In sci-fi movies, a shape-shifter transforms itself from one body into another so swiftly and convincingly, you wonder who its real self is. West Palm Beach’s transformation won’t be that dramatic in the year ahead. But the city contours are shifting rapidly as global forces that drive economic growth turn the city into a busy…
As 2015 comes to a close, more small businesses are encouraged to see Tallahassee’s economy strengthening and that will likely lead to more new hires, expansions and relocations. Owners may also decide to invest back into the business with major purchases. Key economic factors point up. Business are seeing increased sales. There’s more population. Property…
BELLEAIR — The demolition of an iconic hotel and the legal battle waged to try to save it has put the Belleview Biltmore Hotel on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s top 10 Wins and Losses List for 2015. Built in 1897 along Clearwater Harbor, the 400-room Biltmore played host to royalty and business magnates…
The Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel recently revealed a new look after $10 million in renovations that took nearly a year to complete. The 293-room hotel, which is connected to the International Plaza shopping mall in Tampa, updated the hotel lobby, guest rooms, outdoor patios and the private dining room at the hotel’s in-house restaurant, Pelagia…
PANAMA CITY — Panama City is paving the way for a series of non-ad valorem special assessments to be considered next year, including a measure aimed at incentivizing business growth within the city. If approved, the assessments would be placed on the property owner’s tax bill as a separate charge from the property taxes levied…
The Ocala Farm Market’s days using the lot next to the city square are numbered. In a few months the Saturday morning event will be relocated as the city makes way for an upscale hotel that will help anchor a revitalized downtown. The move, which could come as early as the spring, would be the…
The Bank of America Plaza has been sold in what’s called Florida’s largest office building sale since 2012. MetLife Inc. sold the 42-story tower at 101 E Kennedy Blvd. to a joint venture between Miami-based Banyan Street Capital and Los Angeles-based Oaktree Capital Management. The parties did not disclose the price but a trade journal, Real…
AUBURNDALE — Work has begun on the city’s community redevelopment project to add more parking downtown. At a budgeted cost of $125,000, this is the second largest redevelopment project this year. The largest will be the PK Avenue stormwater runoff project designed to reduce runoff and flooding from Lake Lena. The city has budgeted $400,00…
DAYTONA BEACH – For nearly a decade, Diane Lessard has been a regular at the Peabody Auditorium for Broadway musicals, comedians such as Jerry Seinfeld and singer Johnny Mathis, among others. “I like the intimate setting,” said Lessard, 66, of Daytona Beach, a Peabody subscriber. “I like that there’s really not a bad seat in…
VENICE – VENICE — More than a thousand people have already weighed in on the future of Venice as part of the city’s 10-year upgrade to its comprehensive plan. This week, the city with one of the oldest populations in America solicited a constituency that sometimes struggles to be heard in Venice: young people. At an…
The Town of Century will early next year consider forming a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). Upon declaration of an area as blighted, the CRA works to improve conditions. As property tax values rise, any increase is funneled back into the redevelopment area for further improvements. Additional tax incentive and redevelopment funds are available within a…
PANAMA CITY — The Panama City Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) moved Tuesday to loosen the requirements for a residential grant program targeting low-income homeowners. Launched by the agency last year, the pilot program provides 100 percent grants to qualifying residents, while standard CRA grants require owners to pay upfront for improvement projects for which they…
