Good News From Florida’s CRAs

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…

Winter Park commissioners will get a final look at the city’s Park Avenue Refresh Project, which aims to improve the avenue between Fairbanks and Webster Avenue. Enhancements include new streetlights, new infrastructure and public safety improvements recommended by residents through a city survey conducted last year. City officials said the survey received over 1,300 responses…

Maintaining shade is an important aspect in plans for the pocket park at 542 Main St. downtown. “Those trees there are just spectacular. We wanted to make sure we didn’t disrupt or hurt the trees in any shape or form. Because, frankly, you can’t replace 100-year-old oak trees out there,” said Bob Ironsmith, Community Redevelopment…

When most people think of Orlando, they think of the major amusement parks nearby. But for the locals, the sights and sounds bring many of them to Lake Eola. “I love it, man. It’s probably one of my favorite places in the whole world, and I’ve been coming here since I was a kid, too,”…

Want a chance to win $5,000 and welcome people to downtown Fort Walton Beach? On Wednesday, the Fort Walton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) launched a design competition for a “Gateway Entrance Sign” at the corner of Eglin Parkway SE and Miracle Strip Parkway SE. The CRA hopes a new sign will promote investment and…

Tallahassee’s latest public arts project is now underway. Sam Joslin is with the local Council on Culture & Arts known as COCA. That group and the Community Redevelopment Agency are looking to pick a total of three businesses in the downtown area and another three in the Frenchtown and Southside neighborhoods that are targets of…

Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency approved a Commercial Property Improvement Matching Grant for the downtown redevelopment area. The grant is in the not-to-exceed amount of $50,000 for The Broadway LLC’s property, The Franklin Shops, 2200 First St. The grant will be used to replace damaged glass blocks on the frontage and side of the building.…

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a holistic approach to reducing crime and building stronger communities. CPTED focuses on urban design and the management of natural environments in a way that reduces opportunities for criminal behavior and other negative activities. More info here: CPTED

The Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (BBCRA) is thrilled to announce the Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Celebration for Design Stop on Friday, February 28, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM, with the ceremonial ribbon cutting taking place at 6:00 PM.   Design Stop, a family-owned interior design and remodeling business, recently opened within…

  The Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (BBCRA) is thrilled to announce the Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Celebration for Paloma Mexican Restaurant on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM, with the ceremonial ribbon cutting taking place at 6:00 PM. Community members are invited to join the celebration and officially welcome…

The City of St. Augustine Community Redevelopment Agency is hosting a public meeting to get community feedback on the Cordova Street improvement project. Officials will introduce the project, the project, present initial opportunities and challenges, overall design principles, and preliminary design ideas The improvements are planned for the section of Cordova Street starting north of…