Purpose & History

Under Florida Statute (Chapter 163, Part III), local governments can designate targeted areas as Community Redevelopment Areas (CRAs) to address conditions of “slum” and “blight” within that area. To document that the required conditions exist, the local government must evaluate the proposed redevelopment area and prepare a Finding of Necessity (FON) report. If the FON study determines that conditions satisfy the definitions of ”slum and blight” per Section 163.340 (7), the local government may create a CRA. Examples of conditions include but are not limited to: the presence of substandard or inadequate structures, a shortage of affordable housing, inadequate infrastructure, insufficient roadways, and inadequate parking. CRAs are dependent special districts that utilize Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to fund projects undertaken within the district. TIF revenue is generated by the increase of property values within the designated CRA. CRAs are not overseen by the state or local government, however, any activities undertaken must be in the CRA’s approved Community Redevelopment Plan. Community Redevelopment Plans must be consistent with local government Comprehensive Plans and outline all of the projects which may be employed to foster and support economic development and redevelopment in the CRA. Ultimately, the Community Redevelopment Agency will determine which projects and programs are implemented. Thus, some of the projects and programs may not come to fruition, however, in order to be considered, they must be identified in the Community Redevelopment Plan.


Purpose

The St. Augustine CRA Agency is a public agency overseen by a CRA Agency Board consisting of the members of the City Commission, who are enabled by the Community Redevelopment Act (1969) to implement redevelopment activities at the local level. 

Development

The St. Augustine CRA oversees three Community Redevelopment Areas within the City of St. Augustine:

  • The Historic Area Community Redevelopment Area (HACRA)
    • Total acreage in the HACRA is 216.6 acres
  • The Lincolnville Community Redevelopment Area (LCRA)
    • Total acreage in the LCRA is 541.4 acres
  • The West City Community Redevelopment Area (WCCRA)
    • Total acreage in the WCCRA is 600 acres

Total acreage of the Historic Area CRA, Lincolnville CRA and West City CRA is 1,358 acres.

Finding of Necessity Study

In order to establish a Community Redevelopment Area, a formal "Finding of Necessity" (FON) study must be conducted to assess conditions of blight in a proposed area. Blight is a technical term defined in the Florida Statutes to mean an area that exhibits signs of physical and economic distress.

History

The St. Augustine Community Redevelopment Agency was established in 2000 in conjunction with the Historic Transportation and Parking Community Redevelopment Area to address conditions of blight connected with traffic and parking in the downtown area. In 2024 the Historic Transportation and Parking Community Redevelopment Area Plan was amended to the current Historic Area Community Redevelopment Area (HACRA).

In 2013, the LCRA was established to address blight connected with inadequate lot sizes, street layout, and deteriorating buildings and sites in Lincolnville.

In 2024, the WCCRA was established to address blight conditions and is currently in the process of creating a temporary WCCRA Steering Committee for recommendations of the goals to target the specific redevelopment needs for the WCCRA Redevelopment Plan.

Board Members

St. Augustine CRA Board Members include:

  • Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline, Chairperson
  • Vice-Mayor Barbara Blonder, Vice Chairperson
  • Commissioner Cynthia Garris
  • Commissioner Jim Springfield
  • Commissioner Jon DePreter

Finance Information

View Financial Information for the LCRA and HACRA.

More Resources

To learn more about the state legislation under which the CRA operates, visit: