Good News From Florida’s CRAs

Turning blight into a destination Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist’s “Innovation Destination” plan may be ambitious, even grandiose, but it offers a promising way to revive blighted neighborhoods in Tampa and Hillsborough County. He plans to discuss the proposal at Wednesday’s commission meeting. Some areas within the community development district would be designated for tax…

 CRA submits downtown vision plan The vision for South Cape is for it to be a community within a community.That includes streets cut out and defined by their look and character and destinations for people to stop and look around with an emphasis on four quadrants around Cape Coral Parkway. That area would be called…

Zephyrhills looks to expand redevelopment efforts ZEPHYRHILLS — City officials have been developing a vision for a thriving community, and on Monday evening, the council took the first step toward bringing those dreams to life. The council gave its initial blessing to an ordinance that would nearly double the size of the Community Redevelopment Area,…

Channel District gets firm footing in downtown Tampa A few years ago, Mayor Bob Buckhorn said, the Channel District was a ghost town. There were many abandoned warehouses. There was no residential development. The district’s primary function was ancillary use to Tampa’s busy port. Not anymore. Demand grew for residential and commercial development. Creating a…

Mitchelville Freedom Park Mitchelville Freedom Park is a Historic and Interpretive Museum to be located at Fish Hall Creek Park on Hilton Head Island, the site of the Historic Town of Mitchelville.  This very important historic site was the home of the first freedman village in the United States during the Civil War. The museum…

Could $20 for a gallon of gas be a reality? Author Christopher Steiner joins Metro Center Outlook to discuss America’s dependence on oil. (2012)  

Transparency is the New Leadership Imperative http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/04/transparency_is_the_new_leader.html

Updated Information:West Atlantic RFP New information regarding the RFP for West Atlantic Properties has been uploaded to the CRA website, including Addendum #1 to the RFP. Other information and documents now available including the following: Property appraisal reports Land Surveys Presentation from the March 30th pre-bid meeting Pre-bid meeting attendance Various clarifications Any future updates will…

Read the latest news from the Lake Park CRA

HUD funds master plan for downtown TAMPA – Mayor Bob Buckhorn gathered the city’s press corps at City Hall Monday morning to announce the kick-off of a project he said had eluded five mayors before him: developing a long-range vision for downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods. Buckhorn described the plan as “a blueprint for this…

Jacksonville’s Hemming Plaza Imagine a park in a city’s downtown that covers one square block. It’s so well regarded that it’s known as the “city’s living room.” There are more than 300 programmed events in the park every year. For some events, as many as 25,000 people come to the park. There are water fountains…

Tarpon Springs to refurbish its historic Sponge Docks Ed Hoffman Jr. climbed into a bucket truck and prepared to be raised 40 feet over the Anclote River. “I’m going up to see what I can see,” he said. Once he got up there, he liked the view: “After my heart calmed down, it was a…

Clearwater’s Cleveland Street reopens after $2.9 million roadwork $2.9 million later, Cleveland street reopens. More than a year after construction first closed it to traffic, Cleveland Street was reopened Friday afternoon. The city spent $2.9 million to trim the road between Myrtle and Missouri avenues from four lanes to two, adding a median and landscaping.…

Oldsmar wants to do something about the empty Oldsmar Galleria OLDSMAR — The Oldsmar Galleria, a trendy, multiuse development on State Street, was key to the city’s plans to create a vibrant downtown. But four years after the first retail establishment opened its doors in the Galleria, all but two of its 12 storefronts remain…

Safety Harbor leaders debate commercial operations on McMullen-Booth, Main Street SAFETY HARBOR — Cognizant of the need to boost the local economy, city commissioners debated this week whether they wanted to invite new retail businesses on two important city roadways: McMullen-Booth Road and Main Street. In the end, they decided to allow a produce stand…

Aquarium considered for downtown Punta Gorda Punta Gorda has started a campaign to see if it’s feasible to have an aquarium downtown. City Council this week kicked in $9,500 to nurture a deal to bring in a Mote Marine aquarium. Next, Charlotte County Economic Director Tom Patton will ask the Enterprise Charlotte Economic Council and…

Bartow Commission Takes Step To Restore Historic Cigar Factory   BARTOW | Bartow city commissioners have taken a first step toward restoring the historic cigar factory on the east end of the city’s downtown historic district. On Monday night, commissioners gave preliminary approval to designating the factory and the surrounding two acres a brownfield site.…

Ruth Eckerd Hall Announces Details of Plan to Renovate CLEARWATER —One of Florida’s oldest theaters is getting readied for a makeover. The Capitol Theatre, opened in 1921 for vaudeville and opera, will soon see a massive renovation, Ruth Eckerd Hall leaders announced this week. Called downtown Clearwater’s crown jewel and the best hope for rousing…

Belleview Biltmore Hotel A group of Miami investors has a contract to purchase the historic, 115-year-old Belleview Biltmore Hotel in Bellair and plans a complete restoration of the structure and construction of a 153-room east wing. “Our vision for the Belleview Biltmore Hotel and Resort is rooted in the magical experiences of historic Gilded Age…

Ocala CRAs Larry Laube took his first trip to Ocala in 1970. He drove off Interstate 75 onto State Road 40. And he still remembers the disappointment at what he saw. “It was not that great,” Laube said about the area’s appearance. Today Laube is general manager of KWI of Ocala, an equipment rental and…

Jacksonville Beach May Move Historic Chapel The relocation of a historic house of worship will be considered by the Jacksonville Beach City Council tonight. The council is being asked to approve the relocation of the Beaches Chapel from its current location off Florida Boulevard in Neptune Beach to a new location at the Beaches Museum…