Your Weekly FRA Update:

January 5, 2023

New! African Art: The Gaze Africana Exhibition

The Gaze Africana features a distinctive line-up of international Black artists and creatives, whose works represent African Excellence. Capturing “the gaze” connects us to another world – allowing us to look beyond – steadily and intently, in admiration, surprise, or thought. The Gaze Africana explores ideologies connected to African art. This deployment of contemporary Africana fine art in the NoMi district (North Miami) presents a cultural panorama, highlighting the diverse and vibrant traditions of African diasporic art and culture.

Read more here.

New! Tesla Facility Under Construction Boasts a Smooth Ride

A Tesla facility in an underdeveloped St. Petersburg neighborhood announced in April is coming into the final stretch as construction wraps up.

In a December interview, Rob Truett, a Delray Beach developer behind the highly-anticipated project in Lealman says the goal was to open by the end of 2022. That timing would be a nice capstone to a project that, so far, has defied what’s become a common theme in construction amid the pandemic and post-pandemic environment of the supply chain, cost, and other obstacles.

Instead, Truett says there haven’t really been any major challenges.

Read more here.

ARTS GARAGE in Delray Beach to Host Two Fun Events in Early 2023

Marjorie Waldo, President & CEO of Arts Garage, today announced the nonprofit organization will present two fun events during the first week of January 2023:

Popular cabaret star Jill Switzer will sign copies of her new helpful how-to guide The Contemporary Singer’s Blueprint: From Amateur to Professional and Beyond. The evening will start with a live musical performance by Jill & Rich Switzer.

Launching The Art of Laughter comedy series is Kevin Bozeman, who’s’ comedic style is witty and clever, with amusing and hilarious stories of his childhood and life as a parent mixed in.

Arts Garage is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization sponsored in part by the Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, and the City of Delray Beach.

Read more here.

2023 Could Be the Year Downtown Clearwater Begins Transformation

After decades of discussion about redeveloping downtown Clearwater, the city has made major headway in recent months that, if all goes well, should turn all that talk into action.

Since the start of fall, voters have approved two major projects, a local developer with big dreams took the first step and a new Community Redevelopment Agency plan is close to becoming a reality.

These moves are a big leap forward for the city of Clearwater which has spent years — many years — looking at ways to bring life to a downtown district that hasn’t seen much of it since the early 1980s.

Read more here.

Brooksville Awards CRA Grant

The city of Brooksville’s Community Redevelopment Agency’s Executive Review Committee awarded a property improvement matching grant on Dec. 15 for Justin and Lina Noe, 705 Museum Court, Brooksville.

The award was $20,000 to reroof; stabilize fireplace foundation; replace current apartment stairs and porch; and complete outdoor landscaping.

All properties located in the Brooksville CRA district are eligible for this improvement matching grant program.

Read more here.

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