Good News From Florida’s CRAs

Top 20 reasons to become a member of Florida Redevelopment Association

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffFebruary 13, 2013

The Florida Redevelopment Association brings together professionals from around the state who are involved in preserving and improving Florida’s communities. Founded in 1974 to promote redevelopment and growth of downtowns, the original base was Businesses and Downtown Development Authorities. The focus was later broadened to encompass Community Redevelopment Agencies and Main Street Programs. Today, the FRA also includes consultants, vendors, non-profit organizations, developers and other redevelopment entities.…

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Sociable City Leadership Summit 2013

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffFebruary 12, 2013

Throughout North America, cities struggle to manage active nightlife. Increased crime, fights, noise, litter, and DUI are among the common challenges. Resources and budgets are limited to address these issues. Yet practical, cost‐effective solutions do exist. The RHI State Summit series showcases the best strategies to plan, manage and police nightlife. Learn how your city…

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Bartow Looks for New CRA Director

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffFebruary 11, 2013

BARTOW | Six months after reorganizing the Bartow’s Community Redevelopment Agency, the city is still searching for a permanent executive director. City Manager George Long, who now supervises the agency’s director, said he’s expanding his search, hoping to elicit more applicants. “We have a few applications — 12,” he said, “but I want to do…

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Ex-developer accused of ‘bait and switch’ for contract

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffFebruary 11, 2013

The man who helped sell Pensacola residents on his grand vision of an elaborate waterfront park faced a barrage of questions during the third day of a sprawling and complex federal trial.For much of Friday, Scott Davison parried with the park board’s attorney over whether he perpetrated an elaborate “bait and switch” scheme to win…

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Construction starts on Key West style NSB development

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffFebruary 10, 2013

NEW SMYRNA BEACH — The look and vibe will be Key West, complete with lush palm trees and a tiki bar. The location will be about seven hours and 400 miles north, along the North Causeway in New Smyrna Beach. Construction recently started on a roughly 4-acre, multimillion dollar project known as New Smyrna Harbor…

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Tampa tackles blight in Sulphur Springs

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffFebruary 10, 2013

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn did right by indulging in some drama this week with his cleanup plan for Sulphur Springs. The central Tampa neighborhood has come to symbolize urban blight, and having the mayor crash a piece of heavy equipment through an abandoned home said as much about the need to transform the area as…

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New development planned for Kingsley Avenue

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffFebruary 9, 2013

ORANGE PARK – County commissioners have approved a local company’s plans to redevelop a seven-acre site along Kingsley Avenue, and the project could set the tone for future construction up and down the busy thoroughfare that connects unincorporated Clay County with the town of Orange Park. Initial plans call for Kings Tree apartments and the…

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Tarpon Police Hit Streets to Help Homeless

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffFebruary 9, 2013

Almost 200 people have been helped off the streets of Tarpon Springs in the past three years thanks to the help of a patrol officer, a mental health caseworker and other resources around town. The Tarpon Springs Police Department expanded Officer Jose Yourgules’ role in 2010. His added duties included the title of Homeless Outreach Officer. “Yourgules…

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Ocala changes land regulations from 18 categories to 6

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffFebruary 9, 2013

How city of Ocala property owners and their neighbors may develop their land has changed. The Ocala City Council has voted to change the city’s comprehensive plan’s Future Land Use Element by reducing the roughly 18 different permitted land use categories to six uses. That means property owners and their neighbors may be able to…

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St. Pete sidewalk cafes so popular they’re causing complaints

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffFebruary 8, 2013

ST. PETERSBURG — One downtown resident said he can’t fall asleep until after 3 a.m. on weekends because of the music blaring from the outdoor bar below his condo. Others complained that sidewalk cafes take up too much of the sidewalk during special events. But none of the small group of residents and business owners…

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Midtown developer involved in two public projects mired in financial troubles

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffFebruary 8, 2013

ST. PETERSBURG — The man who helped ignite redevelopment in Midtown in 2005 and is now working to open a restaurant in a public building there is mired in financial problems. Larry Newsome, whose company built Tangerine Plaza, has faced several million dollars in foreclosures, court judgments and tax liens since 2010. There was no…

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Builder promotes V.M. Ybor redevelopment efforts

Redevelopment NewsBy FRAstaffFebruary 7, 2013

TAMPA — The little house on East 24th Street is getting a makeover after years of neglect. The termite-eaten foundations have been replaced and the sagging bedroom floor shored up. The 86-year-old kitchen has been dressed up with new cabinets and granite countertops. Outside, the house has gotten new siding and will soon have a…

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