Last week, downtown Clearwater witnessed the inaugural step towards a major development project with a ceremonial groundbreaking for The Ballad Hotel. This venture, sprouting in the heart of the city, is a joint effort backed by city officials, the Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency and various project partners such as the DeNunzio Group, KAST Construction, Behar…
Downtown Orlando is about to look different in the next couple of years, with four massive developments moving forward simultaneously. From a Church Street revamp to reimagining the old Orlando Sentinel site, the city is gearing up for one of its biggest transformations in decades. Yehya Rizeq, who owns Crepe Delicious of Church Street, says…
Secretary of State Cord Byrd announced that Park Avenue District, located in Winter Park, Orange County, has been designated the December 2025 Florida Main Street Program of the Month. “It is fitting to recognize this Main Street Program in December,” said Secretary of State Cord Byrd. “With a variety of Christmas and Chanukah celebrations, visiting…
(Photo courtesy of City of West Palm Beach) West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) proudly announces the completion of the long-awaited renovation of the iconic Sunset Lounge. Located on 8th Street in the heart of the Historic Northwest District, the venue has long been a cultural cornerstone for the community. Originally a…
The city’s outdoor Amphitheater, under construction at Memorial Park, is scheduled to open on time this spring. The new covered stage area is estimated to have a crowd capacity of 2,500 people. The event complex will feature a green room, lawn seating, an architectural entry way with plaza area, monument entry, brick paver walkways, landscaping,…
From the 1930s through the 70s, Black elders remember the Sunset Lounge in West Palm’s Historic Northwest District as a place where jazz legends performed — Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, to name a few. And now the cultural gem has reopened after sitting idle for nearly two years. It’s pure “nostalgia,” said…
Winter Park’s long-planned effort to fix one of its most congested intersections is now officially moving forward, and that means a major change for a local arts landmark. “This area is part of our Community Redevelopment Agency,” Knight said. “Back in the mid-90s, part of that CRA plan was to eventually acquire this property along here.…
The city is continuing to work on the Dyson’s Plaza Commercial Revitalization project as well as the Legacy Home Rehabilitation Pilot Program. The city of Winter Garden is making progress on revitalization projects for the Historic East Winter Garden Neighborhood. Marc Hutchinson, the city’s economic development director, shared an update on the Dyson’s Plaza Commercial…
The City of Margate is preparing to advance a major infrastructure upgrade along North State Road 7 as part of a broader effort to support redevelopment and modernize a key commercial corridor. An Interlocal Agreement between the City and the Margate Community Redevelopment Agency (MCRA) authorizes the MCRA to fund the undergrounding of overhead utility…
Authentic Bahamian conch salad, conch fritters, pigeon peas and rice, and collards are among the delectable dishes the Higgs family will be serving up at their Big Daddy Conch Restaurant and Grill in Collier City. At the Nov. 18 Pompano Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting, the CRA Board welcomed the family-owned business with the aim…
The Renaissance Theatre Co. has found a temporary new home just in time for the holidays — and it’s a familiar space to fans of performing arts in Orlando. On Tuesday afternoon, it was revealed that the City of Orlando has granted the Ren a temporary lease running through the end of March to take…
Tampa’s historic Sanchez y Haya building is receiving a substantial facelift, blending millions in redevelopment funding with community fervor. The East Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is leading the charge on this $18.5 million restoration, with the aim to rejuvenate the 115-year-old structure that has witnessed decades of decay. According to an announcement on Tampa’s…
Margate residents will see improvements to city medians. During the November 12 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting, the board approved a resolution authorizing a $244,586 contract with Keith and Associates for design, permitting, and construction administration for the median enhancement projects. The resolution went into effect upon passage, and the item passed with little discussion. The project area includes…
Boca Raton’s Community Redevelopment Agency has approved a revised Camino Square Phase 2 plan that trades some apartments for more retail space and adds new requirements aimed at traffic and pedestrian safety along West Camino Real. The CRA board voted 5–0 on Monday, November 17, to amend Individual Development Approval CRP-16-02R2 for the western 4.54…
A new marine science center is coming to the Intracoastal in Deerfield Beach, backed by a partnership between the Museum of Discovery and Science and the Deerfield Beach Community Redevelopment Agency. The 10,000-square-foot center is planned for Sullivan Park, where it will anchor the next phase of the city’s ongoing push to remake the Cove…
The final mural of Tallahassee’s Mural Makeover Project is nearing completion in Southeast Tallahassee, marking the end of a citywide effort to transform problem spots into vibrant public art displays. Local artist Sig Dial is putting the finishing touches on the sixth and final installation this week, a piece that will join five others across…
Lakeland residents are getting the chance to help shape the future of three of the city’s most historic and fastest-growing neighborhoods. The Lakeland Community Redevelopment Agency just launched a new initiative called “Restore the Core,” focusing on Downtown, Midtown and Dixieland, and they are asking neighbors for their feedback. Lakeland residents are getting the chance…
The Sebring Community Redevelopment Agency has a new program with the goal of adding more retail businesses downtown after the CRA helped bring more eateries into the area. After the CRA Board workshopped the details of a commercial rental sublease program the board approved it recently at its regular meeting. CRA Board Chair David Leidel…
While the former Bank of America Building on South Ridgewood Drive in Sebring sits vacant, plans are being finalized for a full renovation and a new purpose for the structure. The building’s second floor will serve as the offices for Marmer Construction while the ground floor will house the Sebring Hall of Fame Race Museum…
Workforce housing can be pretty basic, but when Pearl Homes’s Marshall Gobuty built 86 homes at Hunters Point that delivered LEED Zero certified homes and also showcased homes that could operate for days off grid, he created a new standard. While the homes cost more to build, the efficiency of the homes lowered the operational…
The Margate Community Redevelopment Agency (MCRA) is considering whether to approve Task Order No. 3 with Chen Moore and Associates, Inc. (CMA) for expanded civil engineering, landscaping, and construction administration services related to the ongoing Margate Boulevard Crosswalk and Landscape Improvements Project. The proposed agreement would authorize an additional $107,365 in professional services, bringing total…