Manatee County Southwest Sector Still Needs Redevelopment, Affordable Housing

During the recession, southwestern Manatee County experienced plummeting property values as businesses closed and homes went into foreclosure. After the recession, values there were slower to recover than in eastern suburban areas where construction and property sales resumed. Today, numerous commercial properties on major thoroughfares remain vacant in Southwest Manatee and some neighborhoods are still…

Senator Jack Latvala to Speak at Florida Redevelopment Association Annual Conference

One of Florida’s top leaders and expected gubernatorial candidate, Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, is set to speak during the annual conference of the Florida Redevelopment Association – a statewide organization dedicated to assisting Florida professionals and volunteers in community revitalization efforts. Latvala’s plenary session will start at 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 19, and cover…

Lake Placid Acknowledges Blight Area

The Lake Placid Town Council, in a 2-1 vote, agreed to adopt findings from a study that confirms the town has blight in its downtown area. The study, a “finding of necessity,” is one of the steps toward establishing a Community Redevelopment Agency. Councilwoman Debra Worley was absent from the meeting, despite being a proponent…