Your Weekly FRA Update:

February 23, 2023

New! City of Tampa Invests over $3 Million to Make Parks More Inclusive

The Tampa City Council and the Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency are investing over three million dollars to make local parks and playgrounds more inclusive.

The focus is on children with disabilities.

“People who have disabilities have a tendency to be lonely anyways. They are different. I consider it and we talk about it a lot here at PARC Center For Disabilities, it’s an invisible population,” said Michelle Detweiler.

Michelle Detweiler is CEO of the PARC Center for Disabilities and says the community needs to change so people with disabilities are included in everyday activities.

“Playing is great energy, exercising, you’re using your mind, you’re interacting with your peers, you don’t see a disability then,” said Detweiler.

Read more here

New! Lakeland’s Newest Retail, Mixed-Use Development Breaks Ground

Right now, it’s little more than a 22-acre dirt lot. But, in a year’s time, Lakeland residents will see brick and mortar, signaling the city’s first major redevelopment project in years and the next step in the revitalization of Lakeland’s Downtown West corridor.

After breaking ground earlier this month, developers of Lake Wire, the new retail and mixed-use project in downtown Lakeland, have hit the ground running with the first phase, consisting of 300 multifamily residential units and 15,000 square feet of retail space, scheduled to be completed in 2024.

Eventually, the development will feature more than 30,000 square feet of retail space and 630 multi-family residential units strategically located adjacent to Lakeland’s new privately funded 168-acre Bonnet Springs Park.

Read more here

New! Major Step in Revitalizing Downtown Williston Completed

The City of Williston’s Community Redevelopment Agency has completed a major phase in plans for downtown revitalization. This phase included renovating a city-owned “arcade” or walkway from Main Street to the back of the businesses, creating a community park off of NE First Avenue, and giving the participating businesses on Main Street a facelift.

The CRA contracted Gainesville-based Walker Architects to design the elements to be both modern and a nod to the historical architecture of the area. Oelrich Construction Inc., out of Jonesville, worked with Walker Architects to conduct the site work. Delays caused by COVID-19 and price increases due to supply chain problems were no problem for these professionals as the project still came in within budget ($740,069) and on time (December completion).

Read more here

Pompano Beach’s CRA Director Talks Redevelopment and Luxury Projects

One of Pompano Beach’s most effective evangelists came to his position in a circuitous way.

Nguyen Tran, the city’s community redevelopment agency director, left Vietnam as a child, about a week before the fall of Saigon in 1975.

After earning his degree in mechanical engineering from Old Dominion University, Tran relocated to South Florida, building his résumé by excelling at a series of jobs in development and project management, including for Lennar Homes and the city of Delray Beach. Tran has been in his role for more than four years. He discussed the future of Pompano with SFBW.

Read more here

Five-Time Grammy Award Winner CeeLo Green Dishes on Fort Lauderdale Distillery Partnership

Five-time Grammy Award winner and hip-hop/R&B legend CeeLo Green has signed a partnership deal with Fort Lauderdale-based Victor George Spirits.

As part of the multifaceted partnership, Green is now part owner of the brand, a key spokesperson, and will have Victor George Spirits at the top of his touring ride.

“Victor George was just a gentleman on our first encounter,” Green tells the New Times of the brand’s namesake owner, Victor G. Harvey. “He was courteous, forthright, and respectful. We exchanged contacts and kept in touch for well over a year. I’m a big believer that timing is everything, and here we are. The result here is something that was very organic and instinctual.”

Read more here

Major Step in Revitalizing Downtown Williston Completed

The City of Jacksonville’s Downtown Investment Authority and Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services hosted a free community event called “Riverfront 2025: A Look Ahead” on February 8.

“Riverfront 2025: A Look Ahead” provided an opportunity for citizens to learn about the current status of destination parks and projects slated for development on the Northbank and Southbank of Downtown, including Riverfront Plaza, Shipyards West, RiversEdge, Artist Walk, and more.

Read more here

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