Help Shape the Future of Downtown, Midtown and Dixieland at Nov. 6 Event

1-minute read

Lakeland’s Community Redevelopment Agency is inviting residents to an open house on Thursday, Nov. 6, to help revamp its visions for Downtown, Midtown and Dixieland.

“Restore the Core” is a yearlong project to modernize the plans that guide investment in Lakeland’s three redevelopment districts.

When: 6 to 9 p.m.
Where: RP Funding Center, Lake Hollingsworth Room (near Entrance 2), 701 W Lime St.
What: Residents can explore interactive displays and share their thoughts with city staff and the consultant teams updating each district’s plan.

‘Long overdue’

The documents — each 70 to 90 pages long — are showing their age, CRA Project Manager Jonathan Rodriguez said.

Since the Downtown redevelopment plan was last updated in 2009, the in-town bypass has shifted traffic patterns. Nathan’s Men’s Store closed. The children’s museum moved. The Summit building opened.

Since the goals for Dixieland and Midtown were published in 2001:

Lakeland’s population increased by 50% from 85,000 to 128,000.
The median household income nearly doubled from $31,000 to $61,000.
The average home value more than quadrupled from $85,000 to $350,000.

“They’re long overdue for an update,” Rodriguez said. “We want to look at: What have we achieved since our last update? And what is left to be achieved, based on the current needs of each district?”

Writing the next chapter

The open house will be the first of several public engagement opportunities through spring 2026, including pop-ups, surveys, focus groups and booths at community events.

“Restore the Core is about honoring our history while investing in our future,” CRA Manager Valerie Vaught said. “These areas are where Lakeland began – and where our future potential still lives.”

Learn more about the project and take a survey here.