Good News From Florida’s CRAs

The city of Marianna has just opened a brand new dog park, and it’s ready to welcome you and all of your furry friends to downtown. The new park is located behind the First United Methodist Church on Caledonia Street. “This location was selected because the church actually donated the property for that dog park.…

For decades, Tampanians have read the name of First Lt. Baldomero López on memorial plaques, historical markers, and the elementary school, swimming pool and veteran’s nursing home that bears his name. But now, Tampa residents and visitors will be able to come face to face with the Korean War hero who gave the ultimate sacrifice…

Construction is wrapping up on an affordable/workforce housing community in south Miami-Dade County. Sitework initially started on the 10-story venture in July 2025. Hibiscus Grove is a 270-unit development with residences including one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom models. They measure 630 to 1,260 square feet. Residences will be reserved for households earning 30, 60, or 80…

The City of St. Augustine Community Redevelopment Agency received the 2026 Roy F. Kenzie Award in the Annual Report – Small City category for its 2025 annual report, titled “Redevelopment 25!”The Florida Redevelopment Association presented the honor during its Annual Conference, held Oct. 20-23 in Charlotte Harbor, Fla. The “Redevelopment 25!” annual report documented a…

The Hallandale Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (HBCRA), located in Broward County, is providing up to $7,200 to assist low-income tenants struggling with recent rent hikes. This aid is exclusive to residents within the CRA district who meet specific economic and housing criteria. Under the Rent Stabilization Program, tenants can receive up to $600 per month…

Seventy-five new apartments for seniors have opened their doors in St. Petersburg, with residents moving into Burlington Post II over the past month after roughly two years of construction. The five-story building sits beside Burlington Post I, which began welcoming residents in 2018, and rounds out a growing stretch of affordable senior housing along Burlington…

The Hallandale Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (HBCRA) has opened its hurricane shutter and impact glass program for the fiscal year 2026-2027, providing assistance of up to $10,000 for eligible homeowners looking to protect their residences against hurricanes. The benefit covers the installation of storm shutters or impact-resistant glass windows and doors in owner-occupied properties within…

Boca Raton’s Community Redevelopment Agency voted 5-0 Tuesday to approve The Sanborn, an eight-story private members club planned across Northeast First Avenue from Sanborn Square, after residents raised concerns about traffic, parking and how much more development downtown can absorb. The vote adopts Resolution CRP-25-01, an individual development approval for the club at 100 N.E.…

The City of Tallahassee’s Community Redevelopment Agency welcomed residents to a community event where they shared their input on the future of their neighborhoods. Topics ranged from public safety to commercial development and sidewalk improvements. “It is critically important for the community to have the opportunity to give their input as it relates to the…

The CRA agreed at their meeting to contract with Halff, a nationwide firm specializing in designing infrastructure projects. They will be responsible for providing the city with professional design services to permit the Peterson Myers Redevelopment Site project for a fee of $448,679.24. The project includes the area around the three-story Peterson Myers office building,…

In October 1926, Paramount Pictures opened the gates to a Mediterranean-style fantasy world in downtown Tampa. Now the landmark Tampa Theatre celebrated its official Centennial following an ambitious, seven-month, $24.5 million restoration. Designed by legendary “atmospheric” architect John Eberson, the theater was created to make moviegoers feel as though they were watching a film inside…

A seven-story apartment building with 103 units is headed for a vote before Opa-locka’s Planning & Zoning Board next Tuesday, as Abreu Development pushes forward with a residential project near the city’s airport. The proposal also calls for a gym and 159 parking spaces, according to plans now under review by city officials. The development,…

An empty space in downtown Sebring is filling up after a groundbreaking in April of Sadie’s Place at 139 N. Ridgewood Drive, which was the site of the defunct Nan-ces-o-wee Hotel. Sadie’s Place is a project of X-Urban Construction, which is owned by Ken and Liz LeBlanc. “I am super excited to do this project;…

A 43-story tower proposed for downtown Miami’s Park West neighborhood could include a fire station on its ground floor. The Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency was considering a proposal from Atlanta-based developer ACRE Communities for a project that would bring 391 apartments to a 0.77-acre site at 604 NW 1st Avenue and 25 NW…

The City Council voted unanimously Oct. 12 to amend the City Center Planned Unit Development plan, clearing a step toward construction of a planned 6,000-seat sports stadium at the city-owned Walton & One complex near U.S. 1 and Walton Road. The Council previously approved an operating agreement with the United Soccer League for the construction…

Stephen James clearly relishes sharing before-and-after photos. Standing inside The Thirsty Dragon, one of the businesses in a building James and his wife, Tammy James, restored at the edge of downtown Lake Wales, James flipped through his phone to display images of the area before the renovations. Since the Jameses purchased the building at 114…

The Miami Museum of Contemporary Art of the African Diaspora is building momentum toward a permanent home in historic Overtown, positioning Black art, immersive technology and community storytelling at the center of Miami’s evolving arts scene. At its 2026 Appreciation Luncheon at the Overtown Performing Arts Center, Miami MoCAAD gathered cultural leaders, scholars, supporters, and…

A project that could transform part of downtown Cape Coral cleared a major hurdle on Wednesday night after a lengthy City Council meeting. City Council approved the $500 million Bimini East redevelopment despite some neighbors raising concerns about noise, traffic, and the impact on Four Freedoms Park. It was the final public hearing for the…

Pensacola City Council approved hiring Bayou District Consulting to begin planning what can be built on the old Baptist Hospital Campus, after initially rejecting the firm last year. Bayou District Consulting will oversee a community outreach effort to gather feedback on what residents who live in the neighborhoods around the campus want to see built.…

Monday and Tuesday Boca Raton’s City Redevelopment Agency and City Council are scheduled to hold public meetings addressing downtown development, a Mizner Park transfer, funding for the police headquarters and more. Boca Raton’s City Redevelopment Agency and City Council will consider changes to major downtown development projects, including The Residences at Boca and a proposed…