Development

The 100-year-old building in St. Petersburg was a hub for the African American community, entertainment and culture until it closed three years ago.

The expansive garage nearly doubles the number of parking spaces in St. Petersburg’s booming EDGE District.

Founder Cesar Hernandez hopes the district will attract private businesses with a focus in technology, defense systems, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.

Suncoast Searchlight studied property appraisals and tax bills for more than 300 homes across these special districts to create a first-of-its-kind dataset comparing their annual fees to the property taxes they pay for city and county services.

A Sarasota-area community’s effort to save its golf course by forming a special-purpose government district and issuing $24 million in public bonds has devolved into a bitter, yearslong feud over cost, governance and transparency.

The city recently approved construction of twin 31-floor apartment towers on downtown property once earmarked for a Moffitt Cancer Center. However, Mayor Ken Welch says Moffitt is not out of picture.

If Sarasota city commissioners approve the condo, Bay Plaza residents say they’ll take the fight to circuit court — a move that could push their costs far higher and prolong the battle for years.

Officials say many homeowners don’t understand what they’re getting into and are then left with few options to fight back when decisions turn contentious.

In an interview with St. Pete Catalyst, Mayor Ken Welch said he has “never supported” a high-density development to replace the airport.

In some cases, districts have financed extravagant projects like a beach-style swimming lagoon or even a baseball stadium for the Atlanta Braves. Yet if the housing market sours or a project fails, it’s the homeowners — not the builders — who are left footing the bill.

What’s happening in Gran Paradiso isn’t just a neighborhood dispute over water; it’s a window into who holds the power in Florida’s fastest-growing communities and what happens when the homeowners organize to push back.

The initiative, tentatively dubbed the Sunline, will align visions and goals for the Pinellas Trail and help cut bureaucratic red tape.