Anchorage Community Development Authority: About us

The Anchorage Community Development Authority is “an instrument of the municipality, but exists independently of and separately from the municipality.” A nine-member board of directors appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Assembly governs ACDA. Two of the nine members are executive employees of the Municipality. In addition, two Assembly members serve as ex officio of the Board. The management of ACDA reports to the Board of Directors and the Executive Director reports to the Mayor. Within ACDA and reporting to the Executive Director are the following departments:

ACDA Parking Services
Employees are responsible for operating, managing and controlling on-street and off-street parking throughout the Municipality.

ACDA Development
Employees are responsible for acquiring interest in and disposing of real property; investigating and studying real estate conditions; designing, constructing, improving, altering or repairing municipal property owned or managed by ACDA; and operating, managing and controlling municipal land owned or managed by ACDA.

History
The predecessor of ACDA, the Anchorage Parking Authority, was originally created as the first separate public authority on February 28, 1984. That authority was created “to create an environment in the Anchorage area such that parking and parking policies are in a position to influence the community as a whole.” Within four years, the Anchorage Parking Authority operated three public garages (two of which were new), six surface lots and the on-street spaces within the Central Business District (CBD). Total parking spaces operated by the Anchorage Parking Authority was approximately 5,800. Revenues from parking operations were used to help pay debt service on the parking garages built in the 1980’s.

In 2004, the Municipality began considering creation of a community development authority that could aid in developing public lands identified for their development potential and redevelopment of deteriorated or demised areas or properties, as well as affording housing projects. On January 18, 2005, the assembly adopted an amendment to the Anchorage Parking Authority ordinance that created the Anchorage Community Development Authority (ACDA).

ACDA is currently debt free and is poised to provide infrastructure and resources to encourage economic development. By partnering with community groups and the private sector ACDA is ideally situated to obtain the maximum benefit from public investment.