Frequently Asked Questions
What is community redevelopment?
Community redevelopment is the publicly financed rebuilding of an urban, residential or commercial area. Redevelopment is one of the most effective ways to breathe new life into deteriorated areas plagued by social, physical, environmental or economic conditions that act as a barrier to new investment by private enterprise. Through redevelopment, a target area will receive focused attention and financial investment to reverse deteriorating trends, create jobs, revitalize the business climate, rehabilitate and add to the housing stock, and gain active participation and investment by citizens which would not otherwise occur.
What led to the change from being a CRA to a city department?
In 2018-2019, a statewide discussion about the future of Florida’s Community Redevelopment Agencies created uncertainty for all CRAs, including Gainesville’s.
To address local challenges, the City of Gainesville and Alachua County Commissions worked together to develop a new, mutually agreeable structure for the GCRA. This collaborative effort resulted in a model that ensures stability and allows the GCRA to focus on economic development growth in the GCRA boundary.
The GCRA is guided by a 10-year Reinvestment Plan to drive economic growth and enhance the quality of life. In December 2023, the City and County Commissions agreed to focus the GCRA’s efforts on five transformational projects, with the goal of delivering these projects by the 2029 fiscal year.
So, how did the CRA became a city department?
An interlocal agreement was negotiated and signed by the City of Gainesville and Alachua County Commissions in April 2019. An ordinance regarding the CRA was brought to the City Commission for a first reading on August 15, 2019 and for a second reading on September 5, 2019, at which time it was adopted. The ordinance in effect dissolved the Community Redevelopment Agency and created the Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area (GCRA).
The GCRA reports to the City Manager, is governed by the City Commission, and is guided by two Citizen Advisory Boards. GCRA is funded by the City of Gainesville and Alachua County.
What happened to the four districts and advisory boards?
The four redevelopment districts have been combined into a single reinvestment area with the same outer boundary. The GCRA is now guided by two Citizen Advisory Boards:
GCRA Advisory Board (GCRAAB) – Made up of 15 members who represent the entire area.
Downtown Advisory Board (DAB) – Composed of 7 members who advise the City Commission on issues related to the Downtown Gainesville Strategic Plan.
What is the current funding structure?
The GCRA will continue to use the remaining tax increment funding (TIF), which is strictly limited to redevelopment purposes. This funding comes from the original four districts and can only be spent within their respective boundaries.
The City and County have agreed on a funding structure based on 2019 revenues. The GCRA’s budget is approximately $70 million over ten years, averaging about $7 million per year. For exact contributions, see page 30 of the ordinance.