Florida to be threatened by likely hurricane next week
The National Hurricane Center expects the season’s next tropical depression or storm to form in the Caribbean soon, and forecast models predict it will intensify into a hurricane and threaten Florida next week. The hurricane center gives it a 90% chance to develop in the next two to seven days, and it could become Tropical Storm Sara. More from the Tampa Bay Times, Florida Today, and the Orlando Sentinel.
Orlando Fringe will close downtown ArtSpace
As Orlando works to diversify downtown beyond bars while reducing violence and making the city’s core more appealing to visitors, it will lose a theater in the heart of the Church Street entertainment area. Orlando Fringe will announce today it is pulling out of the downtown ArtSpace it leases from the city in February, ending a two-year run that proved too costly for the nonprofit. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Miami Beach Convention Center sets events record
The Miami Beach Convention Center has closed out its record-breaking fiscal year of 2024 and prepares to welcome more events for fiscal 2025 with 64 definite events already booked. In the center’s fiscal year from October 2023 through September, said General Manager Freddie Peterson, “we did north of almost 100 events in total throughout the year, which is a record number for us. That includes 30 recurring annual events” and over 60 other major events. More from Miami Today.
Brevard commission tables decision on awarding cultural grants
The Brevard County Commission on Tuesday continued to weigh whether to continue county-funded marketing support for 44 major events, arts and cultural organizations and events, and sports events, under a revamped grant program. In a unanimous decision in Tuesday, the Board voted to table the vote until after workshops could be conducted to determine if other groups should also be eligible for grants. More from Florida Today.
St. Petersburg report: Trop can be fixed for Rays’ 2026 season for $56 million
Tropicana Field can be repaired in time for the Rays’ 2026 season for about $55.7 million, according to the damage assessment report sent Tuesday to St. Petersburg City Council members. The report, which does not include all items to be repaired, estimates that Hurricane Milton caused $39 million in damage and an additional $16 million in costs such as design, permitting, insurance, inspection, staffing and construction contingencies. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Transportation
Seminole approves $14M contract with ‘outdated’ Lynx bus service but commits to cut costs
Seminole commissioners blasted Lynx bus service Tuesday for inefficiencies before approving a new $14 million contract for the upcoming year and committing to look at ways to cut costs to the county. “As a business man, I can tell you, this is not efficient for Seminole County,” Commission Chair Jay Zembower said. “The model is antiquated. It’s outdated. … At $14 million, I think we could get a frequent card with Uber and run people all over where they want through this region.”
» More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Florida Trend Exclusive
Harboring a dream
Upon moving to Tampa, Louisiana transplant Cliffe Laborde wanted a condo — and a boat slip. As the number of boats increases and the availability of marina slips shrinks, developers with boat slips have an in-demand amenity. BTI Partners’ Marina Pointe in Tampa had what Laborde wanted in its 159-slip deepwater marina.
» Read more from Florida Trend.