The Agency was established to address the lack of land set aside for commercial uses to serve the projected population in the original platted development of the city . Under the original developer ’ s plan , most of the land in Port St . Lucie was platted for low density , single-family residential development . As a result , there is no central “ core ” or traditional “ downtown ” and many residents work , shop , and seek entertainment outside of the city . This increases traffic , negatively impacts the City ’ s tax base , hinders the City ’ s ability to meet the service demands generated by growth , impedes the City ’ s ability to efficiently utilize its resources , and detracts from the quality of life .
The four ( 4 ) redevelopment areas comprise approximately 5,627 +/ - acres as follows :
• U . S . Highway 1 Corridor : 1,600 +/ - acres
• CRA Expansion Area : 321 +/ - acres
• East Lake Village : 100 +/ - acres
• Southern Grove : 3,606 +/ - acres
Figure 1
In 2001 , the City designated a CRA along U . S . 1 in eastern Port St . Lucie and formally adopted a community redevelopment plan on June 11 , 2001 following an extensive community-driven planning process which included design charrettes and workshops . The redevelopment strategy is to create a central business district or commercial town center along U . S . Highway 1 and a series of mixed-use pedestrian and transit friendly districts .
As stated in the vision statement , the CRA is intended to be a central gathering place that creates an identity for the city , as well as provides entertainment and economic opportunities . It will include a variety of development districts and connective open space to better serve current and future residents .
Since the CRA ’ s creation in 2001 , three additional areas have been formally designated as part of the CRA : Lentz Grove ( now known as East Lake Village ) in 2003 ; Port St . Lucie Boulevard / The Port District ( CRA Expansion Area ) in 2006 ; and Southern Grove in 2012 . The boundary lines for the CRAs are depicted in Figure 1 .
2021 ANNUAL REPORT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY Page 7