Good News From Florida’s CRAs

Florida Tech Forges Path to Manufacturing Future as Federal Grant Spurs Reuse of Palm Bay Facility

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffOctober 26, 2015

MELBOURNE, FLA. — Florida Institute of Technology will use a $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to launch the Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Innovative Design, a 100,000-square-foot facility in the former Intersil building in Palm Bay that will advance the capabilities of U.S. companies in next-generation manufacturing methods while ensuring students…

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Bowen: Plan seeks to end the spread of ‘Zombieville’

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffOctober 26, 2015

The poster child for blight along U.S. 41 just got put up for adoption. This week, a front-end loader deposited piles of wood and concrete into dump truck beds on the lot at 4610 Land O’Lakes Blvd. The rubble is the former home of McFarlane’s Appliance Center and, at one time, had been a truck…

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Avon Park business corridor in ‘upswing’

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffOctober 25, 2015

AVON PARK – Melissa Hayes is so confident about the future of downtown Avon Park business growth, she literally sealed its future. Hayes, executive director of the Avon Park Chamber of Commerce, spent about three weeks on her own putting down and adhering new floor paneling in the chamber office, 28 E. Main St. During…

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Vinik on Tampa project: ‘We’re building half a city’

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffOctober 25, 2015

When Jeff Vinik bought the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team in 2010, he was not thinking about becoming the lightning rod for redevelopment of the nation’s 20th largest metro area. But that’s the way it has worked out, as Vinik — who is going to be a part-time Sarasota resident with the construction of a…

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Developer plans 380 rentals in downtown Fort Lauderdale

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffOctober 24, 2015

A developer paid $7.2 million for a downtown Fort Lauderdale site with plans to build 380 rentals — though he’s not ruling out condos. “What makes sense at this point is apartments, but things can change,” said Jim Ellis, founder of Ellis Diversified Inc. The 1½-acre property is at 477 SW First Ave., next to…

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Federal grant to bolster Midtown entrepreneurs

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffOctober 24, 2015

ST. PETERSBURG— A $75,000 grant from the federal Small Business Administration will help the Tampa Bay Black Business Investment Corp. and the city of St. Petersburg offer training to small-business aspirants in bookkeeping, business plans and other educational purposes. The announcement Tuesday was heralded by Mayor Rick Kriseman as another piece of support for the…

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Sebring approves tax-abatements for vacant downtown hotels

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffOctober 23, 2015

SEBRING — Projects to rehabilitate two long-vacant historic downtown hotels and make improvements to a museum received a boost from the Sebring City Council this week. The City Council approved several ordinances regarding the Santa Rosa and the Nan-Ces-O-Wee. Council members also agreed the city should participate in a project to make the Military Sea…

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Big investor in Ybor City looks to pay $792,000 for city-owned lot

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffOctober 23, 2015

TAMPA — After nearly two years of trying, City Hall appears to have a buyer with a big plan for a high-profile corner in Ybor City. The City Council next week is expected to consider a contract to sell a third of a block at E Seventh Avenue and Nick Nuccio Parkway for $792,000. The…

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A San Francisco Street Transformed by Food

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffOctober 22, 2015

SAN FRANCISCO — For decades, as this city polished its reputation as an essential food destination, a stretch of Market Street just a short stroll from the groundbreaking Zuni Café remained stubbornly unchanged, an odd wasteland of check-cashing stores and weed dealers punctuated by the whiff of urine. A city survey last year declared that Market…

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Sip owner appreciative of impact fee waiver in Leesburg

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffOctober 22, 2015

Saving nearly $50,000 in impact fee waivers has allowed Benjamin Moseley and his business partner Anita Valdez the opportunity to redeveloped four previously vacant downtown Leesburg sites, including Sip, a jazz and blues restaurant lounge with food, wine, and live entertainment that draws crowds to 707 W. Main St. “This is a great town,” said…

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Ousted Boynton CRA member: Hidden agenda at work in dismissals

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffOctober 21, 2015

BOYNTON BEACH — As president of an influential residential group in Boynton Beach, Harry Woodworth likes to be in the know. And he felt like he was “in the know” when there were two members of the public on the Community Redevelopment Agency board. The Inlet Cove Association president was familiar with James “Buck” Buchanan…

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Gov. Scott announces battery company’s big plans for Brevard

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffOctober 21, 2015

PALM BAY — When a company like Harris Corp. or Northrop Grumman Corp. says they’re going to create 1,000 good-paying jobs, people sit up and take notice. When it’s a relatively unknown company, there’s a bit of a credibility curve. Lynda Weatherman, chief executive officer of the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, said…

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