Plans Studies and Ordinances
West Atlantic Avenue Redevelopment Plan
Background
The West Atlantic Avenue Redevelopment Corridor consists generally of the area located one block north and south of West Atlantic Avenue, between I-95 and Swinton Avenue.
In 1993, the CRA organized the first phase of a community planning effort by inviting numerous community members to a series of organizational meetings to discuss the concept of developing a West Atlantic Avenue Redevelopment Plan. These meetings, which were facilitated by professional planners, resulted in the organization of a larger community based Steering Committee of over 50 people. The initial charge of this Steering Committee was to develop a process and strategy for the planning effort. The Steering Committee participants referred to themselves as stakeholders in the resulting process which was termed "Visions West Atlantic". "Visions West Atlantic" was a forum for a series of community meetings held over a two-year period that ultimately produced recommendations concerning redevelopment issues for West Atlantic Avenue. These recommendations form the backbone of the West Atlantic Redevelopment Plan, which was adopted by the City in 1995
The community "visions meetings" recognized that the need to facilitate the redevelopment of West Atlantic Avenue could not stop with completion of the plan. After a series of discussions, the group established the need for oversight and a project manager to implement the plan. The West Atlantic Redevelopment Coalition (WARC) is a nonprofit organization that was created to advise the CRA and City on redevelopment issues in the area. A staff position was created to facilitate the monthly WARC meetings, act as a liaison between WARC and the CRA/City and focus on the implementation of objectives and strategies in the plan. In 1997, the CRA amended the Plan by incorporating market research and by analyzing, in general, the redevelopment opportunities of each block in the area. The second amendment was adopted by the CRA and City in 2000.
Also in 2000, the City and the CRA applied for a grant to the MacArthur Foundation to fund another community planning exercise, the Downtown Delray Beach Master Plan. The geographic areas covered by the downtown plan included the commercial districts along the Atlantic Avenue corridor from the beach to I-95. The plan, which was adopted in 2002, incorporates the provisions of the West Atlantic Avenue Redevelopment Plan.
Although opportunities exist for private redevelopment of existing structures and vacant property along West Atlantic Avenue, it has been difficult for the private sector to initiate such efforts without public assistance with land assemblage and business development. Rapidly rising property values has led to speculative investments, and has in some cases stalled redevelopment activity as investors hold onto blighted properties for the maximum return. The CRA is working to continue the elimination of slum and blight in the area and facilitate successful redevelopment projects.
Plan Objectives
- Eliminate blighted conditions along West Atlantic Avenue and adjacent side streets
- Encourage economic growth, redevelopment and minority business development
- Increase job opportunities within the West Atlantic redevelopment area
- Promotion of businesses which serve the neighborhood residents
- Acquire land in order to aggregate sites sufficiently large enough to encourage redevelopment
- Development of programs, events, and projects which attract new consumers to the Avenue
- Create safer conditions for consumers, residents, and businesses
- Beautify the West Atlantic Avenue corridor
Click here for further information about the West Atlantic Avenue Plan.