BRADENTON — It’s hard to imagine Bradenton without the Manatee Players Riverfront Theatre.For 60 years, starting with its inaugural production of the sentimental “I Remember Mama” and ending with its exuberant staging of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” the theater has been an essential element of its city’s geographical, social…
PANAMA CITY — An agreement lasting 20 years was struck by city commissioners last week that will prevent the Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency from expiring in April of next year. “That would have meant the portion of funds for downtown police would go away,” said William Whitson, CRA director. “That would mean no more grants,…
UMATILLA — City Manager Glenn Irby stepped out of a recent City Council meeting and saw something for the first time in his six-plus years at the city’s helm: people browsing along the sidewalks — at night. “It was around 9 p.m.,” Irby said. “There were lights on at businesses across the street from City…
Affordable housing and spaces for local businesses have been scarce in South Miami’s historically black neighborhood.. But the city is moving forward with plans for a commercial and residential complex, named Madison Square, to be built on three sites locates south of Southwest 64th Street and west of 62nd Avenue. The Community Redevelopment Agency board…
WINTER HAVEN | Main Street Winter Haven is back. The nonprofit that played a big part in the 15-year revitalization of downtown Winter Haven had no employees, no office, and few events only a year ago. Now, the organization has a full-time director, a new office across the street from The Ritz Theatre, and has…
The city’s community redevelopment agency faces a steady parade of groups requesting financial help with marches, rallies and concerts. Its board has decided it can’t help everyone. It voted 7-0 at Wednesday’s meeting to establish a policy for when it gives money. It also voted to set aside $5,000 more for the rest of the…
PALMETTO — Redevelopment continues to move forward in Palmetto as property owners are taking advantage of grants, incentives and tax credits made possible through the newly designated brownfields area.In an effort to continue to have success with the local incentives it offers, the Palmetto Community Redevelopment Agency is proposing amendments to its incentives to be…
By Willie Howard Palm Beach Post Staff Writer LAKE WORTH — City voters approved a charter amendment today that limits building heights along most of Lake and Lucerne avenues to 45 feet — a measure proponents said was needed to preserve the city’s small-town feel. The limit is 20 feet shorter than the 65-foot height…
FORT LAUDERDALE In a few years, downtown drivers should be able to park their cars and ride the rails instead. Broward County on Tuesday gave final approval to run “The Wave,” a $142 million electric streetcar system that initially will travel a small loop around the urban core. The thousands of people who work downtown…
Volusia County wants new rules for Community Redevelopment Areas that would give cities less money to use in blighted areas, require more evidence of progress and make it harder to set up new CRAs in the future. The cities, particularly the ones looking to clean up sections of town they consider blighted, aren’t thrilled about…
TAMPA — The tower boom is definitely back in Tampa. After years with almost no new residential construction, developers on Monday filed plans with the city of Tampa for yet another new downtown tower, this one called SkyHouse Channelside. Added together, various projects in Tampa could bring more than 2,100 units to the market in…
Daytona Beach News Journal Defends local CRAs – [Download PDF]
FRA Members Get Discounts at May and July Sociable City Summits Sociability is an Economic Engine: Invest is a Safe and Vibrant Nightlife The Responsible Hospitality Institute’s 2013 Sociable City Leadership Summit series showcases the best strategies to plan, manage and police nightlife. Participants access a comprehensive overview of nightlife trends, issues, and the most…
Jacksonville’s City Council to decide on $11M for economic development Downtown revitalization funds are now in City Council’s court. Council is set to vote on a $9 million transfer from City savings to the Downtown Investment Authority to use for Downtown rejuvenation and $2 million for countywide economic development. Two Council committees met Tuesday and…
The city of Inverness looks to the future and that could mean some change INVERNESS — Inverness city leaders said it is time to start planning for the future and the result could be a different looking city down the line. When city manager Frank DiGiovanni strolls around Inverness he sees things most people don’t…
Pensacola City Council weighs YMCA lease City officials and advocates are hoping a lease for a proposed waterfront YMCA at the Community Maritime Park is headed for the Pensacola City Council’s agenda March 11. The idea has enjoyed being put on a fast track, in part because it has the backing of many of Pensacola’s…
Officials point out problems on NSB’s U.S. 1 corridor NEW SMYRNA BEACH — While the U.S. 1 corridor proposed for a new Community Redevelopment Agency district makes up 8 percent of the city, it accounts for a much larger percentage of the city’s code enforcement complaints and crime activity. That’s part of the case the…
Historic downtown Sanford to get longer Riverwalk, more brick streets A new wave of improvements is coming to Sanford’s historic downtown, known for its old brick buildings and a scenic walkway along Lake Monroe that gives pedestrians and bicyclists expansive views of the waterfront. To draw more shoppers and diners downtown, the city is planning…
Naples officials to vote on 30-year CRA extension Naples officials and the public will be challenged to think beyond their own lifetimes when they consider the city’s future development. The Community Redevelopment Agency will vote today on an advisory board’s suggestion to extend the CRA’s sunset date by 30 years, based on a consultant’s recommendation.…
Future of Boca Downtown Library yet to be written BOCA RATON — This week’s Boca Raton Public Library newsletter pronounces the new Downtown Library “75 percent done” but what will become of the old Downtown Library has not yet been contemplated. The new one is expected to open sometime in the summer with a coffee…
Hillsborough looks at focusing taxes to fight blight TAMPA — If you live in Brandon, the money you pay in property taxes each year can go to fill potholes in Westchase or toward part of the salary of a firefighter based in Apollo Beach. Those tax dollars flow into a general pot and county commissioners…