The Edison Awards’ vision for an Innovation Walk connecting downtown Fort Myers to the Edison and Ford Winter Estates is advancing after years of planning and community engagement, according to Edison Awards CEO Frank Bonafilia and Fort Myers City Councilman Liston Bochette. The concept, which Bonafilia said originated from “the Edison Awards years of experience, incredible…
In an exciting step forward for the City of Lauderdale Lakes, four local families have successfully purchased their new homes with the support of the Lauderdale Lakes Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). This achievement comes as part of the CRA’s Homebuyer Purchase Assistance Program, an initiative designed to help individuals and families realize their dream of…
The Lauderdale Lakes Community Redevelopment Agency purchased a 0.22-acre property with a deteriorated building that was later demolished to make way for a pocket park. The community recognized the opportunity to design this new space – now called Trailhead Park. The park offers diverse recreational activities and enhances the existing greenway trail network. Inspired by…
The Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (BBCRA) marked a significant milestone in the transformation of Boynton Beach Boulevard with the commencement of the demolition of the former Inn at Boynton Beach on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. The press-only groundbreaking ceremony, coined, “The Inn is OUT,” commemorated the clearing of the 2.11-acre property, which is prominently…
Builders broke ground last week on The Ballad Hotel, a redevelopment project along the downtown Clearwater waterfront. The 10-story, 158-room hotel overlooking Coachman Park and Clearwater Harbor is part of a 230,000-square-foot, mixed-use development, the city said in a news release. The development will feature ground-level restaurants and retail along Osceola Avenue, a rooftop bar,…
Last week, downtown Clearwater witnessed the inaugural step towards a major development project with a ceremonial groundbreaking for The Ballad Hotel. This venture, sprouting in the heart of the city, is a joint effort backed by city officials, the Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency and various project partners such as the DeNunzio Group, KAST Construction, Behar…
Downtown Orlando is about to look different in the next couple of years, with four massive developments moving forward simultaneously. From a Church Street revamp to reimagining the old Orlando Sentinel site, the city is gearing up for one of its biggest transformations in decades. Yehya Rizeq, who owns Crepe Delicious of Church Street, says…
Secretary of State Cord Byrd announced that Park Avenue District, located in Winter Park, Orange County, has been designated the December 2025 Florida Main Street Program of the Month. “It is fitting to recognize this Main Street Program in December,” said Secretary of State Cord Byrd. “With a variety of Christmas and Chanukah celebrations, visiting…
(Photo courtesy of City of West Palm Beach) West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) proudly announces the completion of the long-awaited renovation of the iconic Sunset Lounge. Located on 8th Street in the heart of the Historic Northwest District, the venue has long been a cultural cornerstone for the community. Originally a…
The city’s outdoor Amphitheater, under construction at Memorial Park, is scheduled to open on time this spring. The new covered stage area is estimated to have a crowd capacity of 2,500 people. The event complex will feature a green room, lawn seating, an architectural entry way with plaza area, monument entry, brick paver walkways, landscaping,…
From the 1930s through the 70s, Black elders remember the Sunset Lounge in West Palm’s Historic Northwest District as a place where jazz legends performed — Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, to name a few. And now the cultural gem has reopened after sitting idle for nearly two years. It’s pure “nostalgia,” said…
Winter Park’s long-planned effort to fix one of its most congested intersections is now officially moving forward, and that means a major change for a local arts landmark. “This area is part of our Community Redevelopment Agency,” Knight said. “Back in the mid-90s, part of that CRA plan was to eventually acquire this property along here.…