Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Preservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
CRA board puts Bethel and First Baptist rehab projects on wait list, approves preliminary funding steps
Summary
The City of St. Augustine Community Redevelopment Agency voted to preliminarily approve institutional rehabilitation applications from Bethel Baptist and First Baptist churches, adding both projects to the CRA wait list and authorizing staff to pursue design and phased funding as dollars become available.
The Community Redevelopment Agency voted to move forward with institutional rehabilitation applications for Bethel Baptist Church and First Baptist Church, placing both projects on the CRA’s wait list and authorizing staff to pursue design work and funding as resources permit.
Jamie D. Perkins, the city’s community services director, told commissioners that Bethel Baptist requested roughly $1,000,000 for interior and exterior historic repairs including wiring, roofing and plumbing, and that the CRA does not currently have the full amount budgeted. Perkins recommended preliminary approval so each application could be placed on the wait list and be considered for future TIF or grant funding.
Perkins said First Baptist’s new application seeks $850,000 to rehabilitate the church parsonage adjacent to its sanctuary. She noted First Baptist had been the CRA’s inaugural institutional rehab project in 2020 and that the earlier sanctuary work totaled about $1,200,000, with the congregation contributing roughly $100,000 of its own funds.
Commissioners pressed staff on scope and phasing. Perkins said the program typically funds critical historic-preservation items first and that the city would hire architects during the design phase to identify priorities and prepare cost estimates. Commissioners asked for corrected and interior photos, a clearer square-footage estimate for the parsonage, and the possibility of reviewing design materials at a future meeting.
A motion to place Bethel Baptist’s application on the wait list, and to allocate funding as available, was made, seconded and passed by roll call. Later in the meeting, commissioners also approved adding First Baptist’s parsonage application to the wait list and authorizing staff to pursue funding and design work; that motion passed on a voice vote.
The board did not adopt a funding commitment tonight beyond authorizing placement on the wait list and directing staff to return with design and budget information as available. Next procedural steps include staff completing architectural design estimates and presenting updated photos and budgets to the CRA for further consideration.
