The St. Augustine Community Redevelopment Agency on a unanimous roll‑call vote authorized staff to advance a recommendation and budget funding for rehabilitation of the historic St. Paul AME parsonage.

Jamie D. Perkins, Neighborhood Services and CRA Manager, asked the board to deviate from the usual city staff committee review and to allow the institutional rehab application for St. Paul to move forward now that funding opportunities have improved. The board voted yes: Commissioners Cynthia Garris, Nancy Sykes Klein, John DePrater, Jim Springfield and Barbara Blonder.

Why it matters: the parsonage is a historic structure associated with St. Paul AME and, according to staff, has ties to the 1964 civil‑rights era. Rehabilitation would bring the building to current code, preserve a historic asset and create community meeting and program space, staff and supporters said.

Perkins described prior investments at St. Paul — a roofing project in 2021 and structural stabilization in 2023 — and said the new request asks for “just over $500,000” to bring the parsonage into the same funding range as other institutional rehab projects. She said St. Paul plans to continue using the parsonage for congregation needs and as a community resource and meeting space.

Supporters who spoke during public comment described the building’s condition and proposed use. Ben Edward Stevenson, a resident, said, “We’re in dire need of that building being put up to code as far as electrical work, the plumbing, the flooring has deteriorated,” and asked the board to move the project forward. Kenneth McClain and Judith Liphart also urged approval; Michelle Brown described plans for community events and a self‑sustaining rental model to help maintain the property.

The City Attorney confirmed the deviation in procedure was permissible under city practice. Commissioners spoke in support, named personal and historical ties to the church, and the motion was made, seconded and approved by roll call.

Ending: The authorization directs staff to include the institutional rehab funding in CRA budgeting and to proceed with the rehabilitation process; the action does not itself detail contract awards or precise scopes of work.