West City CRA

Congratulations to the residents and businesses of the West City Community Redevelopment Area (WCCRA)!

About

The WCCRA was established in May 2024, after a Finding of Necessity (FON) study assessed conditions of blight within the identified boundary area.  It is the city’s third and largest redevelopment area, covering over 600 acres of the western part of the city.  In July 2024 the City Commission appointed a steering committee, whose sole purpose was to work with staff and residents to develop a redevelopment plan. The redevelopment plan is a collaboration of input garnered through various public engagement efforts by CRA staff and the steering committee.

Governance

The WCCRA is governed by the St. Augustine Community Redevelopment Agency and Board consisting of the members of the St. Augustine City Commission. They are enabled by the Community Redevelopment Act (1969) to implement redevelopment activities at the local level.

Purpose

The purpose of the WCCRA is to promote the preservation and improvement of the West City area by implementing and encouraging physical revitalization and economic growth.

Action

The WCCRA Plan prioritizes a six-point action plan for community stabilization over the next 30 years through (not in order of prioritization):

  • Housing policy and other stabilization efforts
  • Public space enhancement/beautification
  • Locally oriented business development and new business programming
  • Mobility/connectivity and infrastructure improvements.
  • Branding/signage
  • Historic preservation efforts

Download the WCCRA Plan here

Legislature

Under Florida Statute (Chapter 163, Part III), local governments can designate targeted areas as Community Redevelopment Areas (CRAs) to address conditions of “slum” and “blight” within that area. To establish a CRA, a formal "Finding of Necessity" (FON) study must be conducted to assess conditions of blight in a proposed area. A technical term defined in the Florida Statutes, "blight" is an area that exhibits signs of physical and economic distress. CRAs are dependent special districts that utilize Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to fund projects undertaken within the district. TIF revenue is generated by the increase of property values within the designated CRA. The St. Augustine CRA is a public agency overseen by a CRA Board consisting of the members of the St. Augustine City Commission, who are enabled by the Community Redevelopment Act (1969) to implement redevelopment activities at the local level.