When Blue Tree Café opens in Fort Lauderdale, expected to happen in September or October as a takeout/delivery-only restaurant, the two want to also use their expansive new kitchen as a launching pad for other small food and beverage purveyors. Family as well as business partners, King and chef Sharon Allen say they know the…
DetailsWork is underway to bring new life to a busy intersection in Riviera Beach. After years of sitting vacant, an old bank could soon turn into new homes and businesses. The city’s Community Redevelopment Agency board is moving forward with its plan to tear down the property, located at Broadway and Blue Heron Boulevard. In…
DetailsIn the wake of South Florida experiencing the largest year-over-year rent increases in the state at 57.2%, the Hallandale Beach Community Redevelopment Agency’s (CRA) Board of Directors voted unanimously on Wednesday, August 24, 2022, to approve the Rent Stabilization Program. The Program allocates $1 Million in rental assistance for qualifying tenants living within the CRA…
DetailsTampa city leaders say they are committed to doing anything in their power to save the historic Jackson House on Zack Street. Constructed in 1901, the building was once a boarding house in Tampa‘s Central Avenue district, providing accommodations for African Americans during the Jim Crow era and segregation. Legendary musicians, politicians and civil rights leaders…
DetailsA brand new YMCA in central Fort Lauderdale’s Sistrunk Corridor opened on Friday morning. “It’s a very unique building. There’s not another one like this in the country,” Sheryl Woods, of YMCA of South Florida, said. The building stands at 65,000 square feet and over $20 million was spent to create multiple exercise facilities, a preschool, classrooms,…
DetailsDriving through West Augustine, people probably won’t see Greg White Sr.’s name in flashing lights, but his influence is everywhere, friends and city officials said. White, 74, has lived in the community for decades and has devoted years to service, including time as chair of the West Augustine Community Redevelopment Area Steering Committee. He’s a…
DetailsMayor Jane Castor, with the help of a federal influx of cash, has budgeted $26.4 million for affordable housing in her proposed $1.9 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. But when staff ran that number by City Council members at the first budget hearing last week, the reaction wasn’t favorable.…
DetailsConsider the unremarkable city park. A postage stamp of green amid the concrete. Trees, swings, grass, a basketball hoop. Maybe your park has a public pool. Maybe it has a walking path or a barbecue grill or a leafy spot that’s good for watching birds. Yosemite it is not. Your park is not a vacation…
DetailsWhether it’s kicking back on the porch reading the newspaper, enjoying the outdoors or just being closer to the grandkids, post-career goals vary for people. But all states are not the same when it comes to retirement, a recent study from Bankrate found. Bankrate conducted a study to find the best and worst states for retirement in…
DetailsThe Florida chapter of the American Planning Association has announced that Bayshore Drive in Collier County is a finalist for the 2022 Great Places in Florida Award! Great Places in Florida is a unique award program because communities submit nominations, and the public determines the winner. Each year the nominees focus on unique, memorable places…
DetailsBayshore Drive is one of four finalists vying for the title of “Great Healthy Place in Florida,” and its advocate is asking Collier County to help it win. The people’s choice award comes from the American Planning Association’s Florida chapter, and the finalist neighborhood that gets the most votes gets the honor. Debrah Forester, Collier…
DetailsThe City of Lakeland is pleased to announce Valerie Ferrell as CRA Manager, effective Monday, September 12th. As CRA Manager, Ferrell will oversee the operations and manage the Dixieland, Downtown and Midtown community redevelopment areas. Lakeland’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is a Division of the Community and Economic Development Department that focuses on areas that…
Details