Author Archives: FRAstaff

Construction Begins On Downtown Clearwater Waterfront Hotel

Builders broke ground last week on The Ballad Hotel, a redevelopment project along the downtown Clearwater waterfront. The 10-story, 158-room hotel overlooking Coachman Park and Clearwater Harbor is part of a 230,000-square-foot, mixed-use development, the city said in a news release. The development will feature ground-level restaurants and retail along Osceola Avenue, a rooftop bar,…

Downtown Clearwater Celebrates Groundbreaking of The Ballad Hotel to Revitalize Waterfront

Last week, downtown Clearwater witnessed the inaugural step towards a major development project with a ceremonial groundbreaking for The Ballad Hotel. This venture, sprouting in the heart of the city, is a joint effort backed by city officials, the Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency and various project partners such as the DeNunzio Group, KAST Construction, Behar…

Major Construction Boom to Redefine Downtown Orlando Over Next Few Years

Downtown Orlando is about to look different in the next couple of years, with four massive developments moving forward simultaneously. From a Church Street revamp to reimagining the old Orlando Sentinel site, the city is gearing up for one of its biggest transformations in decades. Yehya Rizeq, who owns Crepe Delicious of Church Street, says…

Secretary Byrd Designates Park Avenue District as Florida Main Street Program of the Month

Secretary of State Cord Byrd announced that Park Avenue District, located in Winter Park, Orange County, has been designated the December 2025 Florida Main Street Program of the Month. “It is fitting to recognize this Main Street Program in December,” said Secretary of State Cord Byrd. “With a variety of Christmas and Chanukah celebrations, visiting…

A Milestone in Melody: West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency Celebrates Sunset Lounge Historic Restoration

  (Photo courtesy of City of West Palm Beach) West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) proudly announces the completion of the long-awaited renovation of the iconic Sunset Lounge. Located on 8th Street in the heart of the Historic Northwest District, the venue has long been a cultural cornerstone for the community.   Originally a…

Stuart’s New Amphitheater on Schedule to Open This Spring

The city’s outdoor Amphitheater, under construction at Memorial Park, is scheduled to open on time this spring. The new covered stage area is estimated to have a crowd capacity of 2,500 people. The event complex will feature a green room, lawn seating, an architectural entry way with plaza area, monument entry, brick paver walkways, landscaping,…

The ‘Cultural Anchor,’ Sunset Lounge in West Palm Beach Returns After Years Delay

From the 1930s through the 70s, Black elders remember the Sunset Lounge in West Palm’s Historic Northwest District as a place where jazz legends performed — Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, to name a few. And now the cultural gem has reopened after sitting idle for nearly two years. It’s pure “nostalgia,” said…

Winter Park Moves Forward with Long-Planned Road Project

Winter Park’s long-planned effort to fix one of its most congested intersections is now officially moving forward, and that means a major change for a local arts landmark. “This area is part of our Community Redevelopment Agency,” Knight said. “Back in the mid-90s, part of that CRA plan was to eventually acquire this property along here.…

East Winter Garden Revitalization Projects Progress

The city is continuing to work on the Dyson’s Plaza Commercial Revitalization project as well as the Legacy Home Rehabilitation Pilot Program. The city of Winter Garden is making progress on revitalization projects for the Historic East Winter Garden Neighborhood. Marc Hutchinson, the city’s economic development director, shared an update on the Dyson’s Plaza Commercial…