TALLAHASSEE – Three decades ago, lobbyist Ron Book persuaded a public hospital to pay him to protect its interests in a faraway Capitol, just as private businesses do. “It’s just a necessity to make sure that taxpayers are properly represented,” Book says. “We’re smart enough to understand the system.” Cities, counties, colleges, school districts, sheriffs,…
The Wild Spaces and Public Places sales tax doesn’t just mean conserving more land. It also means more spending money for local governments on long-awaited projects. Back in November, locals voted in favor of the half-cent sales tax, which will generate nearly $130 million over its 8-year span. The city of Gainesville is expected to…
The Legislature this year will decide whether Indiantown and Hobe Sound can become municipalities. The two unincorporated areas of Martin County have been considering becoming independent for decades, and leaders hope having their own government and elected officials will give the more than 20,000 residents combined more power to make decisions that affect them. State…
The proposal for the development of 12.4 vacant and overgrown acres along the Tamiami Trail gateway into Bradenton is just what Manatee County commissioners had in mind in adopting Land Development Code amendments targeting the county’s six major urban corridors. The code modifications encourage infill projects and redevelopment along the county’s six major urban corridors,…
As plans progress on both the downtown hotel project and the restoration of the Atlantic Coast Line railroad station, downtown and midtown neighborhoods in Fort Myers will soon be under renovation and redevelopment. The Fort Myers city council recently and unanimously approved a pair of projects that will move the city into the future as…
Lily Murphy glided along the ice rink in Central Park on Sunday, enjoying a makeshift winter wonderland in a region better known for its heat and humidity. She even scraped ice from her skate blade to make a snowball — a novelty for the 7-year-old from Windermere. Sunday was the last day of the season…
When Frank Guerra of Miami first visited St. Petersburg 25 years ago, he left unimpressed. That wasn’t the case when he returned in 2012. “It was just a completely different city,” Guerra said, invoking a place that not only had survived the recession but seemed to be thriving. Guerra’s company, Coral Gables-based Altis Cardinal, bought…
The four candidates Boynton Beach is considering to work on redeveloping Town Square read like a “who’s who” of development teams in South Florida and beyond. Boynton Beach is seeking a developer partner to help jump-start the 16.5-acre site downtown that is home to its City Hall, police headquarters, fire station No. 1, Civic Center,…
Boynton Beach has voted in favor of development plans for Riverwalk Plaza. In two 3-2 votes late Tuesday, city commissioners approved a rezoning ordinance and a land use amendment for the development. The vote will allow plaza owner Isram Realty to build a 10-story residential building on land along Federal Highway and Woolbright Road, where…
San Carlos Boulevard was the thoroughfare for potential redevelopment projects in 2016. With two major projects in limbo and an anticipated boulevard traffic study to be released soon, it seems that redevelopment will continue to be a hot topic of conversation. But Lee County Commissioner Larry Kiker believes the kind of conversation might change. “What…
LAKELAND – Some skepticism about a $75,000 project to scout locations for a new parking garage downtown didn’t prevent the City Commission from unanimously approving the expenditure Tuesday morning. A parking garage, initially pitched as a way to encourage large employers to expand downtown, is now being spoken of in terms of block-sized redevelopment and…
CRESTVIEW – Economical development may increase with health care consultant and Pensacola Blue Wahoos owner Quint Studer investing up to $35,000 for a revitalization study. Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. of Jacksonville, will conduct research to develop a statement of vision, mission and values for the Hub City, according to Community Redevelopment Agency Director Brenda…
