CRESTVIEW — The Community Redevelopment Agency board has unanimously approved a residential façade-improvement grant program for the district.
The board approved implementing the program since the CRA district encompasses more than the Main Street and historic districts.
Board member Tom Gordon moved to approve spending up to $50,000 of CRA money in the 2014-15 fiscal year to provide approved applicants with $5,000 grants.
The residential grants, like their commercial counterparts, would require a 50 percent match. They would not apply to rental units, which are considered commercial properties, City Clerk Betsy Roy said.
Since there had been no provisions for improving the CRA district’s residential areas, board member Robyn Helt said, “this policy was brought about to address that deficiency,”
“One thing this will do is see if there is any interest by the residents who live in the CRA,” Roy said. “It will show us if there is any interest to improve residential properties in the CRA district.”
The city awaits state approval to add residential zoning to the downtown historic district. It would allow the establishment of residential units over businesses and permit construction of new downtown residences.
Main Street Crestview Association member Cal Zethmayr lauded the façade improvement program, the benefits of which he has seen in other Florida communities’ CRA districts.
“This is a good project to take on that other CRAs in other areas have successfully done,” Zethmayr said.
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Residential façade improvement grants OK'd for CRA district