City Manager James Slaton lauded the progress the CRA has achieved in their ongoing housing improvement efforts in the Northwest Neighborhood, which is now drawing considerable private-sector investment. The sale of five lots owned by the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency will spur the development of new affordable housing for workers and retirees. An agreement for the sale…
Downtown Fort Myers is getting a new gateway. Nearly $116,000 is being set aside for its construction where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard meets Fowler Street. The project will be constructed on a property owned by the Florida Department of Transportation that the agency has agreed to donate, according to an agenda for the…
The Community Redevelopment Agency’s (CRA) Special Event Sponsorship application deadlines have changed. For events held between October 2023 to March 2024, application packets must be received by July 31, 2023. For events held between April 2024 to September 2024, application packets must be received by January 31, 2024. The CRA sets aside $90,000 annually to…
The City of High Springs sponsored a workshop on Thursday, May 18, to ask citizens, farmers, and vendors for input on the High Springs Farmers Market, 23517 N.W. 185th Road. Approximately 35 people attended the meeting to share their ideas on ways in which the farmers’ market might best address the needs of the community.…
The Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency is hosting two new art exhibits at the Clearwater Main Library showcasing the beauty and culture of Cuba, featuring the artwork of legendary photographer Clyde Butcher and local Tampa Bay artists. “Cuba: The Natural Beauty,” by photographer Clyde Butcher, is the result of a commission by the United Nations to…
The funds raised from Rock the Block go directly back into the nonprofit’s Neighborhood Revitalization program, which addresses the need to preserve affordable housing and healthier living conditions through its critical repair and aging-in-place programs. The goal is to help homeowners stay in their existing homes, protect their financial investments, and improve their quality of…
Orlando city officials are seeing an uptick in graffiti along buildings in the downtown area. Now, business owners said they’re fed up. “As a small business owner, it’s difficult to have these things on the wall,” said Dr. Frederic Freeman, owner of Healthquest Chiropractic and Rehabilitation, Inc. “And it just really doesn’t do the community…
Most organizational leaders, including those in local government, focus on the “how” or the “what” of their actions. In 1999, as a newly elected 22-year-old Palmetto city councilman, my “why” was “improving the citizens’ quality of life.” Over those next four years, my “why” drifted into a lot of “whats,” like a wastewater treatment plant…
The Rock the Plaza event provides a spotlight on plazas located within the BBCRA area while encouraging community members to patronize local businesses and restaurants. The plaza activations feature live music and entertainment, as well as engaging activities in an effort to stimulate foot traffic and showcase the offerings of local businesses. This free business…
The City of Pensacola is opening the Pensacola Bay Pier at Community Maritime Park on Thursday. The Downtown Pensacola marina will provide free public waterfront access points for boaters visiting Community Maritime Park, Downtown Pensacola, and surrounding areas. “I’m excited to further activate our beautiful waterfront in Pensacola, creating more access for our residents and…
If you’ve ever visited the Polk County History Center & Genealogical Library in Bartow or the Kathleen Area Historical Society Heritage Park in North Lakeland, you might have encountered a friendly woman with short dark hair, an eager smile, and a brimming knowledge of the area. On Monday evening at the 2023 Historic Preservation Awards,…
The Clearwater Public Art & Design Program has multiple public art opportunities for professional artists to design and create artwork on several installations in the city. The city is seeking a muralist to paint two water tanks; a mosaic artist for the Mercado, a new community space in the city’s Downtown Gateway; and a sculptor…
