A decade ago, when Cascades Park debuted and became the crown jewel of the city’s parks, a newspaper column by the late Gerald Ensley followed and inspired a grand idea. He thought a statue of John Lee Williams, one of the city’s founding fathers, should be erected in the park, steeped with its own unique origin story.…
The city’s amphitheater is getting a fresh coat of paint. Sanborn Square, the city park that fronts on Federal Highway, will be getting planters and barricades around the park perimeter in the spring “to enhance security from vehicle intrusions,” the spokesperson said. “Procurement will take two to three months for the planters and barricades, and…
The ribbon is cut and new tenants have moved into the Island Cove Apartments in Delray Beach. The apartments are the area’s newest affordable housing complex initiative by the city, the Delray Beach Housing Authority and the city’s community redevelopment agency (CRA). Maria Velasquez is among the residents who are calling the apartments home. “I…
While the ribbon-cutting and dedication of the newly reconstructed portions of Park Avenue and First Street remain in the planning stage, the newly completed stretches of West Park Avenue and North First Street are now open to two-way traffic. The opening comes concurrent with the closure of the eastern portion of Park Avenue, a situation…
The City of Opa-Locka announced the unveiling of two new affordable housing units, a significant step towards addressing the community’s housing needs. The units are at 15070-80 James Street, Opa-Locka, Florida. Two families have a new home for 2024. The unveiling ceremony was attended by all elected officials of the City of Opa-Locka, emphasizing the…
The former brewmaster at Big Bear Brewing Company has proposed opening a brewery of his own at the new Cornerstone development in Coral Springs. Jeff Evans approached the Coral Springs Community Redevelopment Agency this week to explain his idea and seek potential assistance in covering expenses for his new business called Coral Springs Brewing Company.…
The decades-old Festival of the Arts is being rebranded this year as Art Stroll, a juried exhibit on Feb. 17 and 18 on Ocean Way. The show is being held in conjunction with Pioneer Days in a well-defined area between Southeast 2 and Southeast 4 streets with space for 40 artists and food and drink…
On December 8, 2023, the Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (BBCRA), in partnership with the City of Delray Beach, Town of Hypoluxo, and Town of Lantana, hosted the 51st Annual Holiday Boat Parade. The event, which featured 35 festively decorated vessels, lit up the Intracoastal waterways throughout Lantana, Hypoluxo, Boynton Beach, and Delray Beach. Thousands of…
From a distance, the brick-covered building in New Port Richey can be unassuming. Especially, when it’s empty and in need of some sprucing. But look a little closer, like at the base of the flagpole outside of this place, and you see bricks showing the hundreds of memories that fill this 102-year-old structure. For people…
As the city of New Port Richey approaches its 100th anniversary next October, residents have urged city leaders to save a critical piece of its past by preserving the red-brick building that once housed Gulf High School. Former students, longtime city residents and those who saw potential to put the building to a new use…
The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) announced the start of Tri-Rail’s expanded service into Downtown Miami — the Miami Central Station — beginning Saturday, January 13. “The day has finally arrived when the public can plan their direct trips in and out of Downtown Miami onboard Tri-Rail trains,” said Miami-Dade Commissioner Raquel Regalado, SFRTA…
More convenient public parking downtown, the subject of repeated merchant requests, will be addressed soon, according to city officials. Converting a private parking lot to a city-owned facility is on the agenda of the next meeting of the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency The board will consider the purchase of the privately-owned lot at the corner of Park…
Projects are underway to revitalize underserved communities in Haines City, and a new neighborhood park is part of that plan. Maritza Guzman enjoys taking her grandkids out for some fresh air and exercise, and now she doesn’t have to go far to do it. “We enjoy this park here, with the bicycles, running, exercise, and…
The community came together for a weekend filled with joy, entertainment and celebration at The Lee County Black History Society’s (LCBHS) annual Holiday in the Park festivities, held at Roberto Clemente Park in Fort Myers on Dec. 1 for Holiday in the Park and and Dec. 2 for Movie in the Park. This year’s events…
On November 7, 2023, the Fort Lauderdale City Commission, acting as the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board of Commissioners approved a $10 million incentive to Sunshine Shipyard, LLC for the Arcadian Project, located at 640 NW 7th Avenue. The Arcadian is a new mixed-use development currently under construction at the northeast corner of Sistrunk Blvd…
PTM Partners, the group behind the EDGE Collective development in St. Pete’s EDGE District, is moving forward with plans for a second phase of the project, further connecting Central Avenue and the Historic Gas Plant Development. During a recent St. Petersburg City Council meeting, the council members, meeting as the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), unanimously…
FRA Academy Training Course – CRA 101 is being held on Friday, January 19th in Orlando. It is recommended that CRA 101 is taken before other academy courses. Onsite registration will NOT be accepted for any FRA Redevelopment Academy courses. If you cancel after the study materials have been sent out, you will not be eligible…
The Ormond Beach City Commission is stepping up its public art program, approving nine traffic signal and two streetlight cabinet wraps along Granada Boulevard. The large silver box structures at key intersections along Granada will be wrapped and enhanced with public art. The intersections included in the project are at South Beach, Lewis, North Orchard…
At least one developer is eying the location of the former city hall in Cocoa Village in hopes of building a mixed-use development that would include apartments and retail. The future of the site has been an open question for the city since the current city hall was built in 2008. Developers will still need…
Downtown Tallahassee will soon see another major redevelopment project cross the finish line. Industry Apartments, formerly known as 4Forty North for its address on North Monroe Street, may have its first wave of tenants by January. The project is the next largest redevelopment project to come online for downtown Tallahassee. It’s slated to have 248…
High Springs leaders want to improve downtown businesses through a new grant. The city’s Community Redevelopment Agency Façade Improvement Grant Matching Program is open until the end of January. The program encourages business owners to improve their exteriors and revitalize downtown. The CRA will provide a 50-50 match of up to $10,000. More info here