New Smyrna Beach highlights community redevelopment efforts

New Smyrna Beach is showcasing its commitment to community improvement through a series of initiatives focused on redevelopment. This week, the city is highlighting how its Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has been instrumental in enhancing local areas, supporting businesses, and increasing affordable housing options.

A vibrant downtown is a living symbol of a community's economic health, history, and quality of life. The CRA plays a key role in this by using public dollars to enhance private projects, thereby increasing business opportunities for residents, merchants, and investors.

Recent grant awards demonstrate the CRA's impact. The Bee Fly Grab N Go Café at 114 Live Oak St. received $98,283.50 towards $196,657 in improvements. Additionally, $4,500 was allocated for new playground equipment and amenities at Mary Avenue Tot Lot, located at 505 Mary Ave., supplementing $110,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding. The Ronin Sushi Bar NSB at 115 Live Oak St. is also benefiting from a $100,000 grant supporting its $258,477 renovation.

The CRA's support extends to significant commercial transformations. In 2023, the Bowman Center at 501 S. Dixie Freeway saw a $250,000 adaptive reuse opportunity grant awarded to Cristal Clear Properties LLC. This funding supported the $1 million transformation of a vacant upholstery warehouse into a retail destination. The building now also houses executive office space for Chase Components LLC, serving aerospace businesses on the Space Coast.

Affordable housing is another key focus. Greenlawn Manor Apartments at 911 Oleander St., completed in 2024, added 80 units to the city's affordable housing inventory. Further expanding affordable housing, the City Commission approved $460,000 toward securing a $20 million Florida Housing Finance Corporation Low Income Housing Tax Credit for a project at 500 Brooks St., which aims to add 72 more units. The Housing Authority is also developing Landings at Live Oak, which will replace 40 units lost during Hurricane Ian with 64 new ones.

Residents interested in learning more about the Community Redevelopment Agency's initiatives can visit the city's Community Redevelopment page.