Residents and officials of one Central Florida community are left wondering where plans for a "viable" downtown went wrong.
Five years after the City of Lake Mary approved a master plan to redevelop its downtown of wood-framed houses into a thriving center, the plan remains largely unrealized. The city, which lies north of Orlando and is known for its concentration of upper middle class families, had hoped to attract small scale mixed-use development to its core, while simultaneously investing in civic projects.
"But the only developer who has bought into this plan is Terry Shaw, who is completing the second phase of a 24,000-square-foot office center directly behind City Hall...Developers say the difficulty lies mainly in the in-fill style of development, which builds in and around existing neighborhood, [and] the city has been reluctant to get involved in the process by buying land in large chunks."
Now residents and officials are trying to decide if a new approach is needed, or if all that is required is continued patience.
FULL STORY: The quest for a downtown

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

Alabama School Forestry Initiative Brings Trees to Schoolyards
Trees can improve physical and mental health for students and commnity members.

NYC Outdoor Dining Could Get a Re-Do
The city council is considering making the al fresco dining program year-round to address cost concerns from small businesses.

HSR Reaches Key Settlement in Northern California City
The state’s high-speed rail authority reached an agreement with Millbrae, a key city on the train’s proposed route to San Francisco.
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