Your Weekly FRA Update:

September 14, 2023

FRA Announcements

Brenda Thrower Tells Us Why the FRA Conference is So Important!

FRA Academy Classes

The Academy is a unique educational program designed to promote a prerequisite level of knowledge and professionalism in the field of community redevelopment. The courses are open to anyone interested in learning more about redevelopment practice in Florida. ANYONE who wants to take the course and provides the registration information and payment may register and take the courses. We offer online registration and payment for the courses.

Core courses added to FRA Conference week:

• Budgeting, Funding, and Reporting – October 24, 2023
• CRA 101 – October 27, 2023
• Operations and Capacity Building – October 27, 2023

FRA Member News

New! The City of Margate Unveils New Serino Park

After approximately $2 million in renovations, the City of Margate has unveiled a new Serino Park located at 5600 SW 8th Court. The Margate Community Redevelopment Agency funded the upgrades as part of its public purpose to improve parks, playgrounds, and other municipal facilities. Single-family homes surround the neighborhood park.

The initial proposed renovations included a new playground with safety surfacing, covered picnic tables and park benches, restrooms, outdoor drinking fountain/bottle filler, installation of a fitness court, parking lot upgrades, landscaping, irrigation, and decorative up-lighting.

Read more here

New! Revitalization with Grand Opening of Student Success Center

Just days before thousands of students will fill its halls, Miami Dade College Homestead Campus and the City of Homestead celebrated the grand opening of the Student Success Center.  The new, modern facility serves as a connection between Downtown Homestead and the MDC Homestead Campus serving both the student and business communities.

Dozens of community members and dignitaries gathered on the morning of August 15, 2023, to cut the ribbon on the new facility. Prior to the opening, MDC President Madeline Pumariega, Provost Dr. Malou Harrison, MDC Homestead Campus President Dr. Oscar Loynaz, and Mayor Steven D. Losner spoke about the profound significance of the new building for Miami Dade College’s trajectory, its students, and the local Homestead community.

Read more here

New! What’s a CRA and How Does it Help Downtown Orlando?

“CRAs provide a variety of elements that are needed for redevelopment — a governing or management element, financing, short and long-term planning, and processes that enable stakeholders to participate,” Dr. Christopher Hawkins, professor in the School of Public Administration at the University of Central Florida Downtown Campus, wrote. “[The Downtown CRA] has provided a useful framework for guiding the city’s investments.”

Read more here

New! New Plan Recommends Replacing Fast-Food Checkers Restaurant with Housing, Office or Retail Complex

In August, Coral Springs approved a new “master plan” for the downtown area.

It’s a state-required plan that offers conceptual ideas on improving and modernizing the 136-acre downtown corridor in the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency district.

The 479-page plan outlines concepts for redeveloping buildings and street intersections, including already-in-the-works projects such as the new apartments and retail shops being built or planned at the corner of University Drive and Sample Road.

Read more here

New! Historic Overtown Church Property Saved From Foreclosure

The Southeast Overtown/Park West Redevelopment Agency has come to the rescue of a historic Overtown church.

Days before the historic property in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood was scheduled to be sold in foreclosure, a saving grace came Friday. The SEOPW CRA bought the property so its loan could be paid off, and will give repurchase rights to the church, according to James McQueen, the agency’s executive director.



Read more here

New! Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater to Commemorate 110 Years of History

The Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater will commemorate 110 years of history, culture, and entertainment excellence on Nov. 18, at the iconic theater located at 819 NW Second Ave., in Miami.

Under the theme “The Crown of Overtown,” the Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater is celebrating this historic milestone, paying tribute to its timeless legacy as a cherished community staple. The Lyric Theater opened in 1913, quickly becoming a major gathering place for the African-American community in Miami, serving as a community space, vaudeville playhouse, movie theater, and finally, a church.



Read more here

New! Fort Pierce Installs Murals to Help Stimulate Economic Growth

The city known for its sunrises is proud as a peacock because of four outdoor murals.

The Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency created the Peacock Arts District to do improvements with the goal to invigorate the once vibrant downtown and stimulate the economy.

“This is extremely difficult actually to do especially in this heat. But I am honored to be able to have such incredible feedback from the community. They’ve been just amazing. They just they love it and no matter what the social economic background of each individual is, they’re able to connect through art and through what we’ve done here,” said artist Samara Ash.



Read more here

New! Grove Community Garden to Harvest Food, Fellowship

When Dorothy Scott Wilson was growing up in northwest Lake Wales, folks would buy their fruits and vegetables at a small business corridor that included Wade’s Grocery Store. As corporate chain supermarkets came in during the 1950s and 1960s, stores like Wade’s closed, leaving what Wilson calls a “food desert.”

That desert, however, is now sprouting new life through the 5-month-old Grove Community Garden, where fruits and vegetables are being planted and a new source of community is being harvested.

Read more here

New! Homestead CRA Rocks the Block and Breaks Ground on New Homes

The Homestead Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) kicked off its Southwest Neighborhood New H.O.M.E (Home Ownership Made Equitable) Initiative and Rock the Block neighborhood beautification on SW 6th Street.

On Saturday, August 29, 2023, dozens of volunteers, city employees, and elected officials gathered to clean up SW 6th Street from 6th Avenue to 10th Avenue. Participants collected trash, installed new mailboxes, painted fences, and planted trees and flowers. Sidewalks and driveways were also pressure cleaned and the street will be repaved in the coming months. Several homes in the area will also be receiving a fresh coat of paint, thanks to the CRA.



Read more here

RFPs and RFQs

Request for Proposals (RFP) for Housing Rehab Grant Administration & Construction Services – City of Winter Garden

The City of Winter Garden desires to obtain services to assist in managing a Housing Rehabilitation Program known as the Legacy Fund, which provides housing rehabilitation for qualifying homeowners within the CRA (East Winter Garden Neighborhood). The RFP is to oversee and implement the Housing Rehab Grant Administration and Construction Services for this project.

Close Date: 09/18/2023 3:00 PM (EST)

Read more here

United States Postal Service Boynton Beach Downtown Station Project RFP/RFQ

This RFP/RFQ is being issued for a project known as the United States Postal Service Boynton Beach Downtown Station Project and is seeking Proposals for the acquisition and redevelopment of a BBCRA-owned property located at 401, 407 & 411 E. Boynton Beach Boulevard, Boynton Beach, FL 33435. Due to redevelopment of the existing Downtown Station post office, the USPS is relocating its retail operations to the BBCRA-owned property.

Close Date: 09/26/2023 2:00 PM

Read more here

Jobs

Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Legal Advisor

Salary: $90,000 – $150,000

This is a professional and highly responsible position that will oversee the coordination, administration, and management of all legal matters concerning the Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).This is a professional and highly responsible position that will oversee the coordination, administration, and management of all legal matters concerning the Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).

Read more here

Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Finance Administrator

Salary: $66,000 – $78,000

This is a complex and technical position that performs a broad range of services related to fiscal activities, such as, bookkeeping in QuickBooks, payroll processing, rental property accounting, management and maintenance of financial files, processing financial transactions, and preparing financial statements and reports in accordance with general accounting principles. This position is not clerical in nature and requires independent judgment and decision-making.

Read more here

Community Development Director/CRA Manager- City of Sebastian

Salary: $84,405 – $147,709.57 DOE

Closing Date: 9/17/2023 @11:59 Eastern

Under the direction of the City Manager, this position is responsible for planning and organizing the implementation of projects, administering community development activities, and coordinating the implementation of public facility improvements, public services, and other related programs for the City.

Read more here

Community Redevelopment Agency Director- City of Clearwater

Salary: $90,855 – $136,282 DOQ

Closing Date: 9/17/2023 @11:59 Eastern

Under the direction of the City Manager’s Office, the Community Redevelopment Agency Director is responsible for leading and maintaining a management framework that supports the City’s strategic direction in a sustainable manner.

Read more here

Project Manager-Community Redevelopment Agency – City of Port St. Lucie

Salary: $81,681 – $93,933 Annually

Closing Date: CONTINUOUS

Professional work managing the Community Redevelopment Program. Under limited supervision, performs professional, technical, and administrative work in coordinating the redevelopment activities of the City of Port St. Lucie Community Redevelopment Area Plan(s). Work is performed under the direction of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Director and City Manager’s Office, and is reviewed annually by the CRA Director. Facilitates the development of public trust and confidence in the City.

Job info here

MORE FRA RESOURCES

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