Tampa core may lose slice of county taxes TAMPA — Mayor Bob Buckhorn pushes downtown redevelopment as a top priority for his administration, evangelizing about its capacity to lift the wider region economically and directing resources there to keep it moving. Now his partner in the campaign, Hillsborough County, is saying enough. For 30 years,…
Mount Dora voters shouldn’t be fooled by flier warning of ‘taller buildings’ downtown Be sure to read the fine print on the flier — the real story is hiding there. That’s where you’ll learn that powerful forces from outside Mount Dora are making a play to control the City Council. A flier sent to registered…
DeLand has grants for downtown improvements DELAND — The city is inviting property owners, business owners and others interested to apply for a pool of $20,000 in grants intended to improve the downtown area. Through the MainStreet DeLand Association, the city’s downtown community redevelopment agency is offering six grant programs; for lighting, new residential units,…
New Tampa housing chef has ‘tremendous task’ ahead TAMPA — Tampa’s housing and community development program has a new director after nearly two years without one. She’ll have her work cut out for her, city leaders say. Vanessa McCleary from Rocky Mount, N.C., took over this week as head of the agency charged with helping…
Winter Park hopes to put a bow on West Fairbanks Hoping to take advantage of newly constructed sewer lines that the city installed on Fairbanks Avenue, the Winter Park Economic Development Advisory Board is looking to build on that by putting together incentives that will encourage new business growth there. The board is also considering…
Redevelopment Plan Finalized For ‘Blighted’ Areas Of Cantonment A final review and comment meeting was held Tuesday night at Jim Allen Elementary School for the Cantonment Redevelopment Plan — a plan designed to address issues that need major improvement in a distressed area of Cantonment. Just under 2,000 people live in the Cantonment Redevelopment Area…
Now that the Parramore Lymmo bus rapid transit system has a new name — the Lime line — it’s time to look at how to fix up the surrounding neighborhood. The Orlando office of Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. was awarded a contract by the city of Orlando to do a comprehensive study of the Parramore…
Creating Winter Park’s next great urban corridor WINTER PARK — As the city moves forward on developing a vision for future economic growth, Mayor Kenneth Bradley said he believes one of Winter Park’s corridors is on the verge of becoming the next first-rate one. “Denning (Drive) is in my view the next great corridor,” Braldey…
Bonita Springs wants Lee money help in improving downtown BONITA SPRINGS, Fla.- Bonita Springs wants some financial help from Lee County in forming a partnership to finance improvements to the downtown area, along Old 41. That section is often called Bonita’s downtown, and it needs some upgrades. The city mayor and manager will meet next…
Delray Beach neighbors concerned about ‘food desert’ DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – C.J. Thomas of Delray Beach is raising his 7-month-old in the W. Atlantic Ave. neighborhood without easy access to fresh food. “There’s no store here, I always hated that,” said Thomas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the area’s many convenience stores don’t cut…
After rough journey, Gainesville pastor paints houses in revitalization effort Straining to take extra care with each stroke, he brushed the last coat of periwinkle paint onto the trim of Ms. Connie Williams’ home on Saturday. It was one of four houses in the Pleasant Street neighborhood that Gerard Duncan said he started painting this…
Business owners say Leesburg faces choice Many downtown Leesburg merchants, churches, and residents believe the downtown entrance from U.S. Highway 27 to Main Street is an eyesore that deserves to be renovated with an attractive gateway and landscaping. Travis Everett, 32, a lifelong Leesburg resident, longs to see the area spruced up. “When you get…
