The Lake Dora waterfront will not have 60-foot-tall buildings anytime soon. Following a public hearing attended by several hundred people Thursday night at the Mount Dora Community Building, city officials have decided that allowing building heights of up to 60 feet at the lakefront wasn’t a good idea. Many residents shunned the idea, and two…
The public contributions of the library and fire department were forever married Friday when the new Downtown Pensacola Library opened with a wing dedicated to the memory a fallen firefighter. About 200 elected officials, other dignitaries and members of the public gathered at the newly renovated and expanded 51,000-square-foot facility. The library, located at the…
ST. PETERSBURG — Walking around the historical former YMCA building downtown, local music promoter Thomas Nestor doesn’t seem to notice the crumbling brickwork or rusted iron. Stepping over the dusty, rubble-strewn floor, he pitches his plan to transform the building into an interactive music museum to potential investors and curious locals. The cavernous old gymnasium…
Discount Package for 2013 FRA Conference Sponsor or Exhibitor We are offering a 20% discount to any sponsor or exhibitor that signs up and pays for a booth or package by January 31, 2013! 2013 FRA Sponsor Exhibitor Packet
Stormwater demonstration at top of new CRA wishlist December 15, 2012 With the city council now in control of the Community Redevelopment Agency, it has to decide what their priorities are, and those are just now starting to come into focus. Acting CRA Executive Director (and city manager) John Szerlag presented a transition plan to…
City studying possible redevelopment areas By Susan Latham Carr Published: Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 10:05 p.m. Last Modified: Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 10:05 p.m. The city of Ocala will be studying targeted areas largely along major gateway corridors to determine if those locations could qualify as a Community Redevelopment Area, which provides a…
The Florida Festival and Events Association (FFEA) Workshop Jan.10, 2013 LEESBURG — The Florida Festival and Events Association (FFEA) will host a workshop for event planners focused on increasing event revenues through sponsorships and social media. The event will take place on Thursday, Jan. 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Leesburg Center…
Small businesses embody the spirit of innovation, entrepreneurship, and individual initiative that made this country prosperous. Today, small businesses represent the survivors of some of the most challenging economic times in decades and are the innovative leaders of continuing progress. However, as Florida recovers, the small business community is disproportionately struggling to obtain the necessary…
Vacancies down as businesses flock to Fifth Avenue South By KRISTINE GILL Posted December 13, 2012 at 5:25 a.m. Neapolitan Dwight Nadeau wanted to be close to the action when he launched his first business. So he rented a space on Eighth Street South, between the south parking garage and Fifth Avenue South. He opened…
Sebring CRA picks Hinote as director By Robin Hinote Published: December 12, 2012 Updated: December 12, 2012 – 2:13 PM SEBRING — Robin Hinote gets to remove a word from her title. Hinote, who was selected as the acting executive director after Pete Pollard retired in February, was given the permanent job on Monday. “The…
City to ‘re-set’ CRA to spur growth By Angela Daughtry, News-Leader City commissioners, after listening to recommendations from the city’s CRA Advisory Board, conceded Tuesday that the base year of the special taxing district should be reset. They also agreed repairs should be made to the railroad crossings at Centre and Ash streets to improve…
CRA working on Millville grocery By ZACK McDONALD / The News Herald December 8, 2012 PANAMA CITY — Residents of Millville can expect a new community grocery — provided the owner can find “willing bankers,” according to Community Redevelopment Agency officials. “We’re trying to get it (Millville) to be an attractive place for investment again,”…
Mayor embraces downtown improvement report Hayward says it would be premature to decide DIB’s fate Written by Nate Monroe Dec 7, 2012 In remarks at a Friday news conference that mirrored the pro-growth theme he has trumpeted since his election two years ago, Mayor Ashton Hayward embraced a new report on policy proposals and recommendations…
‘Entertainment district’ would change Sarasota noise ordinance By Jessie Van Berkel Published: Friday, December 7, 2012 at 7:19 p.m. Last Modified: Friday, December 7, 2012 at 7:19 p.m. SARASOTA – For the first time in a decade, downtown condo dwellers and the musicians and business owners who work below them have banded together to change…
Groundbreaking for ‘Pink Palace’ re-do in downtown Bradenton set for Jan. 17 By NICK WILLIAMS Published: December 12, 2012 BRADENTON — A groundbreaking ceremony for the $15 million renovation of “The Pink Palace” in Bradenton is slated for 4 p.m. Jan. 17. The 1920s-era downtown hotel, formerly known as Manatee River Hotel, 309 10th St.…
Hollywood paves way for downtown office building By Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, December 8, 2012 HOLLYWOOD — Eager to see construction cranes back downtown, Hollywood officials said yes to a developer’s long-running plans for a $10 million mid-rise office building that would sit just west of Young Circle. “I absolutely don’t want to stop any…
Florida Municipal Loan Council Issues Capital Access Program Loan to Harbour Waterway Special District The Harbour Waterway Special District, located in Duval County, recently closed on a bank loan financed by BB&T as part of the Florida Municipal Loan Council’s (FMLC) Capital Access Program (CAP), which helps municipal issuers obtain debt financing. The district is…
West Palm Beach starts taking applications for artist colony today WEST PALM BEACH —The city will launch its Lot 23 artists colony project at 5:30 p.m. today prior to the monthly Art and Wine Promenade in Northwood Village. Under the project, West Palm Beach will provide housing to at least eight artists at discounted rents…
$400 rents aimed at attracting artists West Palm Beach creating creative enclave WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. —At what used to be public housing, the city of West Palm Beach is building the area’s first artist enclave. Grace Joyce, West Palm Beach’s redevelopment administrator, toured the two-bedroom apartments with pride Friday. She said an artists’ association…
It’s one of the trendiest neighborhood’s in West Palm Beach: Northwood Village. Tonight one of those areas is coming to life, CBS 12’s Karl Man shows us how a melting pot of artists will soon be giving back to the community. For the full video news story click here.
New artist colony to open in West Palm Beach WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The City of West Palm Beach has turned to local artists to help turn around a neighborhood long at the center of urban blight. The Community Redevelopment Association said it expected to have eight apartments in the Pleasant City neighborhood renovated…