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Cape Coral Community Redevelopment Agency | |
|---|---|
 CRA Logo | |
 Location in Lee County and the state of Florida | |
| Coordinates: 26°38′33″N 81°58′57″W / 26.64250°N 81.98250°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Lee |
| Government | |
| • Type | Special District |
| • Exec. Director | John Jacobsen |
| • Chairman | Rich Greer |
| • Vice Chairman | Lou Simmoms |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | 33904 |
| Area code | 239 |
| Website | www.southcape.net |
The Cape Coral Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is located in Cape Coral, FL, Florida, Lee County,United States. The agency is special dependent district of the City of Cape Coral established under Chapter 163 [1] of the Florida Statutes.
The mission of the agency is to facilitate the emergence of a vibrant and sustainable urban village, where everyone who lives or visits here is welcome and feels at home.
The responsibility of the CRA is to alleviate blight and promote economic development within a defined redevelopment area.
About the CRA[edit]
The Cape Coral City Council established the CRA in 1986, and the CRA is governed by an appointed Board of Commissioners.
The CRA is funded by the increase in ad valorem taxes within the redevelopment area from the establishment year of 1986. Any increase in taxes goes to the Redevelopment Trust Fund for use by the CRA within the boundaries of the CRA.
That increase is called the “tax increment,” and the increment is collected from both the City and the County. The taxes assessed in the base year for both the City and the County continue to go to the City and County—it is only the increment that goes to the CRA.
It is important to note that the CRA receives NO tax revenue from any taxpayers outside of its boundaries and only receives the increment above the base year within ite boundary. The City and the County continue to receive the taxes at the base year to continue to support normal governmental services within the redevelopment area.
State statute restricts the expenditure of the increment funds to programs and projects benefiting the redevelopment area. And, in 2035, when the CRA sunsets the tax revenue reverts back to the County and City.
CRA property owners can have a direct input on how their increment dollars are spent by participating in CRA meetings or even volunteering to serve on the Board.
Selected examples of what a CRA can do[edit]
- Acquire and hold property
- Demolish buildings
- Dispose of property at FAIR VALUE
- To develop property (including affordable housing)
- Install, construct, and repair
- Streets
- Parks
- Utilities
- Playgrounds
- Other public improvements
- Carry out a voluntary or compulsory repair and rehab of buildings (Code Enforcement)
- Enter property or buildings to make inspections, surveys, appraisals, etc
- Solicit proposals for redevelopment (Developer RFP’s)
- To invest Funds if not needed immediately
- To borrow money or accept funds/grants from any source (borrowing subject to approval of City Council)
- To prepare surveys, plans and other studies necessary to carry out the Redevelopment Plan
- To close, vacate, plan, replan streets, sidewalks, other places
- To develop and implement community policing innovations
- Enter into contracts and agree to appropriate conditions
- Money in the Trust Fund may be expended for projects and programs pursuant to an adopted Redevelopment Plan including:
- Administrative expenses
- Plans, financial analysis, surveys
- Acquisition of property in the CRA
- Site preparation and relocation of the occupants
- Repayment of borrowed funds
- Development of affordable housing
- Development of community policing innovations
Selected examples of what a CRA can not do[edit]
- Suddenly start paying for something the City/County has always paid for
- Build a fire station (unless County and City approve use of tax Increment)
- Refurbish City Hall
- Undertake a project in another public entities Capital Improvement Program unless specifically mentioned as a funding source
- Repair utilities usually paid by a user fee
- Reimburse City/County for expenses unless fully documented
- Pay for any project or program outside of the Redevelopment Area
- Pay Board Members/Commissioners for their service as a CRA Board member
- Installation, construction, repair or alteration of any publicly owned capital improvements if the projects are normally funded by the City Council or user fees or if the project would be funded within 3 years under any existing Capital Improvement Plan or Funding Plan
- General government operating expenses unrelated to planning and carrying out the Community Redevelopment Plan
South Cape Vision Plan[edit]
The purpose of the South Cape Vision Plan is to establish a unified and strategic approach to stimulating positive change in the South Cape CRA by enhancing the downtown area as a viable location for redevelopment and economic growth. The Vision Plan was prepared by Zyscovich Architects.[2]
The Vision Plan, and supporting Economic and Market Analysis, provides the South Cape CRA with guidance for both short-term and long-term strategies aimed at redeveloping and revitalizing the subject area through various physical planning, economic/market, and implementation programs. In this regard, the Vision Plan document serves as a source of information, a statement of public policy, and a marketing document to help residents, businesses, community stakeholders, and CRA/City leaders—anyone engaged in shaping the future of the downtown—in making recommendations or decisions on matters relating to economic development.
South Cape Beach[edit]
The first part of the Vision Plan to be completed was the addition of a beach at Four Freedoms Park. The Beach was a joint effort by the CRA and the City's Parks and Recreation Department. The Beach was dedicated on March 8, 2012.
The South Cape Beach at Four Freedoms Park has already become a favorite of residents. It is Cape Coral's second beach, complementing the Yacht Club Beach. Four Freedoms Park hosts numerous events including concerts and the annual Cardboard Boat Regatta.
The South Cape Beach at Four Freedoms Park brings a new destination to the downtown Cape Coral district and an alternative to Cape Coral’s Yacht Club Beach, “The Yacht Club at times can become overcrowded. This beach is a great alternative and has a more relaxed atmosphere,” says Cape Coral District One Council Member Marty McClain, whose district is where the new beach is located.
The 16,000 square foot sunbathing beach will add 200 feet of beachfront to Cape Coral's shorelines. Crews have been working on the beach since January, installing tons of sand, palm trees and other landscaping. City and Community Redevelopment Agency officials hope the new beach will bring more people to the South Cape area, “This beach adds an amenity to the downtown area that gives people another destination in the South Cape. It is a great place to come and sunbathe,” says Cape Coral Parks and Recreation Director and Interim City Manager Steve Pohlman.[3]
New Land Use and Development Regulations for South Cape Adopted[edit]
On September 10th City Council adopted new regulations for South Cape. The new regulations open a new era for development and redevelopment. The new codes are more flexible, easier to understand, and are truly business friendly. The codes were created through a collaborative process of the CRA, the City, local property owners and developers by Zyscovich Architects
Proposed Big John's Parking Lot Transformation[edit]
Phase IV of the Vision Plan is the design for the redevelopment of the City-owned parking lot commonly known as the Big John’s Parking Lot into a destination and public gathering place.
The Entertainment District is at the heart of the CRA. It has the greatest energy and concentration of active uses, including the Shopping Center and concentrated uses along Vincennes Boulevard and SE 47th Terrace, both of which are important streets in Downtown. The sub-district includes one of the largest municipally-owned parking lots that serves many of the existing adjacent uses. The parking lot is also the venue for some of the CRA’s events and festivals.
Economic Development[edit]
The Cape Coral CRA is engaged with Economic Development programs to assist their existing businesses, incentivize new businesses, work with developers and bring higher education and business education programs to South Cape.
Through partnerships with the Small Business Development Center at FGCU, Edison State College and the City of Cape Coral's Economic Development Office, the CRA is ready to assist with businesses seeking to relocate or start a new business in South Cape.
Facade Grants[edit]
The Community Redevelopment Agency assists businesses with upgrading the facade of their structures and many other components of their property. Commercial Facade Grant Rebates are awarded by the CRA Board of Commissioners. Recent Facade Grants include the Cape Coral Board of Realtors, the Sweet Bay Shopping Center, Premier Insurance, the Cape Coral Holiday Inn Express, Papa Joe's Restaurant, and the Cape Coral Towne Center.
Economic & Market Analysis[edit]
Lambert Advisory was engaged by Zyscovich Architects, Inc. to provide the economic and market analysis associated with the South Cape CRA Vision Plan. The objective of the South Cape CRA Vision Plan was to establish a roadmap for short and long-term redevelopment to revitalize the CRA and stimulate positive change. Specific to the economic and market analysis, the analysis was intended to:
1.Identify the South Cape CRA’s existing economic base; 2.Identify the market potential for future redevelopment within the South Cape CRA; 3.Identify redevelopment strategies and investments that could act as catalysts for redevelopment; 4.Make recommendations and delineate next steps based on the baseline data collected, including preliminary funding strategies to be considered for implementation phases
Chester Street Resource Center[edit]
One of the first municipal buildings in Cape Coral, the Chester Street Resource Center, will soon begin serving Cape Coral residents again as a police substation and citizen resource center.
With CRA funding, generous donations of time and materials by the Cape Coral Construction Industry Association and the City of Cape Coral, this historic building has been renovated with a new facade and interior remodel
New Businesses in South Cape[edit]
In 2011, 100 new businesses have opened in the South Cape CRA, and the CRA makes every effort to include all existing and new businesses in the marketing and promotional efforts of the CRA.
South Cape United Business Association (SCUBA)[edit]
CRA facilitated the formation of SCUBA, an organization where businesses meet to promote each other and the South Cape.
Paint the Cape Beautiful[edit]
Chairman Rich Greer’s public speaking activities on behalf of the CRA ignited a grassroots effort that started a volunteer organization to paint commercial buildings in the South Cape CRA. One building was painted July 16th, another on July 30th and more to follow. CRA supported this effort with $1000 seed money.
Marketing Activity[edit]
Efforts include a monthly print marketing program offered to South Cape businesses using cooperative advertising and hotel wraps as well as through quarterly tabloid publications.
Special Events[edit]
CRA supports over a dozen special events which aid in bringing “feet on the street” to South Cape and the City of Cape Coral.
Edison State College Classes[edit]
In an effort to attract a higher education complex to the City, the CRA has taken the first step by working with Edison State College. Business classes are now held year round in the CRA Office meeting room, and discussions continue about enhancing the role of Edison College in the CRA.
Meeting Room[edit]
The meeting room in the CRA offices was designed to be used by community organizations for seminars, meetings, and other functions. It is regularly used more that a dozen times a month as a South Cape gathering place.
Lee County DOT Intersection at Del Prado Boulevard & SE 47th Terrace[edit]
Lee County Department of Transportation and its consultants planned modification of this intersection for safety reasons. Even though there had been a number of community meetings over the years, the CRA recently organized a meeting with the property owners and County and City staff to discuss their concerns About the modifications on their businesses. Lee DOT listened and apologized that they did not investigate the economic side of the proposed traffic control changes. They have instructed their engineers examine alternatives with the property owners, a process that is currently being implemented.
Planning, Permitting and Economic Development Assistance[edit]
In an effort to assist the City Department of Community Development and Economic Development Office, staff regularly meet with property owners and businesses in the CRA in an effort to expediate their efforts to get up and running in the City
Non Conforming Structure Exception[edit]
A problem that existed in the codes was an inability for businesses to make minor modifications or expansions without bringing their property up to current codes. The simple addition of a porch or minor addition could mean elevating the entire building and an array of other requirements. The CRA working with City Staff, worked to get modifications passed addressing this problem.
Media Relations[edit]
CRA staff regularly meets with print and broadcast media to educate them on the programs and projects of the CRA. In the last year, there have been more than 400 media stories relating to the South Cape area.
New Construction[edit]
While new development has been slowed by the economy, the CRA has seen activity with several projects. Some of these projects are in the planning or approval process. Others include new office buildings, a mixed used office/residential building, a Hampton Inn, a boat storage building and several flex-space complexes completed over the past several years.
Village Square[edit]
As an incentive for this development, the CRA granted a Tax Increment Incentive. The terms of the Agreement protect the CRA from any financial exposure until the permitting of the second phase of the project.
Land Assemblage[edit]
Investors have assembled five large areas in the CRA for future development. While their development efforts have been stymied by the economy, these ambitious large scale assemblages have been made and most are on the market or waiting financing.
Golf Course[edit]
The CRA boundary was expanded to include the area of the old Golf Club with a vision to acquire and reopen the course through a partnership with the Trust for Public Lands. The Trust remains committed to this vision but the owners, after having turned down a good faith offer by the Trust for Public Lands, decided to pursue a lawsuit against the City of Cape Coral. Until this lawsuit is resolved, further negotiations cannot continue. As of July 2011, the attorneys are still in the discovery stage of the litigation.
Infrastructure[edit]
The Cape Coral Redevelopment Agency is also working on infrastructure improvements and recently completed the resurfacing of Cape Coral Parkway with minimum disruption to traffic and local business.
Underground Transmission Line Project[edit]
The largest infrastructure improvement the CRA has funded to date, has been the undergrounding of electrical transmission lines. The project cost was 4.5 million dollars and was a vital prevention of an extremely blighting influence in the CRA. A ceremony dedicating the Underground Transmission Project and the creation of Founders Park was held on Sept. 12, 2012.
Rubican Canal/Bimini Basin Cut Through[edit]
This long range Vision Plan project has taken its first step with the CRA hiring an engineering graduate student for two months to investigate the issues and options facing the City and the CRA as we go forward with this project. A final report on this initial research project will be presented at the CRA August Board meeting.
Cape Coral Parkway Resurfacing Project[edit]
Resurfacing began in July 2011 and was completed in November 2011. The CRA has been involved in working with the City staff and the City consultants on the design and scheduling of this important City project.
Alley Paving[edit]
The CRA widened where possible and paved approximately one third of the Alleys in the CRA. Property owners were solicited to allow two and a half feet of their property to be included in the alley paving, effectively widening the fifteen foot alleys to twenty to allow better transportation in the CRA by enabling the alleys to play a traffic and delivery function.
Storm Water Management[edit]
The CRA has worked with the City and the City’s consultants on the permitting and planning for the City’s Stormwater conveyance and treatment systems.
References[edit]
- ^ "Chapter 163", Florida Statutes, 2012
- ^ "Zyscovich Architects", Zyscovich Architects
- ^ [1], CapeCoral.Com, 2012