L akeland – W inter H a v en Lakeland Community Redevelopment Agency gives $162K loan to Parker Street affordable housing project.
• The city commission has a goal of 500 more housing units by 2023, now underway due to recent developments.
• The community redevelopment agency granted a loan of $162,000 to a developer to build an 80unit complex in September. • The development will be built on a 1.8 acre largely vacant lot located on Parker Street.
Source: Ledger, July 14, 2019
Polk County Schools Focuses on Increasing Funds • Polk County School Board is discussing new ways to increase funding. Among those is increasing local taxes on real estate and mileage rates. • These talks will have an impact on the fees for new homes, as the state continues to roll back property tax rates. • The proposed referendum would restore the mileage rate to 4.03 or $4 for every $1,000 of taxable value. If passed, it would only be an additional $19 of taxes for a home with a $180,000 value.
Source: Ledger, August 20, 2019
Major Florida Highway Expansion Continues to Generate Big Concerns
• The first of a series of hearings is underway discussing the building of three toll roads, which includes one from Polk County to Collier County. • Concerns are coming from environmental and planning organizations who feel the expansions are crossing lines and are detrimental to the environment. • The roads will stretch 150 miles and across to Georgia serving as good evacuation routes for hurricanes. It is expected to be vote in favor against environmental concerns.
Source: Ledger, August 25, 2019 46
Florida & Metro Forecast / September 2019
Lakeland, Auburndale seek to guide growth around Florida Poly, SunTrax • Commissions approved agreements with Central Florida Development Council to guide growth around Florida Poly and SunTrax facility. • The goal is to promote technology-oriented growth around the university and to foster an economy focused on science and technology, which Florida Poly focuses on.
• The plans are all long-term and give guidance to future projects for county decisions.
Source: Ledger, September 9, 2019