DOWNTOWN DEMOGRAPHICS
Downtown Lakeland serves as the area’s business and financial center and has become a destination retail and entertainment center. It is an attractive location for smaller professional firms and is home to the “back office” operations of Publix Super Markets and FedEx National LTL. Financial institutions with a presence here include Bank of America, SunTrust, Citrus & Chemical Bank, MIDFLORIDA Federal Credit Union, Bank of Central Florida, CenterState, Pilot, RG Crown, Wachovia, AmSouth Banks, and the regional offices of Merrill Lynch and SmithBarney.
Since 1988, the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority, in cooperation with the City of Lakeland, has been implementing a redevelopment strategy based upon attracting the private sector to invest in the historic downtown. Public improvements, development incentives, land assembly and other techniques are being used to create an environment that is both friendly to the investor and to the user. The public sector is providing parking and other infrastructure as well as civic amenities, making Downtown a quality business and recreation location.
Projects within the Downtown District are exempt from most City and County impact fees and may be eligible for tax increment financing, investment tax credits and other incentives. The area has undergone profound change, including the improvement of public areas and the private renovation of over 843,030 square feet of space and the building of 636,500 square feet of space, totaling an investment of over $265,672,562.
Downtown Lakeland Demographics:
Daytime working population: 8,480
Resident population
Within 1 mile 9,878
Within 3 miles 68,740
Within 5 miles 122,016
Center for financial, government, professional and media services
Specialty retail, eating and entertainment establishments
Historic District
Source: Lakeland Downtown Development Authority, 2007
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