About the LDDA
The LDDA works to keep Downtown Lakeland a great place to live, work and play.
Our Story
- 1970s
Downtown Lakeland is struggling to attract residents and businesses.
- 1977
Local leaders ask the State Legislature to create the LDDA to lead Downtown’s redevelopment.
- Today
A special taxing district with its own board, working for Downtown every day.
What We Do
-
Speak Up for Downtown
On behalf of everyone who invests in Downtown.
-
Improve Downtown
With the City, under a plan we made with the CRA.
-
Run Events
The Farmers Curb Market, First Friday and many more.
-
Market Downtown
Through this website, social media and the weekly newsletter.
The LDDA, the City and the CRA
The LDDA
- A special taxing district, created by the State Legislature in 1977.
- Property owners in the district pay up to 2 extra mills a year, spent only in the district.
- Gets no operating funds from the City.
- Run by a board of seven: six property owners elected by the district, and a City Commissioner appointed by the Mayor.
The City
- Led by the Mayor and six City Commissioners, who meet the first and third Monday of each month at 9am.
- Pays for public improvements Downtown, and maintains Downtown as it always has.
- Runs Downtown’s public parking garages and lots.
- City Hall: 228 S. Massachusetts Avenue (Directions in Google Maps)
The CRA
- The Community Redevelopment Agency, created in 1977 to spur development in the city’s core.
- It is the City Commission, advised by an appointed volunteer board.
- Works in three districts: Downtown (555 acres around Munn Park), Midtown and Dixieland.
- No extra tax: funded by tax increment that goes to the CRA instead of the City’s general fund.
Who to Ask
Executive Director
Ask about: Downtown businesses, property and anything not listed here
Julie Townsend
Executive Director
Ask about: Downtown businesses, property and anything not listed here
Julie has led the LDDA since April 2014. She began in nonprofits, then sold ads for The Ledger, where she covered Downtown, joined its marketing group’s board and helped two merchants start First Friday. She went on to be the first Executive Director of the Downtown Lakeland Partnership, then worked in marketing at MIDFLORIDA Credit Union. She believes in buying local.
Antonio (Tony) Davila
Safety Director
Ask about: Downtown safety and cleanliness
Tony leads the LDDA’s work to keep Downtown safe and clean. Before moving to Florida in 2021, he worked in armed security in Pennsylvania and spent five years in crisis intervention at a mental health facility. He holds Florida security licenses and first aid and CPR certification, and helped start a youth basketball league in Pennsylvania.
Communications Director
Ask about: Entertainment, performers and the Munn Park Concert Series
Eric Michaels
Communications Director
Ask about: Entertainment, performers and the Munn Park Concert Series
Eric Michaels is the Communications Director for the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority, bringing more than 25 years of experience in broadcasting, marketing and live entertainment. Previously a morning show host and Program Director for Hall Communications, he now helps promote Downtown Lakeland through community events, business partnerships and engaging communications. A former Disney entertainer and graduate of Leadership Lakeland Class 42, Eric combines creativity with hands-on leadership to connect people, support local businesses and create memorable experiences.
Bianca Ruiz
Downtown Development Manager
Ask about: First Friday
Bianca Ruiz is a native Lakelander and graduate of Lake Gibson High School. She started volunteering with Camp Fire Sunshine in sixth grade, and now serves on its Board of Directors.
Bianca started her own cleaning business, B Clean, and began working with the LDDA as a First Friday Zone Worker. She joined the LDDA full-time after graduating and now serves as Downtown Development Manager, managing First Friday and the Farmers Curb Market and helping coordinate Pop-Ups, Tasty Tuesday and Night Markets.
She is continuing her education in Business Management and Administration, and is passionate about supporting local businesses.
Leilah McCargo
Creative Content Manager
Ask about: The Farmers Curb Market
Leilah McCargo is a graduate of Tenoroc High School. She was first introduced to the LDDA in 2019 when she began volunteering with local artists from her high school to paint the storefronts of Downtown Lakeland businesses.
Leilah began working with the LDDA as a First Friday Zone Worker in 2021 and later joined full-time. She now serves as Creative Content Manager, managing the Farmers Curb Market, First Friday and helping coordinate Pop-Ups, Tasty Tuesday and Night Markets.
She is continuing her education in Digital Marketing Science and is passionate about furthering her knowledge in Graphic Design and website management.
Board of Directors
Landon Beck
Chair
Landon is a Senior Associate at Colliers in Lakeland, brokering industrial real estate in Polk and Hillsborough counties, and a Project Manager at Aspyre Properties, where he oversees development and management of its industrial portfolio.
Donna De Stefano
Vice-Chair
Donna is Premises Director at Summit, where she led the company’s move to its Downtown office overlooking Lake Mirror. A Lakeland resident since 1982, she has served on the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce board, led the Leadership Lakeland Alumni Association and is a member of the Lakeland Economic Development Council. Come fall, she’s cheering for LSU.
Bretta Christakos
Treasurer
Bretta is Senior Vice President and Retail Regional Manager for Polk, Highlands and Osceola counties at SouthState Bank. She joined the bank, then CenterState, in 2013 to run its Downtown Lakeland branch. She serves on the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Award committee and is a member of BRIDGE Local.
Michael J. Kincart
Director
Michael is a Lakeland native and an attorney at Peterson & Myers, P.A., Downtown, practicing business and real estate law. He holds a finance degree from the University of Florida and a law degree, cum laude, from Stetson. He has served with the United Way’s Young Leaders Society, EMERGE Lakeland and Lakeland South Rotary, and is a Leadership Lakeland graduate.
Jeff Donalson
Director
Jeff founded Thomas Capital Partners in 2013. It has acquired and developed more than 300,000 square feet of commercial real estate in downtown Winter Haven, Bartow and Lakeland, including the Ledger building in Downtown Lakeland. He was an environmental engineer before that, with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Florida.
Eric “Bro” Belvin
Director
Bro is managing partner of Linksters, Paddywagon and Central Tavern, with Bob Snow. He has lived in Lakeland since 1978 and is a graduate of Southeastern University.
Terry Coney
City Commissioner
Terry is a Lakeland native, a Rochelle High School graduate and a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel with 22 years of service. He holds an economics degree from Florida A&M and a master’s in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle. A former president of the NAACP Lakeland Branch, he is Lead Trustee at First Baptist Institutional Church.
Term Limits for Board Members
Florida law limits how long an elected member of an independent special district’s board can serve:
189.0312 Independent special districts; term of office.
(1) A member elected by the qualified electors of the district to the governing body of an independent special district may not serve for more than 12 consecutive years, unless the district’s charter provides for more restrictive terms of office. Service of a term of office that commenced before November 5, 2024, does not count toward the limitation imposed by this subsection.
Public Information
The LDDA is a public body. Its meetings, records and services are open to everyone.