Manatee County: Inward-bound development Young adults lead a push for safe, affordable urban housing

For decades, discussions about housing development in Manatee County have focused on accommodating suburban-style development. Among the results: Suburbia is sprawling eastward, farther and farther from the county’s historic core. With the exception of master-planned Lakewood Ranch, the typical development is low density, dominated by single-family housing in subdivisions disconnected from commercial and community venues.…

Venice parking option is back in play

VENICE – An old idea became new again as the Venice City Council decided to explore buying property to expand parking options. During a special meeting Wednesday to review funding big-ticket items over the next five years, the council decided the best place for a parking structure, or simply a parking lot, might be the…

Plant City kicks off economic development campaign

PLANT CITY — City business and government leaders drew a panoramic picture of Plant City Tuesday, from its available acreage, to its easy-access transportation routes, schools, work ethic and amenities. Hosting its first-ever economic development forum, this community east of Tampa and west of Lakeland, known best as the winter strawberry capital of the nation,…

City council gives Zephyr Plaza approval for changes

ZEPHYRHILLS — Zephyr Plaza shopping center in Zephyrhills may soon receive a face-lift with the property redeveloped as a storage facility along with a retail store and a restaurant. On Monday, the Zephyrhills City Council unanimously approved a conditional use permit to allow a mini-storage, which was not permitted under the property’s current zoning. The…

Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority RFQ

TAMPA-HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY EXPRESSWAY AUTHORITY (THEA) REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES RFQ No. C-00815 Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority (THEA) is soliciting responses from qualified firms interested in providing innovative marketing and communications services that will inform current customers and the general public of THEA’s activities and provide support to THEA’s Communications Director. The…