Emily Griffiths had been owning this whole adulting thing: Seeking to avoid big college debt, the recent University of Florida grad earned scholarships, worked a job and secured a good internship that has led to a full time job with engineering firm Kimley-Horn. She starts at the firm's Sarasota office in March. Now the 22-year-old has hit an adulting speedbump, a hiccup quickly reaching crisis level in the region, if not across most of Florida: the lack of housing — homes, condos or apartments

Key takeaway: The Wimauma Village Plan in Hillsborough County, after 15 years of stalls, is gaining some momentum. Core challenge: One local leader is concerned about gentrification as national homebuilders target buyers who don't live in the community. Getting developers to utilize incentives for affordable housing is another obstacle. What's next: After approving a community action plan in early March, Hillsborough County is focused on taking small steps like adding a public library and upgrad

Key takeaway: Hunters Point in Manatee County, from Pearl Homes, is a new LEED Zero community, meaning the homes generate more power than is consumed. Core challenge: Pearl Homes' Marshall Gobuty wasn't expecting residents to want to learn everything about how the homes work, so he had to find a biologist who could explain the science behind the concept. What's next: Affordable housing and sustainability should have no connection, Gobuty believes, which is why he's planning to build 720 single f

If you heard a collective howl on Friday, it was probably because Boo’s Ice House & Dog Bar finally has an opening date set for later this month. Contrary to the song “Who let the dogs out?” Boo’s will let the dogs in May 22. Not every dog will be invited in, though; just those who are up-to-date on their vaccinations. The dog bar, which was named after the owners’ rescue dog, Boo, is on 10th Street in the Rosemary District, just north of downtown Sarasota, in a building that used to play the