Good News From Florida’s CRAs

4th Annual Southwest Florida Brownsfields Redevelopment Symposium to be held in Sarasota

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffMay 23, 2016

SARASOTA, Fla. – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s South District, in partnership with the city of Sarasota, the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council and Visit Sarasota County, will hold an educational symposium about the environmental and economic benefits of brownfield redevelopment on June 8 and 9. The annual symposium will share information about Florida’s Brownfields Redevelopment Program, which…

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It’s a late Monday morning and downtown Fort Myers looks hungover.

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffMay 23, 2016

It’s a late Monday morning and downtown Fort Myers looks hungover. First Street is sleepy still, its restaurants just starting to unlock doors and unfurl umbrellas. In Patio de Leon an empty whiskey box sits perched in the branches of an oak tree, above a palm-thatched rollaway bar that’s yet to be rolled away. “We own all of…

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City has high hopes for revitalization in West Ocala

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffMay 23, 2016

Over the next 30 years, the city of Ocala intends to pump more than $60 million into improvements to address blight through the West Ocala Community Redevelopment Area. Committee members, area residents, city officials and NAACP representatives recently looked at and talked about some of the targeted sites. A bus tour included the Phoenix Heights…

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Tallahassee Downtown Improvement Authority hires new CEO

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffMay 23, 2016

The next top official of the Tallahassee Downtown Improvement Authority is no stranger to local government. Paige Carter-Smith has been hired as the organization’s executive director. She’s filling a void created by the departure of Jay Revell, who’s now vice president of the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce. “I am excited about taking this position because…

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The Railroad to Quiet Zones: City Commission approves quiet zone funding

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffMay 23, 2016

Tired of hearing train horns while shopping and eating in Historic Downtown? City Commissioners are working to establish quiet zones in downtown. The regulations would ban trains from blasting their horns in the defined downtown area. At a City Commission meeting Monday, May 9, commissioners approved to match a $165,000 of grant from the Florida…

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FRA Members: The deadline to submit 2016 award entries is coming up on June 6th!

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffMay 17, 2016

The FRA Roy F. Kenzie Awards honor the best programs and projects in Florida redevelopment. Applications are accepted from FRA members who meet the award criteria and submit the entry fee. A winning entry is an acknowledgment of excellence for the work an organization is doing. All winners receive a trophy presented at the awards ceremony…

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Pompano Beach company reinvents cities

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffMay 12, 2016

Some South Florida cities are thriving with cultural activity, new businesses and jobs. But many are not, and that’s when they often turn to a Pompano Beach company. Redevelopment Management Associates turns economically distressed cities into flourishing ones by creating a vision for redevelopment and carrying it out, piece by piece. RMA employs 40 professionals…

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Pinellas County CRA approves Lealman, Florida plan

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffMay 10, 2016

Back in June, county commissioners made a historic decision: They created the first community redevelopment area in unincorporated Pinellas County. It was a move that, for years, was unthinkable with Pinellas officials saying they would never sanction a CRA in unincorporated Pinellas. CRAs were something cities did. That changed under a county administration and commission…

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Main Street revival: Downtown Plant City carves out new path to the future

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffMay 10, 2016

It’s the weekend in downtown Plant City, a time when many an urban core sleeps, waiting for the business week to bring the streets back to life with shoppers and office workers. But on this Saturday as springtime arrives, the shops stay open late and the streets teem with young families pushing strollers, older couples…

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Tampa to spend $560,000 on free electric shuttles for downtown

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffMay 3, 2016

TAMPA — Once they were popular. Then they were regulated out of existence. Now free electric shuttles will soon return to downtown Tampa. The City Council on Thursday approved spending $560,000 for a demonstration project to create a free electric shuttle service to provide short trips for downtown workers, residents and visitors. “The intention is…

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Crystal River CRA OKs new district for waterfront development

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffMay 2, 2016

High-rise waterfront condos won’t be coming to Crystal River anytime soon, but residents will likely see building heights rise downtown following Monday’s adoption of a new zoning district for properties near the city’s anticipated Riverwalk project. Board members of the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), who also sit as the city council, voted Monday to…

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Chipley City Council discusses Strategic Planning, Splashpad and Probation & Parole Retention Pond

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffMay 2, 2016

During Thursday night’s Chipley Council Workshop council members held a serious discussion with Ted Everett, Washington County Chamber and Chipley Redevelopment Commission,  concerning a multi-agency coalition to revisit a visioning plan for Downtown Chipley. Suggesting a task force be formed, to include the City Council, CRA, Code Enforcement, along with business and building owners, Everett…

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