Hastings, Vilano Main Street groups and CRAs seek funding for streetscape, signage, affordable housing and sewer connections

St. Johns County staff and community Main Street representatives presented detailed requests and priorities connected to Main Street partnerships and three Community Redevelopment Areas (CRAs), highlighting infrastructure, aesthetic, event and housing initiatives that would affect multiple neighborhoods.

Hastings Main Street (speaker 8) summarized recent accomplishments — pocket‑park pavers, a new fence and partnerships with IFAS and the St. Johns Botanical Garden for plantings — and asked the county to consider $125,000 for FY27. The Hastings representative outlined priorities: replace narrow non‑ADA sidewalks with pavers on the busiest blocks (estimate: $40,000–$50,000 for initial phase), $30,000 for building stabilization and roof work at a small historic Cochrane Park building, and $20,000 to improve aesthetics and safety along the bike trail; the group has also applied for DOT grants including one for $25,000 and another larger grant for several hundred thousand dollars to support trail work. "We have spent almost all of [the $100,000 allocated this year] and we've partnered a lot of that money with fundraising and other grants," the Hastings representative said.

Vilano Main Street (staff speaker 1) is seeking a steep increase from $64,000 to $200,000 and provided a line-item breakdown: marketing ($5,000), website/branding ($23,000 total), bike racks ($10,000), entryway informational signage ($22,000), and gap funding for a set of events that the group proposed be partially offset by county support (the presentation listed $50,000 requests for several events, which aggregate to a larger ask for event support). Commissioners asked staff to clarify whether CRA/TIF funds or general fund dollars should be used for specific Main Street purposes and to prioritize items in the event of constrained revenues.

Staff also walked the board through three CRAs. West Augustine CRA priorities include expanded affordable-housing initiatives (staff placed a preliminary line of about $650,000 for housing efforts and another $100,000 for Peace Park improvements) and exploratory plans to structure septic-to-sewer conversions; staff proposed using an interlocal with the City of St. Augustine to execute projects and suggested a potential connection-subsidy grant for homeowners as an option instead of direct infrastructure investment. Flagler Estates CRA briefed roadway, drainage and playground improvements; staff said the CRA is on track to repay general‑fund obligations by its sunset date and has preliminary funding (~$400,000 line) for roadway/drainage projects. The Vilano CRA's revenues and debt timing were discussed; staff said Vilano’s TIF may not fully repay prior debt service and therefore most available CRA funds must go to debt obligations.

Several community speakers emphasized the importance of festivals, community events and communication by county staff; commissioners asked legal and finance staff to clarify permitted uses of CRA funds, and asked Main Street representatives to prioritize requests if cuts are required. No formal funding decisions were made at the hearing; staff will return with legal guidance on fund uses and prioritized lists to inform the FY27 budget.