A recent morning in downtown Tampa could not have been more perfect had city boosters photoshopped the whole thing. Sunlight bathed the tall shiny buildings as people walked and jogged the newly opened ribbon of Riverwalk, following its curves along the edge of the city. A leashed beagle stopped to socialize with a setter. People…
THE ISSUE: Inverness CRA expansion. OUR OPINION: Approval promises to make Inverness even better. The foresight of Jim Sanders converted open pastures into the development of Sugarmill Woods, known for its unique natural greenbelt. Stan Olsen’s imagination transformed an abandoned limestone quarry into a world-class golf course. And the farsightedness of Sam Tamposi created the Villages of Citrus Hills, that’s among…
Should the city of Jacksonville get into the property management business? That’s really what the city would be doing by creating a land bank, an idea being championed by Councilman Bill Gulliford as a way to turn blighted properties from derelict sites to property gems, from civic eyesores to eye-catching developments. Gulliford’s idea could hold…
TALLAHASSEE — Florida legislators late Monday night completed work on a new state budget, securing $29 million for two major construction projects at the University of South Florida and rejecting a third. In an avalanche of spending deals ratified shortly before midnight, lawmakers agreed to give $17 million to USF to move the Morsani College…
The city of Gainesville is considering making part of northwest Gainesville a new Community Redevelopment Area, and on June 25 the public will have a chance to learn more about this process during an informational meeting. To address blight as well as other issues, local governments can create CRAs. Tindale-Oliver and Associates was hired by the…
DAYTONA BEACH — When Danielle Kaeufer opened her medical supply company on Orange Avenue, friends wondered why she chose Midtown. “Why are you going there?” Kaeufer, who owns Daytona Peoples Medical Supply, recalled being asked. “People didn’t understand. They were afraid to come into the area.” With some encouraging and convincing, customers eventually began coming.…
LAND O’ LAKES — Every day, Elizabeth Villanova drives past a series of vacant buildings and eyesores that dot the 7-mile stretch of U.S. 41 between the State Road 54 intersection and her home in Connerton. She’s waited eight years for things to improve. When they didn’t, she and other Land O’ Lakes residents asked…
ZEPHYRHILLS — The Zephyrhills Community Redevelopment Area neighborhood cleanup program will hold its first one-day cleanup from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 25, according to CRA Director Gail Hamilton. The first cleanup will be in the areas between Sixth and 12th avenues and Seventh and 20th streets. Those participating in the cleanup campaign…
The City of New Port Richey is seeking “Statements of Qualifications” from professional firms to provide assistance in amending the City’s sign regulations. The scope of work to be performed includes the drafting of amendments to the sign regulations in the City’s Land Development Code, ordinance preparation and presentations to the Land Development Review Board…
On June 9, 2015, the Fernandina Beach City Commission held a special meeting to discuss partnering with the Amelia Island-Fernandina Beach-Yulee Chamber of Commerce to support the Florida Main Street Program. The vote was 4 – 1 on the motion to have the city attorney prepare a resolution of support for the June 16 regular…
CRYSTAL RIVER — A project intended to revitalize Crystal River’s downtown is one step closer after city officials approved a three-year budgetary pledge on Monday. Members of the of the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) — who also sit separately as the city council — approved $104,212 to be allocated the Florida Main Street Program…
CRYSTAL RIVER — Crystal River officials will vote this evening to invest in their downtown. Board members of the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) will vote on whether to budget $104,212 over the next three years to fund a nonprofit group consulted by the Florida Main Street program. Florida Main Street is part of the…
