Editing Community Redevelopment Agency

[[Image:CRAMap.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Map showing the boundaries of the CRA's Urban Core Community Redevelopment Area]]
The '''Community Redevelopment Agency''' ('''CRA''') is a [[City of Pensacola]] agency established in [[1980]] and tasked with guiding the redevelopment of the [[downtown Pensacola]] neighborhoods that make up the '''Urban Core Community Redevelopment Area'''.

==History==
The advent of shopping centers like [[Town & Country Plaza]] and [[Cordova Mall]] north of downtown Pensacola resulted in an exodus of businesses from the downtown area. Over the years, the once-bustling retail sector became dilapidated, lowering property values. Seeking to reverse this trend, the [[Pensacola City Council]] adopted a resolution on [[September 25]], [[1980]] to revitalize the city's blighted core.

On [[March 8]], [[1984]], the City established a Redevelopment Trust Fund to collect revenue for improvements within the Urban Core Community Redevelopment Area.

==Boundaries==
The Urban Core Community Redevelopment Area is a 256-block, 1,308-acre area that encompasses all of the city south of [[Cervantes Street]], bounded to the west by [[A Street]]  and to the east by [[17th Avenue]]. These boundaries are similar (but not identical) to those of the [[Downtown Improvement Board]]'s taxation district. It accounts for about 8.6% of the City's total land area.

==Funding==
The Community Redevelopment Agency is funded by [[Wikipedia:tax increment financing|tax increment financing]]. When the Redevelopment Trust Fund was established in [[1984]], a 'snapshot' was taken of the area's [[1983]] taxable property values. As capital improvements and other developments take place within the CRA district, these values rise. The difference ("increment") between the 1983 values and current values is collected by the [[Escambia County Tax Collector|taxation authority]] and deposited in the Redevelopment Trust Fund.

==Administration==
The Community Redevelopment Agency is made up of the ten [[Pensacola City Council]]members, as well as director and assistant director positions. The current (interim) director of the CRA is [[Becky Bray]].

[[David Bailey]], the former director, served the CRA starting in [[2003]], until tendering his notice of his resignation on [[June 17]], [[2007]], and continuing to serve until [[August 3]], [[2007]]. A permanent replacement director has not been announced.

==Capital projects==
The CRA has completed more than 35 capital construction and streetscape improvement projects since 1984. Some of these include:
*[[Plaza de Luna]]
*[[Palafox Pier]]
*[[Aragon]]
*[[Belmont-Devilliers]] revitalization
*[[Five Flags Downtown Trolley]]
*[[Historic Pensacola Village]]
*[[Pensacola Cultural Center]]
*[[Seville Harbour]]
*[[Jefferson Street Parking Garage]]
*[[Wayside West Park]]

==External links==
*[http://www.ci.pensacola.fl.us/live/pages.asp?pageID=1368 City of Pensacola website]

[[Category:City of Pensacola]]