OUR VIEW: Don’t use CRAs to second-guess cities

Like parents who fret when they hand the car keys to their teenage children, county governments are understandably loathe to let go when they approve Community Redevelopment Areas for municipalities. Given the amount of money involved, it’s appropriate for counties to ensure the CRAs are effectively targeted and properly managed. But they shouldn’t become back-seat…

No big project yet for Main Street site

SARASOTA – Developer Christopher J. Brown said Thursday he has no immediate plans to build on a Main Street site he recently acquired where a 15-story condominium tower was proposed a decade ago. Brown bought the 0.3-acre property, near the corner of Main Street and Pine Place, for $1 million from Kansas City Life Insurance Co.…

DIB to pay off city debt

PANAMA CITY — Panama City Downtown Improvement Board has laid out a plan to pay off its debt. The DIB will pay $20,000 using the $55,000 loan granted from the city in March and then pay $5,000 each proceeding month, eventually out of DIB funds. Chairman Jim Hayden said they are hoping to have the…