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Old Eau
Gallie
Redevelopment
The Eau Gallie area of
Melbourne is the latest portion of the City to be assisted through
creation of a redevelopment district. The area includes a downtown
that once served the City of Eau Gallie, which merged with Melbourne in
1969 with voter approval.
A portion of City and county
taxes from the area are available for revitalization projects.
Everyone living or doing business in the Eau Gallie area has been
encouraged to participate in a multifaceted revitalization effort.
Over the last decade the area has been in decline, evidenced by a drop in
property values and a higher crime rate. A study was conducted to
establish that the area is affected by "blight," with conditions
that warranted establishment of a redevelopment district.
Redevelopment provides a framework for efforts by the City, residents of
the area, and businesses to pursue revitalization projects.
Two plans are underway in the Eau
Gallie area. One is the Neighborhood Revitalization Effort, which began
with the local residents asking their local government for assistance with
persistent community problems.
In response, the City of
Melbourne applied for an Urban Infill and Redevelopment Assistance Grant
Program. The program was established at the state level in 1999 to
assist local governments in efforts to help revitalize urban areas.
The program hinges on involvement of area stakeholders in a holistic and
collaborative planning process. It produces an implementation
program to revitalize the urban infill and redevelopment area.
The second effort has been
establishment of the Community Redevelopment Area. This designation responds to merchant needs to recapture
investment and interest within the urban core area of Eau Gallie. Brevard County
delegated the powers to
create, operate, and maintain the Olde Eau Gallie Riverfront Community
Redevelopment Agency to the Melbourne City Council. Specific
boundaries were set for the
district.
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