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Broward County creates fund for redevelopment
By Scott Wyman
Hoping to take a major role in the makeover of Broward's blighted neighborhoods, county commissioners set up an investment fund Tuesday that could direct $100 million into redevelopment projects and affordable housing.
Some local redevelopment efforts have lingered for decades with little progress because of the lack of a tax base to pay for the initial improvements that would lure business and developers. Under the county's plan, the investment fund could be tapped to speed up work, from buying property to relocating residents to improving infrastructure.
But city officials who have long taken the lead on redevelopment are skeptical. They view the county's move as a power grab that would bind them to the county's goals and as an attack on how they have paid for past projects.
The redevelopment of older communities is becoming an increasingly critical issue as less and less vacant land is available in western Broward for development. The county is expected to grow by almost 1 million residents by 2030 but will run out of land within the next decade.
"This would do more to enhance community redevelopment efforts than anything else I can think of," County Administrator Roger Desjarlais said.
In creating the investment fund, the county set aside $10 million in tax money that will be used to borrow up to $100 million. Another $2 million will be added to the fund each year.
Cities seeking loans or grants would be required to comply with county dictates on redevelopment. Projects would have to address a sense of community or include affordable housing or mass transit links. Cities also would have to prove the redevelopment eliminates slums.
The most controversial provision, though, bars the cities from combining investment fund aid with tax financing through a community development agency. Long the preferred way to redevelop, the agencies direct county and city property taxes from blighted areas away from general services such as police and fire protection to work on improving conditions there.
County officials have long criticized the community redevelopment tax financing as a drain on government resources. They ordered an audit of all redevelopment agencies last year and have repeatedly sought to rewrite state law to scale back their use.
Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner Dean Trantalis charged the county was attempting to gut city efforts. Hollywood Mayor Mara Giulianti called the investment fund "a form of blackmail" and accused the county of attempting to supplant the cities in how older communities are made over.
"If their intentions are honorable, then the goal should be to ensure quality redevelopment and work with any city with a good plan regardless of whether it involves a community redevelopment agency," Giulianti said.
Cities have used redevelopment agencies to rebuild such areas as Hollywood's beach, where the new Diplomat hotel is located. Districts also exist on Fort Lauderdale's beach, along much of the 13 miles of State Road 7 between Davie and Coral Springs and in large swaths of Hallandale Beach and Pompano Beach.
Giulianti said the county should focus its attention on blight in the unincorporated areas under its control and problem areas that cross cities, such as State Road 7. But Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle said he might be willing to use the county aid for new projects that are not part of redevelopment districts, such as work in the South Middle River neighborhood.
"I wouldn't want to give up any of my rights under community redevelopment authorities, but if it's possible to find a site and not give up any of our rights, it may be worthwhile," Naugle said.
Desjarlais and county commissioners rejected the contention that they are muscling in on the cities. Rather, they said the investment fund allows more work to be done faster because communities do not have to wait until there is the tax base necessary to pay for it.
"We aren't forcing anything on anyone, and this may not work for everyone," county Mayor Ilene Lieberman said. "It is just another tool for redevelopment to put out there."
Scott Wyman can be reached at swyman@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4511.