A proposed mixed-use development at the former Ocean Optics site on Main Street in Dunedin won unanimous approval from the Local Planning Agency on Jan. 14, drawing praise from residents and city officials who called it transformational for downtown. Main Street Exchange, planned for the corner of Main Street and Douglas Avenue, would feature an…
The City of Cocoa, in partnership with Lennar Homes, officially broke ground on January 16, on a new workforce housing development in the Michael C. Blake Subdivision. The project follows the approval of a development agreement with Lennar Homes to construct 32 workforce housing units, expanding access to affordable homeownership opportunities for very low, low, and…
The Arcadian, a transformational mixed-use development in Fort Lauderdale’s Sistrunk District, officially celebrated its grand opening today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and time capsule installation. The event marked a significant milestone in the neighborhood’s revitalization and the city’s commitment to attainable housing and economic development. “The completion of The Arcadian confirms the city’s commitment to…
A new photography exhibition spotlighting Overtown’s rich Black history has opened at the newly restored Lawson E. Thomas Building, offering the public a rare visual journey into one of Miami’s most influential communities. Timed to coincide with Black History Month, Sepia Vernacular: Overtown’s Photographic Journey, 1920–1950 is presented by the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency (SEOPW…
Robert Terrell has witnessed firsthand the evolution of Fort Myers’ historic Dunbar neighborhood—from a once-thriving, self-sufficient community to a place he now hopes is on the cusp of renewal. The 66-year-old lifelong resident fondly recalls growing up in the historically Black neighborhood during the 1960s and 70s, when Dunbar was filled with local businesses, restaurants,…
New details on the Tampa Bay Rays’ stadium plans are expected this week, with a possible meeting Tuesday between Gov. Ron DeSantis and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred as talks focus on Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus. Two weeks ago, the Hillsborough College Board approved an agreement with the Rays to redevelop the 113-acre site, including…
Fort Myers city leaders are considering a proposal to install new lighting and design enhancements underneath the Caloosahatchee Bridge. The goal is to transform the underpass into a safer, more welcoming area for pedestrians and cyclists. The project is being advanced by the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency. Officials said the Caloosahatchee Bridge also serves…
Families in Apopka are seeing major improvements to their homes, thanks to a residential renovation assistance program The city’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) invested nearly $1 million to help eligible homeowners with critical repairs and upgrades. For Apopka homeowner Tim Williams, the need for repairs was clear from the start. “I knew it was an…
The Lake Worth Beach Community Redevelopment Agency says a long-planned downtown redevelopment centered on the Wiener Museum of Decorative Arts is moving deeper into pre-construction, with permit activity and utility work now underway. According to the CRA, WMODA submitted permit applications in October 2025, while the city’s Electric Utilities Department is relocating and upgrading power…
A ribbon cutting and ceremonial time capsule installation recently marked the opening of The Arcadian, a mixed-use residential development at 640 NW 7th Avenue in Fort Lauderdale’s Sistrunk District. The project delivers 502 apartments across two eight-story buildings and represents a major investment in attainable housing and commercial activity, supported in part by a $10…
The City Commission unanimously voted Jan. 13 to reactivate Tarpon Springs Main Street as a Florida Main Street Community after a nearly 40-year hiatus. City Manager Charles Rudd, addressing commissioners seated as the Community Redevelopment Agency, said the designation culminates a long effort to reestablish the program. “There was a Main Street Program in the…
One of Central Florida’s most beloved downtown corridors is getting a major upgrade. On January 20, 2026, the city began Phase One of the Park Avenue Refresh, a multi-year, $2.5 million project aimed at improving safety, infrastructure, and aesthetics along the historic street. The first phase focuses on the stretch between Webster Avenue and Garfield…