Delray Beach CRA schedules business outreach and joint workshops; members discuss housing acquisitions and Gladiola parking

The Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency approved its agenda and consent items and heard Executive Director Renee Jaddison outline outreach events and upcoming joint workshops, while board members raised the prospect of property acquisitions for affordable housing and long-term parking options at the Gladiola lot.

Jaddison told the board the CRA will hold a social for local businesses on March 6 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Edwin Maid Building "based on the information that we received from the disparity study public outreach meeting," and invited business owners to attend to "start getting to know local businesses a little bit better, as we go through the disparity study process." She said the event will also include follow-up on the Northwest neighborhood infrastructure project, specifically seeking feedback on directional and neighborhood signage.

Jaddison also noted joint workshops with the city commission: a March 11, 4 p.m. workshop to update the city and CRA on the disparity study and discuss Old School Square campus improvements, and a March 25, 4 p.m. joint session on an accessory dwelling unit study with Development Services followed by a regular CRA meeting. She said June will mark the agency's 40th anniversary and that the CRA has highlighted Black History Month in its communications.

During the board comment period, Commissioner Long asked whether the CRA was "looking or identifying any larger parcels to try and take bigger bites out of our whole affordable housing crisis." Jaddison responded that the agency "has several acquisitions that we're looking at" and offered to meet with Long separately; she said the agency typically does not discuss acquisition details at public meetings and that some purchase-and-sale agreements are expected soon, though she did not specify which parcels, sizes, or funding sources.

Commissioner Long also raised the Gladiola lot as an area needing additional parking on the city's eastern side. Long said the agency will need to explore options "whether it's public, public/privately, private, revenue bond" and acknowledged that there are no concrete plans or identified funding yet.

No members of the public addressed the board during the public-comment period. The board attorney made brief remarks; no formal legal authorities or statutes were cited during the meeting.

Procedural votes recorded during the meeting included approval of the agenda and approval of the consent agenda (see "Actions" below). No other formal actions, ordinances, resolutions, or contract awards were taken.

The meeting adjourned after the brief remarks and announcements.