City commissioners unanimously approved a 78-unit affordable-housing project on June 3. The project, called The Flats on Main Street, will be built on a 3.5-acre wooded lot at 1422 Carnation Drive off State Road 580. Commissioners said they had no choice but to approve the development agreement with Archway Partners because it’s the only available…
The Margate Community Redevelopment Agency (MCRA) will fund advanced surveillance and traffic safety equipment to support community policing efforts across the redevelopment district. The $174,140.84 investment aligned with Florida Statutes which promotes innovative community policing as part of urban revitalization strategies. The initiative, proposed by the Margate Police Department and backed by CRA Executive Director…
Margate residents will soon see significant improvements to Coral Gate Park, located at 5650 Coral Lake Drive. During the June 11 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting, the board approved a contract with MBR Construction for an amount not to exceed $670,000, plus an additional five percent contingency, for a total of $704,335. The work will…
Bradenton & Palmetto CRAs Celebrate Freebee Service Expansion with Ribbon Cutting City officials from Bradenton and Palmetto gathered yesterday to celebrate a major milestone: the official ribbon cutting for the expanded Freebee electric ride service that now connects…
Fort Myers has been named the second-best small city to start a business, according to WalletHub. WalletHub says there’s been a 22% increase in new businesses since 2016, fueled by strong investor presence and support from local development agencies. Swamp Cat Brewing Company opened its doors in March. Chris Guiterrez’s wife created a Florida-inspired aesthetic for…
Wynwood Works, a 12-story, 120-unit fully affordable, mixed-use development in Miami’s Wynwood District has been completed. It was developed as a public-private partnership joint venture led by the Omni Community Redevelopment Agency, Magellan Housing, Harmony Housing Affordable Development and the Udonis Haslem Foundation. Located at 2035 N. Miami Ave., the community is the first large-scale,…
To help the group tasked with facilitating an updated Sarasota downtown master plan to determine where it is going, it must first learn where it has been. During its May 28 meeting, the city’s 13-member Downtown Master Plan 2020 Update Committee heard from five witnesses who were here when the adoption of current plan came…
The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency approved several Commercial Property Improvement Matching Grants for downtown and Cleveland Avenue redevelopment areas. Grants include $22,095 for Sunshine State Law at 2058 Cottage St. for exterior repairs and upgrades; $22,335 for Fountain of Grace International Corp. at 1702/1704 Fowler St. for stucco replacement; and $3,075 for 7091 Pinnacle…
Fort Myers city leaders have voted to work with the Community Redevelopment Agency to restore McCollum Hall to a usable space, marking a pivotal moment for community advocates. The city council did not approve giving $4.2 million to the current developer of the historic property. The money has been handed to the C.R.A., but can…
The City of Fort Walton Beach congratulates Christina Donahoe of Christina Custom Art on her winning design for a new downtown Fort Walton Beach entrance sign. For her design efforts, Donahoe was presented with a check for $5,000 during a Fort Walton Beach City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 20. The entrance sign will be…
The ongoing revitalization of downtown Lake Wales took a major step forward Tuesday with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting that opened a fully-restored building at 244 East Park Avenue. The structure now features two finished retail spaces on the ground floor and four apartments on the second level. The historic building was constructed in 1916 by Lake…
The city of Fort Walton Beach has selected local artist Christina Donahoe as the winner of its downtown entrance sign design competition, as announced during the city council meeting on May 20. The city awarded her a $5,000 prize. Donahoe’s winning design will be used for a new entrance sign at U.S. Highway 98 and…
Downtown Clearwater is about to get a bold, creative makeover. On Saturday, May 31, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Clearwater Arts Alliance invites the community to experience the official unveiling of the Celebrate Sculpture Series, a transformative initiative turning the Cleveland Street Corridor into a walkable public art gallery. The centerpiece of…
The city of Cape Coral Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) announced the new public parking lots in a release on Wednesday. With more parking being added, accessing restaurants, shops and entertainment in the area could become easier. It’s anticipated that in the summer, The Cove at 47th Parking Garage will add 125 new parking spaces. Then…
The historic Sunset Lounge in West Palm Beach, a veritable beacon of African American music and culture, is inching towards completion with the final phase of its extensive renovation now underway, as reported by the West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). The lounge, notorious for hosting jazz greats such as Count Basie and Ella…
A Miami-based developer recently completed a $37.4 million affordable housing project for seniors in Bradenton and is now accepting applications from potential tenants. Astoria on 9th was developed by Housing Trust Group in partnership with AM Affordable Housing, a nonprofit founded by NBA Hall of Famer and Miami Heat legend Alonzo Mourning. Astoria on 9th…
After four months of renovations, Aline McWhite Park’s grand reopening was 10 a.m. Thursday, May 22. The park is at 240 E. Hal McRae Blvd. in Avon Park. The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) allocated $50,000 toward the park’s renovations that include a resurfaced basketball court, new basketball poles, backboards and rims. “I am excited this…
The city of Ormond Beach will be replacing missing, damaged or sick trees in its medians, and adding native plants. The Ormond Beach City Commission unanimously approved a $221,000 work authorization to A.M. Weigel Construction, Inc., at its meeting on Tuesday, May 20. According to a city staff report, the city will be replacing back…
Give the city of Boynton Beach credit. It finally has moved a critical downtown development project that had been stalled for almost eight years a big step closer to becoming reality. The city’s Community Redevelopment Agency approved a plan to bring in a new developer to finish the Town Square Project, a development that will give the…
In a pivotal City Commission meeting on May 22, 2025, the Palatka City Council made significant strides in financial transparency and community engagement. The highlight of the evening was the acceptance of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) audit, which received a clean opinion with no findings, marking a notable improvement from previous years. Finance Director…
During moments of confusion, competing priorities, and spirited public feedback, the Apopka Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board approved several amendments to its 2025 budget at its May 21st meeting. The changes, prompted by House Bill 991, reallocated funding to new and existing projects within the CRA district, though not without debate over how well the…