CRA OKs paving, streetscaping

The city-owned parking lot at the southwest corner of Southeast 47th Terrace and Southeast 10th Place will be getting some much needed improvements after the CRA Board of Commissioners voted 7-1 Monday night in favor of paving and streetscaping work. The lot, located behind Nevermind, currently is not paved. “I think in this day and…

City discusses CRA and homelessness

SARASOTA – The city and county both desperately want something from each other, but it’s unlikely either will get its wish. For the city, it’s an extension of the Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency, which has funneled $76 million into projects in Newtown and the urban core. Commissioners voiced unanimous approval for extending it — perhaps…

Editorial: Paying for worthy redevelopment

On Monday, Sarasota city commissioners will revisit an issue that has important implications for the future: the community redevelopment district, whose key funding source is scheduled to expire in September 2016. The funding mechanism — known as tax-increment financing — has helped grow the downtown tax base by more than 300 percent since 1986. More…