Soloman Wassef’s dream of opening a tiki bar in downtown Lakeland is one step closer to reality. The Lakeland City Commission voted unanimously on Monday to grant a conditional use permit for the proposed Island Breeze bar, located under his already existing Lakeland Loft. “I cannot be more proud to be in Lakeland than in…
The Community Redevelopment Agency held a Lunch and Learn earlier this year to educate community leaders and citizens on the services provided by the CRA that address neighborhoods affected by blight. The event was attended by nearly 100 people. Tallahassee city commissioners and staff shared their views of what the agency has to offer and…
Michele Hylton-Terry Executive Director Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency Q: What is your best piece of business advice for a new FRA member? Michele: “The best business advice I would offer is to be intentional and focused on the goal you are working to achieve. It’s important to understand that it may not come together…
The Florida Department of Health in Polk and the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency are partnering to develop a community garden. The Grove Community Garden will be located at 315 Dr. MLK Blvd., across the street from Grove Manor public housing. It will supply fresh produce to residents in the Northwest Neighborhood. “We really want…
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County, Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, and the City of Delray Beach will ROCK THE BLOCK in Delray Beach on Saturday, April 29. For decades, Habitat for Humanity has set the stage for families, volunteers, donors, and supporters to come together to build decent homes that provide the…
The master developer of Cornerstone in Coral Springs recently explained why his downtown project had to add more apartments and cut out office space. Rod Sheldon, the owner of Predeso Property Investments, also discussed how the pandemic and its changes to the economy stalled the project and forced him and his partners to rethink plans…
A long-awaited project to make Pensacola’s waterfront more pedestrian-friendly is getting a review by the original designers. The Pensacola Community Redevelopment Agency approved an amended contract with SCAPE Landscape Architecture earlier this week to pay $7,500 for a final review of the city’s plans for the “Hashtag Waterfront Connector” project on Main Street. While the…
Construction could start on Hilton Tempo in September 2023. Initially, the venture was supposed to break ground in 2022. Yet, according to FOX 4 Southwest Florida, the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) pushed it back after the venture switched owners. Before, Marriot would oversee the venture. Now, Hilton does. Upon completion, the eight-story hotel…
The City of West Palm Beach is preparing to host South Florida’s largest, free outdoor annual Independence Day celebration — 4th on Flagler. This event will be the City’s 35th annual celebration and it will feature live entertainment (music on three stages), a military honor ceremony, a kids’ entertainment zone, roving entertainment (including jugglers, stilt…
Sherri Curtis FRA Board of Directors Community Redevelopment Coordinator, CRA – City of Tallahassee Q: What is your best piece of business advice for a new FRA member? Sherri: To open your mind to new ideas and new ways of looking at redevelopment, gathering as much information as possible from those who are subject matter…
The Diocese of Venice in Florida and National Development of America will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for Phase 1 of St. Peter Claver Place Apartments, an affordable housing complex within the Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard redevelopment area. The groundbreaking, to be held Tuesday, April 11, starting at 9 a.m., at 3681 Michigan Ave., in…
The lack of public parking is an issue that the Cape Coral Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) hopes it can fix. The study consists of the downtown district of Cape Coral, between Cape Coral Parkway and Leonard Street. It shows that there is only a small amount of areas that are available for residents and small…
