Overtown, a historic Black neighborhood once known as the “Harlem of the South” for its thriving arts and business community, is on the verge of a major transformation. A more than $39 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), awarded through the Choice Neighborhoods program, is helping to redevelop key…
The developer of the Cornerstone complex in Coral Springs is set to receive $753,000 in incentives through the Coral Springs Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). The funding, classified as tax increment financing, will be awarded to La Boca Partners, led by Rod Sheldon, according to city officials. Sheldon and his team acquired the site of the…
A 13-story building featuring 60 apartments and 60 short-term rentals is slated for the 10,000-square-foot property at 1663 1st Avenue South in downtown St. Pete’s Grand Central District. The St. Petersburg City Council, meeting as the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), unanimously approved the plans on Thursday, finding it consistent with the Intown West Redevelopment Plan…
While the historic downtown Sebring buildings provide a quaint experience and a hometown view from Circle Park, it is not a “walk in the park” to restore and renovate these structures. At the Community Redevelopment Agency Board’s Sept. 9 meeting, performance measures and penalties for missed deadlines were discussed as deadlines have been extended over…
The Margate Community Redevelopment Agency (MCRA) amended its fiscal year 2024-2025 budget to allocate $3,757,142 toward redevelopment initiatives. The allocated funds are for land acquisition and sports complex field upgrades. $3,007,142 is earmarked for acquiring strategic properties to support Margate’s redevelopment objectives. This effort aims to bolster economic growth and improve public spaces, aligning with…
The long construction project to turn the once-desolate Park Avenue in downtown Lake Wales into an attractive pedestrian magnet is apparently approaching a conclusion. Once completed, the entire length of Park Avenue will be open for two-way traffic for the first time in nearly two years. Newly-poured concrete sidewalks and curbs are signs that the…
If you wait all month for the food truck rally, your favorite truck could get a permanent home in Swan City with this latest development. Meet Main Street Eats, a new concept from entrepreneurs Butch Rahman and Chad Englund that would permanently park up to eight food trucks in a food court-style set-up east of downtown…
The seasonal River District Trolley is set to return Nov. 21 after the Lee Board of County Commissioners voted to approve an agreement with the city of Fort Myers and the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency to offer the fare-free service. Both the LeeTran Blue and Gold Line trolleys provide free access to and from…
The City of St. Augustine Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and Lincolnville Community Redevelopment Area (LCRA) are proud to announce a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for Thursday, December 5, 2024, for the recently constructed Lincolnville Park. After public outreach and community input earlier this year, the Neighborhood Services and CRA Division made a recommendation to the City…
The city of Miami Gardens is gearing up to expand its footprint as an arts and cultural hub with its very own performing arts center, the construction of which would coincide with the construction of a brand new city center. Planned for the east side of the lot adjacent to Miami Gardens City Hall, behind the…
In a brief session, Newberry’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board convened to hold a public hearing and discuss the adoption of the CRA budget for Fiscal Year 2024-25. The budget, amounting to $1,145,390, was presented by Newberry Assistant City Manager and CFO Dallas Lee, and received unanimous approval from the board. The CRA is focused…
Tampa City Council members on Thursday unanimously approved the Tampa Downtown Partnership’s Franklin Street Vision project. The $6 million investment supported by Council members serving on the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) will improve the historic street that runs through several downtown neighborhoods. The project aims to combine historic charm and modern enhancements such as streetscape…
One local organization wants to stop vandalism and create a vibrant community. COCA plans to meet with the Tallahassee CRA on Monday, Nov. 18th. If they get approval, The murals could be finished by the summer of 2025. The Council on Culture & Arts (COCA) wants to address this problem creatively. They’re proposing a mural…
If the city builds a $10 million-$12 million parking garage, it’s likely to last 50 years, Mayor Julie Ward Bujalski said. That was among the reasons she gave for voting Oct. 24 for the preparation of a midtown parking garage design criteria package submitted by THA Consulting. The $96,000 package would be used as part…
Despite falling short on fundraising and sparking frustration from city officials, an arts destination in Boca Raton may move forward after all. The Center for Arts and Innovation is a multimillion-dollar performing arts site poised to revamp the north end of Mizner Park by bringing amenities such as a renovated amphitheater, a main theater and…
The Racing Hall of Fame and Marmer Construction submitted plans for a joint venture for the former Bank of America building to the Sebring Community Redevelopment Agency. The CRA received only the one proposal for the building, which calls for the first floor to be a race museum operated by the Hall of Fame (HOF).…
Help is on the way for Haines City homeowners in need of upgrades but lack financial support. Claretta Simpson still lives in the house she was born in. Her grandparents built the Haines City home in 1950. “I was raised here and bred here. My nieces and nephews, my brothers and sisters, everybody came through…
City of Naples’ $16 million First Avenue parking garage is expected to open in February after experiencing delays due to hurricanes and heavy rains. City Construction Manager Brad Hefner provided the Community Redevelopment Agency with a construction update Nov. 4, saying the schedule and contracts were affected by rains from August through October — Tropical…
In early October, the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) issued a request for proposals to design and build the Shipping Container Project at the Northwest 800 Block in Delray Beach, a project that had been pitched more than three years ago, but had still not seen much movement. The project calls for the development of 15 CRA-owned properties…
Groundbreaking Ceremony Announced for El Camino Project in Martin County’s Golden Gate CRA! The Golden Gate neighborhood is preparing for a major transformation as El Camino breaks ground on Thursday, November 14. A community celebration will take place from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., marking the start of construction on this exciting new project that…
Six local nonprofits will receive a total of more than $207,390 in grants from the 2024 Knight Foundation Fund by way of the Community Foundation of North Florida. Every year, the James L. Knight Foundation supports local organizations through its endowed fund at the Community Foundation. The goal is to impact downtown Tallahassee and bordering…