Opera Naples, one of Naples’ leading performing arts organizations, is excited to welcome Laura Burns as its new executive director, beginning October 2022. As a lifelong participant and experienced executive in the arts, Burns will be a valued addition to the renowned opera company. “I am thrilled to work with Maestro Ramón Tebar and join…
The city of West Palm Beach and its community redevelopment agency are creating a new African American cultural tourism destination. The publicly-funded redevelopment of the Sunset Lounge in the city’s historic Northwest neighborhood hopes to “pay homage to the rich jazz and Black history of the area.” “This was the entertainment hub,” Robbie Littles said.…
When Blue Tree Café opens in Fort Lauderdale, expected to happen in September or October as a takeout/delivery-only restaurant, the two want to also use their expansive new kitchen as a launching pad for other small food and beverage purveyors. Family as well as business partners, King and chef Sharon Allen say they know the…
Work is underway to bring new life to a busy intersection in Riviera Beach. After years of sitting vacant, an old bank could soon turn into new homes and businesses. The city’s Community Redevelopment Agency board is moving forward with its plan to tear down the property, located at Broadway and Blue Heron Boulevard. In…
In the wake of South Florida experiencing the largest year-over-year rent increases in the state at 57.2%, the Hallandale Beach Community Redevelopment Agency’s (CRA) Board of Directors voted unanimously on Wednesday, August 24, 2022, to approve the Rent Stabilization Program. The Program allocates $1 Million in rental assistance for qualifying tenants living within the CRA…
Tampa city leaders say they are committed to doing anything in their power to save the historic Jackson House on Zack Street. Constructed in 1901, the building was once a boarding house in Tampa‘s Central Avenue district, providing accommodations for African Americans during the Jim Crow era and segregation. Legendary musicians, politicians and civil rights leaders…
A brand new YMCA in central Fort Lauderdale’s Sistrunk Corridor opened on Friday morning. “It’s a very unique building. There’s not another one like this in the country,” Sheryl Woods, of YMCA of South Florida, said. The building stands at 65,000 square feet and over $20 million was spent to create multiple exercise facilities, a preschool, classrooms,…
Driving through West Augustine, people probably won’t see Greg White Sr.’s name in flashing lights, but his influence is everywhere, friends and city officials said. White, 74, has lived in the community for decades and has devoted years to service, including time as chair of the West Augustine Community Redevelopment Area Steering Committee. He’s a…
Mayor Jane Castor, with the help of a federal influx of cash, has budgeted $26.4 million for affordable housing in her proposed $1.9 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. But when staff ran that number by City Council members at the first budget hearing last week, the reaction wasn’t favorable.…
Consider the unremarkable city park. A postage stamp of green amid the concrete. Trees, swings, grass, a basketball hoop. Maybe your park has a public pool. Maybe it has a walking path or a barbecue grill or a leafy spot that’s good for watching birds. Yosemite it is not. Your park is not a vacation…
Whether it’s kicking back on the porch reading the newspaper, enjoying the outdoors or just being closer to the grandkids, post-career goals vary for people. But all states are not the same when it comes to retirement, a recent study from Bankrate found. Bankrate conducted a study to find the best and worst states for retirement in…
The Florida chapter of the American Planning Association has announced that Bayshore Drive in Collier County is a finalist for the 2022 Great Places in Florida Award! Great Places in Florida is a unique award program because communities submit nominations, and the public determines the winner. Each year the nominees focus on unique, memorable places…
