Historic Pensacola

Pensacola is a 450-year-old city with a rich history and exciting future. Also known as the City of Five Flags, Pensacola is the largest city in West Florida. Having been governed by five nations since its discovery in 1559 (Spain, France, England, the Confederate States of America, and the United States of America), Pensacola offers up a diverse palette, with business and industry such as the medical and chemical fields, military and governmental operations, and tourism and retail shopping blending into a rich cultural and artistic heritage.

Pensacola’s downtown is in the heart of a region of over 350,000 people with diverse backgrounds and interests. It’s a downtown where residents, office workers and visitors stroll comfortably along historic streets, shop in clothing stores, browse for art or sample restaurants where menus range from tasty Gulf Coast seafood to top-notch French cuisine. The many museums tell the story of Pensacola’s past as the surrounding businesses, theaters and the seats of both city and county government create Pensacola’s future.

Come see us - there are many opportunities awaiting you in historic Pensacola.

Overview

AGENCY ESTABLISHMENT

On September 25, 1980, the Pensacola City Council made the determination that a blighted area existed in the city, and that there was a need for a redevelopment agency to rehabilitate, conserve and implement the redevelopment and revitalization of this blighted area. Therefore, Resolution 54-80 (PDF) created the Pensacola Inner City Community Redevelopment Area and Resolution 65-81 (PDF) reaffirmed it. Based on this determination, the City Council declared itself the Community Redevelopment Agency (Agency) pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 163, Part III, Florida Statutes. This action, adopted by Resolution No. 55-80 (PDF) and amended by Resolution 22-10 (PDF), also outlined the rights, powers, duties, privileges and immunities invested in the City Council acting as the Agency. The Agency exists until dissolved by action of the City Council. Downtown Pensacola's redevelopment efforts are guided by the Agency, which is comprised of the seven City Council members, and a citizenry determined to revitalize the historic waterfront and inner-city neighborhoods.

PURPOSE

Pursuant to Chapter 163, Part III, Florida Statutes, the Community Redevelopment Agency's is primary charged with:

Eliminating and preventing the development or spread of slum and blight within its designated areas.
Rehabilitating and conserving its designated areas.
Affordable housing, whether for rent or for sale, to residents of low or moderate income, including the elderly.
Reducing and preventing crime through strategies such as community policing innovations; and
Preparing and administering redevelopment plans to carry out the activities above.

COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEMBERSHIP

The seven (7) members of the Pensacola City Council serve as the Community Redevelopment Agency Board Members. For a current listing of these members as well as contact information, please visit the Community Redevelopment Agency Member webpage.

COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETINGS

Community Redevelopment Agency meetings are typically held immediately following the Pensacola City Council Agenda Conference of the month beginning at 3:30 p.m. at Pensacola City Hall, 222 West Main Street, Council Chambers, 1st Floor. Community Redevelopment Agency meeting documents, including meeting schedules, agendas, and minutes are available on the City of Pensacola Legistar Calendar webpage for meetings beginning 2017 and after, and the City of Pensacola Agenda Center webpage for meetings held during 2016 and prior.

NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS

The Community Redevelopment Agency also staffs three neighborhood boards - the Eastside Redevelopment Board, the Westside Redevelopment Board and the Urban Core Redevelopment Board. Additional information pertaining to these Boards, including agendas and minutes, are available on the Eastside Redevelopment Board webpage, the Westside Redevelopment Board webpage and the Urban Core Redevelopment Board webpage.

COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY CHARTER

The Community Redevelopment Agency's Charter, adopted by Resolution No. 55-80 (PDF) and amended by Resolution 22-10 (PDF), outlines the rights, powers, duties, privileges and immunities invested in the City Council acting as the Agency. The Charter states that the City of Pensacola's ordinances, policies and rules of procedure apply to the Community Redevelopment Agency, unless expressly provided otherwise by law or action of the Agency. Click here for the Community Redevelopment Agency Bylaws (PDF).

RULES OF PROCEDURE AND ETHICS POLICY

The policies and procedures of the City of Pensacola, including the City Council Rules of Procedure, and Ethics Policy, apply to the Community Redevelopment Agency, unless expressly provided otherwise by the Agency's Bylaws or other law or action of the Agency. The City Council Rules of Procedures are available on the City Council webpage. The City of Pensacola Code of Ethics is established and incorporated by Chapter 2-6 of the Code of Ordinances of the City, as amended from time to time, and as authorized by the Charter of the City (PDF) and contemplated by Sec. 2-6-3 of the Code of Ordinances.

PURCHASING AND PROCUREMENT

Pursuant to Chapter 163, Florida Statutes, the Community Redevelopment Agency adheres to the City of Pensacola procurement policies and practices. Additional information regarding City of Pensacola procurement, including current bid openings are available on the City of Pensacola Department of Purchasing webpage.

Community Redevelopment Areas

Within the greater Pensacola Inner City Community Redevelopment Area, there exists three (3) revenue-producing community redevelopment areas, also known as Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) districts. The Urban Core TIF District created and funded by Ordinance 13-84 (PDF); the Westside TIF District created by Resolution 04-07 (PDF) and funded by Ordinance 01-08 (PDF), as repealed and reset by Ordinance 31-14 (PDF); and the Eastside Neighborhood - Urban Infill TIF District created by Resolution 41-05 (PDF) and funded by Ordinance 16-05 (PDF), as amended.

COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AREA BOUNDARY MAPS

The Pensacola Inner City Community Redevelopment Area is a 1,237-block, 4,611-acre area that encompasses the entire city from 17th Avenue on the east, Pensacola Bay on the south, Bayou Chico and the City limit line on the west and the city limit line on the north. It accounts for about 31.8% of the City's total land area.

The Urban Core Community Redevelopment Area/TIF District is a 256-block, 1,308-acre area that encompasses the entire city south of Cervantes Street, bounded to the west by A Street and to the east by 17th Avenue. These boundaries are similar (but not identical) to those of the Downtown Improvement Board's taxation district. It accounts for about 8.7% of the City's total land area.

The Eastside Neighborhood -Urban Infill and Redevelopment Area/TIF District (commonly referred to as Eastside) is a 107-block, 257-acre area, bounded on the south by Cervantes Street, on the west by Hayne Street, on the east by 9th Avenue from Cervantes Street to Lee Street, 8th Avenue from Lee to Mallory and 6th Avenue from Mallory to Baars and the city limit line/Baars Street on the north. It accounts for about 1.8% of the City's total land area.

The Westside Community Redevelopment Area/TIF District is a 322-block, 1,141-acre area that encompasses the area bounded by A Street, Lloyd Street alley and E Street on the east, Gimble and Pine Streets on the south, the L& N Railroad and the City limit line on the west and the city limit line on the north. It accounts for about 7.9% of the City's total land area.

The Community Redevelopment Area Map webpage contains boundary maps for each of the City of Pensacola's community redevelopment areas.

AGENCY REVENUES - TAX INCREMENTAL FINANCING

Pursuant to F.S. 163.387, a redevelopment trust fund may be established for each community redevelopment area to finance or refinance community redevelopment as authorized by each area's redevelopment plan. A community redevelopment area with an established redevelopment trust fund is known as a "Tax Incremental Financing" (TIF) district. Annual funding of the redevelopment trust fund for each respective TIF district is 95% of the difference between the amount of property taxes levied in the district each year and the amount of property taxes that would have been produced in the district prior to establishment of the trust fund (during the "base year"). When the each respective trust fund was established, a 'snapshot' of the base year was taken of the district's levied property taxes. As capital improvements and other investments take place within the district, taxable property values rise. The difference ("increment") between the original property taxes levied and current taxes levied is collected by the taxation authority and deposited in the respective trust funds.

COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT PLANS

Under Chapter 163 of the Florida Statutes, the governing body must adopt a community redevelopment plan for each TIF district. The following community redevelopment plans are currently in effect:

Urban Core Community Redevelopment Plan (2010), as amended by Resolution No. 18-06. Additional information regarding this plan is available on the Urban Core Community Redevelopment Plan webpage.
Westside Community Redevelopment Plan (2007)
Eastside Neighborhood Plan (2004) as incorporated into the Urban Infill and Redevelopment Area Plan (UIRAP) by Ordinance No. 15-05 and and amended by Ordinance No. 20-17.

The redevelopment plans, along with related studies, reports and other redevelopment planning documents are available on the City of Pensacola Community Redevelopment Agency Planning Documents webpage.

ANNUAL REPORTS

Pursuant to Chapter 163 of the Florida Statutes, the Community Redevelopment Agency must file an annual report with the governing body and post the report to its website on or before March 31st of each year. These statutorily required annual reports, which accompany the City of Pensacola's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, are available on the Community Redevelopment Agency Annual Report webpage, and in the office of the City Clerk. The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report is the City's official financial document and should be read in conjunction with this document.

Agency Financial Information

COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT

Audited annual financial data for the Community Redevelopment Agency can be found within the City of Pensacola Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. This report and all other financial reports filed by or on behalf of the Community Redevelopment Agency are available on the City of Pensacola Department of Financial Services webpage.

BUDGET AND BUDGET AMENDMENTS

The City of Pensacola Fiscal Year runs from October 1st through September 30th each year. All Community Redevelopment Agency budget documents are available on the City of Pensacola's Financial Services Department webpage.

Applicable Agency funds include the Community Redevelopment Agency Fund, Urban Core Redevelopment Trust Fund, Eastside Tax Incremental Financing District Fund, Westside Tax Incremental Financing District Fund, and the CRA Debt Service Fund. These funds comprise the Agency budget which exists as a component of the City of Pensacola budget.

ANNUAL BUDGET DOCUMENTS

Fiscal Year 2022 CRA Approved Budget

For annual budget documents, visit the City of Pensacola's Financial Services Department Annual Budget Documents webpage.

BUDGET RESOLUTIONS

Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Resolutions

For budget resolutions, visit the City of Pensacola's Financial Services Department Budget Resolutions webpage.