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Crescent City approves $9,500 CRA grant to Jeffer Baptist Church for roof and electrical repairs
Summary
The City commission approved a $9,500 Community Redevelopment Agency grant for Jeffer Baptist Church (101 Cedar St.) to replace the roof and address electrical repairs; other CRA applications, including a proposed window replacement at 338 Central, were deferred pending state historic-preservation review and contractor verifications.
The Crescent City Commission approved a $9,500 CRA grant to Jeffer Baptist Church at 101 Cedar Street to fund roof and electrical repairs after staff recommended the application as a priority to stabilize a historically significant building. The award was taken from the CRA central fund following a motion and roll-call approval.
Commissioners emphasized the project's safety and preservation benefits: staff said the work would improve the building's condition and help the church secure insurance and occupancy. "Roof and electrical repairs improve safety, stabilize the structure and preserve the neighborhood heritage," staff told commissioners.
Debate on other CRA applications focused heavily on historic-preservation compliance. For 338 Central Avenue (an 1887 building), commissioners and preservation advocates urged that proposed window changes be submitted to the State Historic Preservation Office before committing funds, noting possible federal rehabilitation tax credits for projects meeting Secretary of the Interior standards. Staff said they had attempted to contact the state office and would continue outreach before returning recommendations.
Several other applications were discussed at length; commissioners directed staff to verify contractor licensing, confirm matching requirements, and return with clarified figures and timetable at the August commission meeting. A motion to bring the remaining projects back with staff responses was approved.
The Jeffer Baptist grant was approved by roll call with no conditions beyond normal CRA program reporting.
