At the recent Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Meeting held at City Hall, residents and officials gathered to hear a presentation on the expansion plans for the Titusville Playhouse. The presentation, delivered by Steven Heron, the executive and artistic director of the Titusville Playhouse, showcased exciting developments that promise to transform the cultural landscape of the…
The City of Orlando is moving forward with plans to buy four properties in Orlando’s downtown area. Officials with the Community Redevelopment Agency say they plan to revitalize the four properties into public parks and a potential affordable housing development. City leaders say this is one way to further the city of Orlando’s goal of creating a safer and…
We talk about new developments in Southwest Florida all the time. But the aspect of re-development, especially in our local municipalities’ older, and perhaps blighted, downtown districts, is just as important to address. I recently caught up with the Executive Director of the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency, Michele Hylton-Terry, who brought me up to…
Updated plans and designs for Clermont’s Meet Us in the Middle Plaza and 8th Street docks have been released, paving the way for a new era for the city’s downtown area. Members of Clermont City Council officially approved funds for Powell Studio Architecture and Halff Associates Inc. to handle the project at a meeting on…
In just a couple of weeks, the city of Daytona Beach will launch a pilot program to have security officers patrol six days a week along Beach Street between Orange Avenue and International Speedway Blvd. City of Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry says between public and private investments, the city is spending over $100 million…
Steel sculptures are bringing a pop of color and design to Northwood Village, thanks to local artist Molly Aubry’s latest work, Prismatic Tessellations. The installation features geometric shapes and iridescent glass, adding a new layer of visual interest to the West Palm Beach community. According to a press release from the city, the vibrant steel…
Habitat for Humanity’s largest women’s build campaign in the country kicked off to a successful start in Lake Worth Beach this year; it will help construct two new homes and other community projects, according to the organization. Hundreds of registered builders came together to raise a half-million-dollar, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County…
Pensacola is looking to partner with a community land trust to ensure whatever affordable homes are built on the former Malcolm Yonge Gym property will stay affordable for at least 99 years. The Pensacola Community Redevelopment Agency staff gave a presentation Monday to the City Council, which met as the CRA board, on the proposed…
Another restaurant is going to be opening in the new Cornerstone development in Coral Springs, a city official said last week. Which restaurant? Kristi Bartlett, the city’s economic development director, didn’t say during a meeting of the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency last Monday when she talked about it. “We are going to have a big…
With plans to redevelop the “downtown” area of Temple Terrace paused, city officials are discussing refocusing their efforts on the new Pedestrian Master Plan, the final version of which was presented at the Community Redevelopment Agency board meeting on Feb. 20. The CRA board, which is comprised of the Temple Terrace City Council, approved the…
Color will cover a new development in downtown when a renowned artist transforms the building with a mosaic mural. Fort Myers resident David Acevedo has been selected by the Zimmer Development Company as the creator of the image for their mural project. The company commissioned Acevedo to create a piece exclusively for the project, which…
The Broward County Commission took a step towards easing the housing affordability crisis as they approved a first-of-its-kind master plan that includes financial, legislative, and zoning solutions. Broward is one of the least affordable places to live in the country. It’s something commissioners say has put the county’s economic competitiveness, resilience, and quality of life…
The Diocese of Venice in Florida and National Development of America have completed Phase 1 construction of St. Peter Claver Place Apartments, an affordable housing complex within the Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard redevelopment area in Fort Myers. St. Peter Claver Place Apartments provides affordable housing for qualified residents, those who make up to 60%…
The City of Orlando released the latest iteration of what it hopes to be an urban gathering space in downtown Orlando, The Canopy, formerly known as the Under-i project. The Canopy will occupy 10 acres underneath Interstate 4 in Downtown Orlando between South Hughey Avenue and South Garland Avenue. It will include bike paths, pedestrian-friendly…
Key Detail is a Belarusian artist who works with painting, drawing, and illustrations. He studied Architecture in Minsk, Belarus, and currently lives and works in New York City. Growing up in Minsk, Key Detail has been active on the street art scene since 2000 and has worked consistently towards developing his unique style and skills…
The Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami (MOCA) is pleased to announce the 2024 Art On The Plaza Artists: Yanira Collado, Christopher Mitchell, and Nicole Salcedo. This annual program, inaugurated in 2020, provides an opportunity for South Florida artists to engage with the museum and its community, employing MOCA’s front plaza as a platform to…
Three of the properties will increase the amount of park space in the city’s downtown, while two will specifically expand the city’s crown jewel: Lake Eola Park. The purchases, totaling $19.4 million, will be paid for by Community Redevelopment Agency funding and will not affect the city’s budget. The city has openly wished to buy…
With praise from local and state officials, the first phase of the St. Peter Claver Place affordable housing community, with 136 units, was blessed by Bishop Frank J. Dewane on February 27, 2024. The Diocese of Venice partnered on the project with National Development of America, Inc. (NDA), and was supported by the City of…
In a landmark decision, Lake Wales is set to reclaim the Walesbilt Hotel, a historic but neglected downtown icon, following a Circuit Court ruling. The city’s long-standing legal battle with the property’s current owner, Dixie-Walesbilt LLC, culminated in a victory that addresses false claims made during the renovation contract bidding process in 2010. While the…
Haines City, Florida, is embarking on a significant initiative to rejuvenate the historic Oakland community’s business district, a move that’s stirring excitement among both former business owners and residents alike. This effort, led by the Haines City Community Redevelopment Agency, aims to restore the vibrancy of an area that was once the heart of the…
Orlando leaders are eyeing some properties downtown because they want to use them to help the area grow. The Orlando Community Redevelopment Agency met Wednesday and approved buying the buildings to be redeveloped. A fire destroyed 30 S. Orange Avenue years ago. The city recently leased it, but hasn’t been able to do much with…