Two downtown Ocala development projects still in the works Developers are continuing to explore the feasibility of building a hotel and renovating the former Sprint building, two projects that could change the face of Ocala’s downtown. “We are still in the due diligence period,” said Albert Peek of Ocala Development, who, along with his son,…
CRA funding $3.1 million in road projects in Innovation Square The future site of Innovation Square now stands as a fenced, 16-acre grass plot along Southwest Second Avenue. As companies continue to announce plans to locate in the technology hub, the City Commission has approved plans for the Community Redevelopment Agency to fund the bulk…
The blight on U.S. 19 shouldn’t be ignored Pasco Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said, “When my family comes up here, I never take them on U.S. 19.” Given that a large portion of the county that she represents are residents of the older neighborhoods located along the U.S. 19 corridor, exactly what is she doing to…
Germane Barnes, a 27-year-old artist who relocated six months ago from Los Angeles to Opa-locka, could be remembered as a pioneer in 2026. By then, when Opa-locka will celebrate its centennial, city officials and community activists believe the city with a reputation for violence and drugs, would have turned into a thriving arts district. Barnes…
State to Give Money to Study Frostproof CRA FROSTPROOF | It’s been seven years since Frostproof looked at forming a community redevelopment agency. Now it looks as if the state will pay for the city to study it again. Without discussion, the Frostproof City Council voted 4-0 this week to accept a $15,000 funding agreement…
Community leaders seeing new potential for downtown Tallahassee are days away from embarking on a project that will produce a detailed assessment of the district’s strengths and challenges, and recommend ways to guide its development. Directing the three-month study will be consultants from Montreal-based Live Work Learn Play. They will conduct a detailed review of…
Vincent P. Nolan, Jr. Awarded Recertification of Economic Development Designation Delray Beach, FL – Vincent P. Nolan, Jr., the Economic Development Director for the City of Delray Beach and the Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, has been awarded re-certification by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) effective June 13, 2013. Mr. Nolan first achieved the…
State Study of Special Districts TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott sounded determined a year and a half ago when he demanded a thorough review of obscure special taxing districts that have the power to “tax, spend and incur debt at the expense of Florida taxpayers.” Scott was surprised that so many appointees who never have…
Adverse Ruling Would Significantly Undermine Downtown Redevelopment Initiatives On July 17, the Supreme Court granted certiorari in the case of Township of Mount Holly v. Mount Holly Gardens Citizens in Action, Inc. The issue before the Court is whether disparate impact claims are cognizable under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). If the Court were to…
Round Won in Legal Fight Over Proposed Development “Our view is that this is also a victory for the public,” Clauss said. “. . . overturning that lower court ruling really upheld that the public does have a right to be part of the process for land use changes. And the lower court ruling had…
Lake Worth, FL, July 1, 2013 – Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPS) and national non-profit KaBOOM! has awarded the Lake Worth Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) a $15,000 Let’s Play Community Construction Grant as announced on June 28, 2013. The grant is part of ‘Let’s Play’, a community partnership led by Dr Pepper Snapple Group to…
Delray Beach wants to stomp out blight. But it needs help. The Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, the organization in charge of eliminating slum and blight in the city, is conducting a series of meetings to capture the community’s vision for the future. The agency is gearing up to amend its redevelopment plan — the blueprint document that…
