Bunnell residents want to preserve the city’s history and beauty but don’t want government to tell them how to do it. That was the message city commissioners and members of the planning, zoning and appeals board heard during a joint workshop Feb. 20 at the Flagler County Government Services Building. The workshop focused on the…
DAYTONA BEACH — The developers behind the $289 million first phase of One Daytona, an ambitious vision of shops, restaurants, hotels and apartments across the street from Daytona International Speedway, are asking for roughly $40 million in public funding from Volusia County and the city of Daytona Beach. The wheels are in motion to provide…
All across South Florida, civic advocates and Community Redevelopment Agencies are partnering with investors to turn aging neighborhoods into vibrant economic centers. CRAs help developers get deals done by identifying available land or providing financial incentives for projects that benefit the area and its residents. CRA-backed redevelopment transforms spaces, revitalizes places, creates millions of dollars…
Community Planning Technical Assistance Grants The Department’s Bureau of Community Planning application process is currently open through June 6, 2014. Purpose Funding was requested to assist counties and municipalities in meeting the requirements of the Comprehensive Planning Act, addressing critical local planning issues, and promoting innovative planning solutions. This will be an annual funding cycle.…
LARGO — Dolcini’s Gelato was a sweet spot in downtown Largo. It sold coffee, sorbet and Italian ice, but its specialty was creamy and delicious gelato in flavors ranging from pistachio to Oreo cookies. But now the shop in West Bay Plaza is just another downtown business that has closed. Dolcini’s is no more. That…
DUNEDIN — City commissioners have preliminarily approved discounts and incentives aimed at encouraging residential developers to build in the downtown. At issue is Dunedin’s Land Dedication Ordinance, or LDO. Since the mid 1970s, the ordinance has required owners of new residential developments containing five or more units to either include green space for their residents…
Bills that would extend liability protection for the clean up of contamination sites known as “brownfields” are moving through the House and Senate. Bill supporters, including the Florida Brownfields Association, also are asking the Legislature to boost a $5 million annual tax credit for cleanups to reduce or eliminate what was a $14.7 million backlog…
As Fort Meade drafts a vision for its downtown area, residents will come together again to review a report consolidating the ideas they expressed at a planning meeting. Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting Thursday, which will begin at 7 p.m. in the Fort Meade Community Center, 10 SW Third St. Colleen Burton of…
The City of Hallandale Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (the “CRA”), Florida, invites interested parties to submit qualifications from experienced individual(s), group(s), or company(ies), referred to in this RFP as the “Master Developer”, to provide the services described in the RFP. The CRA intends to evaluate and determine which firm(s) is qualified to participate in a…
The Board of the Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) invites interested law firms and/or attorneys to submit a written Letter of Interest and Hourly rates to provide CRA Attorney services to the Boynton Beach CRA. The CRA intends to enter into a contractual arrangement with a firm or individual attorney to provide legal services…
The City of New Port Richey, Florida invites interested qualified persons to submit Letters of Qualifications for the renovation and management of the Historic Hotel property. The Community Redevelopment Plan for this area requires a use such as a boutique hotel, restaurant and/or other related amenities. The City’s goal is for the historic preservation and…
The Open-Air Information Center serves a critical purpose for the Port St. Joe Historic Downtown Shopping District: it will provide travelers on US-98 a vision of retail opportunities one block to the east — the center of the business district that is not visible from the highway. It will also serve to inform passers-by of…
It is not everyday that a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) gets recognized for a project that promotes environmentally conscious design and placemaking among multi-million dollar super-highway and infrastructure, space orbiter, and aeronautic and astronautic projects. This award confirms that a modest project incorporating humanity with technological innovations will eventually find its way to the top…
LAKE PLACID — Heated debate was the norm Monday night when the Town Council discussed fire inspections, annexing areas into the town for the creation of a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and a resolution for funding to improve the health of Lake McCoy. Councilman Mike Waldron told the council that he tried to find out…
CLEARWATER – The city of Clearwater could forgo more than $1 million in tax revenue over the next decade on improvements to General Electric Co.’s nearly 40-year-old manufacturing site. City officials, though, say they’re getting a good deal – an overhauled manufacturing plant in the aging Hercules Avenue industrial zone, more than 200 new jobs…
Orange City is known for small town ambiance. Our little city is a great community to raise a family and is home to many businesses. However, our city needs the help of the county council! We need county council to approve the Community Redevelopment Plan. Approving the CRA would mean a portion of city taxes…
Coral Gables has a new historic district along Coral Way, following a unanimous decision by the city’s Historic Preservation Board on Thursday. The district will include 61 residences, three plazas, three vacant lots and a park between Alhambra Circle and Anderson Road. The district includes some of the first home in Coral Gables, built in…
The City of Fernandina Beach and the Amelia Island Museum of History wish to recognize the efforts of those involved in preserving our unique architectural resources by honoring historic preservation projects through the City’s third preservation awards program. Historic structures contribute to the identity of our community, and sensitive treatment of these resources ensures residents…
WEST PALM BEACH — Nationally-recognized “walkability” and urban planning consultant and author Jeff Speck will do a study of West Palm Beach’s downtown. The board of the city’s Downtown Development Authority approved the deal at its monthly meeting on Tuesday. The DDA will pay half the $50,000 cost, with the city and its community redevelopment agency splitting the other…
LAKE ALFRED | Lake Alfred is moving closer to creating a Community Redevelopment Agency. Commissioners voted Monday to adopt the area identified by a finding of necessity study as the target for the agency. Next the Polk County Commission will have to approve the finding of necessity study and give the city authority to establish…
Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn provides a swift update of the InVision Tampa Plan (developed with a 2010 HUD Community Challenge grant), which has focused on drawing development back into the city’s downtown and close-in neighborhoods. So far, 1,000 residents have been involved, first hand, with 1,700 engaging with the project on-line. The waterfront and downtown is already attracting…