St. Petersburg seeks to brand downtown medical, academic hub ST. PETERSBURG — Just south of downtown, a quiet section of St. Petersburg has evolved into a jumble of research, academics and jobs. Hospitals, government agencies and a university campus employ at least 8,000 people. About 6,000 students seek college degrees. The district’s economic importance to…
Bradenton holds high hopes for restored historic hotel BRADENTON – The Pink Palace blushes no more. When it reopens as lodging in mid-November, after a $15 million upgrade, it will be beige. But that is rightly so, say historians, since the old Manatee River Hotel was off-white when it opened in 1926, at 309 10th St.…
Brownfields Program Turns Polluted Sites Into Economic Potential The Florida Brownfields Program facilitates redevelopment and job creation by empowering communities, local governments and other stakeholders to work together to assess, clean up and reuse sites that may have been previously impacted by pollutants. Brownfields are properties where expansion, redevelopment or reuse may be complicated by…
When Sanford decided to buy half a downtown block last month for $450,000, city leaders said the purchase would give them more control over development along Lake Monroe. But although he voted to buy the land, which has been used as a public parking lot, Commissioner Randy Jones said he hopes the city won’t own…
Eustis eyes downtown entertainment district Eustis city commissioners will meet Thursday night to consider creating a Downtown Waterfront Entertainment District to better promote the city and help local businesses. “An entertainment district is a recent trend in retailing and urban redevelopment that attempts to develop a pedestrian-oriented venue consisting of, but not limited to, movie…
State ethics staff: West Palm Beach CRA director broke no rules Kim Briesemeister, who resigned last week as the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency director, did not violate state ethics rules this summer when she proposed hiring a former West Palm Beach employee who worked for her private management firm, Florida Commission on Ethics staff say.…
Final curtain call for Pensacola’s historic Silver Screen Theatre If you’ve never taken the opportunity to enjoy a hot slice of pizza, a cold glass of beer and a sizzling summer blockbuster at the Silver Screen Theatre in Pensacola, today is your last chance. The locally-owned, family-friendly, value priced movie theater on 7280 Plantation Road…
Temple Terrace resident passionate about restoration of 1920s-era home In an effort to restore a local landmark, David Bulluck is stepping out on fate like the city founders in the 1920s. The 32-year-old attorney and his wife, Kristi, are investing tens of thousands of dollars to restore a 1920s Mediterranean Revival-style house at 306 Bullard…
$16 million pipeline could pump prosperity into West Augustine A $16 million pipeline was approved this week by St. Augustine City Commission, in partnership with the St. Johns County Commission, to provide cleaner drinking water and sewer service to 1,250 homes in West Augustine. West side residents have argued for years that, with sewer service…
FRA EXCLUSIVE: Can Local Government Snatch CRA Funds for Community Policing? Cities and counties often look at the pros and cons of providing community policing services using Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) funding. Chapter 163, Part III specifically allows this, with the caveat that the funds from the CRA trust fund must be expended for purposes…
VHB Project Wins 2013 IDA Downtown Achievement Award in Boynton, FL ORLANDO, FL – (September 3, 2013) – VHB, a recognized east coast planning, transportation, land development and environmental consulting firm with Florida offices in Orlando and Sarasota, announced that the International Downtown Association has presented a VHB project with the prestigious award: the 2013…
Downtown Jacksonville redevelopment plan slated for early 2014 The Downtown Investment Authority has spent the better part of a year plodding through the creation of a set of plans that will become the framework for the latest attempt at revitalizing the city center. This time, advocates hope, what the city comes up with won’t become…
