Good News From Florida’s CRAs

Downtown record shop Arrow’s Aim will re-open in a new location Wednesday with three times the space for vinyl. The growth of Arrow’s Aim proves that a culture of allegiance to small, local businesses thrives downtown, owner Daniel Halal said. Its neighbors include the Harvest Thyme Cafe, The Wooly event space, The Top restaurant and…

ZEPHYRHILLS — Betty Kennedy has been named the new executive director of Main Street Zephyrhills, Inc., following the resignation of Gina Granger, whose last day was Tuesday. This is a second stint for Kennedy, who served as Main Street Zephyrhills executive director from October 1999 to June 2001. Among her accomplishments: She presided over getting Zephyrhills…

TAMPA — Downtown projects generate the most cash and grab the headlines, but Tampa’s redevelopment efforts outside the urban core also face a key vote this week. After about a year of negotiation, Tampa and Hillsborough County officials propose to renew all of the city’s existing “community redevelopment areas,” plus create a new one. County…

Delray Beach brought about a revival of its downtown earlier than most Florida cities. Now the area south of Atlantic Avenue, which was slower to catch on than the land north of Atlantic, is gaining momentum. Read full article

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Lee County Commission Tuesday pledged up to $4 million to rehab Harborside Event Center in downtown Fort Myers, a project that Mayor Randy Henderson said will be an economic catalyst for the city and region when complete by 2017. Read full article

It might be the biggest thing to happen in downtown Miami since Henry Flagler brought his railroad south and created downtown Miami. And it’s happening sooner than you might think, on the same long-vacant acreage where Flagler built his little Miami train depot more than a century ago. No longer just a concept, All Aboard…

The Miami City Commission unanimously approved plans for a downtown convention center and 1,800-room hotel Thursday on the site of the old Miami Arena. The commission’s approval of MDM Development’s $600 million Marriott Marquis Miami World Center clears an important hurdle for the developer, which can now pursue permits and tax rebates, and push to…

Lennar Commercial and Codina Partners have begun construction on the first phase of the Shops at Downtown Doral, where they plan to feature locally-owned restaurants and retailers on Main Street, including two concepts by Bulla – a gastrobar and a ceviche restaurant, and Dragonfly, a robata grill and sushi lounge. The first wave of retailers,…

PANAMA CITY — City Manager Jeff Brown will not hire a Community Redevelopment Agency director for at least a year, saving about $60,000. Instead, Brown has appointed Stephen Cox as the program manager of the downtown district Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and former administrative assistant Onya Bates to fill Cox’s current position as Millville district…

The Martin County Community Redevelopment Agency installed a rain garden on Mapp Road in the Old Palm City Community Redevelopment Area. This attractive, environmentally-friendly project allows water to infiltrate into the soil rather than becoming runoff. This helps to protect the quality of water downstream by preventing runoff from entering storm drains and helps reduce…

Once completed, Leesburg’s $3.8 million streetscape project will be the city’s centerpiece, Mayor John Christian said during a groundbreaking ceremony for the project Tuesday morning. “This streetscape is going to be the centerpiece of our great city,” he said. “We want Leesburg to be a thriving city. I commend all of you who has worked…

An acoustic ceiling that was installed in the old city auditorium at Tuscawilla Park in the 1980s is being torn down to expose the original bow trusses. “We want people to see there is movement going on,” said Pamela Calero, the Ocala Symphony Orchestra’s executive director. “Everything has been approved with the city.” The full…

WEST PALM BEACH — The city is about to get more specific about how loud is too loud in downtown West Palm Beach — and not everyone is happy. The City Commission is expected next month to discuss a proposed ordinance that would regulate noise more downtown, from Flagler Drive to Tamarind Avenue and from…

The Orchid Garden, a hidden gem in downtown Orlando, has undergone a $2 million renovation by Tremont Realty Capital and is back in business. The hall and meeting facility was created in the image of a New Orleans courtyard when Bob Snow built it in the ’80s. He spared little expense, using real marble, brass…

When most motorists pass through downtown Ormond Beach they might see an abandoned building or two. Lucia Fanning and Kristin Heron saw blank canvas. Now the artists’ large-scale works will serve as a backdrop for the inaugural Ormond Beach Granada Grand Festival of the Arts. Julia Truilo, executive director for Ormond Beach Main Street, said…

FORT WALTON BEACH — Bring up public parking in the downtown shopping district and you’re likely to get an earful. Bottom line? Folks want more of it. The city recently agreed to study the parking issue across the entire Community Redevelopment Agency footprint – something that hasn’t happened since 2007. “A lot has happened in…

Widowed and 84 years old, Julia Minors, and her puppy, Coco, had no one to complete even the most trivial repairs on their home until Minors heard about a paint voucher program from a friend. Minors’ home received renovations to her house at little cost through Partnership for Paint, a program sponsored by Gainesville’s Community…

PANAMA CITY — The Downtown Improvement Board (DIB) selected a new director Wednesday, but the public won’t know the name of the new administrator until the vetting process is complete. DIB Chairman Jim Hayden said the position has been offered and the top candidate has accepted the job. The new director will be announced at…

SARASOTA – Some local business owners and chain stores are flocking to University Parkway and Interstate 75 to be a part of the buzz surrounding the new Mall at University Town Center. Others want to avoid it completely. The only certainty is that Southwest Florida’s retail scene is undergoing a potentially seismic shift. How downtown…

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Monday, Sept. 29, the award of $61,130 to the City of Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) for a project to strengthen and expand the Live Oak Farmers Market through training and outreach. The grant was gifted through the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP), and it…

TAMPA — Bill Gates’ riches will help fuel Jeff Vinik’s vision. An investment fund controlled by Microsoft’s billionaire founder will help finance the Tampa Bay Lightning owner’s ambitious plan to build a massive entertainment, office, residential and retail district around the Amalie Arena. “This has the potential to be a billion-dollar development,” said Vinik’s top…