Dade City Main Street group closes its doors

DADE CITY – Downtown Dade City Main Street closed its doors this week after more than 25 years of operation promoting the historic downtown district. The organization that had as its goal improving the appearance and economic stability of downtown Dade City had suffered a financial decline since 2007, said Downtown Dade City Main Street…

Lynn Haven reviews CRA’s year

LYNN HAVEN — The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) in Lynn Haven is recovering from the impact of the nation’s economic slump, according to Mayor Walter Kelley. Acting as the CRA board, city commissioners approved the annual fiscal report during Tuesday’s meeting. Documents show the city’s CRA fund balance was $896,155 in tax increment funds. Total…

Downtown Melbourne Hyatt plans crumble

MELBOURNE — After a fruitless seven-year quest, Peter Flotz has abandoned his ambitious plan to build a luxury Mediterranean-styled condominium tower or a Hyatt Place hotel in the heart of the historic downtown. These $20-million-plus projects would have injected dozens of high-income households — or up to 100 new jobs — directly into the downtown economy.…

Venice MainStreet creates a ‘destination’

VENICE – Twenty-five years ago, downtown Venice desperately needed help and its merchants and property owners knew it. Suburban shopping plazas had been siphoning off customers for some time. Already gone were many of the mainstay businesses that had made downtown Venice a place to shop for everyday goods and services — Dick & Meadows Pharmacy,…