The Bradenton Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting held on July 26, 2025, focused on several key initiatives aimed at enhancing local development and transportation services. A significant highlight was the upcoming Florida Brownfields Association annual conference, scheduled for September 9-11, where the city plans to showcase a brownfield site on Fourteenth Street that is set to be developed into affordable housing. This project is expected to benefit from state sales tax incentives for the developer.

Councilwoman Moore raised concerns regarding the Riverwalk area, emphasizing its importance in the broader economic redevelopment strategy for downtown Bradenton. She noted positive feedback from residents about the police presence in the park and suggested that the CRA explore enhancements to the Riverwalk, potentially in collaboration with local stakeholders.

Additionally, Moore shared her experiences with the Freebie transportation service, highlighting issues with ride wait times and app functionality. She suggested that the CRA should consider collecting data from Freebie to better understand ridership patterns, particularly regarding grocery store trips, which could inform future development decisions.

The meeting also touched on the potential for a park-and-ride system to alleviate downtown parking challenges. The idea is to create a circulator service that would transport employees from designated parking areas to downtown, thereby reducing congestion and promoting the use of public transportation.

Overall, the discussions underscored the CRA's commitment to fostering economic growth and improving transportation options in Bradenton, with several initiatives poised to enhance community engagement and development in the coming months.