Summer is About to Really Sizzle with the Riviera Beach CRA Summer Vybz on the Promenade

Posted on July 19, 2019 by Annetta Jenkins

Friday date night for July 26, 2019, just got hotter with promises of a packed Summer Vybz on the Promenade event hosted by the Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency. This free evening of entertainment, food and fun is open to the public at Riviera Beach Marina Village!

JULY 19, 2019, RIVIERA BEACH, FLORIDA—The Riviera Beach CRA is on a mission to enhance the community and is doing so by crafting signature events locals and visitors can enjoy. Set for July 26, 2019, beginning at 7 p.m., Summer Vybz on the Promenade will offer something for everyone to enjoy at the picturesque Riviera Beach Marina Village.

This second event in the Riviera Beach CRA “Vybz” series comes hot on the heels of the successful Spring Vybz event held in April at the Riviera Beach Marina Village. The Vybz events set the stage for date nights, although can also be a place to network and meet members of the community, relax on the promenade and just enjoy the picturesque Intracoastal Waterway. Summer Vybz will feature food trucks and drinks for purchase, karaoke, the feature-length thriller film written and directed by Jordan Peele and starring Lupita Nyong’o, “Us,” a “Good vs. Evil Twin” costume contest based on the plot of the film. Attendees must be age 21 or over to join this free event.

Earlier this summer, the Riviera Beach CRA hosted their inaugural Neighborhood Day, another free community event with the purpose of improving the quality of residents’ lives in Riviera Beach. Held at the Riviera Beach Community Garden, Neighborhood Day brought locals together to foster friendships, discuss issues and check out the harvest fruits and vegetables growing in their neighborhood.

The Riviera Beach Marina Village Event Center is a modern hub of celebration. It’s a prime location that offers year-round opportunities for private and public events. Designed to host groups from 10 to as many as 300 people, Marina Village boasts indoor and outdoor party space, banquet halls and conference rooms with scenic backdrop of waterfront views. Marina Village hosts weddings in addition to offering a variety of water activities for the public, such as kayak and paddleboard rentals, fishing charters, parasailing and more.

For more information about Summer Vybz on the Promenade by the Riviera Beach CRA, visit https://rbcra.com/events/summervybz/.

The Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency

The Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency is at the heart of dramatic transformations underway within its district. Formed in 1984 by the Riviera Beach City Council, the CRA provides funding for a wide scope of projects that incentivize economic growth through business attraction and retention; finances new and improved infrastructure for real estate projects; and generally works to expand the tax base by creating a welcoming environment that eliminates blight and improves the perception of safety in the area.

The Agency’s main mission is to guide the city’s redevelopment efforts. This includes making investments of public funds in key infrastructure improvement projects that have the capacity to act as a catalyst for additional private funding and development, create jobs and help to improve the quality of life for city residents. For more information about the Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, follow the official Facebook, Instagram @RBCRA and Twitter @RivieraBeachCRA pages or visit rbcra.com.

Palm Beach County, Riviera Beach CRA and Community Come Together to Repair and Renovate a Blind War Veteran’s Home

Posted on July 9, 2019 by Annetta Jenkins

The Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency aided in a four-year-long home improvement project for a disabled homeowner. The residence, located in the CRA District was in severe disrepair, and Jeffrey Perkins, a blind veteran residing there, was unable to improve his unsafe home. Through a series of public-private partnerships, the work has been completed and culminated in a celebration on Wednesday, June 26, 2019.

JULY 9, 2019, RIVIERA BEACH, FLORIDA—The home of Mr. Jeffrey Perkins, a blind military veteran having served in the United States Army and a longtime resident of the City of Riviera Beach, had fallen into a state of severe disrepair. In addition to a long list of smaller repairs and improvements that had become necessary, sections of his residence’s roof had caved in as a result of termite and water damage.

Without the financial or physical means to make the repairs himself, a host of volunteer efforts unfolded through several public-private partnerships. The Riviera Beach CRA is happy to announce that the improvements to Mr. Perkins’ home have been completed. A celebration marking the successful project’s culmination for Mr. Perkins took place on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 and was attended by representatives from the CRA, City and County elected officials, nonprofit organizations, contractors and individuals who helped make this possible.

“While headlines involving revitalization projects often depict the drier facts such as economic impact and development details, if you drill down into the story, you’ll see that behind every CRA initiative, there are people who benefit,” said Scott Evans, Interim Executive Director of the Riviera Beach CRA. “It’s these people, the residents, workers, and visitors to the City of Riviera Beach who ultimately are helped by our work, and Mr. Perkins is the ideal example of what we do and why we do it. We’re proud to be a part of the redevelopment of the City of Riviera Beach, and we’re grateful to have been able to assist Mr. Perkins with his home. Thank you so much to everyone involved. We could not have done this without you all.”

Special recognitions for the participating public and private entities and individuals who participated in the revitalization of Mr. Perkins’ home were given. Mr. Perkins participated in the Palm Beach County Department of Housing and Economic Sustainability Veterans Housing Preservation Program, the CRA’s Housing Beautification Program, and Rebuilding Together Palm Beach County.

Sincere thanks from the Riviera Beach CRA to the following entities, without whom, this enterprise could not have taken place:

- Paint Your Heart Out (nonprofit organization)
- Riviera Beach Community Development Corporation (nonprofit organization)
- Rebuilding Together of the Palm Beaches (nonprofit organization)
- Palm Beach County Department of Housing and Economic Sustainability
- Sunny South Construction, Inc. (general contractor)
- Colomé & Associates, Inc. (architects)
- Sears Heroes at Home Grant Initiative
- Newman Windows and Doors
- Palm Beach County Board of Commissioners
- Numerous staff and individuals who donated their time and effort

The Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency

Florida Trend – Riviera Beach CRA Adds ADA-Compatible Beach Mobility Equipment to its Long List of Improvements

Posted on July 3, 2019 by Annetta Jenkins

To view online coverage by Florida Trend, please click here to be redirected to their website.

Photo by MOBI-brand Beach Mat from Deschamps SAS & Deschamps Mats Systems Inc.

The Riviera Beach CRA Adds ADA-Compatible Beach Mobility Equipment to its Long List of Improvements

Posted on July 2, 2019 by Annetta Jenkins

The Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency—with its multifaceted mission to guide the redevelopment of the City of Riviera Beach—continues to make the waterfront more accessible to all who live, work and play in the District, including beachgoers with disabilities.

Photo by MOBI-brand Beach Mat from Deschamps SAS & Deschamps Mats Systems Inc.

Since its inception in 1984, the Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has worked diligently to make the District’s waterfront more accessible to everyone. One of its newest initiatives on this front is the equipment slated for the Riviera Beach Marina Village that is designed to assist visitors who may find it challenging to navigate the sand and water.

First will be the installation of a five-foot-wide ADA-compatible (Americans with Disabilities Act) MOBI-brand Beach Mat that extends 50 feet from the sidewalk down to the beach. The MOBI Beach Mat then extends another 60 feet adjacent to the edge of the Intracoastal. Beachgoers who rely on wheelchairs and other aids for their mobility, as well as families pushing kids in strollers and toting rolling coolers, etc., will find traversing the sand a lot less cumbersome atop the portable mesh walkway.

In addition, three MOBI Floating Wheelchairs are slated to be purchased following the Beach Mats, giving people with disabilities an opportunity to enjoy the water in a way they might not have experienced.

Tentative approval for these exciting additions that will make the Riviera Beach Marina Village accessible for all have been authorized, with execution of a grant agreement currently underway.

The Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency

The Riviera Beach CRA is at the heart of dramatic transformations underway within its district. Formed in 1984 by the Riviera Beach City Council, the CRA provides funding for a wide scope of projects that incentivize economic growth through business attraction and retention; finances new and improved infrastructure for real estate projects; and generally works to expand the tax base by creating a welcoming environment that eliminates blight and improves the perception of safety in the area.

A gathering for good: Riviera Beach celebrates community with Neighborhood Day

Posted on July 1, 2019 by Annetta Jenkins

To view an online story by the Palm Beach Post, please click here to be redirected to their website.

Riviera Beach CRA Holds Inaugural Neighborhood Day – Gather in the Garden Celebration

Posted on June 25, 2019 by Annetta Jenkins

Continuing the Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency’s efforts of connecting its citizens through community opportunities, Neighborhood Day will be a huge celebration taking place Saturday, June 29, 2019, at the Riviera Beach Community Garden from 9am to 1pm. Neighbors can meet, mingle and learn how simply striking up neighborhood friendships strengthens the community. The public and media are encouraged to attend and take part in knowledgeable demonstrations, exhibits, food, fun, and festivities.

The mission of the Riviera Beach CRA is to help guide the city in its redevelopment through a multifaceted approach that promotes economic growth, increases resources, improves infrastructure, and enhances the lifestyle of residents, workers, and visitors to the District. CRA events play a key role in the organization’s pursuit of improving the quality of life, and Neighborhood Day is an exceptional depiction of what the organization is all about.

Organizers anticipate a huge turnout at this inaugural Neighborhood Day event because of the wide range of activities planned, including:

Local vendor demonstrations and exhibits
Refreshments and chef-prepared tastings from the community garden
Heirloom vegetables and herbs
Free goodie bags for attendees and kids’ activities
An opportunity to sign up for the Neighborhood Watch Program
Panel discussions by the Riviera Beach Police Dept., Urban League of Palm Beach County, a youth empowerment professional, neighborhood leaders

According to Scott Evans, Interim Executive Director of the Riviera Beach CRA, merely meeting and getting to know your neighbors strengthens a neighborhood. “It helps decrease crime and inspires pride,” he says. “Neighbors who socialize reach consensus faster and are more proactive in making community improvements. Knowing neighbors builds social and professional connections. Just a simple hello and a handshake can open a lot of doors.”

The inaugural Neighborhood Day “Gather in the Garden Celebration” kicks off Saturday, June 29, 2019, 9am to 1pm, at the Riviera Beach Community Garden located at 1010 West 10th Street, Riviera Beach, FL 33404. For more about “connecting with your community to build a stronger, happier and safer Riviera Beach,” visit the Riviera Beach CRA website or Facebook page.

The Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency

Riviera Beach CRA Adds DNA Asset Marking Technology to its Crime Prevention Efforts

Posted on May 8, 2019 by Annetta Jenkins

The Riviera Beach CRA—with its multifaceted mission to guide the redevelopment of the City of Riviera Beach—has added a new high-tech element to its crime prevention efforts. FREE home chemical coding kits, which help to deter burglaries and increase the likelihood that victims are reunited with their items, are now available to concerned residents while supplies last.

Since its inception in 1984, the Riviera Beach CRA has used every available resource to create jobs, advance infrastructure and improve the quality of life in the City of Riviera Beach, Florida. On its latest list of initiatives is encouraging residents to mark their valuable and meaningful belongings using an easy-to-use chemical coding kit that the CRA supplies to residents within the CRA District for free.

SmartWater CSI Forensic Property Coding Kits contain chemical synthetic DNA unique to each kit that is registered and traceable back to the owner of the property, lasts for five years after application, and is invisible unless viewed under ultraviolet black light where it fluoresces in yellow.

“Unlike initials etched into jewelry and heirlooms, burglars have no idea it’s there,” says Scott Evans, Interim Executive Director for the CRA. “Upon recovery, victims of theft stand a much better chance of being reunited with their most treasured belongings. In addition, as increasing numbers of home and business owners throughout the Riviera Beach CRA District employ the technology, it is hoped that those with bad intentions will get the message that our neighborhood is not a viable target for burglaries.”

According to Mr. Evans, the CRA’s SmartWater CSI home asset coding initiative received a very successful start with Clean and Safe Ambassadors distributing 254 kits to residents throughout the Riviera Beach Heights neighborhood in a pilot program.

Riviera Beach residents and business owners who would like a free kit are invited to attend any Riviera Beach CRA Neighborhood Watch meeting and request a kit while supplies last. The next Neighborhood Watch meeting is May 21, 2019, at 6:00 p.m. at the Clean and Safe Operations Center at 1229 East Blue Heron Boulevard, Riviera Beach, Florida 33404. To obtain a free kit, residents and business owners also may visit the CRA office at 2001 Broadway, Suite 300, or by calling 561-844-3408. To be eligible for a free kit, you must be a resident or business owner within the CRA District.

Click here for more information about the Riviera Beach CRA Neighborhood Watch SmartWater Program.

The Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency

Marina Village Event Center has been Awarded LEEDS Certification

Posted on April 23, 2019 by Annetta Jenkins

The U.S. Green Building Council has awarded a Silver Level “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” Certification to the Riviera Beach Marina Event Center in Riviera Beach, Florida. This CRA infrastructure initiative—a hub of shopping, dining, entertainment, and family-friendly events—can now add this high bar of achievement to its long list of accolades.

The Riviera Beach Marina Village Event Center is proud to announce another achievement: the LEEDS Silver Certification. This recognition highlights the Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency’s (CRA) mission of leading revitalization and redevelopment efforts in the City of Riviera Beach, Florida.

LEEDS, an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the most widely used environmentally conscious building rating system in the world. LEEDS provides a globally accepted framework to create highly efficient, cost-saving green buildings. The Silver Certification is a high bar in achieving architectural sustainability.

“We’re quite proud of the building’s Silver LEEDS certification,” says Scott Evans, Interim Executive Director for the CRA. “This certification is a symbol of our dedication to Riviera Beach and its future generations, and an endorsement by the U.S. Green Building Council’s of that dedication.”

Since the dust of construction settled on the new Marina Village Event Center in May of 2016, the CRA has held many popular events. From live music, artistic events, movie nights, dining, shopping and more, the Marina Village Event Center is a destination for the community. The flexible 2-story floorplan, bar and restaurant, and high-tech AV equipment offer residents and businesses an ideal venue for private parties, weddings, and corporate functions.

For more information about the U.S. Green Building Council and LEEDS visit https://new.usgbc.org/leed. For more about events at the Riviera Beach Marina Village Event Center and available services, visit https://marinavillagepalmbeach.com/.

The Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency

The Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency is at the heart of the dramatic transformations underway within its district. Formed in 1984 by the Riviera Beach City Council, the CRA provides funding for a wide scope of projects that incentivize economic growth through business attraction and retention; finances new and improved infrastructure for real estate projects; and generally works to expand the tax base by creating a welcoming environment that eliminates blight and improves the perception of safety in an area.