- June 26, 2026
Dear Editor:
Ormond Beach is finalizing its budget, and an important opportunity is before us: let the Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) — operating in Zone 2 — purchase the city-owned property at 56 N. Beach St. This 1.29-acre site sits within the downtown CRA boundary and has served as a downtown parking place since the former Historical Ormond Beach Union Church and existing structures were demolished in 2021. The lot offers approximately 59 parking spaces, and it is a practical tool for keeping downtown accessible.
Florida law (Ch. 163, Part III) allows municipalities and CRAs to transfer property within a redevelopment area for uses consistent with an approved redevelopment plan, subject to public-interest and required disposal/transfer procedures (see §163.380). While counties may weigh in under specific interlocal agreements, deed restrictions, or county resolutions, there is no blanket statute requiring county approval for a municipal CRA to acquire city-owned land for redevelopment-consistent purposes.
Acquiring this lot using CRA funds at fair market value—estimated around $1.2 million—would also reimburse the general fund. That matters now, as budgets tighten and downtown improvements compete with other essential city priorities. This purchase is not just real estate; it is downtown infrastructure that directly supports local businesses, residents, and visitors.
Before any final vote, the city and CRA should take common-sense safeguards to ensure transparency and defensibility: request an independent appraisal to confirm fair market value; follow the city’s applicable surplus property and disposal procedures; and obtain a brief opinion from the city attorney to confirm that no encumbrances, deed terms, or existing agreements require outside approvals before closing.
If the city proceeds with these safeguards, the transaction will be fair, accountable, and consistent with the downtown plan—while also protecting the general fund and strengthening downtown’s ability to function effectively. By authorizing the Downtown CRA to secure this lot, Ormond Beach is taking a smart, forward-looking step to preserve parking capacity and advance the downtown redevelopment strategy.
Jennifer Bright
Ormond Beach
Editor: Bright is a candidate for Ormond Beach City Commission Zone 2.
