09.11.2024

Today’s Forecast

89º | 50% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7:11 a.m. | Sunset 7:36 p.m.

A Message From Our Team

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Meet the new Mass Market

Lakeland CRA proposes new developments for the Mass Market area

A rendering of an indoor/outdoor venue with large windowed walls, green space, and walkways

Mass Market could be Lakeland’s next destination for business, dining, healthcare, and events. | Rendering provided by Straughn Trout Architects

Big updates could be on the horizon for Lakeland’s Mass Market area. As first reported by The Ledger, the Lakeland Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) recently shared plans with its advisory board for updates to this portion of the Midtown district, including proposals from architecture firm Straughn Trout.

Mass Market covers nine blocks, stretching north to south from East Memorial Boulevard to Bartow Road + east to west from North Massachusetts Avenue to North Florida Avenue. It includes spots like Haus 820, the Polk Tax Collector’s office, The Well, Talbot House Ministries, and the vacant Yard on Mass building.

A map showing properties owned by the CRA, under contract, or owned by other entities. — The CRA currently owns many of the properties in the area (shown in purple above) and is under contract to acquire more (shown in yellow).
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Screenshot via Straughn Trout Architects

CRA leaders seek to add developments that would draw foot traffic to Mass Market, making it more than a corridor between downtown and the Medical District surrounding Lakeland Regional Medical Center.

Proposed plans include apartments, mixed-use commercial + office space, a medical office, and a dining establishment, plus pedestrian improvements and public art. Next, the CRA will work to update zoning and design guidelines before sending requests for proposals to developers.

A rendering of two brick buildings with dining space and outdoor walkways — Plans call for a proposed 8,000-sqft food + bev space on North Florida Avenue.
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Rendering provided by Straughn Trout Architects

Mass Market is just a small part of the Midtown redevelopment district, which is the largest of the CRA’s three districts. The CRA aims to “improve the quality of life for residents” by stimulating development in those districts, using redistributed property taxes allotted to the city and Polk County. It works alongside local businesses, developers, and private property owners, and its recommendations receive final approval from the City Commission.

Want to be the first to know about project updates and be part of the decision-making process? There are vacancies on the CRA’s advisory board, which meets the first Thursday of each month at City Hall. Pro tip: If you’re looking for less commitment, you can pop into a meeting or watch online.

Asked

How many acres does Midtown cover?

A. 72
B. 555
C. 1,874
D. 4,463

Make a big guess

Events

Wednesday, Sept. 11

Salsa Fundamentals | Wednesday, Sept. 11 | 6:30-10 p.m. | Coleman-Bush Building | $10 | Gain a better understanding of salsa dancing with classes + socials in Munn Park.
Lakeland Women’s Walk Club | Wednesday, Sept. 11 | 6:45-8 p.m. | Lake Mirror | Free | Connect with other women during a walk around the Frances Langford Promenade.

Thursday, Sept. 12

Gallery Concert Series | Thursday, Sept. 12 | 6-8 p.m. | Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art | $38+ | Lakeland Symphony Orchestra will perform in the exhibit “Nature & Mystery: The Art of Mally Khorasantchi.”
Poetry Salon | Thursday, Sept. 12 | 7 p.m. | Union Hall | Free entry | The night kicks off with a silent reading party, followed by dancing, drinks, and an open mic.

Friday, Sept. 13

Sangria Night | Friday, Sept. 13 | 5-10 p.m. | Keel & Curley Winery, Plant City | Free entry | Dance + sip the night away with Latin music and sangria flights.
Date Night Challenge: Paint Your Partner | Friday, Sept. 13 | 6-8 p.m. | Art Centric Studio | $50 | Grab your partner or your bestie to try out this viral TikTok trend.
“Between the Lines” | Friday, Sept. 13-Sunday, Sept. 15 | 7:30-10 p.m. | Lakeland Community Theatre | $26+ | A teenager struggling to fit in brings her favorite fairytale to life in this musical performed by local actors.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Travel

✈️ 3 wildly cheap flights out of Tampa International in 2024

A plane flys over palm trees in a clear sky.

Pro tip: Set custom destination alerts as a Going Premium member. | Photo by Pexels

Great airfare deals do exist — and thanks to flight price tracking services like Going, you can save hundreds on your next trip. Sign up for Going’s Premium plan, and you’ll be emailed when international flights leaving our nearby airports are seriously discounted.

Here are real flight deals out of Tampa International the Going team found this year:

$204 to Hawaii
$899 to Fiji
$453 to Rome

News Notes

Today Is

September 11, also recognized as National Day of Service and Remembrance and Patriot Day. Join local veterans, military members, and law enforcement for tonight’s Honoring Our Heroes event at 5:30 p.m. in Winter Haven’s South Central Park.

Number

1,100+. That’s how many vendors the Lakeland CRA sent a request for proposal to for the former Yard on Mass space. After receiving just two applications, the CRA is pausing discussion until confirming that it’s legal to reopen proposals. (The Ledger)

Ranked

Enrollment is on fire at Southeastern University. The school currently has a record-breaking 11,763 students, and it ranked No. 2 on the Chronicle of Higher Education’s list of private, doctoral-level colleges thanks to a 272% enrollment increase over the last decade.

Read

Need a new read? It could come from a Library Lending Vending Machine. More of these are popping up across Polk County, offering access to books for those far from a library. Find one in Lakeland at City Hall. (WFTS)

Edu

Florida Polytechnic University leaders + key community members recently met for the school’s first Strategic Planning Summit. Local insight from attendees like Mayor Bill Mutz will be used to create Florida Poly’s next five-year plan.

Drink

Krazy Kombucha is tapping out temporarily while repairing technical difficulties at the taproom. If you need your fermented fix, find their brews at other local businesses like Good Thyme + Quinteassence, or at the farmers market this Saturday.

Open

Raise the curtain — renovations are complete at the Historic Ritz Theatre in Winter Haven. Attend an open house this Friday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. to see the upgrades, peek at the next season’s calendar, and enjoy a performance by Theatre Winter Haven’s Big Band.

Kids

The Lakeland Runners Club is helping elementary schoolers find a passion for running at the LRC Kids Run Club. Sign up your youngster for free practices each Tuesday, 5:15-6 p.m. at Bonnet Springs Park. We’re out of breath just thinking about it.

Family

Once the kids have some practice under their belts, register your family for InnerAct Alliance’s Red Ribbon Run on Saturday, Oct. 26. This fun run event will include family activities focused on fitness + anti-bullying. Sign up online to join for free.

Featured Deal

In honor of Remembrance Day, Sunmed is offering Veterans, Military, and their families 30% off any 3-product bundle of clinically tested cannabinoid products. Stop by the store + save.*

Shop

Level up your fall wardrobe with this stylish and versatile men’s quarter zip sweater. Its sophisticated mock neck design makes it perfect for both casual and formal wear.*

Community

Let’s plan, Polk County

What do you want Polk County to look like in 2050?

The exterior of the historic Old Polk County Courthouse entrance with a dome and high columns.

You can help direct the county’s future for the next 25 years. | Photo by LALtoday

We can’t predict the future, but through careful community planning, Polk County aims to create it instead. Polk is now seeking resident input on its Comprehensive Plan, a document of goals + policies that will direct government officials’ decisions on development, infrastructure, recreation, and more.

The 22-month project to create the Plan began in March 2024, and it’s set to be adopted in December 2025. You can be a part of the planning process now through a 15-question survey, a virtual idea wall, and an interactive map.

If you prefer to give your feedback in person, attend the upcoming Visioning Community Workshops focused on the theme “Where Do We Want to Go?” There are two planned in Lakeland:

Tuesday, Sept. 24, 6-8 p.m. at the Coleman-Bush Building
Tuesday, Oct. 15, 6-8 p.m. at Sikes Elementary School

How to share your thoughts

The Buy

We’ve found the best game watching gear for your comfiest, rowdiest, most on-theme football season yet:

🏈 This chip and dip serving set is perfect for game night.
🏈 Impress guests with this novelty football ice cube mold for cocktails.
🏈 Create an instant couch cup holder with this no-spill drink holder.
🏈 Opt for a bamboo couch arm tray to hold snacks and drinks.
🏈 Shop this “Pardon the noise, we’re okay — it’s just football season” doormat.

More worth The Buy

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Connor

From the editor

On Monday, we asked what you think the biggest trends of fall will be. The most popular answer was pumpkin spice everything. We’re currently planning our local guide to all things fall-flavored, but I want to know what your favorite is that we can’t miss.

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