Good News From Florida’s CRAs

Overtown may soon again be sizzling with the smell of smoked ribs and soul food staples as the historic People’s Bar-B-Que prepares for a long-awaited revival. The Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency (SEOPW CRA) has opened a request for proposals (RFP) to lease and operate the historic restaurant site at 350 NW 8th St., reviving a…

Economic Development Manager Sharon Woodberry said the proposed increase was brought forward because staff noted that there was an unintentional disadvantage for larger parcels and more expensive demolition projects. Woodberry said they wanted to make the program equitable for small and large businesses alike. Three options were initially presented: Option 1 – tiered demolition grant…

Miami-based real estate firm LD&D has been awarded a $5.4 million workforce housing grant from the Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency to support the inclusion of 30 income-eligible apartments at DoMo at Cass Square, a $200 million mixed-use project in downtown Tampa. The units will account for about 10 percent of a planned 27-story multifamily tower,…

The Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) held a regular meeting on September 8, 2025, focusing on critical infrastructure investments and planning for the downtown area. The discussions highlighted the importance of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) as a funding mechanism for essential projects, emphasizing that without strategic planning, funds could revert to the county. The…

Cities across central Florida that have seen and felt change face the same challenge: How do they revitalize struggling communities? The answer for Goldsboro, a historic area in the heart of Sanford, could be a new program that aims to reinvest tax dollars from the community back into Goldsboro. Brady Lessard, director of economic development…

Crews used a towering crane last week to hoist massive steel beams into place at Theatre Park, marking one of the most significant steps yet in the park’s ongoing transformation. The large steel structure, which now spans the entire width of the park, has been welded into position and will serve as the framework for…

The historic Panama Grammar School building needs some work, and might be getting it soon. It was built in 1916, and code enforcement officials have stated that it has been deemed unsafe for two years. Panama City Commissioners tell us that the current owner has listed the property for sale without addressing its safety issues.…

JLL announced today that it is the real estate and development advisor for the Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and will be supporting phase II of the Marina Village Redevelopment, a public-private partnership (P3). The Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued on Aug. 27 and is available here – responses are due Nov. 17,…

The City of Apopka Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is proud to announce the relaunch of the Residential Renovation Assistance Program (RRAP), a major initiative designed to strengthen neighborhoods, enhance curb appeal, and improve the quality of life for residents within the CRA district. The program will provide $900,000 in funding to support exterior improvements for…

Thanks to the funding provided in a public/private partnership between the City of Orlando’s Community Redevelopment Agency, and The Christian Service Center for the Homeless in Orlando, The Source in has brought two more Dignity Buses in its fleet to fruition. The Source is calling the Orlando buses Nos. 6 and 7, while Orlando has…

In the heart of Miami, where Overtown’s rich cultural legacy meets the pulse of a growing city, a new era is unfolding. It’s a renaissance aimed at bridging the divide created long ago by I-95, restoring this historic Black neighborhood to its former glory. On Aug. 28, 2025, the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency…

Avon Park’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board unanimously approved an approximately 490-foot extension to The Mall’s pathway at its meeting last week. This extension would connect the pathway in the area of Donaldson Park and City Hall between Verona Avenue and Delaney Avenue. Currently, the pathway roughly stretches from the Avon Park Community Center to…

The Ocala Community Redevelopment Area Agency Board convened on September 3, 2025, to discuss and approve significant budget resolutions aimed at revitalizing various sub-areas within the community. The meeting began with a roll call and confirmation of public notice, ensuring transparency in the proceedings. A key focus of the meeting was the approval of the…

A California-based company is receiving more than $17 million in incentives to move to the City of West Palm Beach. Officials have not released the name of the business that is promising to provide 856 jobs to the community, but there is speculation in the media that it could be ServiceNow, a Fortune 500 company.…

The Newberry Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board reviewed ongoing and proposed initiatives for downtown at its Aug. 11, 2025, meeting, including a new mural, the first application for a commercial façade grant, and potential programs to support business marketing and residential improvements. Work began Aug. 4 on a mural for the west wall of the…

The Apopka Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board unanimously adopted a new residential façade repair grant program designed to help residents afford home improvements by simplifying the application process, offering homeowners contractor options, and focusing on quality repairs that have a positive community impact. The CRA Board finalized the details of the grant program at its…

The Avon Park Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board unanimously approved the design for gateway signage at its Monday night meeting. This design would be for two signs along U.S. 27, replacing the current ones. The identical designs of the signs would include a sketch of the downtown bandstand at the top, around it “EST. 1886”…

Pompano’s McNab House & Botanical Gardens project took a major step forward with unanimous approval from the city’s Planning and Zoning Board on Wednesday night. The board’s vote was to approve the project as a major site plan alongside a “public purpose adjustment” that would relieve certain requirements for lot coverage, and building setbacks, as…

On Thursday, August 21st, the Tallahassee Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) board voted 5-0 for the approval of the North Adams Street Pedestrian Improvement project. The approved $1.5 million project includes adding bump-outs to define parallel parking spaces, creating shorter connections between the crosswalks, and improving accessibility of the ramps located on North Adams Street. Proposed…

St. Augustine’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) made significant strides in funding improvements during its recent meeting on August 28, 2025. The agency approved a budget increase for the Downtown Landscape Master Plan, raising its allocation from $671,955 to $808,728, thanks to new funding from St. Johns County. This adjustment reflects the agency’s commitment to enhancing…

Two basketball courts at Alonzo Williams Park are now open for use one month after a renovation project began, according to an Aug. 21 city of Apopka news release. The city parks and recreation department used money from the Apopka Community Redevelopment Agency to rebuild the two community basketball courts. The lighted basketball courts are…