SEBRING — Expect twice as large an audience for Heartland Idol this year, and watch our downtown grow, Sebring CRA members suggested at their Monday night meeting. At Commissioner Jim Rimer's suggestion, the Community Redevelopment Agency will interview all five firms that applied for the job to market Sebring's downtown. "We don't have a clue as to the cost," complained Commissioner Lorrie Smith, who moved to add the cost of the campaign to the evaluation form for the five firms. ...more

June 24, 2008

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

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 — The Community Redevelopment Agency is looking into the future, building a road map for how to best revitalize and redevelop the downtown district. At a workshop Monday, CRA members examined some long-term zoning changes that could limit what is allowed downtown. Through a series of workshops, the CRA plans to develop a concept for downtown development and then specifically work through zoning changes on a site-specific basis. ...more

November 23, 2007

SEBRING — Although the downtown Circle and its surrounding streets could use some sprucing up, officials say they don't have plans to mess with a good thing. ...more

October 24, 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