(PENSACOLA) --- The heart of any city demands extreme attention to detail.
The most important detail is the homeless, shown at the Urban Core Redevelopment Board meeting on April 21.
Board members Michael Carro and Christopher Satterwhite discussed at length the option of creating low-barrier shelters downtown.
(Photo: Urban Core Redevelopment Board members Christopher Satterwhite, left, and Michael Carros, right)
"Low barrier, meaning that, compared to a lot of the other shelters that we have in town right now, there are a lot of things that prevent people from getting into the shelters, everything from having a dog, sometimes having kids," Satterwhite said.
Carro concurs.
"Just creating something that gets them out of the elements; a place to have a shower, a bed, and a meal, and they can get in and out," Carro said.
Officials referenced Gainesville, noting a location there that allows overnight housing. According to Satterwhite, there is no reason why "Pensacola cannot rise" to the occasion and do more for people experiencing homelessness.
Among other business as a few Residential Property Improvement Program (RPIP) applications under review. RPIP has ceased its waiting list instead of a Notice of Funding Availability.
Two other matters spurred more discussion, including the Bruce Beach project that will include a cultural center.
"The example that you can look at is the voiceless Multicultural Center, on Government Street, which functions as a little pseudo archive museum, but then also is a place where events happen quite frequently," Satterwhite said.
But that is not Carro's vision.
"If we can have maybe a walk-through type museum where it's kind of open air, still can be covered, but I don't want to see employees, I don't want to see electric bills, and repairs," Carro said.
Ultimately, it is up to the community, as far as Satterwhite is concerned, noting he would like to see some public input on the idea.
The next discussion concerns the Commercial Investment Program (CIP), which requires a 20% upfront match that was by Satterwhite.
(Photo: Commercial Property Improvement Program brochure)
"Looking at other communities at the time that just seem to be standard," Community Redevelopment Agency Program Officer Hilary Halford said.
It's not all about the money, according to the program officer.
"For instance, the American Legion had no money, but they had well over 20% of what they needed in just asphalt shingles that were given to them," Halford said. "So that's how they make their match, so it's flexible."
(Photo: Commercial Investment Property Program target areas)
Lastly, an updated project list was made available at the meeting, showing citizens exactly what is being done this month under the board's supervision.
(Photo: Section of Urban Core Redevelopment Board Project List April 21, 2026)
The next Urban Core Redevelopment Board meeting will be on June 23, before the CRA budget discussions.
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