Good News From Florida’s CRAs

Construction is officially underway to transform the former Robinson Grocery Store in Tallahassee’s Bond neighborhood into a long-anticipated community resource center. After years of uncertainty, the project marks a major step forward in preserving a site deeply rooted in local history while creating a space designed to serve residents for generations to come. The Community…

Sebring is taking an exciting step forward with the upcoming groundbreaking of Sadie’s Place, a new mixed-use destination set to bring fresh energy to North Ridgewood Drive. The project will transform the former Nan-ces-o-wee Hotel site into a vibrant gathering space featuring a restaurant, retail shops, a food truck, and unique concepts like an Airstream-based…

Fort Lauderdale has officially unveiled the Thrive Art District, a vibrant five-acre creative hub transforming Progresso Village into a destination for arts, culture, and small business growth. Spanning more than 80,000 square feet, the district reflects a strong commitment to thoughtful redevelopment that celebrates the neighborhood’s character while creating new economic opportunities for residents and…

The Martin County Community Redevelopment Agency Board got its final update March 3 on the 100 percent draft of concept plans for the new community center in Rio and Dixie Highway streetscape improvements that will finally conclude expansion begun years ago. Planning and urban designers from Marlin Engineering of Fort Lauderdale and Dover, Kohl and…

Cape Coral City Council, sitting as the South Cape Community Redevelopment Agency Board of Commissioners, is expected to vote on a Breaking Barriers to Business Grant for Zuly Dental Medicine Center, LLC Wednesday. If approved, CRA Resolution 3-26 would award $50,000 to the LLC. The Breaking Barriers to Business Program “assists eligible businesses and developers…

He calls it the Kush corner. It’s a construction site where crews are renovating the historic building at the corner of North Miami Avenue and NE 20th Street in Wynwood. That’s where Matt Kuscher is rebuilding Kush restaurant, which closed a couple of years ago, and to literally top it off, he’s creating 10 studio…

Tallahassee city and county leaders broke ground on a 17-home Community Land Trust development in the South City neighborhood, targeting income-eligible families, seniors, and veterans. Tallahassee city and county leaders broke ground on a new Community Land Trust development on Wallis Street in the South City neighborhood on Friday, unveiling a project they say will…

Tampa’s Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency plans to invest $6 million into transforming a one-mile stretch of Franklin Street. The work is designed to make it friendlier for people on foot. Plans call for sidewalk improvements, fresh lighting installations, green spaces, pocket parks, and restored brickwork along this corridor. City leaders will begin accepting bids for…

Multiple projects aimed at bringing new riverfront dining options to Jacksonville’s Northbank and Southbank are moving forward as part of broader downtown redevelopment efforts. On the Southbank, plans for a restaurant next to Friendship Fountain are progressing through the design phase. According to the Downtown Investment Authority, which oversees the city’s Community Redevelopment Area, the…

Federal and local officials have announced an $850,000 investment to expand affordable housing in Lake Worth Beach, with the funding supporting new residential developments in the city’s downtown and west side neighborhoods. U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel said the funding comes as housing costs continue to rise across Palm Beach County, where average rents for a…

The City of Sanford will break ground on a $5.3 million project at Fort Mellon Park that will add a new amphitheater and enhance the surrounding landscape, including improvements to Lake Carola. The six-month project is funded through a partnership between the Sanford Community Redevelopment Agency and the City of Sanford. Officials say the investment…

Panama City leaders are moving forward with a new strategy to improve neighborhood roads while making the most of redevelopment funding. The Panama City Community Redevelopment Agency board approved an agreement with the city that will allow smaller road resurfacing projects to be handled in-house. Officials say the approach will help stretch redevelopment dollars further…

Kush Hospitality founder Matt Kuscher announced that the Kush burger and craft beer concept will reopen in Wynwood next summer after a four-year construction project, bringing the popular restaurant back to the neighborhood where it first built a loyal following. The new Kush will open in a building the company purchased several years ago, giving…

A five-year oyster restoration project in Palmetto is working to rebuild oyster habitat and improve water quality in the Manatee River using artificial reef structures placed along the riverbed. In February 2024, the city installed 380 dome-shaped “reef balls” arranged in 76 clusters along the north side of the river between the U.S. 41 Green…

Pensacola leaders are continuing discussions about a major redevelopment of the Pensacola Bay Center and the surrounding area, with the project potentially costing hundreds of millions of dollars. A study commissioned by the City of Pensacola and funded by the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is helping guide those discussions. The CRA paid for a study…

The Orlando City Council approved the Unlocked Open-Door Program, a housing initiative designed to increase homeownership and new construction in District 5’s Parramore and downtown neighborhoods by turning more than 300 vacant lots into single-family homes. A key component of the program is funding from the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). The city has allocated $750,000…

The Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency is offering grants of up to $5,000 to help businesses install new signage or replace outdated signs. The $5,000 grant is per property and can help cover costs for businesses looking to boost visibility, modernize storefronts, and strengthen their brand presence. Through its Commercial Sign Reimbursable Grant Program, the FPRA…