Eric Gray, CEO of the Christian Service Center and candidate for the Orange County board of commissioners, described the mobile emergency shelter project to the Orlando Sentinel as “brilliant in its simplicity.” It’s part of what the city has dubbed its “407 Connect Project,” a partnership between the downtown Orlando Community Redevelopment Agency and Christian Service Center, designed to…
The renovation includes a reinforced 700-foot seawall with a concrete boardwalk, new docks, and additional amenities aimed at enhancing the downtown waterfront area. The renovation is funded through multiple sources, including a Natural Resource Damage Assessment Grant, Restore Act funds, Okaloosa County Tourist Development tax revenues, Okaloosa County’s Half-Cent Surtax for infrastructure projects, and the…
The Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center in Panama City, Fla., near the corner of 15th Street and North Cove Boulevard, is seen under construction March 20, 2025. In a meeting on March 18, city commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding between Panama City and its community redevelopment agency, allowing the city to use $325,000…
From outdoor murals on the sides of buildings to sculptures along city promenades, public works of art can beautify and distinguish towns, attract tourism, celebrate communities and enrich the people who encounter them. According to an opinion poll conducted by Americans for the Arts, 86 percent of Americans believe that art and culture improve their…
Lake Wales recently finished two related projects, part of an ambitious, multiyear plan to revitalize downtown and attract new businesses. The city held a ribbon cutting March 7 to celebrate the renovations of Park Avenue and Market Plaza. Lake Wales, Florida, recently completed renovations on Park Avenue and Market Plaza to revitalize its downtown area.…
After a January groundbreaking followed by several weeks of construction, the city hosted a grand opening for the Apopka Action Sports Park, a $500,000 project that the Apopka Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) funded. The grand opening, which will had a ribbon cutting, began at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 22, at the park, which is located north…
The week of March 17-21, 2025, marks Government Finance Professionals Week, a time to recognize the dedicated professionals who manage the financial operations of local governments and ensure fiscal responsibility. Sponsored by the Florida Government Finance Officers Association (FGFOA), this week highlights the invaluable contributions of finance professionals in sustaining and enhancing the communities they serve.…
The Tampa Riverwalk was nominated for the best in the country for USA Today’s 10Best list. People can vote for the riverwalk once a day until April 7 at noon, and the 10 winners will be announced on April 16. The publication describes it as a “central spot for performances, art, leisure and fitness activities.” Tampa’s 2.6-mile…
A strip mall on Sample Road was approved this week to receive a $4,848 grant from the Coral Springs Community Redevelopment Agency to replace awnings and install new gutters. The funding, which covers half of the $9,696 project cost, supports improvements that the property owner, DECO Inn, will make at 9739-9801 Sample Road. The 20,874-square-foot…
An added layer of security has been added to the Historic Downtown Melbourne district, aimed at making visitors feel safer with the addition of a new private security company. The City of Melbourne and the Melbourne Police Department have collaborated with Melbourne Main Street, downtown businesses, and property owners to create an enhanced security plan.…
Without a doubt, Apopka, like most communities, needs affordable housing. At the February 12th meeting of the Apopka Community Redevelopment Agency, the board discussed turning a city-owned property on South 8th Street and Highland Avenue into either six new homes, five new homes, four bigger homes, or four homes and a pocket park. A true starter home represents the smallest increment…
The redevelopment of Coral Springs’ downtown has fueled a 67 percent increase in year-over-year taxable property values, from around $150 million in 2023 to nearly $250 million last year, according to a new report. The area’s taxable property value has surged 126 percent since 2002, from $66,321,640 that year to $249,727,870 in 2024, the annual report by…
