9 Investigates

9 Investigates: Apopka's use of CRA fund to revitalize city

Apopka is pushing to revitalize the city with the help of money from the community redevelopment agency fund. Some are, however, already questioning how the city plans to use the money that’s been sitting dormant for years.
Barbie Smith's family has lived in in the same Apopka home more than 40 years.

APOPKA, Fla. — "It's like all of these wooded areas, all of these empty houses. My children are like 13 and 14, and I still keep them in the house," Smith told Channel 9 investigative reporter Daralene Jones. 

The city has about $2.3 million in its Community Redevelopment fund, which has to be reinvested within certain boundaries that include 180 blighted and vacant lots.
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James Hitt, the CRA director, said the city plans to target the 5th Street parking lot and Station Street project first; both are partially or entirely privately owned.
Hitt told 9 Investigates that the city will purchase the remaining shares of the parking lot for about $280,000 and it could take up to $400,000 for repairs and renovations. The Station Street project is budgeted for $200,000. Housing assistance programs make up about $61,000, and there’s an additional $50,000 budgeted for commercial exterior and interior renovation and repair work.
“The question really becomes not can you do it, but should you do it. When you're looking at these communities and you're realizing there are underserved individuals in these communities, would you rather put $600,000 toward a parking lot or help it to become a self-sustaining community?” said Gregory Jackson, who is an attorney and community advocate.
Hitt told 9 Investigates that the city is working on pouring more money into residential programs, but the city also has to grow with development.
“If you put two or three businesses in here, each of those businesses is going to end up employing people,” Hitt said.
CRA programs have been criticized statewide for how some municipalities have used the tax money. Some have argued the money is nothing more than a slush fund to support private projects.
“What the legislature set out to do was help underserved communities that had issues with a shortage of affordable housing, crime issues,” Jackson said.
Hitt said he believes generating excitement about Apopka first requires private development.
“You can point to any of these buildings along here, you can point to them and go, 'Does that make you want to come here?' It doesn't,” Hitt said.

Hitt said it's important to mention that anyone applying for assistance through the commercial or residential programs funded with this tax money has to put up matching dollars. 

Cox Media Group

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