Edgewater Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)

Legal Name: City of Edgewater Community Redevelopment Agency

Under Florida law (Chapter 163, Part III), local governments can create Community Redevelopment Areas (CRAs) when certain conditions exist. To document that the required conditions exist, the local government must study the proposed redevelopment area and prepare a Finding of Necessity, a formal study that documents the specific blight conditions. Examples of conditions that can support the creation of a CRA include, but are not limited to, substandard or deteriorating structures, inadequate infrastructure, lack of parking areas and poor lot layout. If the Finding of Necessity determines that the required conditions exist, the local government may create a CRA to provide the tools needed to foster and support redevelopment. Since Volusia County is a charter county, the city must also have the county’s approval prior to establishing the CRA. Once a CRA is established, improvements are funded by taking any new property tax revenues from the city and the county (above the base level of what was being collected at the time the CRA was created) and reinvesting them back directly into the CRA. This tax increment can then be used together with grant monies and private investment to redevelop and revitalize the area. CRAs are approved for a set time period and thereafter, all property tax dollars revert back to the respective taxing authorities.

Edgewater CRA operates under Chapter 189, Florida Statues - Uniform Special District Accountability Act

Public Purpose Statement:

The vision statement developed during the Envision Edgewater process in 2008 set the stage for a long-term series of redevelopment activities for new development that can instill civic pride through creating a sense of place, implementing environmentally-sensitive design, and respecting the context of the neighborhoods and downtown area.

“The City of Edgewater will be a safe, clean, accessible and environmentally-friendly community with a small-town atmosphere. Edgewater will continue to be a waterfront-oriented community that provides a sustainable, high quality of life, with a strong sense of pride in our civic amenities, our community facilities, our vibrant and distinctive neighborhoods, and our thriving downtown”.

At the same time, redevelopment efforts must be complemented with providing affordable housing to residents of low or moderate income, including older adults, and supporting infrastructure and must not impact the City’s ability to provide an adequate level of service within the Redevelopment Area. 

The Redevelopment Area is expected to contain several distinct character areas, one of which is a vibrant quaint urban Downtown with a mixed use “main street” along Park Avenue from Ridgewood Avenue (US-1) to Riverside Drive and extending into George R. Kennedy Memorial Park along the Indian River. George R. Kennedy Memorial Park will be primarily a pedestrian zone serving as a focal point for the Downtown. This Downtown vision will extend to Ridgewood Avenue (US-1) at the intersection of Park Avenue and eventually to the west side of Ridgewood Avenue (US-1), creating an east/west pedestrian-friendly corridor.

Meetings are held in Edgewater City Council Chambers located at 104 N. Riverside Drive, Edgewater, FL 32132.  All meetings are open to the public.  Agendas and minutes can be viewed here.

All Meetings and Events are listed on the City of Edgewater Meeting and Events Calendar located on the bottom of the home page.