Florida Redevelopment Association

The seasonal River District Trolley is set to return Nov. 21 after the Lee Board of County Commissioners voted to approve an agreement with the city of Fort Myers and the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency to offer the fare-free service. Both the LeeTran Blue and Gold Line trolleys provide free access to and from the historic downtown Fort Myers River District. The service cost of $733,119 is funded by the city of Fort Myers and CRA contributing $366,560, and a Florida Department of Transportation Transit Service Development grant contributing $366,559. The Blue Line runs through downtown Fort Myers. The route loops from the Oasis Condominiums to West First Street and McGregor Boulevard along First Street, then to Rosa Parks Transportation Center, Fowler Street and Second Street. The Gold Line connects North Fort Myers to downtown Fort Myers. The service will run through April 23, 2025. #RedevelopmentWorks #Redevelopment #FloridaRedevelopment #MyFRA #FLRedevelopment #FortMyersCRA #FortMyers

The city of Miami Gardens is gearing up to expand its footprint as an arts and cultural hub with its very own performing arts center, the construction of which would coincide with the construction of a brand new city center. Planned for the east side of the lot adjacent to Miami Gardens City Hall, behind the parking lot, the Miami Gardens Performing Arts Center (PAC) would span approximately 74,000 square feet across three levels and offer a range of features. The ground floor would accommodate between 1,000 and 1,220, according to city manager Cameron Benson, who gave a presentation on the PAC during the Nov. 13 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) board meeting. It would also include what Benson referred to as "The Black Box Theatre," a key component dedicated to performances for younger audiences focused on arts and cultural activities. The ground floor would also house office spaces, classrooms, and a culinary arts facility. #RedevelopmentWorks #Redevelopment #FloridaRedevelopment #MyFRA #FLRedevelopment #MiamiGardens #MiamiGardensCRA

2024 FRA Award Winner - Annual Report - Small City City of Palmetto Community Redevelopment Agency - Palmetto CRA 2023 Annual Report "Palmetto CRA’s new and improved Annual Report is more readable, informative, and marketable than its predecessor. With information being broken up into digestible blocks and by numerous pictures, this user-friendly report reads more like a magazine than a standard, dry report. And rather than just a high-level overview, we now go into further detail on what the CRA is, describe our accomplishments, and highlight favorite projects. We still give great data and analysis, but now it is more accessible to those who did not know about the CRA prior to picking up the report. It also looks darn good." About the FRA Roy F. Kenzie Awards Program: The Florida Redevelopment Association Awards program recognizes the best in redevelopment in Florida. It is open to any member of the Association. To recognize the projects and people involved in redevelopment throughout the state, three awards series have been established. The Roy F. Kenzie and Thomas J. Mills Awards are given for outstanding examples of redevelopment and leadership, respectively, in Florida. Additionally, the President’s Award is given for the “Best of the Best,” to honor the top project across all categories. A winning entry acknowledges excellence in an organization’s work. Within 13 juried categories, the Roy F. Kenzie Awards celebrate the most innovative and effective redevelopment programs in Florida. Winners demonstrate innovation and a positive impact on their communities and inspire other Florida communities. https://lnkd.in/ed3VEXvd #RedevelopmentWorks #Redevelopment #FloridaRedevelopment #MyFRA #FLRedevelopment #CityofPalmettto #PalmettoCRA

Tampa City Council members on Thursday unanimously approved the Tampa Downtown Partnership's Franklin Street Vision project. The $6 million investment supported by Council members serving on the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) will improve the historic street that runs through several downtown neighborhoods. The project aims to combine historic charm and modern enhancements such as streetscape and infrastructure upgrades and mobility enhancements. Funding for the Franklin Street Vision project will be spread over three years and will come from the Downtown CRA using property taxes generated downtown that must be spent on projects that benefit downtown -- and not from the general City of Tampa budget. "To ignore the work that needs to be done on Franklin Street would be the biggest crime, given all that we are doing to improve slum and blight in the downtown CRA," said CRA Board Chair Gwendolyn Henderson. "I appreciate that we brought together voices from the community to collaborate on how best we can bring Franklin Street back to life for our downtown residents and visitors." #RedevelopmentWorks #Redevelopment #FloridaRedevelopment #MyFRA #FLRedevelopment #Tampa #TampaCRA

MyFRA Forum for Nov. 18 - new answers! Email from Florida Redevelopment Association Who will ask new questions? #redevelopmentworks #floridaredevelopment #MyFRA

One local organization wants to stop vandalism and create a vibrant community. COCA plans to meet with the Tallahassee CRA on Monday, Nov. 18th. If they get approval, The murals could be finished by the summer of 2025. The Council on Culture & Arts (COCA) wants to address this problem creatively. Watch the video to learn about the work that needs to be done and how it will impact the area. #TallahasseeCRA #RedevelopmentWorks #TallahasseeRedevelopment #Tallahassee #FloridaRedevelopment #tallahassee?

If the city builds a $10 million-$12 million parking garage, it’s likely to last 50 years, Mayor Julie Ward Bujalski said. That was among the reasons she gave for voting Oct. 24 for the preparation of a midtown parking garage design criteria package submitted by THA Consulting. The $96,000 package would be used as part of a Request for Qualifications seeking firms interested in designing and constructing the garage. Commissioners Robert Walker and Moe Freaney also voted in favor of the motion. Commissioners John Tornga and Jeff Gow dissented. Several years ago, the City Commission discussed plans to build a parking garage on the site of the parking lot for the new City Hall on Louden Avenue. Dunedin Economic and Housing Development and Community Redevelopment Agency director Bob Ironsmith said downtown is a $275 million asset and economic engine. “We want to ensure that parking is there. This is really looking to the future,” Ironsmith said. #RedevelopmentWorks #Redevelopment #FloridaRedevelopment #MyFRA #FLRedevelopment #Dunedin

The Racing Hall of Fame and Marmer Construction submitted plans for a joint venture for the former Bank of America building to the Sebring Community Redevelopment Agency. The CRA received only the one proposal for the building, which calls for the first floor to be a race museum operated by the Hall of Fame (HOF). The second floor would be home to Marmer’s corporate office. The CRA paid $1.2 million on June 28 to acquire the two-story building at 231 S. Ridgewood Drive. #RedevelopmentWorks #Redevelopment #FloridaRedevelopment #MyFRA #FLRedevelopment #Sebring #SebringCRA

Help is on the way for Haines City homeowners in need of upgrades but lack financial support. Claretta Simpson still lives in the house she was born in. Her grandparents built the Haines City home in 1950. “I was raised here and bred here. My nieces and nephews, my brothers and sisters, everybody came through this house,” said Simpson. “It’s old, but it’s still standing. I just been putting Band-Aids on it here and there to keep it stable, keep the roof not leaking,” said Simpson. The Haines City Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is stepping in to help Simpson and other homeowners through its Residential Rehabilitation Grant Program. #RedevelopmentWorks #Redevelopment #FloridaRedevelopment #MyFRA #FLRedevelopment #hainescityCRA #HainesCity

FRA Member News, FRA Award Winners, New Jobs, and more! #redevelopmentworks #floridaredevelopment #CRA #FRA