St. Augustine – Updated Look into Lincolnville’s Redevelopment Plans

The guiding document for Lincolnville’s redevelopment is heading for an update, and that could translate to new or expanded programs in the community. What happens with the Lincolnville Redevelopment Plan depends on Florida statutes, public input and the will of the Lincolnville Community Redevelopment Area steering committee. The plan guides the committee’s actions in making…

Tampa – Channelside 2.0

TAMPA — Developers envisioned a bustling entertainment and dining district on the edge of downtown Tampa when Channelside Bay Plaza opened 15 years ago. Built along Tampa’s seaport, there wasn’t anything like it downtown. The $49 million outdoor complex was meant to be a hang-out spot for locals and also serve tourists who stayed in…

Tallahassee “SoMO” District Plans

You can find huge red and white letters spelling “I Amsterdam” near the rear of the Dutch city’s Rijksmuseum. In Atlanta, 8-foot multicolored characters tell you’re in Midtown. By late 2017, Tallahassee will build on the oversized letter trend by welcoming a life-size monument of the #IHeartTally hashtag to the area of South Monroe Street…

Building art is the new chic

The original plan for a mural on the ocean-facing wall of Fat Kahuna’s Beachside Grille in Cocoa Beach called for a shark. However, Cocoa Beach, which provides matching funds for murals and other artistic beautification efforts, nixed the shark idea. While the city did want a beach/ocean motif, sharks were not the image Cocoa Beach…

Polk County Hotel Boom

LAKELAND — Claudia Tritton and other members of the Lakeland Economic Development Council recently met with some of the city’s largest employers. Part of the LEDC’s mission is to generate jobs and capital investment by attracting companies to the area and helping existing businesses expand. Tritton said one of the biggest takeaways from those recent…