Your Weekly FRA Update:

February 6, 2025

"'The Well' represents a paradigm shift in community wellness! By transforming a former nightclub into a vibrant health hub, it offers a comprehensive range of services, from pharmacy and telehealth to counseling and transportation, addressing East Tampa's healthcare gaps. Beyond healthcare, its impact resonates in community revitalization, reducing barriers to access, and fostering partnerships for sustainability. Funding from various sources, including the East Tampa CRA, underpins its success. With plans for expansion and replication, 'The Well' sets a precedent for community-driven healthcare innovation. Its holistic approach, including mentorships and future service expansions, merits recognition and duplication."

FRA Member News

New! A Tale of Two Streets: East and West Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach

Just off of South Florida’s A1A is Atlantic Avenue, a popular street filled with upscale boutiques and pricey restaurants – a hub where tourists and locals can be found wining and dining with friends and family.

Yet, separated by just a letter, the Avenue shares two worlds. The street, divided by a police station and a courthouse, transitions from “W Atlantic Ave” to “E Atlantic Ave.” This seemingly harmless addition reveals much more than a label for a changing intersection. 

To the east are lofty apartments and upscale restaurants. Just one block west is home to small businesses owned and occupied mainly by Black residents, many of whom have been here for decades. The buzz over Delray Beach, while exciting for many restaurateurs and entrepreneurs, has others questioning whether the rush to develop has led to a gentrification trend, in which many local residents cannot afford their neighborhood.

For years, the Community Redevelopment Agency of Delray Beach has worked to redevelop many areas across the city of Delray Beach, with Atlantic Avenue being a prime location. Their mission, said Renee Jadusingh, Executive Director of the Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, is “to eliminate slum and blight,” a notable statement to address a long-standing community with primarily minority residents.

Read more here

New! ‘Long Time Coming’: Williston CRA Breaks Ground on New City Parking Lot

“It’s a long time coming,” Walt Nickel, representative of city engineering firm Wright-Pierce Engineering, said of the project while addressing the audience of city and county leaders, as well as community members.

The new parking lot will be located at 33 NE First Ave. (next to Firemen’s Park).

According to Nickel, the parking lot will include 86 parking spaces.

Site plans provided at the groundbreaking ceremony show future restrooms and charging bays in the parking lot.

“It’s really going to be a nice amenity for the city and for the people of Williston,” Nickel said, adding the parking lot will also help with the city’s downtown revitalization.

“We’re very excited about this.”

The project is being funded by the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).

Read more here

New! Apopka Residents Get Their Chance to Discuss the CRA

The Apopka Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is seeking input from residents and community stakeholders to determine what they want to see in the updated Redevelopment Plan and how they want to see the CRA area continue to redevelop.

The meeting is on Wednesday, February 12th, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Apopka Community Center for the CRA Redevelopment Plan Update Community Meeting. At this meeting, there will be an opportunity to hear more about the plan and provide feedback.

The purpose of a Redevelopment Plan is to address changes in building stock, market conditions, demographics, technological advances, and many other challenges in hopes of improving the maintenance and quality of life for the enjoyment of all residents. The plan also aims to create vitality in the downtown area, which will spawn additional economic growth and increase property values.

Read more here

Lakeland Seeks Brighter, More Prosperous Future for Memorial Boulevard

The city’s Community Redevelopment Agency entered a five-month, $86,000 contract with Tampa-based Ayres Associates to craft an economic development strategy for the 6-mile corridor from Interstate 4 to East Lake Parker Drive. The goal is to:

• attract new investments
• support surrounding residential communities
• improve pedestrian safety
• boost the local economy
• create more job opportunities

Most of the cost is covered by a $75,000 grant from the Florida Department of Commerce. The remaining $11,000 is from the Midtown CRA’s budget.

Read more here

Tampa CRA Plans to Use Environmental Design to Prevent Crime

Neighborhood associations across East Tampa are exploring a multi-dimensional concept for curbing crime.

It’s called Crime Prevention through Environmental Design.

During its first meeting of 2025, Tampa’s Community Redevelopment Agency discussed strategies to address design flaws contributing to crime.

The Tampa CRA aims to involve every neighborhood association by March of this year. The Florida State Attorney General’s Office sponsors the ‘Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design’ course, which consists of 64 hours of training.

Read more here

City of Groveland Announces Opening of $2.2M Elese Tomlin Empowerment Center

The City of Groveland is proud to announce the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the newly completed Elese Tomlin Empowerment Center located at 824 E. Broad Street. This event celebrated the state-of-the-art facility and the organizations that supported its development. The center is designed to serve as a cornerstone for community engagement, education, and empowerment. 

Named in honor of Elese Tomlin, a beloved pillar of the community whose legacy continues to inspire growth and unity, the center offers programs and services aimed at enriching the lives of Groveland residents.

This $2.2 million project was made possible by the Live Well Foundation of South Lake’s 2021 Transformation Grant, with an additional $300,000 contributed by the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). The design-build cost for the facility totaled $2,157,000. 

Read more here

Jobs

New! CRA Legal Advisor - Delray Beach CRA

Pay Range: $75,000-$130,000

General Description:

This is a professional and responsible position that will assist with the coordination, administration,

and management of legal matters concerning the Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency

(CRA). The CRA is represented by outside counsel and is seeking an attorney on Staff to liaison with

Staff and outside counsel, as needed.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Assist with legal advice, direction, and recommendations to CRA staff in the best interests

of the CRA and the CRA District while keeping in mind the duties, objectives, obligations,

and functions of the CRA

• Facilitate the acquisition, disposition, and lease of real property

• Negotiate/draft/review of contracts, leases, bid documents, interlocal agreements, and

other documents

• Draft and review resolutions related to CRA Board agenda items

• Respond to public records requests related to the CRA

• Research legal issues, prepare memoranda, and present findings

• Provide legal opinions and advise on legal matters including Public Records Law, ethics,

Sunshine Law, etc., as needed

• Represent the CRA at CRA board meetings on all legal matters before the Board, as

needed

• Interpret federal, state, local laws pertaining to contracts, real estate transactions, local

public agencies, construction, land use and development, and lending, as needed

•Maintain current knowledge of legal issues and precedents affecting the CRA

• Other duties as needed and as assigned

Read more here

New! Long Range Planning Manager - City of Pinellas Park

SALARY: $71,155.24+ depending on qualifications and experience

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Under general direction, manages Long Range Planning for the City of Pinellas Park, supervises staff, and develops and implements policies and procedures compliant with City Ordinances and Florida statutes.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Urban Planning or a related field and five (5) years professional Planning experience that includes two (2) years in a lead or supervisory capacity.

Requires a valid Florida driver license.

Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) and American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification preferred. CRS experience a plus.

Primarily sedentary office work with extensive use of office equipment.

Requires flexible hours for attendance at City meetings and events. Occasional driving required to locations within the City, County, and Tampa Bay region.

Read more here

New! Project Manager – Delray Beach CRA

Level/Grade: $65,000 – $85,000

Location: 20 N. Swinton Avenue

Reports to: Assistant Director

Closing date: March 31, 2025

General Description:

This is a highly responsible professional and detail-oriented position involving managing and coordinating a variety of projects, assisting the CRA in carrying out the CRA Redevelopment Plan, and related activities. The work involves communication and coordination between contractors, design consultants to meet construction schedules and contract deadlines, budgets, and design and construction standards. The position requires exercising considerable initiative and independent judgment.

Read more here

New! NW 7th Avenue Community Redevelopment Agency and NW 79th Street Community Redevelopment Agency – Executive Director

NW 7th Avenue Community Redevelopment Agency

NW 79th Street Community Redevelopment Agency

Contract Opportunity – Executive Director

POSTING DATE: 01/31/2025

CLOSING DATE: 02/21/2025

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES:

Responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the NW 7th Avenue and the NW 79th Street Community Redevelopment Agencies and its boards.

Read more here

CRA Economic Development Manager (City of Avon Park)

SALARY: $65,000 – $75,000 DOQ 

Job Closing Date: Fri, 02/14/2025 – 5:00 PM

NATURE OF WORK:

Under the general direction of the City Manager’s office, this position oversees the planning, organizing, directing and execution of the Main Street and Southside Community Redevelopment Plans. This is a highly visible position that oversees a wide variety of redevelopment and economic development activities to include: CRA program management, redevelopment plan implementation, property acquisition, business incentives, new business development, business attraction and retention, special events and activities as well as manage and oversee the maintenance of CRA-owned and maintained properties. This position coordinates education, information, and awareness to internal and external stakeholders for the City of Avon Park Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and involves extensive contact with government officials, public and private agencies, advisory boards, city staff, and the business community.

Read more here

Planner (Affordable Housing) Tier 3 – Hillsborough County

Planner (Affordable Housing) Tier 3

Tampa, FL, United States

The closing date is 02/17/2025, 11:59 PM.

Job Description

Salary: Min $36.11 -Mid $49.67 – Max $63.23

Job Overview

Researches and analyzes information to write reports supporting the development, evaluation, monitoring and implementation of comprehensive studies, plans, programs, and land development regulations.

Read more here

RFPs / RFQs / LOIs

New! RFQ: NW 800 Block of West Atlantic Avenue – Progressive Design-Build Redevelopment Project – Delray Beach CRA

Request for Qualifications CRA No.: 2025-01

NW 800 Block of West Atlantic Avenue – Progressive Design-Build Redevelopment Project

Issue Date: Thursday, January 30, 2025

Proposal Submission Deadline: Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 4:00 PM (EST)

The CRA is seeking proposals from qualified design-build teams to provide progressive design-build services for the modular design and construction of a redevelopment project for the Northwest 800 Block of West Atlantic Avenue.

Read more here

New! Opportunity for Redevelopment as part of a Public/Private Partnership (Rebid) – City of St. Cloud

The City of St. Cloud (CITY) and the St. Cloud Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) are excited to announce an enhanced opportunity for visionary and experienced developers to submit proposals for the purchase or lease and transformative development of prime City-owned properties through a Public-Private Partnership (P3). Known as “Downtown Site 1,” this project has been expanded to include three (3) additional parcels and up to $4 million in financial incentives, further enhancing the potential for impactful development.

Release Project Date: January 26, 2025

Pre-Proposal Meeting (Non-Mandatory): February 17, 2025, 9:00 am

Virtual meeting via Zoom, link to be issued in Addendum 1

Question Submission Deadline: March 3, 2025, 5:00 pm

Proposal Submission Deadline: March 27, 2025, 10:00 am

Read more here

Development & Redevelopment Related Real Estate Consulting Services – City of Eustis

NOTICE TO PROPOSERS

Sealed proposals will be received by the Purchasing Department, Eustis City Hall, 10 North Grove St., 3rd Floor, Eustis, Florida up to 3:00 p.m., on February 7, 2025, for:

CITY RFQ #001-25



Development & Redevelopment Related Real Estate Consulting Services

Proposal forms and specifications may be obtained by calling the City’s Purchasing Department at 352-483-5475 or by e-mailing jeanest@eustis.org  or by visiting www.demandstar.com

Proposals will be publicly opened in the Finance Dept Conference Room, located at City Hall (3rd Floor), 10 North Grove Street, shortly after 3:00 pm, February 7, 2025.  Any proposals received after the specified date and time of proposal opening will not be considered regardless of whether any proposal has actually been opened prior to submittal of a late proposal.

Read more here

MORE FRA RESOURCES

Thank you for supporting Florida redevelopment! Have questions or news to share? fra@flcities.com