Naples officials to vote on 30-year CRA extension

Naples officials to vote on 30-year CRA extension Naples officials and the public will be challenged to think beyond their own lifetimes when they consider the city’s future development. The Community Redevelopment Agency will vote today on an advisory board’s suggestion to extend the CRA’s sunset date by 30 years, based on a consultant’s recommendation.…

Editorial: Part of the problem

When the Gainesville City Commission bought the vacant Mom’s Kitchen restaurant in 2009, there were a number of reasons to question the purchase. The city was dealing with a $1 million budget deficit at the time and the project wasn’t on a list of priorities for redevelopment. Yet the commission voted 4-3 to pay $165,000…

New Smyrna summit seeks business growth ideas

NEW SMYRNA BEACH — The backdrop on Saturday seemed apropos. New Smyrna Beach’s downtown bustled with people taking in art galleries, a live music festival and a farmers market, all bringing the “feet on the street” and generating the economic activity that local businesses crave. Meanwhile, city and business leaders met at nearby City Hall…

St. Pete Beach eyes big police savings

ST. PETE BEACH – City commissioners are talking about making improvements to the Corey Avenue area this year as a result of cost savings through their contract with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. St. Pete Beach Commissioner Marvin Shavian said at the commission’s Feb. 26 meeting he feels “very strongly” that improvements need to be…

Commission Decides Against Inwood CRA

BARTOW | County commissioners rejected the idea Friday of forming a Community Redevelopment Agency in the Inwood area. County Commissioner Ed Smith proposed the idea as a way to raise funds to fix infrastructure problems and to combat blight in this largely residential area between Winter Haven and Auburndale. [See Full Article]