A new draft of the Midtown redevelopment plan recently released by the Lakeland Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) imagines an area where more people live near Lakeland Regional Health, Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue becomes a stronger business corridor, Tigertown draws visitors year-round, and trails connect Bonnet Springs Park to a new nature preserve.
“There is blight still existing, and we’ve come a long way, but there’s still a lot more to do in Midtown,” CRA Project Manager Jonathan Rodriguez said. “The intent of this plan is really to set a more positive tone … because we want to attract that private investment in Midtown.”
The updated plan will be presented to the CRA Advisory Board on July 9 and the Lakeland Planning and Zoning Board on July 21. Public feedback will continue to be accepted through the City Commission’s first reading.
Valerie Vaught, Lakeland’s CRA manager, described Midtown as the city’s “largest and most diverse” redevelopment district. She noted that most people entering Lakeland travel through Midtown, making it the city’s front door as well as home to major assets, including Lakeland Regional Health, Bonnet Springs Park, and Tigertown…