2022 FRA Awards: Outstanding New Building Project Winner – Fort Lauderdale Community Redevelopment Agency: L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center

Congratulations to the Fort Lauderdale Community Redevelopment Agency, for winning the 2022 FRA Outstanding New Building Project Award for the L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center.   Located in Fort Lauderdale’s Historic Sistrunk, the new L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center is a result of collaboration between the YMCA, the Fort Lauderdale CRA, and community partners. The…

Governor Ron DeSantis Awards More Than $35 Million to 48 Florida Communities for Community Development

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — On December 21, 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis awarded more than $35 million to 48 Florida communities through Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for economic development, commercial and neighborhood revitalization, housing rehabilitation, and infrastructure improvements. Making investments in our small communities helps build opportunities for generations to come,” said…

BB ScenicWAVES Also Looking at Wind Art

The Bradenton Beach ScenicWAVES committee, which oversees improvements to the scenic highway portion of Gulf Drive, was asked to consider installing a kinetic wind sculpture by Utah-based artist Lyman Whitaker. Whitaker is a sculptor with more than 30 years of hand-building metal wind sculptures. And members of the Anna Maria Island Garden Club are keen…

2022 FRA Awards: Outstanding Housing Project Winner – Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency; West End at City Walk

Congratulations to the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency, for winning the 2022 FRA Outstanding Housing Project Award for West End at City Walk.   Located along Fort Myers’ palm-lined McGregor Boulevard, West End at City Walk is an attractive mixed-use apartment complex replacing a deteriorated strip mall on this historic Florida Scenic Highway. The community…

Fred Eversley to Create Public Art Installation in City of West Palm Beach

12/14/22 Renowned Sculptor Fred Eversley has been commissioned by Related Companies in a public-private partnership with the City of West Palm Beach’s ArtLife WPB public art program and The Community Redevelopment Agency to create a site-specific public art installation in downtown.  Slated for completion in spring of 2024, Portals will include eight parabolic shapes in transparent, violet-hued…

City Officials Hope New Initiatives Increase ADUs

12/9/22 Financing and rebate programs, and providing permits in under two days, are among new initiatives City of St. Petersburg administrators hope will encourage homeowners to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Councilmembers have increasingly looked to ADUs, also known as garage apartments or carriage houses, to help mitigate the ongoing affordable housing crisis. During Thursday’s…