State legislators are considering a bill that could redirect millions of dollars earmarked for improving “blighted” local communities. The proposed bill, House Bill 13, would eliminate Community Redevelopment Agencies, governmental bodies created to promote affordable housing, economic development, health and safety in under-served neighborhoods. In a nutshell, a CRA holds on to a set percentage of the property…
Some of the biggest names in national and regional real estate development recently took center stage at the Hilton West Palm Beach to discuss why they are making such significant investments in the city and its Downtown. The West Palm Beach Development and Investment Forum drew nearly 350 guests and was co-hosted by the Urban…
With a focus on continuing to foster revitalization in the Greater Frenchtown/Southside and Downtown districts, today’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting included discussion and decisions on a number of items. The CRA Board, which is comprised of the Tallahassee City Commission and four Leon County Commissioners, approved the purchase and sale agreement with North American…
Despite concerns from residents and even themselves, Boynton Beach’s elected officials gave Davis Camalier and his development team their first approval to build Ocean One, an eight-story apartment building with retail spots and a parking garage at Federal Highway and Boynton Beach Boulevard. The commissioners approved rezoning the land, which would match surrounding residential developments.…
Home rule is a hot topic in Tallahassee this legislative session, and last week Lakeland City Commissioners Don Selvage, Jim Malless and Bill Read went to the Capitol to register their complaints with a few bills that infringe on the city’s ability to self-govern. We have already criticized one of their targets: HB 17, introduced…
Orlando is seeking contractors to build single-family homes on public land in Parramore, a $1.8 million effort to add affordable housing to the long-blighted downtown neighborhood west of Interstate 4. The city plans to sell the homes to low-income families by offering interest-free loans for down payments that the buyers may never have to repay.…
While much attention is revolving around Imagine Clearwater, a planned redevelopment of the city’s downtown and waterfront, in recent months, a separate effort to rezone a major stretch of U.S. 19 is quietly moving forward. In fact, the same night (Feb. 2) the Clearwater City Council approved the Imagine Clearwater project, the U.S. 19 plan…
As Coconut Grove regains its appeal as a thriving commercial district, two of the neighborhood’s deepest-rooted developers are transforming a 1980s-era parking garage into a contemporary mixed-use building that will meet growing demand for office space and prime retail. Developed by Terra in partnership with Mayfair Real Estate Advisors, the Touzet Studio-designed complex — named…
Mayor Nick Girone said a request from a resident to consider holding certain council meetings throughout the year at venues other than city council chambers got him thinking that it wasn’t a bad idea. So when it came time for choosing a place for the city’s first ever State of the City address and Town…
City officials from across the state will gather next week in Tallahassee to discuss the latest issues and developments affecting municipalities and how they are being addressed in Tallahassee during the current legislative session. These issues are all part of the Florida League of Cities 2017 legislative agenda. With numerous bills filed this session that…
Since the Florida Legislature began its session, the city of St. Augustine has been watching. St. Augustine officials are pushing for infrastructure funding as well as tracking about 40 bills to see what might become law and impact life locally, including bills threatening community redevelopment agencies. The session kicked off on March 7, and St.…
A landmark is reduced to rubble. Chunks of cinder blocks lie on the ground like crumbs. All that remains of the iconic mural on what used to be The Shelter is a jagged brick wall. The streetscape at Macomb and Tennessee streets is forever changed. Demolition crews spent two weeks working and knocking down the last…
