CRA approves resident-driven plan for Tallahassee's Bond Community

A kick-off project designed to rid blight and inject new life into the Bond Community was approved Thursday by the Community Redevelopment Agency.

The CRA board, made up of Tallahassee City Commission members, unanimously supported the plan's call for $500,000 to jump-start efforts outlined in the Greater Bond Neighborhood First Plan. The plan was drafted by residents with a vested interest in seeing progress in the neighborhood on the fringes of Florida A&M University.

It includes four priority areas: community beautification, economic development and resident empowerment, land use and neighborhood safety and crime prevention, the catalyst for the initiative. 

The Bond Neighborhood Community Action Team —  the group fueling the plan — has identified $6.4 million for specific projects and potential revenue sources to pay for them. 

Talethia Edwards, a FAMU graduate and president of the Greater Bond Neighborhood Association, was among the flood of residents celebrating the moment. For 12 years she’s lived in Bond, knowing its potential. She said the plan is a major step toward transforming Bond. Residents are energized toward a common goal, she said.

“It’s going to be a 360-degree transformation for the neighborhood. We’re already working on our low-hanging fruit,” Edwards said. “Once we get that money on the ground, we’ll see improvements and residents will feel empowered by that.”

She went on to say those who doubt progress should view the CRA decision as proof of what can happen when residents fight to improve their neighborhoods.

"This decision should empower all disenfranchised communities to get involved, be that voice at the table and demand that we have what’s due to us," Edwards said. 

Bond is bordered by FAMU Way, Orange Avenue, Wahnish Way, Pasco and Perry streets and Railroad Avenue. It's home to about 3,100 residents who earn an average annual income of $17,295. 

CRA Director Roxanne Manning said for years the special-taxing agency has made moves to build its reserves to finance community-based plans to improve distressed residential and commercial areas.

“We’re very, very excited," Manning said of the Bond plan. "We’re looking forward to working with other neighborhoods, too, such as Frenchtown, which has a similar kind of plan that will be coming forward soon. By doing all of the big projects we did in the past, we built up our revenue. That was intentional.”

These community-driven plans with financial requests for addressing blight are a CRA first, Manning said. Between the city and the CRA and work done over the years, Manning said these plans "will be funded."

"This is our new focus," Manning said. 

Contact TaMaryn Waters at tlwaters@tallahassee.com or follow @TaMarynWaters on Twitter. 

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