Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer once said that his favorite bird was the crane — meaning the mechanical ones that have dotted Central Florida’s landscape with new construction projects. And now, Orlando Business Journal is launching Crane Watch Orlando, a comprehensive, web-based interactive feature that offers detailed information and images on new commercial real estate development…
The University Area Community Development Corporation (University Area CDC) has been awarded a 2017 Top Workplaces honor by The Tampa Bay Times, from results based solely on an employee feedback survey. “This award, coming as it does from our employees, reinforces why we spend extra effort rewarding our hard-working staff and ensuring that they feel…
Mike Field’s vocation is being vice president of credit risk for JPMorgan Chase in Jacksonville. His avocation is being an entrepreneur that helps others build their businesses in the urban core. “I think Downtown is a unique environment. It’s an opportunity waiting for solutions,” said Field. He helped develop Northeast Florida’s food truck movement, Jaxsons…
In presentations to the Manatee Chamber of Commerce on Thursday that mostly touted their cities’ recent revitalization accomplishments, Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston and Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant also said that pending legislation would harm those ongoing efforts. Florida House Bill 13 — filed by Rep. Jake Raburn, R-Valrico — would prohibit the creation of…
A bill in the Florida Senate could, if enacted, work to phase out Community Redevelopment Agencies by 2037. Senate Bill 1770 passed the Florida Senate Community Affairs Committee on Tuesday, 5-3, and now goes for further review. The committee amended the bill to allow local governments to either create or continue CRAs by supermajority vote.…
ESJ Capital Partners, a full-service asset management firm based in Aventura, Florida, today announced its latest acquisition – Jungle Island – the 18-acre landmark attraction located on Watson Island in Miami, Florida. The $60 million transaction includes transfer of the existing lease on the City of Miami-owned Watson Island to ESJ, along with assuming existing…
Nearly 200 city officials from all over Florida recently visited Tallahassee as part of the Florida League of Cities’ Legislative Action Days, where they spoke with state lawmakers about issues being addressed during the legislative session. Largo commissioners Jamie Robinson and Michael Smith were among those officials, and they shared the same concern as many…
Why are American malls dying? Conventional wisdom often points the finger of blame at Amazon and a desire for shopping from home in your pajamas, but a new analysis claims that the real culprit is competition from newer, better malls that aren’t feeling the same pain as their withering forefathers. While patterns of commerce in…
The Hamilton County Development Authority announced that Swift Straw of Atlanta will open its first Florida location in Jasper. Swift Straw, an agriculture-based business, will occupy the former ESP window factory warehouse providing needed redevelopment to the location. The company, which launched in 2011, has already hired nine full-time positions, with nearly 15 positions in…
Taking a stroll through Cascades Park in Downtown Tallahassee, it’s easy to see the benefits of CRAs. Community Redevelopment Agencies work with local governments and private contractors to restore blighted neighborhoods. In the case of Cascades, what used to be a vacant superfund site is now a sprawling green space with trails and an amphitheater.…
Prompted by the potential — and current inability — to provide affordable housing in Azalea Park, the Community Redevelopment Agency agreed at Tuesday’s meeting to amend the CRA Board’s plan. At a March 7 meeting, the CRA discussed housing at Azalea Park when George Curtis, the city’s director of planning/zoning and development, pointed out the current…
As part of its efforts to revive Station Square Park, the city of Clearwater is holding the first in a series of paint parties/art bazaars at the Cleveland Street Park. Painting in the Park – Art Bazaar at Station Square Park kicks off from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, April 1, and continues on the…
Chipley’s Community Redevelopment Agency continued looking at options for a variety of projects at their March 28th board meeting. Topping off their list was discussion of the Strategic Plan information garnered in recent community meetings. Surveys that were taken as part of the work highlighted the following areas of concern: Housing Code enforcement Spotty Internet…
In Plant City, leaders are looking to the future — including vertical horizons. At the Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Monday, March 27, City Commissioners approved authorizing three companies to receive the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the city’s Midtown redevelopment project, a 15-acre area adjacent to Historic Downtown. E2L Real Estate Solutions, Green Mills Group…
Apopkans often boast about how they LOVE their city, and why not? There is a lot to love! Rolling hills, lots of greenery, great schools, etc. And, above all, wonderful, warm neighbors always ready to lend a hand. But, as life teaches us, love is a two-way street, demanding giving as well as getting. So,…
New downtown transportation alternatives are edging closer to reality — if the city can find business partners willing to help. City Council members, sitting as the Community Redevelopment Agency board, agreed at their Feb. 27 meeting to request proposals from private companies on how much they will charge the city to help it launch downtown…
Ace Cafe Orlando, the first North American outpost of the celebrated London-based motor-diner, is scheduled to open this spring. The 35,000-square-foot dining, entertainment, and retail destination, is forecast to draw over 400,000 people to downtown Orlando annually. Since 1938, Ace Cafe London has been a mecca for those passionate about cars, bikes and rock ’n…
Tallahassee’s community redevelopment agency better act fast if it wants to get any new projects approved, lobbyist Ron Book warned the City Commission. “The future is not great for new ones,” Book, the city of Tallahassee’s lobbyist said at last week’s meeting. “Any projects in the pipeline … look at them very quickly.” Community redevelopment agencies,…
SARASOTA — City and county leaders remain deadlocked after their first formal meeting on whether Sarasota County owes one more payment to the downtown redevelopment agency that the two governments founded decades ago. After three hours of detailed legal and technical arguments from both sides about why their interpretation is correct, city and county leaders…
Quincy Main Street has been designated the April 2017 Florida Program of the Month. Secretary of State Ken Detzner made the announcement last week. According to a press release, communities are selected based on their developmental achievements and participation in the Florida Main Street Program. Quincy has been apart of the Florida Main Street Program…
Niche, a new-to-the-scene website that provides information on neighborhoods, recently compiled a list of the top places in New Jersey where millennials can thrive in 2016. According to their report, “2016 Best Places for Millennials in New Jersey,” Hoboken earned the number one spot, followed by Edgewater and Plainsboro Center in the number two and…