Gerald Ensley: ‘The urban myth’ of Gaines Street, Tallahassee A couple of weeks ago, I made the mistake of posting on Facebook a few words of admiration for the opening of Bass Pro Shops in Tallahassee. I don’t hunt, fish or camp. But I know a dazzling retail operation when I see one. Of course,…
St. Pete Beach begins detailed study of downtown, Corey areas ST. PETE BEACH — A $280,000 consultant study is expected to produce a definitive plan for revitalizing the city’s downtown and Corey Avenue areas. “This is more than talk about ideas and ending up with a list of 10 things that are important,” City Manager Mike…
Wise investments for downtown Zephyrhills The city of Zephyrhills is advancing a downtown improvement plan that amounts to out with the old and in with the old. It’s a welcome convergence as the city seeks to preserve its history while simultaneously refurbishing aging building exteriors in its business district. Last week, the City Council, sitting…
Gainesville commission gives first approval to Butler Plaza ordinance Changes to the future redevelopment and expansion of the Butler Plaza retail district along Archer Road continue to advance through the City Commission. The first vote Thursday evening on an ordinance to make modifications passed 5-1, with Thomas Hawkins in dissent and Randy Wells absent. The…
Milton City Council approves riverfront master plan Milton City Manager Brian Watkins said today that the five-year plan to improve the city’s riverfront and downtown is underway. “We’re hoping to encourage economic development, tourism and economic activity in the downtown area,” he said. Watkins said the master plan will develop recreation facilities, infrastructure and investment,…
Fort Pierce transfers funds to maintain redevelopment administration, Sunrise Theatre Despite cutting back on operating expenses in all departments to meet the deficiencies in projected revenues for the year, city officials still needed to find additional funds to maintain the Urban Redevelopment Administration and the Sunrise Theatre. Read full story
Center of Bonita Springs undergoing a facelift to attract new tenants The sounds of concrete breaking and smashing to the ground fill the air as high-reach demolition machines rip apart an old Bealls department store. The business, like many retailers at this struggling 25-year-old Bonita Springs shopping center, closed years ago to move to a…
Largo Tri-City 8 movie theater is closing; center to be redeveloped LARGO — The AMC Tri-City 8 movie theater has been around for decades. It doesn’t have stadium seating or 20 theaters, just big, crisp screens showing the latest flicks at a cozy location right off U.S. 19. But the Tri-City 8 is closing by the…
Cape looks to revise sign regulations The city of Cape Coral is again looking at its sign ordinance with new regulations targeting both sign-wavers on public rights-of-way and the amount of signage in windows – something many small businesses, especially those in the downtown Community Redevelopment Agency district, say could force them to move or…
Palmetto debates funding strategy for nonprofits PALMETTO — The Palmetto City Commission approved the first reading of its$22.4 million budget proposal Monday evening during a special meeting. Funding nonprofits properly became a point of discussion. Commissioner Brian Williams said the city is shortchanging its representation at the Manatee County Fair. He said the city should…
West Palm Beach OKs — for now — plan for 25-story condo tower at Chapel-on-the-Lake site WEST PALM BEACH — City commissioners late Monday voted to approve — for now — a proposed 25-story waterfront condominium tower at the Chapel-by-the-Lake site on Flagler Drive. During a session that lasted six hours, developers said the tower would…
Downtown square project is shaping up in Ocala Work on Ocala’s downtown square is chugging along slightly behind schedule, but it will be finished by the Oct. 1 completion date. “We’re getting close,” said Catherine Cameron, the assistant city manager of public services. “There was a little issue with the star. It was holding a…
Naples council to weigh rules for downtown events on Wednesday NAPLES — Supporters of the evening jazz concerts in Cambier Park turned out in force Monday to petition the city to continue the series. “I appeal to you, friends,” said Everett Hughes, president of the Naples Concert Band, a musical group also hoping to use the…
iPic will roll out iPad in new deluxe Delray Beach theater iPic Entertainment, the luxury movie theater company, will build a theater in downtown Delray Beach, its second Palm Beach County location. When the complex opens in 2015, it will feature iPic’s latest upscale treat: An iPad to order drinking and dining options. iPic was recently…
Can a reborn City Center in Port St. Lucie be a success? Columnist Anthony Westbury asks could the newly sold City Center land in Port St. Lucie still become the downtown the city’s never had? Read full story
Lake Worth targets blight in Royal Poinciana neighborhood LAKE WORTH — With a baby on her hip, Yolanda Vasquez shyly approached the podium at the Sept. 3 city commission meeting. “I live in District 1, in Royal Poinciana,” Vasquez said. “There is a real lack of safety. There’s not enough lighting, and you know what’s hanging…
Three big city building projects progressing in Gainesville In a large clearing at the back of a cluster of business parks in north Gainesville, a no-frills garage stands near an expansive slab of concrete. A newly built road complete with a sidewalk runs past the new construction and dead ends at a patch of woods.…
Tampa Bay Rays stalemate keeps two downtowns in limbo Here’s a question: How long should Jeff Vinik wait? The Lightning owner wants to develop his land around the Tampa Bay Times Forum, but the possibility of a baseball stadium in that location has kept him in limbo. Here’s another question: How long should Pinellas County…
With Walmart’s riverfront property for sale, Tarpon Springs considers options TARPON SPRINGS — After causing years of hand-wringing by residents and environmental groups, Walmart has finally decided to put its 74-acre riverfront property up for sale. The property, thought to be home to bald eagles, gopher tortoises and sandhill cranes, is listed at $8.5 million.…
Clearwater’s Gateway Farmers Market withers on vine CLEARWATER — After a debut that rubbed some property owners the wrong way, the Clearwater Gateway Farmers Market has been put into the deep freeze — and it may be permanent. A state grant has run out and city economic development officials won’t commit money for the next…
DeLand museum changes name, adds space downtown Knowledge is power; art imitates life; without knowing history we are doomed to repeat it. These familiar phrases formed the gist of Museum of Art-DeLand CEO George Bolge’s message to the community Sept. 4. At a news conference, Mr. Bolge said the name change, from Museum of Florida Art…