The City Commission, acting as the Community Redevelopment Agency Board, voted unanimously at its May 12 meeting to spend $4.5 million for a property across Stuart Avenue from the historic structure at East Park Avenue and North First Street. The purchase, combined with property the city already owns, will create 165 additional parking spaces, City…
The Sunset Lounge in West Palm Beach’s Historic Northwest District has reopened after a long-awaited revitalization, marking its 100th year as a cornerstone of jazz, soul, and community pride. The West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and the City of West Palm Beach worked together to preserve the venue’s storied past while creating a…
After years of negotiations and failed stadium efforts, local leaders and the Tampa Bay Rays say they are now closer than ever to reaching a deal to bring Major League Baseball to Tampa. City officials, Hillsborough County leaders and Rays executives gathered Friday at Tampa City Hall to promote a newly negotiated non-binding memorandum of…
The West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is advancing public safety efforts across its targeted redevelopment areas — including the Historic Northwest, Pleasant City, Northwood Village and the Broadway Corridor — through several initiatives designed to deter crime, support local businesses and improve quality of life for residents. The effort includes nearly doubling private…
From pickles to empanadas to plants to craft vendors, the Delray Green Market in Delray is always an option on a Saturday morning. The summer is fast approaching, and the end of the winter season is ending for the Green Market in Old School Square in Delray. But don’t worry, the Green Market will also…
The former Wachovia bank building in downtown Sebring has a few weeks to go until its renovation into an office center is complete. The Blackmon family, who is also renovating/restoring Harder Hall, acquired the building at 228 N. Ridgewood Drive in January 2024 from the Sebring Community Redevelopment Agency. “It looks great. At this point,…
5/14/26 FRA Newsletter Highlights: 🏆 FRA Awards Program – Now OpenSubmit your projects for the Roy F. Kenzie Awards, recognizing innovation and impact in redevelopment 💻 FRA Webinar – CRA Do’s and Don’tsMay 29, 2026Presented by Cliff Shepard covering legal pitfalls, governance issues, TIF usage, and CRA compliance best practices 📚 CRA Board Training (2…
More than 175 community leaders, environmental advocates, educators, business professionals, students and residents gathered April 30 at Willoughby Golf Club for the 2026 Environmental Stewardship Awards hosted by Keep Martin Beautiful The annual event recognized individuals, businesses, nonprofits and public-sector organizations for contributions related to conservation, environmental education, beautification, sustainability and community improvement efforts throughout…
The Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency will receive $1,145,144 to replace the commercial seawall at Boynton Harbor Marina. City officials said the project is intended to protect surrounding homes and businesses, marina operations, and public access areas from flooding, storm surge, and the ongoing effects of sea-level rise. The funding was announced at a news conference in Lake Worth…
Back alleys — long treated as little more than service corridors and shortcut routes — have emerged as a centerpiece of Dixieland’s new redevelopment vision. A 113-page “Restore the Core” plan presented to the Lakeland Community Redevelopment Agency’s advisory board on May 7 shifts the neighborhood’s focus beyond historic preservation and beautification toward connectivity. It…
5/7/26 FRA Newsletter Highlights: 🏆 FRA Awards Program – Now Open Submit your projects for the Roy F. Kenzie Awards, recognizing innovation and impact in redevelopment 📚 CRA Board Training (2 Sessions) June 11 | Winter Haven June 12 | Panama City Training for elected officials, board members, and volunteers on CRA governance, legal, and…
“Take 5” – 5 Questions with Mark Bennett – Polk County, FRA Board of Directors Q: What is your best piece of business advice for a new FRA member? Mark: Take advantage of the resources offered by the FRA. Use the website, attend the Academy and a certification, go to the conference, reach out to…
Members of Clermont City’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) unanimously voted their support for the proposed Clermont Center Lake Botanical Garden. The development is part of Clermont’s Main Street’s larger Phase 2 streetscape, a continuous corridor running from SR50 to 8th Street and onto Lake Minneola. Main Street is a non-profit driven by Clermont business owners…
A Fort Myers community staple since 1965 may soon get a facelift. First steps are underway in an effort to expand and upgrade the Edison Mall. The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency recently approved an agreement with Bowman Consulting Group to conduct an air rights study on the mall. The cost is $100,000. The Cleveland…
Dunedin’s proposed downtown parking garage cleared a major hurdle April 21 when Pinellas County commissioners unanimously agreed to amend an agreement with the city governing the use of Community Redevelopment Agency tax increment financing funds. The amendment raises the authorized indebtedness cap from $6.594 million to $7.35 million, enabling the city to take on additional…