High Springs CRA presents FY2024 annual report; directors warn state bill could halt future expansions

Amy, the CRA director, presented the High Springs Community Redevelopment Agency annual report for fiscal year 2024 at the CRA's March 13, 2025 meeting and reviewed grant awards, district beautification, farmers market support, a policing interlocal agreement and a proposed parking expansion.

The report is filed under Florida statute 163.371, Amy said: "Per Florida statute 163.371, we're required to file an annual report." She told board members the agency will publish the report on the CRA website and provide copies to the county once the board has reviewed it.

The nut of the report: staff described multiple completed and ongoing facade projects paid through a $10,000 commercial facade-match program, a residential facade program that opened in August 2024, a new CRA beautification crew, support for the High Springs Farmers Market and an interlocal agreement with the High Springs Police Department to provide enhanced policing in the district.

On façade grants, Amy said the commercial program uses a 50/50 match up to $10,000. Examples cited in the report include the High Springs Women's Club project (approved March 28, 2024; work completed Aug. 13, 2024) with a total project cost of $20,300 and a CRA contribution of $10,000; Merry Me Menomones (approved March 9, 2024), total cost $990.48, CRA contribution $495.24; and Spring Building LLC (approved March 28, 2024), total cost $22,268.46 with a $10,000 match that was paid on Feb. 10, 2025. Amy said 2 Fingers Properties LLC was approved May 9, 2024 for a roughly $29,400 awning project; that project was described as in progress and will receive the same $10,000 match when finished.

Amy also summarized the residential facade grant the board approved July 24, 2024 and opened to district residents in August 2024. She said the program received interest from more than 25 applicants, many of whom were outside the current CRA boundary; staff retained their information in case of a future boundary expansion. Examples in the report: one completed home project with a $4,944 cost and a $2,472 CRA contribution; another approved November 13, 2024 for a new roof with a $13,000 quote and a $5,000 CRA contribution (residential grants carry a lower maximum than commercial grants).

Staff told the board the CRA beautification crew maintained desert planters and other downtown landscaping purchased in the prior fiscal year and that the agency will partner with the High Springs Garden Club on an April 15 replanting event at the pavilion starting at noon. Amy said the beautification work aims to improve curb appeal and public perception in the business district.

On economic development and circulation, the report described a planning effort to expand parking and improve pedestrian lighting and sidewalks, with an early focus on the area under the water tower and along Northwest 230 Seventh Street near the brewery, Priest Theater and Prohibition Pizza. Amy said consultant GAI is preparing a scope of work for engineering and design on those improvements.

The presentation also summarized support for the High Springs Farmers Market, which the CRA helped with signage, branded bags and a small marketing push. Amy noted the market finished second in Our Town magazine's February 2024 reader poll for favorite local farmers market.

Policing initiatives were listed in the report as an interlocal agreement between the CRA and the High Springs Police Department that provided enhanced policing services for events in the district and funded equipment purchases. Amy said the board previously approved the FY2025 interlocal agreement on Sept. 12, 2024 and that the department will show additional equipment (an e‑bike) in next year's report.

A separate portion of the meeting focused on a state legislative threat to CRA operations. A board member warned that House Bill 991, if enacted, would restrict CRA activity statewide: under the current report, "our CRA ... has six more years," the board member said, and if the bill passes there would be no future expansions, new CRA creations or extensions after October. The board member described the bill as a response to mismanagement at other CRAs and said county staff and local lobbyists are attempting to advance pending expansion work before key deadlines in July and October.

Amy and board members said the pending legislation has put an urgent timeline on projects that depend on CRA financing or bond authority. The board member said staff were preparing to call special meetings over the next few months if necessary to meet legislative or administrative deadlines.

In other brief items reported to the board, staff said the Spring Building storefront work was completed and the $10,000 match was issued on Feb. 10, 2025; and that the renovated Miramie Building, now called the Sweet Spot event hall, will have a grand opening on Saturday at 9:30 a.m.

The meeting did not record any new grant awards or bond authorizations that night. The presentation closed with staff noting that most FY2024 CRA spending is being reserved for upcoming capital improvement projects in the district.

Votes at the meeting were limited to routine procedural approvals: the board approved the March 13 agenda and the Jan. 30, 2025 minutes during roll call and motion practice; the annual report was presented for review rather than voted on at the March 13 meeting.