Daytona Beach CRA approves up to $50,000 in tax-increment funds for downtown façade grant; resident urges Beach Street expansion

On July 16, 2025, the Daytona Beach Community Redevelopment Agency voted 6-0 to approve a resolution authorizing the expenditure of up to $50,000 in tax-increment funds from the downtown Community Redevelopment Area to award a commercial property improvement and professional design incentive program grant for renovation of the commercial building at 126 West International Speedway Boulevard.

The vote authorizes the mayor, as CRA chair, to execute documents and disperse the funds. The resolution also allows the funds to be used through a 0% interest loan mechanism specified in the item presentation.

The measure matters to downtown property owners and the CRA’s stated goal of improving commercial corridors because the grant covers façade and professional design work intended to bring buildings up to code and improve visual continuity in the redevelopment area.

John Nicholson, a resident who spoke during the public-comment period for the item, urged the CRA to expand similar façade incentives to Beach Street. "I would suggest that we do the same thing for Beach Street, that we have our CRA director go down the street, look at the buildings, and if there's any building that needs an upgrade, then we offer these funds and perhaps a drawing or rendition of what we thought might be more attractive," Nicholson said. He said doing so would increase the likelihood that building owners undertake upgrades and cited Main Street as an example where coordinated façade work improved continuity.

There was one public speaker on the item. After the public comment, the CRA had a motion and a second to adopt the resolution; the board recorded the motion as passing by a 6-0 tally.

Separately during the meeting, Commissioner Perez requested scheduling a workshop to discuss underground utilities along A1A and Ridgewood; commissioners agreed staff would coordinate by e-mail. Leticia LaMagna, identified in the meeting as the staff member who would signal the start of the commission meeting, was asked to send the scheduling e-mail.

The CRA previously approved minutes and handled routine business earlier in the evening. No additional conditions or amendments to the 126 West International Speedway Boulevard grant were recorded in the transcript for this item.

The approved action is limited to the authority described in the resolution and uses tax-increment financing within the downtown Community Redevelopment Area; no other funding sources or longer-term commitments were described on the record for this vote.