2. message from CRA
Chairman
Jerry Taylor
message from CRA
Executive Director
Lisa A. Bright
2007 groundbreaking ceremony on
Seacrest Blvd.
Brian Hinners from the Auburn Group
presents sponsorship check
2007 Marina Summer Fest
2007 Holiday Extravaganza
3. The 2007 city elections established a new city
commission/CRA board. This CRA leadership has the
expertise and instincts to help guide Boynton Beach’s
growth into a bright and prosperous future.
Through project funding, property acquisition,
partnerships with developers and other proactive
activities, the CRA board will work passionately and
productively to greatly expand homeownership
opportunities, beautify our city from downtown to the suburbs,
create jobs, and strengthen our local economy.
As our CRA board joins with residents, businesses and community leaders
in 2008 to steer Boynton Beach along the path of progress, we will continue
to move swiftly forward in our drive to create rewarding new opportunities.
Mayor Jerry Taylor, Board Chairman
Boynton Beach CRA
Because they do much of their work quietly behind the scenes, some people may not be aware of the unique role of
CRAs as mechanisms for funding new housing units, shops and businesses, job opportunities, community improvements
and cultural events and festivals.
I am proud that here in Boynton Beach, our CRA’s efforts in guiding
quality growth are creating dynamic changes in our city’s long-term
livability and economic health. During the past year, the CRA has
advanced many projects, plans and programs to keep our commercial
and residential renaissance going strong. This annual report highlights much of
that activity, with additional details available on our website at www.boyntonbeachcra.com.
In the year ahead, it is our goal to raise commerce and investment, affordable housing,
culture and entertainment, and community pride to the next level. I am excited that
our CRA will continue to play a leading role in ensuring that the quality of life and caliber
of opportunities in Boynton Beach will keep getting better and better.
Lisa A. Bright, Executive Director
Boynton Beach CRA
Mayor Jerry Taylor
CRA Executive Director
Lisa Bright
915 South Federal Highway
Boynton Beach, Florida 33435
www.boyntonbeachcra.com
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5. Boynton Beach’s “Main Street
in the making,” East Ocean
Avenue, stands poised to push
forward in 2008. The CRA
hosted community visioning
workshops in 2007, enabling
residents and other local
stakeholders to contribute ideas and opinions on the future development of
downtown Boynton Beach. EDAW, the international urban planning and
consulting firm hired by the CRA to conduct the workshops and develop the
master plan, is incorporating the input in an initial report on the plan and an
interpretation of the community’s vision in a comprehensive, visual
presentation. Their final draft of the master plan will be presented to CRA board
members and city commissioners in early 2008. Among the ideas reflecting
residents’ vision for the unification and future growth of the downtown area are:
• Encourage year round, self-sustaining downtown business activity
such as locally-owned produce and fish markets that cater to
local residents
• Revitalize Federal Highway with pedestrian-friendly redevelopment
• Increase residential densities to encourage downtown living in a
variety of housing types that support local businesses and add value
and character to the area
• Preserve the city’s heritage by making optimum use of the
waterfront, natural environments and existing structures
DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN
CRA-supported projects
are defining Boynton
Beach’s commercial and
residential renaissance.
‘
915 South Federal Highway
Boynton Beach, Florida 33435
www.boyntonbeachcra.com
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7. BOYNTON HARBOR MARINA
In the summer of 2007, the CRA renamed the Two Georges Marina to
Boynton Harbor Marina. Selected from Palm Beach County resident
submissions, the name change reflects the ongoing revitalization of the
marina. Since the CRA’s purchase of the land in 2006, the marina has been
updated through a series of renovations designed to create a first rate public
access facility for boating and fishing.
“The purchase and restoration of this marina has ensured our residents
public access to the waterways for generations to come,” said CRA Executive
Director Lisa Bright. “To signify this milestone, we named the marina with
the help of Palm Beach County residents.”
“It seems fitting to rename a public location in honor of all of the
redevelopment that is taking place,” said Kurt Marschall, who submitted
the winning name. “The new Boynton Harbor Marina will bring a much
needed ‘haven of rest’ to those who want to experience beautiful
Boynton Beach, Florida at its best.”
915 South Federal Highway
Boynton Beach, Florida 33435
www.boyntonbeachcra.com
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8. HEART OF BOYNTON
Seacrest Blvd. affordable housing groundbreaking ceremony Carolyn Sims Center at Wilson Park
9. HEART OF BOYNTON
The ongoing initiative to bring quality commercial and residential
redevelopment to the Heart of Boynton continued to be a top priority in
2007. The CRA is partnering with the Auburn Group, LLC, a leader in
providing innovative solutions for affordable and workforce housing, to
spearhead the revitalization of the 26-acre corridor that encompasses
Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. from Seacrest Blvd. to U.S. 1.
The CRA and Boynton Beach Faith Based Community Development Corp.
held a groundbreaking ceremony in November to kick-off construction of
three new affordable homes on Seacrest Boulevard. The property purchased
by the CRA at Seacrest Boulevard and NW 5th
Court originally contained two
lots with a vacant home on each and was converted into three lots for three
new homes. Financial assistance is being provided by the CRA and the City
to three local families who were previously unable to afford homeownership.
The new Carolyn Sims Center at Wilson Park held its grand opening in
February. The 14,000 square foot recreation center, which features a large
multipurpose room, computer lab, game room and classrooms, will be a
focal point of community activities for Boynton Beach residents of all ages.
As part of the City’s participation in the Youth Violence Prevention Project,
the center is designated as a Youth Empowerment Center. The Carolyn
Sims Center is the centerpiece of a nearly $7 million renovation at the Heart
of Boynton’s Wilson Park complex at 211 NW 13th
Ave.
The CRA acquired land along Seacrest Blvd. to move forward in 2008
with a streetscape initiative consistent with the beautification goals
of the Heart of Boynton plan. To date, the CRA has invested over $15 million
in projects and programs that support the revitalization of the Heart
of Boynton.
915 South Federal Highway
Boynton Beach, Florida 33435
www.boyntonbeachcra.com
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11. The CRA Board unanimously voted to begin
negotiating with American Realty Development
LLC of Lake Mary to bring an affordable housing
community to the site that was once home to
the Boynton Terrace Apartments. American
Realty plans for the Ocean Breeze project to
include a mix of 84 income-restricted rental
apartments on the east side of Seacrest and 56
townhouses for sale on the west side.
Developer Epoch Properties, Inc. broke ground
on Las Ventanas, a 494-unit complex featuring
rental apartments and retail space. Located on
15 acres at the corner of Woolbright Road and
Federal Highway, the project will include more
than 43,000 square feet of ground-floor retail
space with 70 loft apartments situated above.
There will also be 20 three-bedroom
townhouses, two five-story towers with 404
OCEAN BREEZE
LAS VENTANAS
PROMENADE OF
BOYNTON BEACH
Woolbright Development for $23 million in
November 2007.
A major remodeling of the older suburban shopping
plaza is underway, including new facades, updated paint
scheme, landscaping and lighting renovations.
Expanding Publix Super Market and updating the
shopping center will revitalize an important and highly
visible crossroads location.
apartments, three parking garages, three pools,
a community clubhouse and a fitness center.
A luxury high-rise condominium at the corner
of Boynton Beach Boulevard and U.S. 1,
Promenade will feature 318 condo residences,
77 fully furnished condo-hotel suites, and
20,000 square feet of street-front retail
and restaurant space in two 14-story
towers. Developer Boynton Waterways
Investment Associates, LLC is
spearheading the project, which will offer
an ideal waterfront location in the center
of the downtown revitalization.
The 14-acre Sunshine Square shopping
center at the southwest corner of U.S. 1
and Woolbright Road was sold to
SUNSHINE SQUARE
915 South Federal Highway
Boynton Beach, Florida 33435
www.boyntonbeachcra.com
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12. HOMEBUYER’SASSISTANCEPROGRAM
BOYNTONBEACH
Putti
R
FFiinnaanncciiaall AAiiddttoo HHeellpp FFiirrsstt--TTiimmeeHHoommeebbuuyyeerrssAAcchhiieevvee TThheeiirr DDrreeaamm
CRA
CRA Chairman Jerry Taylor and CRA Executive
Director Lisa Bright welcome Faith Dickens and
daughter Gabrielle McDowell to their home at
The Preserve.
Residents share ideas on the redevelopment of downtown
Boynton Beach and affordable housing.
AFFORDABLE
HOUSING
13. 915 South Federal Highway
Boynton Beach, Florida 33435
www.boyntonbeachcra.com
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The CRA continued its legislative mission to make the American
Dream of owning a home a reality, funding and creating affordable housing
opportunities for local residents through grants, programs and partnerships.
In 2007, over $1 million was approved to support the CRA’s Homebuyer’s
Assistance Program and Residential Improvement Grant Program. The
Homebuyer’s Assistance Program offers up to $50,000 in interest free down
payment assistance to qualified individuals and families trying to buy a home
within the CRA district. The Residential Improvement Grant Program gives
qualified residents living in the CRA district the opportunity to add value to
their properties with up to $20,000 in funds for exterior repairs, including
hurricane shutters, landscaping, painting, and roofing.
The CRA’s financing partnership with The Cornerstone Group to
include affordable housing at The Preserve opened the door to home
homeownership for Faith Dickens and her daughter Gabrielle. They became the
first affordable housing homeowners to move into the new master-planned
luxury community at 1801 NE 4th
Street.
The CRA teamed up with Habitat for Humanity, donating a lot on
NW 12th Ave. to build workforce housing. In exchange for the land, Habitat
agreed to build upgraded, single-family homes with metal roofs, spacious
bedrooms and one-car garages.
The CRA helped local business owners rehabilitate their properties
with initiatives like the Commercial Facade Improvement Grant Program.
The program helps businesses improve the exterior of their buildings,
enhancing the appearance of major corridors within the CRA.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
14. CRA CULTURAL EVENTS
Kool & The Gang
The one that didn’t get away
is displayed at the Marina
Summer Fest
Heritage Celebration
Mini-cheerleaders from the Congress Middle
School Cougars
Three Dog Night
Commissioner Woodrow Hay and wifeMildred enjoy the Holiday Extravaganza
Lisa Bright, Steve Scaggs, Margee Adelsperger
37th Annual Holiday Parade
15. CULTURAL EVENTS
Crowd-pleasing events and festivals continued to be a trademark of
the CRA District and a growing source of income and exposure for
local businesses. Residents and visitors shared good times in 2007
at a lively lineup of downtown happenings.
February’s 2007 HHeerriittaaggee CCeelleebbrraattiioonn paid tribute to black cultural heritage
and multicultural unity, and featured a free concert by rhythm and blues
legends KKooooll && TThhee GGaanngg.
In August, Boynton Beach honored its boating and fishing traditions with
MMaarriinnaa SSuummmmeerr FFeesstt, a sprawling land-and-sea celebration culminating in
the renaming of the Two Georges Marina to Boynton Harbor Marina.
In December, the HHoolliiddaayy EExxttrraavvaaggaannzzaa presented an uplifting variety of
holiday traditions and festivities, capped by a free concert featuring famed
1970s rock band TThhrreeee DDoogg NNiigghhtt.
HERITAGEHERITAGE
celebrationcelebration
boyntonboynton
beachbeach
CMYK
915 South Federal Highway
Boynton Beach, Florida 33435
www.boyntonbeachcra.com
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16. TROLLEY EXPANDS
SERVICE
BOYNTON BEACH CRA
Leisureville
Golf Course
(Tri-Rail)
Publix
Quantum
Village
SW 22nd Way
Boynton
Beach Mall
TRANSFER
STOP
Publix
Boynton
Plaza
Club
House
Club
House
Club
House
Venetian
Super
Wal-Mart
Target
Linens ‘n
Things
Catalina
Centre
Publix
Bethesda
Memorial
Hospital
TRANSFER
STOP
Club
House
Club
House
Club
House
17
18
19
21
24
25 26
30
322
33/1
28
16
29
34
31
3
4
5 6
7
8
9
10
11
14-A 14-B
13-A
13-B
12
15
27
22
20
Gateway Blvd
NCongressAve
NW Commerce Park Dr
Gateway Blvd
NSeacrestBlvd
NSeacrestBlvd
SCongressAve
SW 13th Ave
SSeacrestBlvd
SSeacrestBlvd
NE4thSt
NFederalHwy
SFederalHwy
NFederalHwy
Boynton Beach Blvd
Ocean Ave
SE 2nd Ave
Boynton Beach Blvd
Ocean Drive
MLK Jr Blvd
NE 15th Ave
HighRidgeRd
Old Boynton Rd
SW18thSt
SW
CongressBlvd
W Woolbright Rd
SW 23rd Ave
SE 23rd Ave
SW5thSt
W Woolbright Rd
SE 18th Ave
SE 5th Ave
ColonialClubDr.
SW
18t
h
St
SE2ndSt
SE4thSt
Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday 7:0 am - 7:30 pmSaturday-Sunday 9:15 am - 5:45 pm
North Route
South Route
Transfer Stops
0
23
807
Sterling
Village
17. The Boynton Beach CRA Trolley expanded its free service to include a southern route
that incorporates key stops at Bethesda Memorial Hospital, Leisureville, Colonial Club,
and Sterling Village.
The trolley also added two new stops to its original northern route: Super
Wal-Mart at 3200 Old Boynton Road, and the new Target, located at 1901 South
Congress Ave. The trolley’s last weekday run was extended until 7:15 p.m.
With the southern route expansion, the CRA-operated trolley system has 34 total stops in a “full circle” service area that
covers Boynton Beach via major east/west connectors Gateway Blvd. to the north and SW 23rd
Ave. to the south, and
north/south connectors Federal Highway to the east and Congress Ave. to the west.
“We listened to our residents and expanded our routes and schedules
to fit their needs,” said Mayor Jerry Taylor,
CRA board chair. “Our residents depend on
the trolley as a reliable and affordable
mode of transportation and our businesses
have embraced it as a highly visible source
of advertising.”
For a printable version of the Boynton Beach
Trolley’s schedule and stops, log onto the new
trolley website at www.boyntonbeachtrolley.com.
BOYNTON BEACH CRA
BOYNTON BEA CH CRA
#22
AM
7:34
8:36
9:51
10:51
PM
12:06
1:06
2:21
3:21
4:36
5:36
6:51
PM
12:24
1:39
2:39
3:54
4:54
6:09
7:09
AM
7:54
9:09
10:09
11:24
WESTBOUNDttoo TTaarrggeett // MMaallllWWaall--MMaarrtt
EASTBOUNDttoo WWaatteerrffrroonnttvviiaa BBeetthheessddaaMMeemmoorriiaall HHoossppiittaall
Trolley does not stop on week-ends at these times.
CMYK
915 South Federal Highway
Boynton Beach, Florida 33435
www.boyntonbeachcra.com
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19. As part of its ongoing downtown revitalization,
the CRA expanded the City’s free outdoor WiFi
network. With 11 active hot spots and a total of
12 planned, anyone with a wireless device can access the
Internet outdoors throughout downtown Boynton Beach.
The CRA launched its new website, www.boyntonbeachcra.com in April
2007. The user-friendly website includes up-to-date information on affordable
housing, public and private projects under development in the CRA District,
trolley schedules and advertising opportunities, as well as agency news
and events.
Visitors to the site get a very active and real understanding of what is
going on in Boynton Beach. The website showcases projects in the
community that make Boynton Beach the right choice for business and a
great place to live. In development for 2008: a virtual tour of the CRA District
with aerial views of key areas and projects. The CRA and trolley websites
attract a combined total of over 2,000 visits daily.
“The CRA is working to improve the availability and quality of free public
WiFi,” said Lisa Bright, CRA executive director. “The downtown WiFi network
increases productivity and convenience for our residents, and aligns with the
CRA’s goal of stimulating economic growth and redevelopment.”
NEW WEBSITE
CMYK
915 South Federal Highway
Boynton Beach, Florida 33435
www.boyntonbeachcra.com
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20. BOARD MEMBERS
CChhaaiirrmmaann
Mayor Jerry Taylor
Vice Mayor Jose A. Rodriguez
Commissioner Ron Weiland
Commissioner Woodrow Hay
Commissioner Marlene Ross
Executive Director
Lisa A. Bright
AAssssiissttaanntt DDiirreeccttoorr
Vivian Brooks
MMaarrkkeettiinngg aanndd CCoommmmuunniiccaattiioonnss DDiirreeccttoorr
Margee Adelsperger
FFiinnaannccee DDiirreeccttoorr
Susan Harris
FFiinnaannccee AAssssiissttaanntt
Ghishlane Villanueva
DDeevveellooppmmeenntt MMaannaaggeerr
Mike Simon
SSppeecciiaall EEvveennttss MMaannaaggeerr
Kathy Biscuiti
AAddmmiinniissttrraattiivvee SSeerrvviicceess MMaannaaggeerr
Ashley Buckley
MMaarrkkeettiinngg aanndd EEvveennttss AAssssiissttaanntt
Alina Wiser
FISCAL YEAR 2007
FINANCIALS
REVENUES EXPENDITURES
ASSETS & LIABILITIES AT SEPTEMBER 30, 2007
Total Assets $37,827,007
Total Liabilities $33,461,797
Tax Increment Revenue (T.I.F.)
$9,088,068
Interest/Other Revenue
$1,997,664
General
Government
$2,807,032
Redevelopment
Projects
$1,949,672
Debt Services
$2,882,988
Capital Outlay
$15,052,126
CRA STAFF
21. Audited Statements
As an agency of the City of Boynton Beach, the Boynton Beach CRA presents
its financial statements in accordance with the reporting model required by
Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 34, Basic
Financial Statements – and Management Discussion and Analysis –
for State and Local Governments.
Overview of the Financial Statements
The CRA’s basic financial statements are comprised of:
1) Government-Wide Financial Statements
2) Fund Financial Statements
3) Notes to the Financial Statements.
This report also contains other supplementary information in addition to
the basic financial statements themselves. The CRA adopts an annual
appropriated budget for its General Fund. A budgetary comparison schedule
provided for the General Fund demonstrates compliance with this budget.
Copies of the Boynton Beach CRA’s financial statements may be requested
by telephone (561-737-3256) or by mail at the CRA’s address listed in
this report.
FINANCIALS
CMYK
915 South Federal Highway
Boynton Beach, Florida 33435
www.boyntonbeachcra.com
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22. CMYK
915 South Federal Highway • Boynton Beach, Florida 33435 • 561-737-3256
www.boyntonbeachcra.com