Good News From Florida’s CRAs

Major construction at the Cornerstone development in downtown Coral Springs is expected to wrap up by September, the project’s developer told the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency this week. While work will continue on the retail spaces, more than 700 apartment units in the north and south buildings are slated for completion by that time, according…

John Teixeira and his business partner, Devon Tillman, own Outpost Neighborhood Tavern. They described the menu as American with a Southern-inspired twist. “Our community has really been screaming for new restaurants and new safe spaces,” said Teixeira. “I’m really hopeful that this restaurant will add a lot to the Lake Eola and Thorton Park neighborhoods.”…

A new plan by the city of St. Augustine aims to bring new life to a part of town that hasn’t received the same attention as the rest of the historic city. That’s why city leaders agreed this week to adopt a 30-year plan to funnel money into the community and revitalize it. Community Redevelopment…

For more than a century, Tampa Union Station has served as the city’s grand gateway for passenger trains. Now, with an eye toward the next 100 years, the city of Tampa’s Community Redevelopment Agency has committed $4 million to restore the national and local historic landmark — including new windows, updated restrooms, roof repairs and…

Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency issued a Request for Statement of Qualifications for its planned Walk of Innovation. The riverfront project will reimagine public space from the Edison to Caloosahatchee bridges, culminating at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates. Goals include a master plan that integrates augmented reality and virtual reality elements, honors historical and cultural…

The restoration of Tampa Union Station is quite literally bringing back a long-gone piece of the downtown landmark’s history. Thanks to community contributions, the nonprofit Friends of Tampa Union Station bought the historic train station’s original door handles and knobs from a collector in Miami. These collector’s items from a bygone era when rail ruled…

A new, affordable housing community is coming to Fort Myers, marking a significant step forward in addressing the region’s pressing need for attainable housing. Located at 2010 Hanson St. in Fort Myers, Bloom is being developed by Renaissance Development Group, in collaboration with Lee County and the city of Fort Myers. The 336-unit community will offer affordable rental…

Developers plan to transform the vacant lot that once housed Bradenton’s city hall into a 7-story luxury apartment building with nearly 400 units. The City of Bradenton’s Community Redevelopment Agency Board unanimously supported the idea at its June 11 meeting and moved the application forward. The action directed staff and legal counsel to create a…

In an area of downtown Tampa that was once part of the bustling Central Avenue Black business district, a historic building has undergone a powerful transformation. Kid Mason Community Center, which opened during segregation in August 1946 as the city’s first recreation center for Black residents, has emerged from a top-to-bottom renovation as a revitalized…

Clermont city councilors were given an update on the ambitious plans for the city’s ‘Meet Us in the Middle’ project at a workshop meeting June 17. The $11million project, that aims to put Clermont firmly on the tourism map, is being handled by the city’s Powell Studio Architecture. Plans to develop this area of downtown…

In the Downtown Tallahassee neighborhood, Phase one work on Bicentennial Square Park is complete. The Knight Creative Communities Institute marked the occasion today with an unveiling. Phase one improvements included enhanced lighting, a city-themed bike rack, plus new plants and signage. The whole goal? To get more people downtown longer. The park is located next…

A proposed Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) for St. Pete Beach took center stage at the Planning Board meeting on June 16, 2025, as officials outlined its potential benefits for revitalizing areas facing economic decline and infrastructure challenges. The CRA, established under Florida statute 163, aims to improve the physical condition of designated areas, attract private…

With the title to the historic Walesbilt Hotel firmly in hand, the City of Lake Wales has issued a nationwide invitation to potential redevelopers of the ten-story building. According to a document released by the city, a request for qualifications (RFQ) response by interested parties will allow the city to “evaluate and shortlist developers based on their technical expertise,…

There is an effort in Delray Beach to help business owners open their own brick-and-mortar store for a fraction of the rental rate in other parts of the city. The city’s redevelopment agency is accepting applications for 98th on 5th, a newly renovated business complex a block away from Atlantic Avenue. The city’s redevelopment agency says…

The quest for the Sebring Community Redevelopment Agency to find the right project that will come to fruition on the former Nan-Ces-O-Wee Hotel property continues with three new proposals. There have been a few proposals in the past four years for the nearly 1/2-acre spot at 139 N. Ridgewood Drive with a couple selected by…

City commissioners unanimously approved a 78-unit affordable-housing project on June 3. The project, called The Flats on Main Street, will be built on a 3.5-acre wooded lot at 1422 Carnation Drive off State Road 580. Commissioners said they had no choice but to approve the development agreement with Archway Partners because it’s the only available…

The Margate Community Redevelopment Agency (MCRA) will fund advanced surveillance and traffic safety equipment to support community policing efforts across the redevelopment district. The $174,140.84 investment aligned with Florida Statutes which promotes innovative community policing as part of urban revitalization strategies. The initiative, proposed by the Margate Police Department and backed by CRA Executive Director…

Margate residents will soon see significant improvements to Coral Gate Park, located at 5650 Coral Lake Drive. During the June 11 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting, the board approved a contract with MBR Construction for an amount not to exceed $670,000, plus an additional five percent contingency, for a total of $704,335. The work will…

Bradenton & Palmetto CRAs Celebrate Freebee Service Expansion with Ribbon Cutting                                      City officials from Bradenton and Palmetto gathered yesterday to celebrate a major milestone: the official ribbon cutting for the expanded Freebee electric ride service that now connects…

Fort Myers has been named the second-best small city to start a business, according to WalletHub. WalletHub says there’s been a 22% increase in new businesses since 2016, fueled by strong investor presence and support from local development agencies. Swamp Cat Brewing Company opened its doors in March. Chris Guiterrez’s wife created a Florida-inspired aesthetic for…

Wynwood Works, a 12-story, 120-unit fully affordable, mixed-use development in Miami’s Wynwood District has been completed. It was developed as a public-private partnership joint venture led by the Omni Community Redevelopment Agency, Magellan Housing, Harmony Housing Affordable Development and the Udonis Haslem Foundation. Located at 2035 N. Miami Ave., the community is the first large-scale,…