California has moved one step closer to the return of redevelopment and the controversial power to seize private property through eminent domain. The state Senate approved legislation Wednesday that would give local governments the power to create new entities, known as community revitalization authorities, to stimulate economically-depressed or crime-ridden areas. Assembly Bill 2 would grant these new…
Despite lingering questions about funding, Tri-Rail trains are expected to begin operating between downtown Miami and Palm Beach County by 2017, the commuter rail service’s chief said Wednesday. “It’s going to happen,” said Jack Stephens, executive director of Broward-based South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, SFRTA. “We’re looking at having it operational in the first or…
SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. — For 70 years, the 30 acres between South Tamiami Trail and the Intercoastal Waterway near Sarasota Square Mall have remained relatively untouched. Oliver Mitchell bought the land in 1935 at a great depression discount, and in 2006, grandson Elling Eide sold part of it for 30 million dollars. When asked how…
While many of the stakeholders in the CRA district think that streetscaping is a great way to improve the look of the area, the plan to make it happen through revolving loans might not be the best way. That is what a packed house at the Chester Street Resource Center told the CRA advisory board…
Miami isn’t losing Biscayne Boulevard’s grand Christian Science church — it’s gaining a mixed-use high-rise tower. On Tuesday, Miami’s Historic and Environmental Preservation Board voted during an unusual and a somewhat testy hearing to approve one of the most uniquely designed towers in the city’s history. They designated the shuttered First Church of Christ, Scientist,…
LAKELAND — City officials are hopeful that the opening of the new Lakeland Automall dealership will spur economic growth on the West Memorial Boulevard corridor. The car dealership is situated on 11½ acres at 1430 W. Memorial Blvd., and at least 100 people came to the opening Tuesday to show their support for the Automall’s…
The Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency has hired CBRE, a full-service commercial real estate agency, to find tenants for three waterfront restaurant sites as part of a $375 million redevelopment plan at the city’s marina. The three sites are in an area of the marina property known as “Restaurant Row.” CBRE is looking to identify…
LAKE WORTH — Hudson Holdings, a Delray Beach developer, last week submitted a conceptual site plan and rezoning application to the city for its $60 million renovation plans for the historic Gulfstream Hotel site in downtown Lake Worth. The plans include demolishing — or moving — two existing residential structures on the property and replacing…
Plans to widen U.S. 90 through downtown Milton are supposed to ease traffic, accommodate Santa Rosa County’s population growth over the last decades, and make way for future growth in the north Santa Rosa town. Santa Rosa County’s population has grown 42 percent from 2000 to 2015 according to data from the Pensacola Metro Dashboard.…
The director of the Bradenton Downtown Development Authority will resign before the end of the year. David Gustafson has served as director for over four years. In a statement, Gustafson says, “I can’t thank the Mayor/City Council/DDA Board enough for the opportunity they have provided me. Together we have put the City of Bradenton on…
A neighborhood in the heart of Gainesville needs to be revived, but city officials shouldn’t stop there. The Stephen Foster neighborhood should be a highly sought-after place to live, given its proximity to downtown and the University of Florida campus. But as efforts to clean up the polluted Koppers Superfund site bordering the neighborhood have…
The Gainesville Housing Authority will host a neighborhood workshop to discuss the proposed Woodland Park redevelopment project and receive comments from residents. The workshop will take place at 6 p.m. Monday at the Gainesville Housing Authority office at 1900 SE Fourth St. Housing residents and the community are being invited. Pamela Davis, executive director of…
