Good News From Florida’s CRAs

The Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center in Panama City, Fla., near the corner of 15th Street and North Cove Boulevard, is seen under construction March 20, 2025. In a meeting on March 18, city commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding between Panama City and its community redevelopment agency, allowing the city to use $325,000…

From outdoor murals on the sides of buildings to sculptures along city promenades, public works of art can beautify and distinguish towns, attract tourism, celebrate communities and enrich the people who encounter them. According to an opinion poll conducted by Americans for the Arts, 86 percent of Americans believe that art and culture improve their…

Lake Wales recently finished two related projects, part of an ambitious, multiyear plan to revitalize downtown and attract new businesses. The city held a ribbon cutting March 7 to celebrate the renovations of Park Avenue and Market Plaza. Lake Wales, Florida, recently completed renovations on Park Avenue and Market Plaza to revitalize its downtown area.…

After a January groundbreaking followed by several weeks of construction, the city hosted a grand opening for the Apopka Action Sports Park, a $500,000 project that the Apopka Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) funded. The grand opening, which will had a ribbon cutting, began at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 22, at the park, which is located north…

The week of March 17-21, 2025, marks Government Finance Professionals Week, a time to recognize the dedicated professionals who manage the financial operations of local governments and ensure fiscal responsibility. Sponsored by the Florida Government Finance Officers Association (FGFOA), this week highlights the invaluable contributions of finance professionals in sustaining and enhancing the communities they serve.…

The Tampa Riverwalk was nominated for the best in the country for USA Today’s 10Best list. People can vote for the riverwalk once a day until April 7 at noon, and the 10 winners will be announced on April 16. The publication describes it as a “central spot for performances, art, leisure and fitness activities.” Tampa’s 2.6-mile…

A strip mall on Sample Road was approved this week to receive a $4,848 grant from the Coral Springs Community Redevelopment Agency to replace awnings and install new gutters. The funding, which covers half of the $9,696 project cost, supports improvements that the property owner, DECO Inn, will make at 9739-9801 Sample Road. The 20,874-square-foot…

An added layer of security has been added to the Historic Downtown Melbourne district, aimed at making visitors feel safer with the addition of a new private security company. The City of Melbourne and the Melbourne Police Department have collaborated with Melbourne Main Street, downtown businesses, and property owners to create an enhanced security plan.…

Without a doubt, Apopka, like most communities, needs affordable housing. At the February 12th meeting of the Apopka Community Redevelopment Agency, the board discussed turning a city-owned property on South 8th Street and Highland Avenue into either six new homes, five new homes, four bigger homes, or four homes and a pocket park. A true starter home represents the smallest increment…

The redevelopment of Coral Springs’ downtown has fueled a 67 percent increase in year-over-year taxable property values, from around $150 million in 2023 to nearly $250 million last year, according to a new report. The area’s taxable property value has surged 126 percent since 2002, from $66,321,640 that year to $249,727,870 in 2024, the annual report by…

The estimated $80 million proposal is expected to bring affordable housing, a vocational training center, business space and infrastructure improvements to the industrial district by 2027. The development plans were designed in line with priorities the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency has for the district. “We came in at the time that the residents were…

The popular TECO Line Streetcar will remain free, at least for the next year. In 6-1 vote, the Tampa’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board approved funding on Thursday to keep the streetcar free for the fiscal year of 2025. “The Streetcar has been a very successful program,” said CRA Board Member Alan Clendenin, who made the…

Determined to honor McCollum Hall’s history, Shifrin and the Mural Society worked with the City of Fort Myers and the Community Redevelopment Agency to create murals depicting the hall’s legacy. Using vintage photographs, they painted scenes from its heyday onto its walls, reintroducing the community to its rich past. One of the murals even sparked…

The Inverness City Council on Tuesday will consider approving a bid proposal from Green Technologies Inc. to refurbish the historic downtown courthouse in a cooperative effort with Citrus County. The landscaping and building around the courthouse has been undermined over the years by tree roots and the elements. The last update to the landscaping was…

St. Augustine, a city rich with history, is about to cement its legacy with the establishment of Florida’s inaugural Black history museum. This achievement comes after a long and arduous journey marked by the city’s dark past of racism, competition with other communities and even unexpected detours. Every story of triumph involves overcoming obstacles, and…

Central Florida’s first mobile homeless shelters are one step closer to debuting, after the Downtown Orlando Community Redevelopment Agency board approved an adaptive reuse project Wednesday that utilizes buses to provide emergency, overnight respite. Citing the state’s camping ban and the need for municipalities to come up with immediate solutions to unsheltered homelessness to prevent…

A celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony planned for Friday evening in downtown Lake Wales will mark the successful completion of the biggest element to date in the city’s pursuit of the Lake Wales Connected plan. The transformative redevelopment of Park Avenue and the Market Plaza will be celebrated by residents, business owners, and city officials alike,…

The Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department will soon have a new home after the Okaloosa County Commission unanimously approved a $4.1 million package to purchase the former PNC Bank building in Cinco Bayou. The move addresses the department’s growing space needs while expanding a popular boat ramp facility. The purchase includes a three-story, 13,859-square-foot building,…

Through a project called Mural Makeover, The Council on Culture & Arts and the Tallahassee Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) are partnering to provide select commercial property owners the opportunity to remove or prevent graffiti issues on the exterior of their buildings by way of public art murals. With a $50,000 grant awarded for the project…

The Udonis Haslem Foundation and the Omni Community Redevelopment Agency teamed up to inaugurate Wynwood Works, an affordable housing and mixed-use development in Miami’s Wynwood District. Located at 2035 North Miami Ave., Wynwood Works stands as a 12-story building featuring 120 units, including studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments. The residences cater to individuals and families…