Good News From Florida’s CRAs

Pompey Park in Delray Beach was born out of segregation — a safe haven for Black residents who faced legal discrimination. Today, it remains the heartbeat of the city’s historic Black community, and local leaders are investing millions to secure its future. Pompey Park, an anchor of “The Set” — the city’s historic Black neighborhood…

A new electric vehicle transport service intended to fight traffic congestion is being launched in West Palm Beach, Florida, with fares as low as a dollar. In order to address traffic and provide “convenient alternatives” to driving one’s own car, the city has developed West Palm Move, a “public transit network” composed of electric vehicles…

The Jackson House Foundation is vowing to move forward with plans to restore the historic Tampa building, even after a piece of the structure fell off over Labor Day weekend. The foundation’s president, Dr. Carolyn Collins, stood before the Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency Thursday to reassure board members that the project remains on track. She…

The Cape Coral City Council, sitting as South Cape Community Redevelopment Agency commissioners, approved a $45.7 million tax rebate for the Bimini East project on Wednesday. Assistant City Manager Mark Mason took the board through a presentation to shed some light on Tax-Increment Financing, and the proposed agreement with Crowne Development. Mason said when a…

A 16-story residential tower called Aurevia is set to rise at 1590 NE 123rd Street in North Miami, bringing 225 apartments, ground-floor retail, and a pickleball court to a site that once housed a community center. The North Miami Planning Commission has approved plans for the project, according to Florida YIMBY, which reported the design…

Leading a rush of new restaurants planned for the downtown Lake Wales Historic District, Downtown Pizza and Sports Bar is expected to open this month in a spacious suite of rooms on Stuart Avenue. The new restaurant is relocating from a much smaller space in Dundee that owner Kevin Rodriguez said was preventing him from…

The shovels were painted in August. On Sept. 10 they finally go into the ground. The City of Delray Beach and the Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency have scheduled a groundbreaking ceremony for the Pompey Park revitalization on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at 5 p.m. The ceremony will be held at Pompey Park, 1101 NW…

Improvements may be coming to downtown Coral Springs. During the September 2 meeting, the commission passed on the final reading of an ordinance to approve the rezoning of about 58 acres of properties within the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) – a local activity center located west of Coral Hills Drive and south of NW…

Riviera Beach plans to upgrade its two public gardens and create events there where people can connect. Why it matters: It’s an investment in third places in a city that is focused on strengthening the community. Driving the news: Community Redevelopment Agency Executive Director Gedel Merzius explained the program at the board’s Aug. 12 meeting.…

Construction on the first major downtown Orlando street to convert to two-way traffic is complete. Work on Magnolia Avenue, from South Street to Livingston Avenue, started in February and wrapped up in August. The project converted the stretch of road between the Orange County Courthouse and Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, removing the…

A historic building in downtown Bradenton could become the first part of a performing arts university campus next year. Manatee County commissioners unanimously approved the transfer of the former General Telephone (GTE) Building, located at 1009 Fourth Avenue W., to the City of Bradenton to be used as a performing arts conservatory for Point Park…

Tampa City Council, on a 4-3 vote with Council Members Charlie Miranda, Guido Maniscalco and Lynn Hurtak voting no, approved the funding and development agreement with the Rays at their August 27, 2026 meeting. Despite the language in the agreement being altered right up to the morning of the vote, Council Members Bill Carlson, Luis…

The Apopka Community Redevelopment Agency enters FY2027 with something many redevelopment agencies would envy: money. Its adopted budget totals nearly $7.85 million, including approximately $6.13 million in reserves and carryover funding. That balance partly reflects the CRA’s difficulty completing projects as quickly as revenue has accumulated, although a recent progress report shows meaningful work is…

The Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has opened applications for two grant opportunities designed to support commercial property improvements and help businesses overcome development barriers within the City of Tampa’s designated Community Redevelopment Areas: Central Park, Channel District, Downtown, Drew Park, East Tampa, Tampa Heights Riverfront, West Tampa and Ybor City. Together, the grants provide…

Almost 60 cents of every dollar in the Coral Springs Community Redevelopment Agency’s new budget goes to a single line that reads “Infrastructure.” The CRA Board adopted the $5.6 million plan Monday night. It covers Oct. 1 through Sept. 30. Inside that total, $3.3 sits on the budget line that reads capital outlay. However, it’s…

More than 128,000 children lack access to childcare, according to the “Children’s Movement of Florida.” Resources are now expanding in Pensacola to address the need. This week, the city is celebrating the official opening of the Alice S. Williams Center. This building was once the first Black library in Pensacola before it shut down in…

A new Italian restaurant is now open in Zephyrhills, and the city helped make it happen. Trattoria Napoli, located on 7th Street, held its grand opening with the help of a $50,000 commercial improvement grant from the City of Zephyrhills Community Redevelopment Agency. Owner Matthew Zappoli is a chef with more than 30 years of…

The Apopka Community Redevelopment Agency approved a nearly $7.85 million budget Monday night while redirecting money toward park improvements and sidewalks, moving forward with one property purchase and abandoning another. The FY2027 budget includes approximately $6.13 million in reserves and carryover funds. Through June 30, the CRA had spent $870,286 of its $6.43 million revised…

A beach scene built entirely out of children’s building blocks now holds a Guinness World Record in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The Museum of Discovery and Science assembled a magnetic tile mosaic depicting a sunny beach using 4,500 individual tiles, and Guinness has officially certified it as the largest magnet mosaic image ever made. The record,…