For 33 years the city of Fort Myers’ downtown CRA district has enjoyed a money pot all its own, and officials aim to ensure it stays that way. On Wednesday, Stantec Consulting is expected to recommend the city continue the downtown district until 2046, combining it with neighboring midtown to fund developments in both areas.…
DetailsThe Beachside Redevelopment Committee dug in deep into the homestead exemption and its effect on code enforcement in the beachside during their meeting on Monday, Sept. 18. “Homestead and the exemption that goes with it is constitutional, which trumps local requirements and local desires to get liens paid,” Volusia County Property Appraiser Larry Bartlett said. The…
DetailsThe Cascades Project cleared a major hurdle with the Community Redevelopment Agency’s unanimous approval Monday to complete and execute a development agreement with incremental tax rebates. Early project images reveal a colossal mixed-use development unlike anything in Tallahassee’s downtown. It includes a waterfall staircase in the park’s plaza, room for a bakery, a coffee shop,…
DetailsMARATHON, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott is meeting with state and local officials in Monroe and Lee Counties to discuss Hurricane Irma response and recovery efforts. The Governor also visited a Hurricane Irma shelter in Monroe County with U.S. Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Elaine Duke. Read the updates here.
DetailsMARATHON, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced the state has been awarded federal Dislocated Worker Grants to provide temporary employment to Floridians affected by Hurricane Irma. The Dislocated Worker Grants, administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, provide disaster relief employment in the form of temporary jobs that support storm response and recovery efforts.…
DetailsGood news for Tallahassee flood insurance policyholders! Tallahassee citizens will save approximately $250,000 in annual flood insurance premium costs thanks to the City of Tallahassee’s efforts through the Community Rating System (CRS) program. As part of this, the City has released a progress report on hazard mitigation initiatives. The Tallahassee-Leon County Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS)…
DetailsA Florida lawmaker is once again trying to reform the state’s community redevelopment agencies. The taxpayer-funded programs would have to meet stricter reporting and ethics requirements. Representative Jake Rayburn of Valrico wants community redevelopment agencies to be more transparent and accountable. Lawmakers designed the programs to combat blight and slums and build affordable housing. Critics argue more regulations are…
DetailsGrowth is often treated as the gold standard of success for American cities. If you’re building new subdivisions, new highways, new strip malls – and theoretically growing the city’s tax base in the process – conventional wisdom would tell you your town is healthy and thriving. But after decades of sustained growth, the majority of…
DetailsMembers of the North Port St. Joe Project Area Committee(PAC) met last Saturday to discuss ongoing efforts to redevelop the North Port St. Joe area. Members of the North Port St. Joe Project Area Committee(PAC) met last Saturday to discuss ongoing efforts to redevelop the North Port St. Joe area. The PAC was joined by…
DetailsEarlier this summer, the installation of more than $200 million in infrastructure, including new roadways and utilities, began in support of Water Street Tampa, a mixed-use neighborhood on 50 waterfront acres in this South Florida metro that, when completed in 2027, will include more than 9 million sf of residential, commercial, entertainment, cultural, and retail…
DetailsLIVE OAK — Jesse Saginor with Florida Atlantic University presented the Heritage Square Market Analysis to the Community Redevelopment Agency on Tuesday. The CRA expanded the portion of the city known as Heritage Square to include the area of land between Ohio Avenue and Mussey Avenue and between the railroad and Duval Street in April.…
DetailsWith dramatic flair that included invoking the name of a famous novelist, Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran recently wrote a critical column about Community Redevelopment Agencies. No one should disagree with him about elected officials in Florida whose unethical or criminal behavior let their constituents down. But there are many, including myself, who firmly believe…
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