‘Downtown is a safe place’

PANAMA CITY — Figures released by authorities show crime dramatically decreased in 2012 in downtown Panama City. “This business that we’re in of redevelopment is built on a lot of good partnerships,” said William Whitson, Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) director. “One of the greatest partnerships we’ve started here is working with our police department.” Data…

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Planners want facelift for aging part of U.S. 1 in south Melbourne

MELBOURNE — Driving north on U.S. 1 from Palm Bay, motorists enter an aging commercial corridor peppered with shuttered buildings and industrial vistas of asphalt and concrete. Melbourne officials aim to improve this view. They envision a mile-long streetscape project featuring brick-paver crosswalks, bike lanes, landscaped medians, sidewalks and shade trees such as Southern magnolias…

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Landmark’s survival hangs on promoter’s plan for music museum

ST. PETERSBURG — Walking around the historical former YMCA building downtown, local music promoter Thomas Nestor doesn’t seem to notice the crumbling brickwork or rusted iron. Stepping over the dusty, rubble-strewn floor, he pitches his plan to transform the building into an interactive music museum to potential investors and curious locals. The cavernous old gymnasium…

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