City studying possible redevelopment areas
By Susan Latham Carr
Published: Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 10:05 p.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 10:05 p.m.
The city of Ocala will be studying targeted areas largely along major gateway corridors to determine if those locations could qualify as a Community Redevelopment Area, which provides a funding mechanism to revitalize blighted areas.
After reviewing a number of maps, the one selected contains 5,128 acres, or 18 percent of the city’s land.
City staff will examine the designated areas on a map the City Council approved by a 4-0 vote earlier this month. Council President Mary Rich was out of the room at the time of the vote.
Staff will prepare a finding of necessity that outlines blighted conditions, as defined by state statute, that would warrant the creation of a CRA. Those conditions may include such problems as deteriorated structures, faulty lot layouts, or insufficient affordable housing, roadways or parking or other infrastructure.
If the City Council accepts a finding of necessity, it will create a CRA. Before doing so, however, the city will notify taxing jurisdictions — in this case Marion County — that it is considering creating a CRA.
“Once (the CRA) is established by resolution, redevelopment plans can commence,” Astrida Trupovnieks, the city’s senior manager of redevelopment, said.
The creation of a CRA is important because a certain amount of tax dollars collected in the CRA will remain in that area to be used for revitalization projects.
“You can acquire properties. You can demolish properties. You can buy land. You can make street improvements or intersection improvements. You can do sidewalks and street lights. You can take above-ground utilities and put them underground,” Trupovnieks said. “It’s pretty much limited to capital improvements. You can’t use it for operating purposes.”