Plus, 100 kids go fishin' with Sheriff Judd.
 
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Today’s Forecast

77º | Light thunderstorms and rain | 90% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:20 a.m. | Sunset 5:49 p.m.

 

The future is in your hands

Shape the future of the Downtown West redevelopment

A painted rendering of a plaza at night with a fountain in the center of a large walkway surrounded by four-story buildings
The Downtown West Gateway will connect downtown with the newly revived Downtown West area. | Conceptual renderings provided by The Lunz Group and The Apiary
The Lakeland Community Redevelopment Agency is reimagining the area west of midtown and downtown Lakeland. Now it’s your chance to have an impact on the future of the Downtown West area.

Downtown West will stretch east to west from South Florida Avenue to Lake Beulah Drive, and north to south from Memorial Boulevard to Lime Street. It covers local landmarks like Bonnet Springs Park and the RP Funding Center, plus Lakes Bonnet, Beulah, and Wire. The CRA is hoping to revitalize the area’s businesses, housing, and infrastructure.

A map showing the outline of the Downtown West area in Lakeland, FL and a red marker to show the location of a mixed-use development.

Downtown West will roughly cover this area — the red marker shows the Downtown West Gateway site.

|

Map via Google Maps

Last summer, the Lunz Group first shared a large development planned for the area: A 17-acre mixed-use property at the current site of The Ledger called the Downtown West Gateway, pictured above. The first phase of the development will include mixed-use residential and retail buildings with up to 500 apartment units and a parking garage on the north side of the property.

Since that development news was released, the CRA has been collecting feedback through interviews and a workshop to learn what Lakelanders want to see in the area. The final action plan to guide this five-year development process is set to be presented later this summer.

The last chance to help develop the action plan — and part of Lakeland — is coming up soon. Lakeland’s Community & Economic Development department and CRA are hosting a public meeting on Tuesday, July 11 from 6-8 p.m. at the RP Funding Center.

While we wait, we’re dreaming of what we’d like to see in Downtown West. What’s most important to you for the entire area? Are you hoping for a certain retailer in the Downtown West Gateway project? Leave your thoughts in our survey below before sharing them at the upcoming meeting.
Asked

What’s most important for you in the Downtown West Gateway mixed-use development?


A. Shopping
B. Dining
C. Housing
D. Something else
Tell us what you hope for
 
Events
Tuesday, June 27
  • B-I-N-G-O | Tuesday, June 27 | 6:30-8 p.m. | The Joinery, 640 E. Main St., Lakeland | Free entry | Join this weekly game to play for prizes while sipping on drinks from the bar at happy hour prices.
  • Civics 101: Why Should I Vote? | Tuesday, June 27 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | The Well, 114 E. Parker St., Lakeland | Free | Join this voter education forum to learn how local, state, and federal legislation affects you.
Wednesday, June 28
  • Knit One, Crochet Too! | Wednesday, June 28 | 5:30-7 p.m. | Lakeland Public Library, Larry R. Jackson Branch, 1700 N. Florida Ave., Lakeland | Free | Bring your current knitting or crocheting project to share tips and tricks with other crafters.
  • The Office: Trivia Wednesday | Wednesday, June 28 | 6:30 p.m. | Swan Brewing, 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland | Free entry | See how well you know the people person’s paper people.
Thursday, June 29
  • Graphic Novel Talk: “Stray Dogs” | Thursday, June 29 | 7-8:15 p.m. | Revival, 119 S. Kentucky Ave., Lakeland | Free entry | Join this book club to discuss the graphic novel “Stray Dogs” with other readers.
  • Moon Tree Glow | Thursday, June 29 | 7-9 p.m. | Painting with a Twist, 3670 Harden Blvd., Lakeland | $39 | Bring your own refreshments and get your glow on in this painting session.
Friday, June 30
  • Free Fitness Class for Seniors | Friday, June 30 | 9-10 a.m. | MaxHealth Primary Care, 2382 Griffin Rd., Lakeland | Free | All fitness levels are welcome at this free weekly fitness class for older adults — register online.
  • Marrison, Ballistic Mafia, Operation Acoustic Kitty, and UMAI | Friday, June 30 | 6:30-11:55 p.m. | Union Hall, 1023 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland | $10-$13 | Listen to these local artists play songs by Nirvana, Deftones, and other bands.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
News Notes
Civic
  • Some Kathleen-area residents are presenting an appeal before the Polk County Commission on Tuesday, August 22 in response to a 147-home development coming to the area. The meeting at 330 W. Church St., Bartow takes place 9-11 a.m. and is open to the public. (The Ledger)
Community
  • Polk County Tax Collector Joe Tedder is cautioning homeowners about property-assessed clean energy (PACE) loans. According to Joe, these loans for home efficiency upgrades could unexpectedly hike up your property tax bill. County commissioners have also passed a resolution against PACE loans in unincorporated Polk. (WFTS)
Traffic
  • A portion of East Orange Street between Lake Avenue and Ingraham Avenue will close this morning at 7:30 a.m. Crews estimate it will be closed for two days as they work to replace a sewer line.
Transit
  • As summer showers become more frequent, be prepared for The Squeeze to experience delays and intermittent service on weekends. Follow Citrus Connection for updates on the free downtown shuttle service.
Kids
  • Over 100 kids were invited to go “Fishin’ with Sheriff Judd” today. This annual event brings together at-risk children, FWC officers, and PCSO deputies for a reel-y fun day of catch and release fishing and community building.
Active
  • The Galloway Run/Walk/Run Training Program’s season kicked off this weekend, but spots are still available. Runners of all levels can train together for marathons, half-marathons, 10Ks, and 5Ks through April 2024.
Network
  • Calling all teachers — Bonnet Springs Park is hosting a teacher night on Tuesday, July 11 from 7 to 9 p.m. Teachers of fourth through twelfth grades can meet with other educators, tour the Nature Center, and learn about field trips to the park.
Try This
  • Put on your dancing shoes and head to The Joinery every Friday night from 8-11 p.m. throughout July and August. DJ Barca will bring the tunes for dancing on the eatery’s front patio. If that’s not enough, check out even more places to get your groove on in Swan City.
Cause
  • Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine is holding a 50/50 summer raffle fundraiser for its medical clinic benefitting uninsured patients. Buy your tickets for as little as $6 for a chance to win half of the pot. A winner will be chosen on Thursday, August 31.
Holiday
  • Just in time for Fourth of July parties, 4 Rivers Smokehouse is offering party packages for small and large groups. Pro tip: Order a cold package (including brisket, pulled pork, Texas sausage, and sides) for pickup on Monday, July 3 and heat it to serve on Tuesday, July 4.
Family
Health
  • Don’t let the unexpected hold you back from splashing in the pool with the kids or grabbing dinner with friends. Lakeland Regional Health’s two convenient Urgent Care locations (no appointments needed) mean you can get back to your routine instead of being stuck inside with allergies, scrapes, colds, and sprains.*
Eat
Shop
  • We’re excited to introduce Trailblazing Love, the newest brand added to our online store (Six & Main). From camping to coastal adventures, this local business inspires couples to explore the world and nurture their relationships through outdoor-based activity boxes. Shop the perfect activity box now.
 
Development

A crash course in development lingo

Wait, what’s a special use permit? Understanding development terms in Lakeland, Florida

Catapult-3.0-Lakeland-interior-2
Become an expert with these local examples. | Photo by Catapult
If you’re excited to track the progress of the Downtown West redevelopment but find yourself turned around by the terminology in city releases and news reports, never fear. Here are some definitions of common terms you might see as the project begins.

Mixed-Use

Projects that provide more than one purpose in the community, like a building with apartments on top and retail shops on the bottom, are referred to as mixed or multi-use. Expect to see combinations of housing, retail, parking, commercial, and industrial components.

Rezoning

Changing an area of land from the city’s designated use is known as rezoning. Examples of rezoning requests might be developers looking to build a high-rise in a neighborhood with a certain building height restriction, or open a business in an area marked residential. The site of The Ledger was rezoned to make way for the Downtown West Gateway.
8 more terms to know
 
The Wrap
 
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Today’s edition by:
Connor

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