Good News From Florida’s CRAs

Ocala OKs $100K for CRA grant program The Ocala City Council has approved $100,000 for the Community Redevelopment Area building revitalization grant program that begins with the new fiscal year on Oct. 1 for property owners and businesses in the downtown and North Magnolia Avenue areas. The council also approved several changes to the criteria.…

The future of the Marianna’s Russ House It’s somewhat sad to see Marianna’s iconic Russ House, the stately mansion that housed the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and, currently, the Jackson County Tourist Development Council, with a For Sale sign out. The antebellum structure is perhaps the most stunning example of period architecture in the…

Broadway project a ‘start’ in revitalization of west Ocala West Broadway has a new look. The city of Ocala recently completed a project to upgrade the street from the State Road 40 bridge bypass to Pine Avenue. “It makes it more pedestrian friendly,” said Catherine Cameron, assistant city manager of public services. “People can walk…

Downtown North CRA in Panama City installs new leadership PANAMA CITY — The Downtown North Community Redevelopment Agency has reconfigured the way it prioritizes grants with an advisory committee. The Downtown North Advisory Committee will consist of seven members representing the different interests within the massive district. The paramount requirement would be that members either…

Port St. Lucie’s Civic Center could become financial burden on city The Civic Center in Port St. Lucie sits mostly alone on land off U.S. 1 and Walton Road in an area once envisioned as a bustling downtown. Read more about what could save the project.  Read full story

Activists hope to restore historic Jackson House in Tampa TAMPA — A coalition of civic activists led by Tax Collector Doug Belden and businessman Marvin Knight hopes to restore the historic Jackson House. “They have uplifted my heart,” said Willie Robinson Jr., whose family has owned the rooming house for more than 100 years. “A…

A busier downtown St. Petersburg not always Sunshine City Take a look skyward and one of the first things you notice are the cranes brushing broad strokes of development in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg. There are at least a half dozen developments under construction. These signs of growth offer opportunities for small businesses,…

St. Petersburg officials name panel to study waterfront ST. PETERSBURG — City officials announced this week the makeup of an expert panel from the Urban Land Institute that will soon arrive here to analyze the waterfront, interview stakeholders and offer guidance on the area’s future. At a cost of $125,000 (80 percent of which was paid…

Sarasota mansion teardown part of a trend? SARASOTA – Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik’s decision to raze a perfectly livable — and relatively new — St. Armands Key mansion may have set Southwest Florida real estate watchers abuzz, but the demolition won’t be the opening salvo of a new trend involving upscale homes, local professionals…

‘Unsightly’ ship vexes Panama City PANAMA CITY — After spending upward of $100,000 to remove more than 20 derelict boats from Watson Bayou, Panama City has been left with one behemoth of an eyesore, city officials said. El Dorado, also called the Sun Dancer, is formerly a luxury cruise liner transferred from the St. Andrews…

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…