Florida Trend Exclusive
Condo vitals
Buying a condo in Florida used to be about location, amenities and price. Now buyers are faced with a more complicated question: How healthy is the condo association? In the wake of the 2021 Surfside condominium collapse, sweeping new requirements have forced thousands of condo associations to confront financial realities many had long deferred. Aging buildings must now undergo structural reviews and build up cash reserves — costs that, in many cases, are landing on owners as six-figure special assessments. The result: a market flooded with anxious sellers and wary buyers struggling to gauge the financial stability of a building. [Source: Florida Trend]
What to know as Florida's 2026 legislative session draws to a close
Lawmakers aren't able to agree on a state budget in time for the scheduled March 13 end of this year's regular session. So what's next? It's the second year in a row that lawmakers haven't passed the only bill they're required to pass each year, the budget, on time. But conversations about the big pots of money known as allocations are still ongoing. Still, that's not the only conversation up in the air. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]
Florida to soon restrict local DEI programs across cities, counties
Florida lawmakers approved a measure striking a blow to diversity, equity and inclusion programs in counties and municipalities, and now it's headed to the governor for his signature. That's despite the concerns of city and county officials, many of whom raised an alarm to say local governments wouldn't be able to sponsor or otherwise support ethnic heritage events and LGBTQ+ parades. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]
Howard Schultz is the latest billionaire to ditch the West Coast for Miami
Howard Schultz is the latest billionaire to bite the West Coast dust. The former Starbucks CEO — worth $6.6 billion, according to Bloomberg — is leaving Seattle, his home of 44 years, for Miami, he wrote on a LinkedIn post on Tuesday. "We are enjoying the sunshine of South Florida and its allure to our kids on the East Coast as they raise families of their own," he said. [Source: Business Insider]
Florida tapped to guide future of air taxis
Florida has been selected as a part of a small group working to bring aircraft taken straight out of science fiction novels to life. Advanced Air Mobility is an emerging aviation sector that uses electric or hybrid aircraft to transport people or cargo — typically at low altitudes. The Federal Aviation Administration is developing regulations for aircraft and has established the Advanced Air Mobility and Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program to guide the process. The Florida Department of Transportation was one of eight projects selected for the program. [Source: Tampa Bay Business Journal]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Publix just made a change to pay by app. What it means for shoppers
Publix is ending its pay-by-app feature on March 19. An email sent to app users and Club Publix members Tuesday apologized “for any inconvenience this may cause.” “This change allows us to focus on enhancing and expanding other features that provide value and convenience for our customers,” Publix spokeswoman Lindsey Willis said.
› New PGA Tour CEO sees investors as positive for golf organization
Two years after the PGA Tour announced a group of high-profile sports owners were investing $1.5 billion in the organization, the Ponte Vedra Beach-based golf organization is still not talking about how the money is being used. But in a March 11 news conference ahead of this week’s Players Championship tournament at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, new PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp sought to clarify the nature of the investment by the Strategic Sports Group.
› March Madness tests Tampa Bay tourism as hotel revenue climbs
Hillsborough County hotels opened 2026 with one of their strongest January performances on record, as taxable hotel revenue reached $112.28 million for the month, according to Visit Tampa Bay. The January total marked the second-highest January ever recorded in the county, signaling strong visitor demand heading into Tampa Bay’s busy spring tourism season. From September 2025 through January 2026, taxable hotel revenue totaled $428.86 million, generating $25.72 million in Tourist Development Tax collections.
› Miami Beach officials press Tallahassee to reject controversial development bill
Miami Beach officials and dozens of residents gathered on the boardwalk in front of the Fontainebleau Hotel to voice their opposition to a state House bill that would allow the hotel to build water slides on its pool deck. Language added to the legislation late last month as a result of lobbying by the Fontainebleau would let the hotel bypass a review process by the Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board and install the water slides, a proposal that has drawn a wave of backlash in the Mid Beach neighborhood.
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› Kay Rawlins, Orlando City Soccer Club founder, announces retirement
Orlando City Soccer Club co-founder Kay Rawlins has announced her retirement. “After 15 years that have shaped my life in ways I never could have imagined, I want to share that I will be retiring on March 13,” Rawlins wrote in a March 11 online post. Rawlins said she is stepping away from her current role as senior vice president and community ambassador “with a heart full of gratitude and emotion.”
› Clearwater is seeing momentum downtown. Is Scientology helping?
Clearwater officials say the city is finally experiencing an urban renaissance. A slew of projects are happening downtown, including a hotel, a long-awaited Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority station and a new City Hall that’s scheduled to open in October. City officials say they are excited about the moment the city is experiencing. But they remain unsure about the Church of Scientology’s role in Clearwater’s transformation, as downtown properties tied to the church have sat vacant for years.
› Jacksonville begins search for new Duval County jail site
Jacksonville officials are in the beginning stages of the long process of deciding where a new Duval County jail could eventually rise, a decision that could reshape the future of downtown and the city’s riverfront for decades. During a city council meeting on March 10, representatives from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the mayor’s administration outlined a proposed plan to identify potential sites and estimate the long-term needs of the county’s detention system.
› Bank on Miami expands access for the underbanked
Local nonprofit Branches helps lead Bank On Miami to add residents’ access to financial products and services to build their financial futures. The Bank On movement works to expand access to safe and affordable banking products for people who are unbanked or underbanked. Bank On Miami has more than 40 partners, including financial institutions Amerant Bank, Banesco USA and Bank of America.