House bill could eliminate CRAs, lead to more sprawl in Florida | Thumb down

Treasure Coast Newspapers Editorial Board Treasure Coast Newspapers Feb. 28, 2018 Sometimes, legislative bills metastasize. Case in point would be Florida House Bill 883, which started out as a measure designed to expand Community Development Districts, or CDDs, which are created by property owners who then sometimes use the CDD to borrow money, make improvements,…

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Op-ed: Home rule in danger due to misguided proposals before the Florida Legislature

Steve Leary Orlando Weekly Feb. 15, 2018 Twenty years ago, crime and blight plagued an area west of Winter Park’s Park Avenue. It wasn’t a place you’d want to hang out after dark. But today, its residents and visitors linger into the evening at sidewalk cafes while locally owned businesses flourish behind restored facades. These…

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Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics

Peter Schorsch Florida Politics Feb. 9, 2018 For your radar — The Redevelopment Works campaign, spearheaded by the Florida Redevelopment Association (FRA), is spreading awareness about the importance of Florida’s community redevelopment agencies (CRAs), which are currently under attack by legislation under consideration in the 2018 session. In a video recently unveiled as part of the initiative, community…

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Michael Volk: Call on state lawmakers to protect CRAs

Michael Volk Gainesville Sun Feb. 6, 2018 As a resident of Gainesville, I have witnessed firsthand the encouraging impact and positive effects resulting from projects spearheaded by Gainesville’s community redevelopment agency (CRA). Newly renovated areas — such as Depot Park, Bo Diddley Plaza and the Helyx Bridge — have attracted significantly more residents, tourists and…

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Opinion: CRAs breathe new life into neglected communities

Gabe Grass Tallahassee Democrat Feb. 7, 2018 Supporting local growth from within communities is the formula for success, and community redevelopment agencies are a key part of this equation. Unfortunately, the Florida Legislature is seeking to impose an exhaustive list of regulations that will prevent CRAs from effectively rehabilitating the communities they serve. CRAs breathe new…

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