The Palmetto Community Redevelopment Agency has been part of the city’s story since 1985, and this year it’s marking four decades of work that most residents never see up close. The CRA funds infrastructure improvements, brownfield cleanup, business support, and affordable housing. Director Rowena Young says a lot of people don’t know what CRAs do or how they came about, which is part of why the agency is using this anniversary to raise its profile.
The results are all over Palmetto. Connor Park, an eco-park built on a former brownfield site, stands as one of the agency’s signature achievements. The CRA’s brownfield cleanup work also earned recognition last year, done in partnership with Re-Envision Palmetto and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The approach is straightforward: take contaminated or idle land, clean it up, return it to the tax base, and keep that reinvestment flowing back into the community.
Looking ahead, the CRA is pursuing mixed-use waterfront development, new affordable housing, and sustainable redevelopment. For longtime homeowners and business owners, the agency’s programs may offer real help, especially after hurricane season. Have you ever used a CRA program, or is this the first you’re hearing about it? Let us know.
