Florida

West Palm Beach, Florida

Brightline Opening to Central Florida Delayed

The high-speed rail connection between West Palm Beach and Orlando will not open on time for the holiday weekend as originally planned.

August 30, 2023 - Railway Technology

Aerial view of downtown Tampa, Florida with Hillsborough River in foreground

Tampa Working to Reduce Downtown Parking

One-third of the city’s downtown is used for parking while thousands of parking spaces go unused during peak hours.

August 25, 2023 - Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

South Beach Open Streets

Miami Loses Population for the First Time Since 1970

Already one of the nation’s hottest real estate markets before the Covid-19 pandemic, the region became unaffordable for many middle-income households in the last few years.

August 2, 2023 - The Wall Street Journal

Centro Ybor

Tampa Unveils 30-Year Mobility Plan

The Tampa MOVES plan would spend $2 billion to relieve congestion, reduce traffic collisions, and improve mobility equity in the city.

July 25, 2023 - WUSF

Sunset view of downtown Gainesville, Florida

Gainesville in Final Discussions on Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance

A see-saw battle over land use and housing policy continues in the city of Gainesville.

July 21, 2023 - Main Street Daily News

A Brightline train leaving the Fort Lauderdale Station.

Brightline Completes Higher-Speed Rail Construction in Florida

Florida will soon be home to 170 miles of higher-speed, intercity rail service.

July 5, 2023 - WESH

Fire burning on hillside behind house in Azusa, California

Can Insurance Woes Finally End Sprawl?

Environmental risks are becoming too much for the home insurance industry to bear. Could this be the first signs of the collapse and reversal of sprawling land use patterns?

June 22, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

Aerial view of Miami, Florida with high-rises along beach and low-rise homes inlower right corner

Miami Ranked Least Affordable U.S. Housing Market

South Florida residents are spending as much as 79 percent of their income on housing.

June 21, 2023 - WSVN Miami

Suwanee river with tall trees along the banks in northern Florida

Florida Boosts Rural Infrastructure Fund

Five rural communities will receive $15 million under a new law designed to assist rural areas in developing their infrastructure.

June 19, 2023 - Fort Myers News-Press

Aerial view of St. Petersburg, Florida on Gulf of Mexico coast

No Relief in Sight for Tampa Bay Renters

The region’s rents are rising sharply, while experts expect multi-family construction to slow down.

June 18, 2023 - Tampa Bay Times

Tampa skyline from the water at sunset

Luxury Housing Construction and Rents on the Rise in Tampa Bay

A majority of new construction permits in the region are for high-end housing, accompanied by an increase in average rents.

May 22, 2023 - Tampa Bay Times

Brightline

Brightline Unveils New Orlando Train Station; Service Coming in May

Intercity rail service will soon be available between Miami and Orlando.

April 25, 2023 - Click Orlando

Gainesville, Florida skyline with tall water tower against cloudy sunset sky

Gainesville Reverses Zoning Reforms, Reinstates Single-Family Zoning

The Florida city will be the first in the country to rescing zoning changes that would have created opportunities for a wider variety of housing options in residential neighborhoods.

April 21, 2023 - WUFT

The buildings of the Florida State Capitol, old and new, are visible across a lawn in front of the old building.

Florida Law Bans Rent Control Statewide

The DeSantis administration has a signature housing bill. Florida has $711 million in funding for housing programs. Local governments have less power over zoning.

April 6, 2023 - Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

A sprawling view of Miami’s low-density residential areas, bisected by wide surface streets.

Florida Law Would Change the Definition of ‘Sprawl’

One quick way to build sprawl.

March 27, 2023 - Strong Towns

Vacant storefront on a New York City street with For Lease sign

Pandemic-Era Economic Growth in Metropolitan Areas

The world has gone through three turbulent years of Covid-19. The Brookings Institution continues its analysis of inclusive economic growth in 192 metropolitan areas in the U.S. during this period with the publication of Metro Monitor 2023.

March 14, 2023 - Brookings

Concrete wall with crack running down the middle painted red on one side and blue on the other

Election 2024: Red vs. Blue States

In a speech on Sunday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, likely Republican presidential contender Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida said that the pandemic was “a great test in governing philosophies."

March 8, 2023 - The Washington Post

Aerial view of St. Petersburg, Florida coast with downtown skyline in background

St. Petersburg Could Expand Middle Density Zoning

A proposed zoning change would allow up to four units on almost 3,000 additional parcels.

March 7, 2023 - St. Pete Catalyst

A view of the entrance to Walt Disney World reads “Where Dreams Come True.”

Walt Disney World No Longer a Self-Governed Special District

The culture war is determining the powers of special districts in Florida, as exemplified by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signing HB 9-B, thus rescinding a special district created 50 years ago to manage land and infrastructure around Disney World.

March 3, 2023 - Governor Ron DeSantis

Passengers inside wood-paneled TECO streetcar in Tampa, Florida

Florida Supreme Court Voids County Tax That Included Transit Funding

A proposal from Gov. DeSantis would require Hillsborough County to return revenue collected from the tax to residents who paid it and bar the county from using any remaining funds on transit projects.

February 9, 2023 - Tampa Bay Times

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