CRESTVIEW — For the first time since 1998, the Community Redevelopment Agency plan has undergone a comprehensive rewriting and is poised to carry the agency through its remaining 10 years of existence.
On July 13, the CRA board approved eight of nine “action items” prepared by CRA/Main Street Director Brenda Smith, who assumed her duties in May.
The next step before Smith can begin implementing the plan is for it to be approved by the City Council as a new ordinance.
“We went from a lot of programs in the 1998 plan and we reduced it to six specific projects,” Smith said.
APPROVED PROJECTS
At a July 13 meeting, the CRA board approved these proposals:
• Develop a contract with the Main Street Crestview Association to maintain national and state historic certification and to administer the downtown redevelopment program and the building rehabilitation program
• Forward the proposed CRA plan to the Local Planning Agency for review and recommendations
• Apply for two $50,000 Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program grants to build a dog park in Twin Hills Park and develop a link to the park from downtown
• Pursue a Community Development Block Grant to build a business development center downtown
• Pursue alternative energy charging/fueling stations in the district
• Implement a CRA logo, and vision and mission statements
• Appoint Dr. Margareth LaRose-Pierre, dean of the Florida A&M University Crestview campus, and Patty Cook, of Career Source Okaloosa-Walton, to the CRA board.
• Develop an online community development course.
CREATE A DESTINATION
“The desire is to create a destination,” Smith said. “That’s what the CRA is supposed to do: it’s supposed to change the area, to make it where people would say, ‘This is where I want to be.’
“You have to get people to come to Main Street and get involved.”
She cited as an example of tangible improvements the often discussed recreation of Crestview’s train depot, which was torn down in the 1970s.
By being included in the CRA plan, the depot — which proponents have envisioned as a combination Crestview history museum, boutique and restaurant — would be eligible for CRA funding should money become available.
“I think this is a good start,” Smith said. "It’s a good, out-of-the-box way to jump-start downtown.”
Former county supervisor of elections Pat Hollarn, chairman of the centennial committee and a member of the former depot committee, said she was excited by Smith’s plans.
“This is so wonderful to see after all these years of working on things like this,” Hollarn said.
COMPREHENSIVE, CREATIVE, PROACTIVE
CRA board member and Councilman JB Whitten also praised Smith’s plans.
“This is very comprehensive, very creative, very proactive; exactly what we hired her for,” Whitten said.
The only project not approved by the board was acquiring the former Piggly Wiggly store property at Beech Avenue and Wilson Street for a possible small park with a bandstand.
“Eight out of nine proposals got accepted. It is a positive step forward,” member Bill Cox said.
Regarding the old Piggly Wiggly property, “I would hope somebody would buy it and operate a successful business and keep it on the tax rolls,” Cox said. “That would be a win-win.”
Smith praised the board members, who, as the City Council gave the plan final approval.
“In everything I have proposed to go forward on this plan, they have been very supportive,” Smith said. “That council is blazing forward with these CRA proposals. They’re making my job easier.”
“Imagine the frustration of trying to deal with a council that doesn’t want to move forward,” Hollarn said. “You have to start practical. You can’t start with a castle.”
THE CRA PLAN
The new Community Redevelopment Agency plan’s six component programs are:
• The Main Street Crestview Association
• Economic revitalization and marketing
• Commercial development incentive and marketing
• District parking, land application and signage
• Obtaining grants and matching funds
• The 2016 Crestview Centennial program.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview's 'out-of-the-box way to jump-start downtown'