Concerns about ongoing construction projects convinced the Avon Park City Council to unanimously reinstate its three Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Boards, after an appeal by John Barben, Airport CRA member. ...more

January 13, 2009

SEBRING — Downtown businesses continue to try to lure people to the City on the Circle, and now the Community Redevelopment Agency is considering hiring a marketing coordinator to help with these efforts. Linda Kegley, owner of LK Artworks Gallery and Graphics, submitted a proposal to CRA members to create the position of a marketing coordinator to advertise downtown as a destination and coordinate events to generate traffic downtown. Kegley, who has more than 25 years of advertising and marketing experience, said she would like to be considered for this position, at a rate of $24 per hour or about $24,000 per year for 20 hours of work per week. ...more

January 16, 2008

AVON PARK — Officials with the Avon Park Executive Airport are in the early stages of planning a new terminal building. They recently found a contractor, Orangewood Builders, to build the building. Currently, the city also has grants lined up for the construction. ...more

December 27, 2007

SEBRING — Sisters Barbara Walker and Mary Toney have never lived anywhere except Washington Heights, and they don't ever want to. "I was raised across the street," Toney said from the porch of her Harris Street home. "I want to stay close to home, and I like having my sister one block away. I'm 74, and I've never had another address besides Sebring." Walker likes the tight-knit community of people who have lived there all their lives. "We help each other and look out for each other, like one big family," Walker said. "But I am very glad they are redoing the neighborhood too. It's been a long time coming." ...more

December 12, 2007

SEBRING — Although Sebring Community Redevelopment Agency members agree downtown parking is a problem, they are considering an option that would eliminate parking in the Circle. CRA members discussed, at Monday's meeting, the possibility of widening the sidewalk eight feet around Circle Park and removing the parking spaces. "It would give us a lot more space for tables and chairs for sidewalk cafes and more room for landscaping," said Gene Brenner, chairman of CRA. "We are only talking about 21 spaces, so it won't take that much away." CRA members will consider this option as they create plans for Streetscape IX, which will make aesthetic improvements and fix structural problems with the Circle and surrounding streets. "When you create a destination location, parking becomes a problem," said Pete Pollard, executive director of CRA. "We are reaching the point where parking is moving up the list in terms of priority. If we are going to attract shops and restaurants that generate life after 5 (p.m.), wider sidewalks are an asset, but parking is important too." ...more

November 28, 2007

SEBRING — Downtown merchants are asked daily for their restrooms, but soon visitors to the Circle will have another place to go. ...more

October 25, 2007

SEBRING — The Community Redevelopment Agency tentatively approved changes to the city's ordinance regarding the sale and consumption of alcohol. During Monday night's meeting, the board approved on-premise consumption of alcohol within 100 feet of a church. The changes will still have to be approved by city council members before they take effect. If approved, the changes will allow more businesses to hold wine tastings. ...more

October 10, 2007