policy related to money generated in the CRA through ad valorem property taxes is the job of the Community Redevelopment Agency. For Lake City, that agency is the City Council.
Funding the CRA
The CRA budget has grown because the funding method grows with increased property values. Tax Increment Financing (TIF) provides money for projects in the CRA.
Harvey Campbell, executive director of the Tourist Development Council explained how TIF works. Increased property values and tax revenue funds the CRA.
“If in 1989, ad valorem property taxes for the city and county generated $150,000, then that $150,000 would still go to the city and county, whatever the percentage is,” Campbell said. “Today, if property values and millage rates generate $300,000 in tax income, the city and county still get their respective shares of the $150,000, but the
added $150,000 goes into the CRA fund.”
Powers within
A CRA can revitalize downtown, preserve historic structures and otherwise enhance communities, according to state law.
To create a CRA, an area must meet the definition of being a “slum” or “blighted,” according to law.
Defining a “slum area,” according to the act, includes that it is “an area having physical or economic conditions conducive to disease, infant mortality, juvenile delinquency, poverty, or crime because there is a predominance of buildings or improvements, whether residential or nonresidential, which are impaired by reason of dilapidation, deterioration, age, or obsolescence...”
Having a high density of population compared to the population density of adjacent areas within the county or municipality is another “slum” factor.
The two manners in which “blighted area” is defined in the law shows even more extensive verbiage.
Among criteria are:
n A substantial number of deteriorated or deteriorating structures.
n Predominance of defective or inadequate street layout, parking facilities, roadways, bridges or public transportation facilities.
n Falling lease rates per square foot in comparison with the remainder of the county or municipality.
n Residential and commercial vacancy at a higher rate in comparison with the remainder of the county or municipality.
n A greater number of violations of the Florida Building Code in comparison with the remainder of the county or municipality.
In the second definition of the act, only one criteria needs to be present as long as the taxing authorities affected, the City Council and County Commission, agree that the defined area is “blighted.”
CRA budget
The Lake City budget for fiscal year 2008-09, which began Oct. 1, shows the total CRA budget as being just over $1 million. Only 15 percent of the revenue to create that amount came from the CRA tax.
The other 85 percent of CRA revenue came from the previous years’ surplus, according to records.
Expenditures this year include an annual salary and benefits worth $29,050 to pay Downtown Redevelopment Manager Jackie Kite. Operating expenses are $4,115, which includes travel, education, postage, books and other publications, printing and office supplies.
The bulk of the budget, goes to capital expenses. They are:
n Trail green space — $500,000
n Phase 1 Lake Desoto Boardwalk and Walking Trail — $240,483
n Redevelopment grant — $200,00
n Lake DeSoto boat ramp — $3,000
n Downtown sign — $25,000
n WiFi infrastructure — $20,000
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Bob wrote on Oct 13, 2008 6:04 PM:
Boy - something or someone certainly failed. Downtown still looks crappy and still has a hard time attracting businesses. "