Legislation changing local control of Community Redevelopment Agencies is heading to the Florida Senate from the House. But it’s unlikely the Senate will take up the House bill. A similar bill in the Senate died in committee.
The Tallahassee Community Redevelopment Agency sold two downtown buildings last month to a developer to create an area of new residential housing, office space and a hotel with views of the Capitol Building. The development, valued at $158 million, is planned for north of the city’s Cascades Park. The park opened in 2014 and was also built using CRA funding.
Agencies use tax funding to build things like parks, museums and sidewalks. CRA projects in other areas include a soccer stadium in Orlando, affordable housing for artists in exchange for community engagement events in West Palm Beach County and an affordable housing development in the city of Miami.