NEW PORT RICHEY — A Pasco County city focused on growth is saying no to a particular kind of store in downtown. The New Port Richey City Council recently voted in favor of a new ordinance that would prohibit convenience stores from opening downtown. “We think convenience stores are a deterrent to traditional businesses in…
DetailsThe site of the old Medical Center Clinic building near downtown Pensacola has a new owner, but it may not yield the kind of redevelopment opportunity neighbors had envisioned. Redevelopment of 1750 N. Palafox has been a challenge. It has been eyed as a spot to add to the housing or rental market stock in…
DetailsThe new Bonita Springs branch of the Lee County Library will be located in city’s downtown section, following an agreement reached Tuesday by city and county officials on the placement and general design. County officials agreed to the city’s request to put the library downtown, rather than building a new facility at the current site on Pine Avenue. Read…
DetailsNEW PORT RICHEY — Some big changes are coming in 2016, says City Manager Debbie Manns. First and foremost, is the Sims Park Grand Reopening Celebration, which is coming 12:30 p.m. Jan. 30, Manns recently told the audience at Greater New Port Richey Main Street Lunch and Learn. The park has been closed since June. The…
DetailsST. PETERSBURG — Mayor Rick Kriseman wants to make one thing clear: at least $5 million is headed to the impoverished neighborhoods of south St. Petersburg from the Tampa Bay Rays deal — regardless of whether the team stays or goes. And that $5 million is just a down payment, he said Tuesday. The predominantly African-American community…
DetailsWest Palm’s Community Redevelopment Agency wants to hire a company to set up a design competition to re-imagine the city waterfront and downtown. “The city wishes to evaluate, imagine, plan and design for continued growth along the West Palm Beach Waterfront that will help to grow the economic base of the city.” At today’s 3…
DetailsLonnie Ballard, assistant city manager over development and transportation, resigned today. Ballard — whose last day will be Jan. 29 — led the Aviation, Public Works, Growth Management, Planning Land and Community Enhancement and Economic and Community Development departments since former City Manager Anita Favors Thompson hired him in April 2014. Ballard also provided oversight to the Capital…
DetailsFROSTPROOF — Building a grocery store, improving roads and attracting Dunkin’ Donuts topped the list of projects a potential Community Redevelopment Agency should work on, according to residents. Before city commissioners vote on whether to form a CRA, the Central Florida Regional Planning Council held a workshop Monday to get community input for what problems…
DetailsPort St. Lucie, a disparate series of residential developments and strip malls, had little to boast beyond its proximity to a nuclear plant and its fame as the spring training home of the New York Mets. Then Lily Zhong came to town, plunked down $500,000 for vacant land and promised to finally build a real…
DetailsSPRINGFIELD — Springfield commissioners want 2016 to be the year the city comes clean. “We need to get everything in this city cleaned up,” Commissioner Phillip Dykes said during a recent board meeting. “Things have been let go in Springfield. We need to get to work on our city.” As a result, the commission is…
DetailsBRADENTON — In its first workshop since assuming control of three community redevelopment agencies, the Bradenton City Council inched forward this week with the transition, focusing mostly on creating a new economic development department. The goal is to create the department and hire an economic development director to work closely with the CRAs and the…
DetailsCRYSTAL RIVER — So this is what Main Street looks like. Quaint downtown shops and restaurants, signs along a landscaped-divided U.S. 19 that point out parking and areas of interest, a boardwalk along the bay that intersect with bike trails, and decorative crosswalks to get visitors safely from one side of the highway to the other.…
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