Initiatives to help direct visitors to downtown Sarasota destinations should take form in time for the tourist season. The city had plans to improve “wayfinding” in the area before the economic recession, but the project was scaled back once money became scarce. This season, visitors and residents alike should have at least two new ways…
DADE CITY — Pasco commissioners are expected to vote in September on a new ordinance that could allow jailing property owners for refusing to repair or demolish their blighted commercial buildings. The proposed ordinance would extend property maintenance standards already in place for housing to commercial and industrial buildings. Senior Assistant County Attorney Kristi Sims worked…
SARASOTA – A Downtown Sarasota Community Redevelopment Agency advocate says reluctant county leaders might support a plan to extend the CRA another 30 years, but only if the city approves major changes to how the agency operates. Andy Dorr, vice chair of the Downtown CRA Extension Study Committee, will appear Monday at a City Commission meeting…
SEBRING — Two years ago, downtown promoters were looking for new ways to draw people to Sebring’s central business district. They began having wine walks — where people walked in the downtown area — visited businesses and got free wine tastings. They expressed amazement at the huge response. But, more recently, attendance has declined. That, along…
When Kale Cafe’s owners opened a second store in June on Ormond Beach’s main downtown street, Granada Boulevard, sales at the vegetarian cafe/juice bar soared immediately. “It has been amazing,” said Camille Holder-Brown, who owns the business with her husband, Omar Brown. “There was a lot of business from the start, and the Ormond store reached…
ST. PETERSBURG —All John Stearman wanted 10 years ago was to renovate the house next door for his son. It was a fixer-upper, but the Granada Terrace resident was going to make it work. He put in a front porch and new windows. Yet, in 2008, city officials halted construction, telling Stearman he couldn’t change…
Register now using the link below. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8805852656036527617 This webinar will cover the general requirements that CRA administrators need to do by September 30 of each year. We will address budget adoption, online postings, and end of year accounting. We will give you examples of best practices for each. After registering, you will receive a confirmation…
There’s an overall upswing in Economic Development and Sanford is a major player in the game. During the past 6 months, the economic activity has tripled in Sanford. Through the direction of Bob Turk, the City’s Economic Development Director and Executive Director of the Sanford Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), development and real estate inquiries are…
Dear FRA Members, You are invited to this special event in Tampa on August 20, at no charge. Local government economic development officials from the Tampa region will gather to discuss best practices in this economy. Keynote: Jeff Vinik Owner, Tampa Bay Lightning Panelists: Allen Brinkman Vice Chair of Tampa Bay Partnership, CEO of SunTrust…
Amid the stunning rebirth of this new Brickell into a high-rise condo farm works a man who has poured drinks on the same block of real estate for 20 years. Bartender Johnny Fernandez used to crack cheap beers and turn up whiskey bottles late into the night at iconic Tobacco Road. When the oldest bar…
LAND O’ LAKES — As Pasco commissioners prepare to discuss a proposed ordinance Tuesday aimed at cleaning up blighted buildings on the county’s main roadways, some signs of progress already are visible. The owner of a condemned, two-story building on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard currently is demolishing the structure. “I’ve talked to the owner and…
A proposal to build hundreds of affordable rental units near downtown Sarasota stirred promising discussion this week. Questions about the plan still await clearer answers, but perhaps what’s needed most of all, at this early stage, is a positive mindset by local government. Officials should look for ways to help mold this project into an…
