Good News From Florida’s CRAs

The Apopka, Bartow, Orlando and Winter Haven Community Redevelopment Agencies recently participated in “Where Redevelopers Meet – Orlando CRA Connect 407 Tour,” an opportunity for community redevelopment professionals to explore innovative redevelopment and housing initiatives taking place in Central Florida. The tour brought together CRA representatives for a firsthand look at projects and programs addressing…

Cape Coral City Council, sitting as the South Cape Community Redevelopment Agency commission, is expected to vote on a Tax Increment Rebate Agreement of more than $45 million between the city and Crowne Development, Inc. and Bimini Basin Redevelopment Company, LLC Wednesday. According to Resolution 11-26, “the city intends to convey the right, title and…

The City of Bradenton and its Community Redevelopment Agency are prepared to invest millions of dollars into a university building in downtown Bradenton. Pittsburgh-based Point Park University and the City of Bradenton recently announced plans to bring a satellite campus, focused on performing arts, to downtown Bradenton, and the City of Bradenton could spend up…

Work is proceeding on the Margate City Center project. At the September 9 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting, the board passed a resolution approving Brookfield Holdings’ final concept design for the Margate City Center project. When complete, the new mixed-use development is projected to produce $1.7 billion in economic impact through lease payments and tax…

The next phase of Tampa’s Rays stadium deal will have to wait a little longer after the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) board postponed action on a series of redevelopment-area changes tied to the project. The Tampa CRA continued the item until its Nov. 12 meeting. The proposal would direct CRA attorney Clifford Shepard to…

A stretch of MLK Boulevard in South St. Pete is getting a new look, with old buildings being reimagined as businesses and community spaces. The developer behind the project says this is about bringing investment back without pushing out the people who already live there. In the Roser Park neighborhood of South St. Pete, some…

Pompey Park in Delray Beach was born out of segregation — a safe haven for Black residents who faced legal discrimination. Today, it remains the heartbeat of the city’s historic Black community, and local leaders are investing millions to secure its future. Pompey Park, an anchor of “The Set” — the city’s historic Black neighborhood…

A new electric vehicle transport service intended to fight traffic congestion is being launched in West Palm Beach, Florida, with fares as low as a dollar. In order to address traffic and provide “convenient alternatives” to driving one’s own car, the city has developed West Palm Move, a “public transit network” composed of electric vehicles…

The Jackson House Foundation is vowing to move forward with plans to restore the historic Tampa building, even after a piece of the structure fell off over Labor Day weekend. The foundation’s president, Dr. Carolyn Collins, stood before the Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency Thursday to reassure board members that the project remains on track. She…

The Cape Coral City Council, sitting as South Cape Community Redevelopment Agency commissioners, approved a $45.7 million tax rebate for the Bimini East project on Wednesday. Assistant City Manager Mark Mason took the board through a presentation to shed some light on Tax-Increment Financing, and the proposed agreement with Crowne Development. Mason said when a…

A 16-story residential tower called Aurevia is set to rise at 1590 NE 123rd Street in North Miami, bringing 225 apartments, ground-floor retail, and a pickleball court to a site that once housed a community center. The North Miami Planning Commission has approved plans for the project, according to Florida YIMBY, which reported the design…

Leading a rush of new restaurants planned for the downtown Lake Wales Historic District, Downtown Pizza and Sports Bar is expected to open this month in a spacious suite of rooms on Stuart Avenue. The new restaurant is relocating from a much smaller space in Dundee that owner Kevin Rodriguez said was preventing him from…

The shovels were painted in August. On Sept. 10 they finally go into the ground. The City of Delray Beach and the Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency have scheduled a groundbreaking ceremony for the Pompey Park revitalization on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at 5 p.m. The ceremony will be held at Pompey Park, 1101 NW…

Improvements may be coming to downtown Coral Springs. During the September 2 meeting, the commission passed on the final reading of an ordinance to approve the rezoning of about 58 acres of properties within the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) – a local activity center located west of Coral Hills Drive and south of NW…

Riviera Beach plans to upgrade its two public gardens and create events there where people can connect. Why it matters: It’s an investment in third places in a city that is focused on strengthening the community. Driving the news: Community Redevelopment Agency Executive Director Gedel Merzius explained the program at the board’s Aug. 12 meeting.…

Construction on the first major downtown Orlando street to convert to two-way traffic is complete. Work on Magnolia Avenue, from South Street to Livingston Avenue, started in February and wrapped up in August. The project converted the stretch of road between the Orange County Courthouse and Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, removing the…

A historic building in downtown Bradenton could become the first part of a performing arts university campus next year. Manatee County commissioners unanimously approved the transfer of the former General Telephone (GTE) Building, located at 1009 Fourth Avenue W., to the City of Bradenton to be used as a performing arts conservatory for Point Park…

Tampa City Council, on a 4-3 vote with Council Members Charlie Miranda, Guido Maniscalco and Lynn Hurtak voting no, approved the funding and development agreement with the Rays at their August 27, 2026 meeting. Despite the language in the agreement being altered right up to the morning of the vote, Council Members Bill Carlson, Luis…

The Apopka Community Redevelopment Agency enters FY2027 with something many redevelopment agencies would envy: money. Its adopted budget totals nearly $7.85 million, including approximately $6.13 million in reserves and carryover funding. That balance partly reflects the CRA’s difficulty completing projects as quickly as revenue has accumulated, although a recent progress report shows meaningful work is…