Good News From Florida’s CRAs

Gainesville wants to measure private interest in downtown lot The City Commission wants to measure private interest in the development of an often sparsely used city-owned parking lot downtown. But, in a shift of direction from the last round of talks on Lot 10, commissioners do not want to limit the discussion to a possible…

Plant City Downtown GardenFest may be the best ever, organizer says PLANT CITY – Barbara Wansley was among the many people who spent part of a sunny day in downtown for an annual event featuring gardening, arts and crafts and more. “I just moved back (to Plant City) after 30 years,” said Wansley, who likes…

Daytona Beach Main Street could be year-round draw as beachside develops DAYTONA BEACH — On Sunday evening, Barbara Hall’s sewing and alterations shop on Main Street was packed with bikers looking to buy Biketoberfest souvenirs and get their duds customized with commemorative patches. The next morning — roughly 12 hours after the annual motorcycle rally came…

Downtown Tampa skyscraper Element sells for $98 million TAMPA — One of downtown Tampa’s tallest, sleekest and most recognizable skyscrapers was sold last week for $98 million, property records show. Element, the 35-story apartment tower at 808 N Franklin St., was bought by a firm tied to Crescent Heights, a Miami-based luxury high-rise developer that…

Tallahassee CRA to use revenue for self-created projects A joint panel that oversees the Community Redevelopment Agency spent its Monday meeting lauding projected tax revenue generated by private ventures it supported and also discussed plans to fund its own projects. Since 2004, the CRA has committed $14.3 million in cash generated by tax-increment financing to…

Martin County commissioners agree to deal to forgive $1.7 million in fines for Rio Village owners A “Welcome to Rio” banner stands next to the entrance of the Rio Village Mobile Home Park on East Martin Avenue along Dixie Highway in 2012 in Rio.  Read full story

Coconut Grove waterfront plan goes to Miami voters On Coconut Grove’s picturesque but cluttered waterfront, a ramshackle marina, a seafood restaurant well past its prime and a funky if beloved watering hole known as Scotty’s Landing today occupy seven acres of choice public land next to Miami City Hall. Now their leases are up and…

Fort Myers downtown basin beckons Fort Myers is almost ready to unveil its new, downtown waterfront, but developers have yet to sign any contracts to build. A ribbon-cutting is tentatively scheduled for the first weekend in December, said Don Paight, executive director of the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency. “For all practical purposes,” he said,…

Avon Park CRA gives MLK Day back to community AVON PARK — A vocal majority won over the Avon Park Community Redevelopment Agency Board on Thursday. The Board, consisting of the members of the Avon Park City Council, voted to reject the previous vote to have the CRA sponsor the event. Instead, they have asked…

Editorial: To start cleaning up Lake Worth, outsource some of the work There are few issues in Lake Worth more pressing than the sad dilapidation of entire neighborhoods, which city officials for years have allowed to deteriorate into chaotic interminglings of orderly homes and abandoned, decaying buildings. Much of the blame lies with the city’s…

Pines downtown city center starts to take shape PEMBROKE PINES— The dream of a downtown city center, first conceived nearly a decade ago and stalled by the 2008 recession, finally is starting to come true. Once complete, the 80-acre site at Palm Avenue and Pines Boulevard will be home to more than 1,000 apartments, a…

Uptown Delray developer will present new plans for project The developers of Uptown Delray are back with an updated plan for their project, which would bring 146 rental apartments and space for shops to the heart of downtown. The original plans for the space, located on Southeast Second Street and Federal Highway, two blocks south…

Woman advocates efforts to preserve downtown neighborhoods in Sebring SEBRING – When Charlotte Pressler accepted a job as a professor at South Florida State College, it was natural for her to buy a historic house in Sebring’s downtown area because she has lived in such neighborhoods much of her life, she recalled Friday. When she…

New Smyrna looks to develop economic incentive program NEW SMYRNA BEACH — Crime, code enforcement issues and dilapidated or vacant buildings will still dog U.S. 1 when a prospective Community Redevelopment Area dawns here in 2015. It’s the Volusia County Council’s decision whether or not to grant New Smyrna Beach a redevelopment district. And even if…

Port Richey concludes street paving project PORT RICHEY — Crews recently finished paving in the Marina Palms subdivision by late last week for the city of Port Richey project. The city tapped into its Community Redevelopment Agency funds for the improvements. In June, city officials approved the bid from BRW Contracting, based in Land O’…

Nine make short list for county economic development manager job in Brooksville BROOKSVILLE – County Administrator Len Sossamon has nine applicants to consider for the vacant post of economic development manager. There had been 11, but one accepted another job and another withdrew his name from consideration. In all, 30 people had responded to the…

West Palm Beach sets CRA selection meeting for Friday A West Palm Beach committee tasked with selecting the private company that will take over the duties of the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency is scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. Friday. The meeting, the group’s first, will be held at the Flagler Gallery on the first…

West Atlantic residents ask questions about redevelopment projects Before Delray’s Community Redevelopment Agency selects a new tenant for six empty acres of land on West Atlantic Avenue, the developers have to make it past the toughest critics: the people who live, work and play in the area. On Thursday night, people packed a conference room…

Program aims to revive Cape streetscape CAPE CORAL – Cape Coral leaders want to spruce up the south end of the city. Tuesday evening, the Community Redevelopment Agency unveiled a new incentive program designed to fix some of the crumbling sidewalks and enhance the streetscape. Leaders said the goal is to create more of a…

Lake Worth shuffleboard building to become element city’s emerging arts district LAKE WORTH — The city’s shuffleboard building is on its way to being the next piece of an emerging arts district on the near west side. Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to convert the 5,000-square-foot building at 1121 Lucerne Ave. into a community cultural facility where…