West Palm Beach CRA unveils 2025–26 strategic finance plan, highlights Curry Park, Northwood and downtown projects

The West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency presented its proposed strategic finance plan and budgets for the 2025'26 fiscal year for the Northwood'Pleasant City and Downtown City Center districts during a public meeting on Aug. 4, 2025. CRA Executive Director Chris Ruge and Deputy Director Jade Green walked the board through revenues, proposed expenditures and new programs ahead of a formal adoption scheduled for the CRA meeting in September.

The plan ties projects to state law and to the agency's goals of removing slum and blight through infrastructure, housing and property-value improvements. "If it's not in the plan, we can't fund it, because the state statute is very specific in that regard," Ruge said during the presentation.

Nut graf: The proposal commits tax-increment revenues to a mix of large capital projects and smaller, targeted business programs. Major priorities named by staff include completing Curry Park, advancing the District at Northwood and The Spruce affordable housing project, downtown streetscape and infrastructure work, and a Fern Street crossing acquisition and design effort. Staff said the board will…