CRA Current & Upcoming Projects
The CRA and City of Lake Worth recently joined forces to complete the City's first Wayfinding Plan. For many years, community and business leaders have requested a comprehensive wayfinding project to promote downtown Lake Worth, points of interest and the historic neighborhoods. Wayfinding is defined as "a consistent use and organization of definite sensory cues from the external environment". An effective way-finding plan can act as a vital tool of economic development in any size city. A high-functioning wayfinding system makes the area "legible" and enhances a visitors' experience as it increases their comfort, builds their confidence, and encourages them to discover unique events, attractions and destinations on their own. Additionally, wayfinding is what people do when they travel to and through a city. Wayfinding plans involve the science and art of scripting an individual's travel throughout that area. The broader goal of an effective wayfinding plan should be to help people discover all of a community's distinct assets. The CRA is seeking grants to assist with the implementation of the plan.
The development of the City’s commercial corridors continues to be a priority for the CRA. Our main thoroughfare, Dixie Highway, has seen limited development over the years. This is due to a myriad of issues including high land costs and a lack of contiguous assembled properties for larger projects. The CRA played a role in several successful developments including: the new downtown Publix; 1101-1113 N. Dixie and the Downtown Shops. In addition the CRA invested in numerous properties, in the form of façade and tenant improvement grants. Despite CRA initiatives, large-scale, mixed-use, developments did not make it past the conceptual phase until now. In late 2017, founding partners of Affiliated Development, Jeff Burns and Nick Rojo proposed a project on the 1601 N. Dixie site. The property, known as the “Regency Party Rental Site,” has sat idle for at least the last ten years. It encompasses 5.6 acres and is the largest privately owned property in the CRA District. Affiliated Development, aka 1601 Dixie Holdings Inc., is building The MID, a multi-million dollar, mixed use development that includes 1 and 2 bedroom market rate apartments along with live/work units, a clubhouse, pool and other amenities. In addition, the two-hundred plus unit development, will pay special attention to the character and fabric of the community by including public art and environmentally-friendly elements. The CRA and City of Lake Worth Beach have provided financial assistance to make this project a reality.
To further the CRA’s mission to encourage and facilitate investment and development in the CRA district, the CRA Board approved a line of credit to acquire blighted or distressed properties. Since 2016, the CRA have assembled properties over 20 properties in our targeted areas along Dixie Highway and in the downtown. This acquisition of buildings and land will eventually result in a return on its investment in the form of new development, additional businesses and higher property values.
Since late 2017, the CRA has purchased and installed over 100 new decorative stainless steel trash and recycling receptacles throughout the downtown area. The addition of these new cans, which are replacing 20 year old cans, reassures a clean and sustainable city. An additional 20 new stainless steel trash cans will be installed in 2021. These cans will continue to replace the outdated canisters throughout the downtown and east of Federal Highway. In addition, the CRA has purchased and installed 43 new decorative downtown benches were installed. This new street furniture is meant to encourage a more walkable and pedestrian friendly area. The benches were placed along Lake and Lucerne Avenues between ‘A’ Street and Golfview Road. The CRA is dedicated to making investments and improvements into our historic downtown.
The historic building at 1000 Lake Avenue has been in existence since the 1920’s. The building was left to deteriorate before the CRA purchased the building in 2008. In 2010 the CRA began the tedious process of interior demolition, removing mold, and re-roofing the building to stop further deterioration. This building sits at the gateway to the City’s western downtown area. It is also located near our Artisanal Industrial area in which new development projects are beginning to take place. To further the redevelopment of this important area, it is in the City’s and the CRA’s best interest to have the building at 1000 Lake Avenue open and utilized, in the very near future, in order to further stabilize the area, add jobs, and people to the area.
New residential project coming to the western downtown area of Lake Worth Beach. Check back for details!
New residential project coming to the south-end area of Lake Worth Beach. Check back for details!
The mission of LULA Lake Worth Arts will unify the existing arts community around a shared vision, implement goals for strengthening the property value, improve access to the arts through educational programs, and invest in partnerships that support the talent and the creative community in Lake Worth Beach.
Wayfinding Project
The Mid - 1601 North Dixie Highway
Property Acquisition
Downtown Street Furniture
1000 Lake Avenue Renovation
Inhabit Lake Worth
6th Ave. South @ ‘H’ Street
LULA Projects
