Brooksville is more than doubling the size of its Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) plan area. That will allow properties in the new area to benefit from projects specifically designed to address blight conditions. The existing CRA is approximately 119 acres, and the target area is approximately 128 acres.
David Hainley, community development director, said they had to conduct a state-required Findings of Necessity for the area they want to include, which the CRA board and city council must approve.
"There were five slum categories that were met and five blighted categories that were met," he said. "Based upon that, it does qualify for the extension of the CRA."
The CRA board and council adopted the Findings of Necessity July 17.
The city hired Inspire Placemaking Collective to conduct the study. The firm also is helping Brooksville update its CRA plan.
Laura Canary, project manager, said the next step is to hold a community workshop open house.
"It will include an overview of the plan update process and be the kickoff of that," she explained. "We'll do public engagement exercises and activities to get input on what types of programming and projects to include in the updated plan."
Canary said a draft plan should be ready for adoption later this year.
After the final adoption of the plan the area subject to Tax Increment Funding (TIF) would be expanded to include the new CRA plan area in the next fiscal tax year.