Federal infrastructure funds are doubling the pace of transforming derelict sites. Over the last quarter-century, Florida has helped to transform almost 200 contaminated sites into clean community hubs. The pace of the redevelopment is about to pick up dramatically. Developer Roxanne Williams, who turns some of those derelict sites into places where she would be…
The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) announces that it has signed a management agreement for the River District Farmer’s Market with Local Roots, LLC. The market will take place from 9 AM – 1 PM Every Thursday under the Caloosahatchee Bridge at 200 West First Street. The River District Farmer’s Market was put on…
The city of Clearwater is launching an events series called “Living the Culture,” which will celebrate cultural diversity and embrace living together in harmony. The first free event in the Living the Culture series, “Taste of Ethnicity,” took place Saturday, May 20, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., along the 600 block of Cleveland Street in…
The World Changers organization is bringing volunteers to Panama City in July. The organization is teaming up with the Panama City Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) to complete home improvement projects for the residents in Downtown North and Millville. The projects can range from painting to repairing a porch and more. However, in order to receive…
Pensacola’s Community Redevelopment Agency looks to be giving up on using tax revenue from the Downtown Improvement Board on affordable housing. In 2020, the CRA and the DIB entered an agreement where it would hold back $100,000 a year from the DIB to be used to address affordable housing, however, because of the state law…
A $14.5 million construction project that began this week intends to transform Hollywood’s entertainment district into a corridor that puts pedestrians over vehicles. But before the transformation, comes the mess: workers, heavy machinery, dust, and a possible impact on business. What will the new project on downtown Hollywood’s main street look like when it’s finished…
The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) announces that it has awarded a tax increment rebate to Jackson Street FTM Hotel LLC in the not-to-exceed amount of $2.460 million. Jackson Street FTM Hotel LLC is developing Homes2 Suites hotel located at 1629 Jackson Street in downtown Fort Myers, expected to have 4-7 floors and 100-146…
MOCA will debut two exciting exhibitions opening this spring. “Lonnie Holley: If You Really Knew” invites visitors to experience the work of prolific artist Lonnie Holley in his first major exhibition in the South. The second showcases the work of 12 intergenerational South Florida artists selected to show their work in the “South Florida Cultural…
A week after she spoke at Main Street Winter Haven’s City Works (X)po, Lake Wales Main Street Executive Director Karen Thompson is bidding farewell to her position in Lake Wales – both as the Assistant CRA Director and the Lake Wales Main Street executive director – to take on a new opportunity – which has…
On Tuesday, May 2, the city of Pensacola celebrated the completion of the Blake Doyle Skatepark at Hollice T. Williams Park with a ribbon cutting and grand opening event. This commemorated a highly anticipated and monumental project for the Pensacola skate community. The Pensacola community joined Mayor D.C. Reeves and Upward Intuition to celebrate this…
Michael Sturrup parks his car in front of an apartment complex just north of the Dorsey Riverbend neighborhood in Fort Lauderdale. He’s checking in on one of his clients, Donolyn Williams, a disabled 63-year-old woman who had been homeless for about three years. Her new apartment has a ramp for her walker — one Sturrup…
The Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency is hosting two new art exhibits at the Clearwater Main Library showcasing the beauty and culture of Cuba, featuring the artwork of legendary photographer Clyde Butcher and local Tampa Bay artists. “Cuba: The Natural Beauty,” by photographer Clyde Butcher, is the result of a commission by the United Nations to…
The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) announces that it has awarded one commercial property improvement matching grant to a local business. Bennie Tyrone Shoemaker and Mattie Shoemaker Young of Veronica Shoemaker Florist, in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Redevelopment Area, has been awarded a grant not to exceed the amount of $9,029.10.…
The City of Hallandale Beach Community Redevelopment Agency is thrilled to welcome the first shipping container restaurant in Broward County, KAO Bar & Grill, to the newly rebranded District 8, formerly the Fashion and Art District (FAAD). The grand opening of KAO Bar and Grill will take place on Friday, May 19, 2023, from Noon…
Palmetto has a scenic new park along the Manatee River that also plays a role in boosting local water quality. Connor Park, which has been in the works for several years, features a walking trail, a public art installation and a stormwater pond that uses a natural treatment process to promote clean water. The park…
The BBCRA has been featured as a case study for our Economic Development Initiatives in the National League of Cities (NLC) new report, Adapting to Changes in the Retail Landscape. The Future of Cities: Adapting to Changes in the Retail Landscape report analyzes current retail trends post-pandemic and offers recommendations for local leaders to support…
The Davie Town Council recently approved “The District”, a mixed-use project with a development value of $1 billion. The District will be located within the Davie CRA at the southwest corner of 441 and Griffin Road. It will be the largest project within the CRA containing 1,256 residential units and 36k square feet of commercial…
Ron Allen’s booming NDC Construction could also soon be developing another prime waterfront property. NDC has partnered with the Hatfield Development Co. to make a $3.5 million bid to purchase Palmetto Community Redevelopment Agency’s land by the base of the Green Bridge that’s currently being used as overflow parking for the Riverside Boat Ramp, my…
The CRA is working on the Alf Coleman project and the Front Beach Road project. The Front Beach Road project will run from Lullwater Drive to Pier Park. They main route will be West Park Drive. The plan is also to make Pier Park Drive friendly for pedestrians. There will be no turns from Front…
PulteGroup’s Southeast Florida division and the Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) celebrated the completion of Carver Square, a new workforce housing community with 20 affordably priced homes. The event recognized the organizations that pulled together to put home ownership within the financial reach of local low- and moderate-income buyers. “By building workforce housing at…
Coral Springs redevelopment officials approved this week a tax rebate for the developer of Cornerstone that could be worth as much as $17 million. The money that master development company, Predeso Property Investments, is set to receive will come from the additional tax revenue expected from the spike in the value of the property on…