Last week, the North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) approved a $250,000 Business Attraction Grant to support the creation of a community-centered maternal health and wellness facility, helping address South Florida’s growing shortage of maternity care. The vision belongs to Olamina Properties LLC, a joint venture between Black-led nonprofits Southern Birth Justice Network (SBJN) and…
In a brief digital “open house” video shared on Facebook, entrepreneurs Yana Yanovska and Alex Yanovsky recently offered a glimpse at the progress of their Jellyfish Museum, steadily taking shape at 199 South Ocean Boulevard. The video makes it clear there’s more interior finishing work to do – it still looks closer to a construction…
The long-gestating renovation of Lealman’s 38-acre Raymond H. Neri Park was unveiled Saturday, a $10 million investment by Pinellas County government in the future of the unincorporated and historically underserved district. The ribbon-cutting was followed by the fourth annual Honey & Arts Festival, on the massive athletic fields (re-planted with new grass) near the new…
Families in Apopka are seeing major home improvements thanks to the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency Residential Renovation Assistance Program, which invested nearly $1 million to help homeowners with critical exterior repairs. Eligible residents received up to $30,000 for upgrades such as new roofs, windows, driveway repairs, porch improvements and ADA modifications. In total, the program…
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…