Stuart CRA outlines $20.2 million 2026 budget, highlights park, streetscape and dock projects

Pinal Gandiza, the City of Stuart’s community redevelopment director, outlined the Community Redevelopment Area’s history, tax-increment financing (TIF) mechanics and the CRA’s 2026 budget at the board’s organizational meeting. “So now the CRA will sunset in 2049,” Gandiza said, noting the board has until then to implement the CRA plan and its projects.

Why it matters: The CRA controls tax increments generated within the CRA boundary and uses those funds, together with grants, to pay for infrastructure and redevelopment targeted at areas the city found met state criteria for slum and blight. Gandiza said the CRA’s base value is roughly $299,000,000 and the 2026 budget is $20,205,000, supported by county and city contributions and grants.

Board members pressed staff for details about spending and long-term impacts. Member Laughlin noted the recent surge in TIF revenue and called it a potential “exponential” advantage to developers; interim City Manager Louis Boglioli and Gandiza said the CRA’s role is to enable redevelopment that increases the tax base while noting that general-fund services remain the responsibility of the city. Boglioli emphasized that the CRA “can pay for additional services above and beyond what general fund would normally support,” but does not supplant the general fund’s baseline services.

Key projects and programs described by Gandiza include:

- Memorial Park outdoor amphitheater: total project cost $2,700,000, primarily funded by ARPA with partial CRA funding; project includes a covered stage, lawn seating, lighting and landscaping. Gandiza said public works and utilities and engineering will lead construction.

- Guy Davis Park improvements: project scope expanded in October 2024 to include a skate park; the project is about 90% complete and budgeted in the 2026 budget. Gandiza said the skate park portion is budgeted at $700,000 and total park improvements are budgeted at $10,000,000 (total $10,700,000).

- MLK Boulevard Streetscape: design at 30% complete with a project limit from Dixie Highway to Tarpon Avenue; estimated construction cost is about $6–7 million. Gandiza said she will seek authorization from the City Commission to apply for a federal BUILD grant.

- Property acquisitions: the CRA has purchased several parcels over the years for redevelopment, including a recently acquired “Willie Gary” property (acquired for $1,600,000 in January 2024) now under construction to become a job training center funded in part by a $10.2 million CDBG COVID grant.

- Programs: matching grants for businesses (reimbursing 50% of eligible costs up to $10,000), mural matching grants (50% up to $3,000), residential façade grants, a commercial landscape improvement grant (up to $5,000), an heirs’ property assistance program (up to $3,000 per probate; up to $9,000 per property), and ongoing tram micro-transit operations funded in part by the CRA.

Gandiza provided revenue breakdowns: a projected tax increment contribution to the CRA trust fund of $6,900,000 for 2026 (city contribution $2,900,000; county contribution $4,000,000), an interest line item of roughly $35,000 and grant revenue line items that together swell the budget. She said 88% of CRA funding is allocated to infrastructure projects.

Board members asked about administrative costs and grant administration. Gandiza said applying for grants is straightforward, but administering grants requires staff and quarterly reports; the CRA maintains two staff positions and pays professional services for planning and design. The board asked whether CRA-funded capital projects will create ongoing maintenance costs; Gandiza said maintenance will be budgeted when projects are completed, and the CRA will account for carry costs.

The presentation also reviewed previous streetscape, park and redevelopment work credited to the CRA, partnerships with Habitat for Humanity and design efforts such as the East Stewart charrette and Triangle District master plan. Gandiza said the CRA is pursuing National Register designation for East Stewart and expects a neighborhood meeting in February or March as part of the state review process.

What’s next: Gandiza said staff will seek commission authorization to apply for the federal BUILD grant for the MLK Streetscape and will continue working toward design milestones and grant deliverables. The board asked staff to provide additional breakdowns by population inside the CRA and to clarify fund-balance projections at a future meeting.