The Kissimmee City Commission on Oct. 20 approved updates to two Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) residential-improvement programs: an amendment to downtown program limits and the introduction of a Vine Street CRA residential property improvement program.

Downtown change: Redevelopment planner Benjamin Burnett said the downtown program previously limited recipients to a single grant award within five years. The commission approved a policy change allowing recipients to receive multiple awards so long as total assistance does not exceed a $5,000 maximum within a five-year period; the stated average past award was about $2,500 (transcript 4355.025–4410.025). Staff said the amendment is intended to permit phased work while capping total per-property assistance.

Vine Street program: Burnett also introduced a new Vine Street CRA residential program modeled on the downtown program, with eligible exterior improvements visible from the public right-of-way — painting, landscaping, porch or deck repair or addition, exterior lighting, driveway repair, doors/awnings/windows, and removal of front-yard chain-link fences. Staff estimated roughly 700 single-family homes within the Vine Street CRA and allocated $50,000 for the program this fiscal year (transcript 4432.055–4515.1553).

Commission action: Commissioners moved and unanimously approved both items. The downtown policy amendment passed first; the Vine Street program introduction and funding authorization followed and passed unanimously (recorded votes at transcript 4421.38–4432.055 and 4514.355–4521.575).

Why it matters: The Vine Street allocation and the amended downtown rule aim to elevate visible residential conditions in CRA areas and allow homeowners to make incremental improvements while limiting city exposure per property.

Provenance: The downtown policy change discussion begins at Benjamin Burnett’s presentation (transcript 4355.025) and concludes with the commission vote (transcript 4421.38–4432.055). The Vine Street program presentation begins at transcript 4432.055 and concludes with the vote to approve $50,000 funding (transcript 4514.355–4521.575).