By Linda Fisher, AICP It’s no secret that housing costs in Tampa Bay have soared in the last few years. Everywhere, it seems, people are struggling to find housing wherever they can. At the same time, communities are facing the need to adapt to rising sea levels and other threats from a changing climate. Real…
By Linda Fisher, AICP The 2022 Florida Legislative Session ended on March 14. While it received the most attention for a handful of bills dealing with controversial topics such as LGBTQ education and abortion, the session also saw passage of new “local preemption” bills that will affect how local communities govern themselves. The bills below…
By Linda Fisher, AICP When you hear the words “industrial land,” what do you think of? If the words conjure up images of smokestacks and noisy factories, think again. In Pinellas County, industrial land holds everything from financial service offices to software developers to research labs. And while we have plenty of manufacturing, the technology…
By Linda Fisher Who decides whether the house next door to yours can be used as an Airbnb? Or a home-based business? Or whether a new house needs to fit in with the neighborhood character? If your first thought is to turn to your city council or town commission, think again. Each year, Florida…
Florida is in the middle of its legislative session for 2021, which ends on April 30. During this time each year, state lawmakers debate whether to pass bills that could have far-reaching consequences for local communities—intended or otherwise. Forward Pinellas tracks bills that may affect how our member local governments plan for land use and…
Pinellas County is regarded by many—justifiably—as a coastal paradise. But last year’s run-in with Hurricane Irma reminded us all that life on the coast has its dangers, too. With global temperatures steadily warming, research suggests that hurricanes are growing stronger and waters are rising higher. Communities need to plan their future growth carefully to keep…
Is traffic congestion getting better or worse in Pinellas County? How many people are using the Pinellas Trail? Are the streets getting safer for pedestrians? If you’ve ever asked questions like these—or just wanted to know more about the current state of transportation —the Countywide Trends and Conditions Report for Pinellas County is for you.…
It’s Saturday morning, and Michael Lyman is teaching a class on creating graphic novels. He gestures at a screen filled with giant comic-book panels, pointing to one showing soldiers marching across a bleak landscape. “There’s a lot of space in front. That signifies movement,” he tells the two students in today’s class. “Wider panels indicate…
4th Avenue South traces the history of St. Petersburg, and foretells its future.