Good News From Florida’s CRAs

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

A new residential tower has been proposed for a quiet corner of downtown St. Petersburg at the intersection of 2nd Avenue North and 18th Street.  The $72.9 million development is being proposed by WSLD St. Petersburg, LLC, an entity connected to LeCesse Development. The project was reviewed by St. Petersburg City Council, acting as the…

Public art is coming to Ormond’s downtown. On Tuesday, Dec. 19, the City Commission unanimously approved a request from the Ormond Beach Arts District to allow public art cabinet wraps at nine traffic signals and two streetlight cabinets along Granada Boulevard, from North Orchard Street to A1A. The wraps will feature art by nine Ormond…

Northeast Florida Regional Council recently awarded the City of Green Cove Springs with a Regional Award for Excellence in Planning and Growth Management with the formation of the Green Cove Springs downtown Community Redevelopment Agency. The city’s Development Services Department celebrated a significant accomplishment after it earned a Northeast Florida Regional Leadership Award. The city…

Article from “Get the Coast” news: 12/19/23 The Fort Walton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency held a workshop last Tuesday focused on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and how it can be used to reduce crime and vagrancy. CPTED uses design elements in buildings and public spaces to naturally discourage unwanted activities, explained CRA Administrator…