Port of Tampa set to buy Channelside retail complex for $5.75 million TAMPA — The Tampa Port Authority finally found the buyer of its dreams to purchase Channelside Bay Plaza: the Tampa Port Authority. The port’s governing board on Tuesday voted unanimously to buy the downtrodden downtown retail center for $5.75 million from the Irish…
City of Deerfield Beach embraces child-friendly plan for Sullivan Park In the end, it was what it afforded children that won residents and Deerfield Beach commissioners over to a plan to develop Sullivan Park, approved by the Community Redevelopment Agency on Tuesday [9/10]. Both plans presented to the Bermello Ajamil and Partners called for spending…
As hotel market warms, new Marriott planned for downtown West Palm Beach WEST PALM BEACH — Yet another hotel is planned for downtown. This time, it’s a nine-story, 152-room Marriott Residence Inn, to be built at 455 Hibiscus St., between Quadrille Boulevard and Dixie Highway. Read full story
St. Petersburg seeks to brand downtown medical, academic hub ST. PETERSBURG — Just south of downtown, a quiet section of St. Petersburg has evolved into a jumble of research, academics and jobs. Hospitals, government agencies and a university campus employ at least 8,000 people. About 6,000 students seek college degrees. The district’s economic importance to…
Bradenton holds high hopes for restored historic hotel BRADENTON – The Pink Palace blushes no more. When it reopens as lodging in mid-November, after a $15 million upgrade, it will be beige. But that is rightly so, say historians, since the old Manatee River Hotel was off-white when it opened in 1926, at 309 10th St.…
Brownfields Program Turns Polluted Sites Into Economic Potential The Florida Brownfields Program facilitates redevelopment and job creation by empowering communities, local governments and other stakeholders to work together to assess, clean up and reuse sites that may have been previously impacted by pollutants. Brownfields are properties where expansion, redevelopment or reuse may be complicated by…
Sanford looks at selling wealth of downtown real estate on Lake Monroe When Sanford decided to buy half a downtown block last month for $450,000, city leaders said the purchase would give them more control over development along Lake Monroe. But although he voted to buy the land, which has been used as a public…
Eustis eyes downtown entertainment district Eustis city commissioners will meet Thursday night to consider creating a Downtown Waterfront Entertainment District to better promote the city and help local businesses. “An entertainment district is a recent trend in retailing and urban redevelopment that attempts to develop a pedestrian-oriented venue consisting of, but not limited to, movie…
State ethics staff: West Palm Beach CRA director broke no rules Kim Briesemeister, who resigned last week as the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency director, did not violate state ethics rules this summer when she proposed hiring a former West Palm Beach employee who worked for her private management firm, Florida Commission on Ethics staff say.…
Final curtain call for Pensacola’s historic Silver Screen Theatre If you’ve never taken the opportunity to enjoy a hot slice of pizza, a cold glass of beer and a sizzling summer blockbuster at the Silver Screen Theatre in Pensacola, today is your last chance. The locally-owned, family-friendly, value priced movie theater on 7280 Plantation Road…
Temple Terrace resident passionate about restoration of 1920s-era home In an effort to restore a local landmark, David Bulluck is stepping out on fate like the city founders in the 1920s. The 32-year-old attorney and his wife, Kristi, are investing tens of thousands of dollars to restore a 1920s Mediterranean Revival-style house at 306 Bullard…
$16 million pipeline could pump prosperity into West Augustine A $16 million pipeline was approved this week by St. Augustine City Commission, in partnership with the St. Johns County Commission, to provide cleaner drinking water and sewer service to 1,250 homes in West Augustine. West side residents have argued for years that, with sewer service…
FRA EXCLUSIVE: Can Local Government Snatch CRA Funds for Community Policing? Cities and counties often look at the pros and cons of providing community policing services using Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) funding. Chapter 163, Part III specifically allows this, with the caveat that the funds from the CRA trust fund must be expended for purposes…
VHB Project Wins 2013 IDA Downtown Achievement Award in Boynton, FL ORLANDO, FL – (September 3, 2013) – VHB, a recognized east coast planning, transportation, land development and environmental consulting firm with Florida offices in Orlando and Sarasota, announced that the International Downtown Association has presented a VHB project with the prestigious award: the 2013…
Downtown Jacksonville redevelopment plan slated for early 2014 The Downtown Investment Authority has spent the better part of a year plodding through the creation of a set of plans that will become the framework for the latest attempt at revitalizing the city center. This time, advocates hope, what the city comes up with won’t become…
Land in Palatka Sold for New Hotel, Marks Latest Development in Riverfront Revitalization SHP Hospitality LLC bought two blocks of land on St. John’s River in Palatka for $169,000, with plans to construct a Hampton Inn. Palatka city commission authorized the sale of 1.69 acres on 100 Memorial Parkway block near the St. John’s River and…
Three to be interviewed for Live Oak CRA director Live Oak — The Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency selected three candidates to interview for the director position at their board meeting Tuesday night. Three individuals, Lisa Kiernan (Jacksonville), Ronald Vanzant (Lawtey) and Timothy Williams (Wellborn), tied with five votes each and were selected to be…
West Palm Beach mulls private CRA This northern Broward County city and West Palm Beach have about the same population. Both have great weather, palm trees, and a mix of well-to-do, middle-class and blighted neighborhoods. And Kim Briesemeister. Briesemeister was, until last week executive director of West Palm Beach’s Community Redevelopment Agency since 2004. At…
New Smyrna Beach’s downtown revival – from the ashes: New building occupies prominent NSB location The site at the southeast corner of Canal and Orange streets ran the gamut of businesses over about 90 years — home to five-and-dime and dollar stores, a restaurant and most recently a furniture shop. Since 2008, however, the prominent…
St. Petersburg creates master plan for downtown waterfront Beneath the overwhelming noise of debate over the future of the Pier and the Tampa Bay Rays, a project that could be even more important to the city’s future is about to begin. On Sept. 9, almost two years after voters decided St. Petersburg needed a new…
New restaurants spice up downtown Fort Walton Beach It wasn’t long ago that downtown was really struggling. Many storefronts were empty and pedestrian traffic was low. But in recent years the area has undergone a transformation of new businesses that have brought new life. Downtown now is becoming known for its eclectic mix of restaurants offering…