EAGLE LAKE — Ending blight and positioning the city to take advantage of opportunities for growth were major topics during the City Commission’s retreat Saturday. City Manager Luke Lewis began the discussion of the city’s future by talking about blight in the 3.2-square-mile city and ways to generate revenue. “There are areas in this city…
A vote on a $1.5-million investment in a Big Bend Cares expansion was delayed until next week over concerns about how it affects Bond Community Health Center. During a crowded meeting of a Community Redevelopment Agency citizen panel this week, members decided they need more clarification on how Bond and Big Bend Cares would work…
TREASURE ISLAND — As a city with an aging infrastructure and limited growth potential, officials are looking for every opportunity to generate more revenue. One possibility on the horizon that could expand the city’s tax base is redevelopment of residential areas, said City Manager Reid Silverboard. About 83 percent of the city’s property tax base…
ZEPHYRHILLS — A code enforcement crackdown is coming to Zephyrhills. City leaders sounded the alarm this week during a City Council workshop, warning that blight is spreading throughout the city as property owners are letting their properties fall into extreme disrepair. “Something needs to be done about this. It’s almost getting out of control,” City…
PANAMA CITY — One of the two administrative positions at the Panama City Downtown Improvement Board (DIB) is now vacant after the organization cut ties with Main Street Coordinator Valerie Woods, who held the position for less than a year. Main Street, a statewide program administered by the Florida Department of State, is overseen by…
SARASOTA COUNTY – Sarasota County commissioners will not renew a program that has seeded nearly $100 million into downtown and Newtown redevelopment during the past three decades. After months of signals that they were letting the program sunset — and a growing rift with the city that solidified the program’s demise — commissioners this week officially…
ANATEE — Local attorney Caleb Grimes has watched Manatee County’s existing Land Development Code and the project approval process turn people away from wanting to develop in the county. “We have to recognize that we may not get it right the first time but we’ve got to start and we’ve got to start letting the…
Scott Shimberg spreads an enormous map across a conference table, and sweeps his hand over the geographic picture of east Tampa. One roadway in particular gets his attention — 22nd Street. He sees a roadway that is noteworthy as a connector to neighborhoods — Ybor City and the Channel District among them — and a…
The Boynton Beach City Commission will meet Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. Here are 3 topics the commissioners are expected to discuss, and here’s why each is important: – It’s budget time. The commission will have a final vote on approving the budget for 2015-16. The proposed general fund budget is $76,518,564 with…
There’s no doubting the achievements of the Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency in lifting the city from the doldrums to a dynamo. But after 30 years, the agency’s success has turned it into something of a runaway train, an engine that rakes in lots of money and seems hellbent to spend it — often to…
Economic development is at the epicenter of our daily lives. It affects where we live, work and play. The prosperity of this community depends on thoughtful investment of our tax dollars to create jobs and foster a culture of private reinvestment that will continue for generations to come. We are dedicated to economic development, which…
LEESBURG — Staffers will ask city commissioners Monday night to continue waiving impact fees for projects that redevelop vacant properties in the city. Leesburg created the waiver in March 2015, and staffers want it extended to September 2016. “The purpose of this extension is to continue to encourage businesses to locate in currently vacant structures…
