BRADENTON – The Riverwalk, a 1.5-mile park spanning downtown Bradenton, makes for a popular example when people talk about redevelopment here.
City leaders in Sarasota point to it as an example of success. The Riverwalk was part of a revival of downtown Bradenton that drew new businesses, including the prize-winning Motorworks Brewing, which opened in Bradenton two years ago. Others followed.
Most agree that at least some of the credit must go to the Bradenton Community Redevelopment Agency, which has funneled millions of tax dollars into local projects here to attract private investment.
But with that success comes disagreement about whose vision should control future plans, and who should control the money.