Good News From Florida’s CRAs

Multiple projects aimed at bringing new riverfront dining options to Jacksonville’s Northbank and Southbank are moving forward as part of broader downtown redevelopment efforts. On the Southbank, plans for a restaurant next to Friendship Fountain are progressing through the design phase. According to the Downtown Investment Authority, which oversees the city’s Community Redevelopment Area, the…

Federal and local officials have announced an $850,000 investment to expand affordable housing in Lake Worth Beach, with the funding supporting new residential developments in the city’s downtown and west side neighborhoods. U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel said the funding comes as housing costs continue to rise across Palm Beach County, where average rents for a…

The City of Sanford will break ground on a $5.3 million project at Fort Mellon Park that will add a new amphitheater and enhance the surrounding landscape, including improvements to Lake Carola. The six-month project is funded through a partnership between the Sanford Community Redevelopment Agency and the City of Sanford. Officials say the investment…

Panama City leaders are moving forward with a new strategy to improve neighborhood roads while making the most of redevelopment funding. The Panama City Community Redevelopment Agency board approved an agreement with the city that will allow smaller road resurfacing projects to be handled in-house. Officials say the approach will help stretch redevelopment dollars further…

Kush Hospitality founder Matt Kuscher announced that the Kush burger and craft beer concept will reopen in Wynwood next summer after a four-year construction project, bringing the popular restaurant back to the neighborhood where it first built a loyal following. The new Kush will open in a building the company purchased several years ago, giving…

A five-year oyster restoration project in Palmetto is working to rebuild oyster habitat and improve water quality in the Manatee River using artificial reef structures placed along the riverbed. In February 2024, the city installed 380 dome-shaped “reef balls” arranged in 76 clusters along the north side of the river between the U.S. 41 Green…

Pensacola leaders are continuing discussions about a major redevelopment of the Pensacola Bay Center and the surrounding area, with the project potentially costing hundreds of millions of dollars. A study commissioned by the City of Pensacola and funded by the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is helping guide those discussions. The CRA paid for a study…

The Orlando City Council approved the Unlocked Open-Door Program, a housing initiative designed to increase homeownership and new construction in District 5’s Parramore and downtown neighborhoods by turning more than 300 vacant lots into single-family homes. A key component of the program is funding from the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). The city has allocated $750,000…

The Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency is offering grants of up to $5,000 to help businesses install new signage or replace outdated signs. The $5,000 grant is per property and can help cover costs for businesses looking to boost visibility, modernize storefronts, and strengthen their brand presence. Through its Commercial Sign Reimbursable Grant Program, the FPRA…

A recent project by the City of Fort Walton Beach’s Community Redevelopment Agency is lighting up the city’s downtown…literally In 2025, the City of Fort Walton Beach leased a small triangle of vacant land that was located in a high-visibility area along U.S. Highway 98 in the downtown district. The dilapidated property consisted of an…

Pinellas Park’s Community Redevelopment Area has played a key role in the transformation of a long-underutilized property into the new Sprowls Horizon Sports Park, a $26.5 million, 40-acre youth sports complex designed to drive economic activity and community revitalization. Located within the redevelopment area, the project replaces an aging, piecemealed facility with a cohesive, master-planned…

From utility boxes to museum galleries, Cape Coral’s art scene is increasingly visible in everyday places. Public art is turning ordinary corners into landmarks that residents recognize and love. Along SE 47th Terrace in South Cape, even the utility boxes have become canvases. Through the South Cape Utility Box Beautification project, 15 boxes are wrapped…

In the making since 2023, legislation is now pressing in the Florida Legislature that will lay the foundation for the new Florida Museum of Black History to be built in St. Augustine. Greg White with the Community Redevelopment Agency once rode a bus to Tallahassee that memorably caught fire on I-10 as supporters were on…