Good Morning, Sunland
It's Wednesday! And thank you for being here! I came bearing gifts. Add this weekend's events straight to your calendar right here! Add them all at once or simply the ones that stand out to you.
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In today's newsletter:
🏠 Florida voters will decide on $250,000 homestead exemption this November
🏢 Indian River Mall demolition begins on anchor stores
🚧 Fort Pierce breaks ground on $4 million Avenue D corridor overhaul
⛵ New Capri Harbor Stuart Marina coming to historic downtown site
🎉 Kids' Story Walk at Heathcote Botanical Gardens Friday
🌧️ Weather Update: Rainy day ahead, clearing tonight.
☀️ Day: High of 79°F | Cloudy with showers. 100% chance of rain.
🌙 Night: Low of 72°F | A stray shower or thunderstorm possible. 15% chance of rain.
🌅 Sunrise: 6:26 AM | 🌇 Sunset: 8:12 PM
🌙 Moonrise: 11:14 PM | 🌚 Moonset: 8:53 AM
🎶 Sounds like: "Feel the Fire" — Peabo Bryson
Ja'Min Devon
Founder & Publisher, Sunland News
🟠 Main Squeeze: Florida voters will decide on a $250,000 homestead exemption this November
Florida lawmakers passed a property tax cut proposal during the current special session that would create a $250,000 homestead exemption on non-school levies for owner occupied homes. It is now headed to the November ballot and will require approval from at least 60% of voters to become law 🏠.
Why it matters: I broke this down for you already but here is where things stand. If voters approve it, the exemption would phase in over two years and creates a framework for a full exemption over time. For homeowners who have watched their property tax bills climb, this could be significant relief.
What the proposal does 📋:
🏡 Creates a $250,000 homestead exemption on non-school property tax levies
📅 Phases in over two years if approved
🗳️ Goes on the November 2026 General Election ballot
✅ Requires 60% voter approval to become law
🏫 Does not apply to school levies, meaning school funding is protected
The other side of this 👀: Property taxes are how St. Lucie County funds day to day operations. Police departments, fire services, road maintenance, parks, libraries and local infrastructure all draw from that pool. A significant reduction in property tax revenue does not disappear from the budget, it shifts the conversation to what gets cut or how the gap gets filled.
What's next: Florida voters will have the final say in November 📅.
💬 What do you think about the $250,000 homestead exemption proposal? Leave us a voice message at (772) 212-1504 or leave thoughts here!
🛠 Press Round: Demolished, Improved & Docked
🏢 Indian River Mall Demolition Begins on Anchor Stores
Demolition of the Indian River Mall's anchor stores started earlier than scheduled, with a four-month project underway to tear down the former Macy's and Sears. The hybrid indoor-outdoor redevelopment will include five 250,000 square foot retail stores and a drive-through restaurant with Sprouts Farmers Market as a confirmed tenant. Much of the mall including the food court, AMC Theatres, JCPenney and Dillard's will be preserved.
👉 Read more (Treasure Coast Newspapers)
🚧 Fort Pierce Breaks Ground on $4M Avenue D Corridor Overhaul
Fort Pierce broke ground on a $4 million Avenue D Road Improvement Project resurfacing 1.6 miles in the Lincoln Park neighborhood from 29th Street to U.S. 1. Improvements include ADA-compliant ramps, sidewalks, enhanced crosswalks, new traffic detection systems and an overhead gateway sign marking the neighborhood entrance. Funded by $1.5 million in state legislative funding and $1.5 million from the Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency, construction should wrap by November 2026.
👉 Read more (WQCS)
⛵ New Capri Harbor Stuart Marina Coming to Historic Downtown Site
Capri Harbor Stuart marina is coming to 7.3 acres at Northwest Dixie Highway north of the Old Roosevelt Bridge on a historic site where the Lighthouse Restaurant stood until 1962. The development includes 158 boat slips accommodating 25 to 150 foot vessels, a two-story 275-seat restaurant, ship store, covered floating bar and elevated boardwalk to downtown. The project is expected to create 20 jobs.
👉 Read more (TCPalm subscription may be required)
🎉 Weekender: Events for the Weekend!
Friday, June 5
🌿 Kids' Story Walk – "Halfway Wild" – Heathcote Botanical Gardens, 210 Savannah Rd, Fort Pierce. | 10 AM – 12 PM | Free | Details
🎉 Friday Fest – The Riverdawgs – Marina Square, Fort Pierce. | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM | Free | Details
🎵 Leah Orchid Live at Elks Lodge 1520 – 608 S 5th St, Fort Pierce. | 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM | Details
🎷 Bleu Clarinet 1st Fridays – Bleu Clarinet, 901 Avenue D, Fort Pierce. | 7 PM | $10 | Dress to impress | Details
Saturday, June 6
🌿 PSL Green Market at Sidonia Grand Opening – 2401 SE Sidonia St, Port St. Lucie. | 9 AM – 2 PM | Free | Details
⚾ Swing Into Summer Reading – St. Lucie Mets – Clover Park, Port St. Lucie. | Gates 5:15 PM | Game 6:10 PM | Free for K–12 | Details
🎬 Drive In Movie Night – Hoppers – Causeway Cove Marina, 601 Seaway Dr, Fort Pierce. | Gates 7 PM | Movie 8:20 PM | $19/vehicle | Details
🎵 Summer Arts & Music Festival – 442 NW Lake Whitney Pl, Port St. Lucie. | 5 PM – 8 PM | Free | Details
🎉 Temptation Saturdays – Bleu Clarinet, 901 Avenue D, Fort Pierce. | 10 PM | 21+ | Free before 11:30 PM | Details
Sunday, June 7
🎸 Bruce's Beatles Birthday Bash – MIDFLORIDA Event Center, Port St. Lucie. | Doors 2 PM | Show 3 PM | From $25 | Details
If you have an event, send it to me here
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