Diamond Square Community Redevelopment Agency (Diamond Square CRA)

About the Diamond Square CRA
The Diamond Square CRA (Community Redevelopment Area) is located on the southern border of the City and encompasses the area bounded by Pineda Street on the west, School Street on the north, the Florida East Coast Railroad on the east, and Rosa L. Jones Drive on the south. 
 
The Diamond Square CRA, originally named Census Tract 626, was established through City of Cocoa Ordinance No. 13-98 and is governed by a 7-member board, which meets on the 3rd Monday of every month at 6 p.m. at Cocoa City Hall located at 65 Stone Street in Cocoa Village.

Redevelopment Agency Board Rules and Procedures

In accordance with the Interlocal Agreement with Brevard County, effective October 1, 2019, the Parties agree the Agency Board will be reformed in accordance with section 163.356, Florida Statutes as a seven (7) member board and as required by this Agreement.

In accordance with the provisions of section 163.356(2), Florida Statutes, one member of the board of commissioners for the AGENCY will be the Brevard County Board of County Commissioner in whose District the Agency is located. If that Commissioner desires to appoint a designee to take his/her place as the representative of the taxing authority, the designee must be approved by the COUNTY board as its representative and the designee must otherwise meet the qualifications at section 163.356(3)(b), Florida Statutes. The remaining six (6) members of the AGENCY Board shall be appointed by the CITY. Existing Agency Commissioners may be reappointed to the AGENCY Board. The Parties agree that section 163.356(3)(b) and 163.340(17), Florida Statutes, define the Agency’s area of operation as equal to the CITY’s corporate limits. This Agency position is a full voting position. The District Commissioner’s duty is considered an additional duty of office for the Brevard County Commissioner as authorized by section 163.356(2), Florida Statutes.

Section 163.356(2), Florida Statutes provides that the terms of office of each Agency Commissioner will be for four years, except that three of the CITY appointed members first appointed hereunder shall be designated to service terms of 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively, from the date of their appointments, and all other members shall be designated to serve for terms of four years from the date of their appointments. A vacancy occurring during a term shall be filled for the unexpired term.

Additionally, the Parties agree that upon completion of his or her current term, no Agency Commissioner may serve more than two (2) consecutive terms followed by at least one year off of the board before they may be considered for reappointment. Upon reappointment, said individual will again be subject to the two (2) consecutive term limit.

The CRA members follow the Florida Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees (Part III of Chapter 112, Florida Statutes). 

Diamond Square CRA Board Members
Agency Chairperson - Tracy Moore (4-year term) expires January 2024
Agency Vice Chair - Delores Martin (3-year term) expires January 2023
Agency Member - Ed Jones (2-year term) expires January 2022
Agency Member - Sylvia Thomas (1-year term) expires January 2022
Agency Member - Marilyn Ross-Smith (4-year term) expires January 2024
Agency Member - Jackie Isom (4-year term) expires January 2024
Agency Member - Larry Brown (D2 County Commissioner Designee) (4-year term) expires January 2024

​Diamond Square 2022 Meeting Schedule

January 31
March 21
April 18
May 16
June 20
July 18
August 15
September 19
October 17
November 21
December 19


Façade Grant


The Diamond Square Community Redevelopment Agency administers matching grants up to $10,000 for qualified properties through the Commercial Façade Improvement Program.
 


Diamond Square CRA Accomplishments

Since 2014, the Diamond Square CRA has been active in completing many of the redevelopment projects listed in the Plan Update. Pursuant to F.S. 163, Part II (the Community Redevelopment Act of 1969), a Redevelopment Plan is necessary to undertake and carry out community redevelopment activities within the CRA.

The Redevelopment Plan identified project activities that potentially could be completed before the CRA sunsets in 2032. To date, the following projects have been, or are nearing completion in 2020:

· Façade/signage improvements through grants
· Demolition and acquisition of the Ritz Condominium property on Rosa L. Jones Drive
· Down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers
· Funding for improvements at Diamond Square CRA parks
· Funding for community policing efforts with the Cocoa PD and Cocoa PAL
· Funding for youth mentoring programs through ANR
· Funding for land acquisition and site preparation for Habitat for Humanity to build homes
· Purchase of bus stop benches and trashcans throughout
· Planting of trees and installation of lighting throughout the CRA to promote an eco-friendly and safe environment
· Acquisition of the old Skyview Trailer Park site and its conversion to a stormwater pond and
homes for Female Veterans
· Drainage improvements on Catherine Court and Donley Street as well as on Bernard Street to Railroad Avenue
· Peachtree Street Complete Street Project (creating neighborhood gateways with the Diamond in the Square design)
· Stone Street Reconstruction Project (creating neighborhood gateways with the Diamond in the Square design)
· Completion of the new Dr. Joe Lee Smith Community Center (opened August 2020)

The projects listed above were funded in part with City, Local, State and Federal funds. These
projects are the catalyst to continuing the economic growth of the Diamond Square CRA and the community.