Good News From Florida’s CRAs

Construction started Monday on a critical housing development to help rejuvenate Overtown that will cater largely to local workers. Also, the project by design sits close to public transit to encourage future tenants to rely on Metrorail, Metromover, and Brightline trains rather than cars to get around the city. Miami-Dade County and Atlantic Pacific Companies are teaming…

On December 13, 2022, Wiatt Bowers, President of the Florida chapter of the American Planning Association presented the 2022 Great Places in Florida People’s Choice Award to Collier County Community Redevelopment Agency. Karen Beatty, Chairwoman of the Bayshore Gateway Triangle Community Redevelopment Area and Maurice Gutierrez, Chairman of the Bayshore Beautification MSTU accepted the award…

Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves has announced plans to allocate funding from the City of Pensacola’s budget to make significant investments in three areas: Public safety, strategic planning, and city parks and facilities maintenance. The funding allocation aligns with Reeves’ commitment to ensuring public safety for all city residents, along with his vision for creating a…

The zip lines rock. That appears to be the consensus from those who have visited the city’s inclusive all-abilities park behind the New Tampa Recreation Center in Tampa Palms since its late-December debut. As his mother, Laura Linton, held a tuckered-out Cole, her 4-year-old son whispered in her ear what he had enjoyed most about…

By the end of the year, Cape Coral will have hundreds of new apartments ready to lease as newcomers continue to discover Southwest Florida. Hurricane Ian slammed Cape Coral in September, but as it continues its recovery into the new year, project development scheduled for 2023 is moving forward. Florida was the fastest-growing state in…

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is pleased to announce the return of Heritage Fest to the Arsht Center’s outdoor Thomson Plaza for the Arts for its fourth consecutive year. Heritage Fest is a full day of free family fun celebrating Black heritage and excellence across South Florida. Heritage Fest…

County officials will soon weigh whether to allow a controversial affordable housing project to be built in east Gainesville after previously voting the project down last month. If they don’t, the effects could be costly. On Dec. 13, the Alachua County Commission voted 3-2 to withdraw its funding from the $25 million Dogwood Village housing project planned…

The building at 417 North Massachusetts Avenue in Lakeland, Florida began its life in 1964 as the chapel of a funeral home and was last used as a house of worship in 2017, when the Freely Forgiven Community Church closed its doors and the building was sold. Local historic preservationist and Publix heir Gregory Fancelli…

It’s not your imagination: People really are flocking to Florida. The Sunshine State had the fastest-growing population in the country last year — the first time the state has taken the top spot since 1957, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates released last week. The nation’s third-largest state grew by 1.9% from July 2021 to July 2022…

As of Feb. 15, Clearwater nonprofits and service providers can now apply for $3.15 million in grants from the city’s federal COVID-19 relief funds. Earlier this year, the City Council divided the $22.4 million it received from the American Rescue Plan Act into a dozen broad categories. These categories include three grant programs to which…

The Gaze Africana features a distinctive line-up of international Black artists and creatives, whose works represent African Excellence. Capturing “the gaze” connects us to another world – allowing us to look beyond – steadily and intently, in admiration, surprise, or thought. The Gaze Africana explores ideologies connected to African art. This deployment of contemporary Africana…

A Tesla facility in an underdeveloped St. Petersburg neighborhood announced in April is coming into the final stretch as construction wraps up. In a December interview, Rob Truett, a Delray Beach developer behind the highly-anticipated project in Lealman says the goal was to open by the end of 2022. That timing would be a nice capstone to…

Since 2016, more than 5,469 tons (10,938,000 pounds) of waste have been disposed of through the Community Redevelopment Agency’s Safe Neighborhood Program. During neighborhood cleanups, crew members and volunteers visit different neighborhoods in the county to remove a variety of debris and waste free of charge. A neighborhood cleanup for residents in North Beulah will take place…

The city of Brooksville’s Community Redevelopment Agency’s Executive Review Committee awarded a property improvement matching grant on Dec. 15 for Justin and Lina Noe, 705 Museum Court, Brooksville. The award was $20,000 to reroof; stabilize fireplace foundation; replace current apartment stairs and porch; and complete outdoor landscaping. All properties located in the Brooksville CRA district…

After decades of discussion about redeveloping downtown Clearwater, the city has made major headway in recent months that, if all goes well, should turn all that talk into action. Since the start of fall, voters have approved two major projects, a local developer with big dreams took the first step and a new Community Redevelopment…

The sound of voices of those hoping to open a cruise ship terminal to walkers, runners and cyclists amid downtown’s current and explosive growth is getting louder. But don’t expect that prime piece of waterfront to be accessible to the public when it’s not being used for cruise ships anytime soon. At a meeting of…