Community Redevelopment Areas, Annexations and Incorporations

Florida's Community Redevelopment Act of 1969 authorized local governments to establish CRAs to revitalize areas designated as slum and blight.

Primary community redevelopment objectives as defined by legislation include:

• To address the physical, social and economic problems associated with slum and blighted areas.
• To encourage local government to improve the physical environment (i.e. buildings, streets, parks, utilities) through rehabilitation, conservation or clearance/rehabilitation.
• To convey local community redevelopment agencies the power to expend public funds as a means to improve slum and blighted areas.
• To enhance the tax base in the redevelopment areas by encouraging private investment through channeling of tax increment revenues into public improvements within the designated areas.
• To eliminate substandard housing conditions and to provide adequate housing to residents of low or moderate income, particularly the elderly.

A public meeting begins the designation process and several steps have to be accomplished before the CRA is created.

• A Finding of Necessity formally identifies blight conditions with the targeted area and establishes the area boundary. Once approved by the County, the CRA board is set up.
• The Community Redevelopment Plan addresses the unique needs of the targeted area and includes overall redevelopment goals and specific projects. The CRA board must approve the plan with local planning advisory board approval, as well as a public hearing, prior to submission for approval to the County.
• A Redevelopment Trust Fund enables County staff to direct the increase in real property tax revenues back into the CRA. This tax increment is used to fund and finance the redevelopment projects outlined in the Community Redevelopment Plan.

County staff is responsible for developing and implementing the Community Redevelopment Plan and identifying types of projects for the CRA.

Traditional projects include:

• Streetscapes and roadway improvements
• Building renovations
• New building construction
• Flood control initiatives
• Water and sewer improvements
• Parking lots and garages
• Neighborhood parks
• Sidewalks and street tree plantings

The plan can also include redevelopment incentives such as grants and loans for such things as facade improvements, sprinkler system upgrades, signs and structural improvements.

Five CRAs operate in unincorporated areas of Miami-Dade County:

• Goulds CRA
• Naranja Lakes CRA
• NW 7th Avenue Corridor CRA
• NW 79th Street Corridor CRA
• West Perrine CRA

Additionally, there are 11 CRAs within municipalities of Miami-Dade County, These municipalities have been delegated redevelopment authority.

County Commissioners have accepted the Finding of Necessity studies for proposed Community Redevelopment Agencies.

• Municipal CRAs

• South Miami-Dade - Florida City - Area J

• North Central Dade MAC