Tampa P&C: The mega thread -- Updated 1-30

[Jasonhouse]

Art Center Lofts - U/C
5 story lofts with 50 units or so
http://www.artcenterlofts.com/images/rendering.jpg

DT Westin... 20 stories, 373 rooms... Groundbreaking in March
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/514/8tampawestin_front.jpg

Presidential Tower
33-story condo proposal

Lindell development on Harbour Island
3 X 20-story condos featuring 360 total units and ground level retail. Developer claims construction will begin by year end.

No Rendering Available


Stetson College of Law - Tampa campus (recently completed)
http://www.law.stetson.edu/new/tampalawcampussm.jpg

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/01/12/images/xlarge/B_4_4bstetson_176861_0112.jpg

New Tampa Museum of Art - have a lot of funding, need more (presently $12 million)
http://media.tbo.com/photos/trib/2003/0219arts1.jpg

History Center - still raising money (no rendering. Exceeded fundraising goal), Has obtained permanant site on Forum Dr, near Beneficial Way.

Grand View on Harbour Island - 235ft - 21 stories - 64 units... now complete
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/514/8the_grand_completed.jpg

Bank of America Tampa Height Project (site cleared)
3x10 story condo/apartment buildings and town homes - a redevelopment of a worn out area near the Stetson campus
http://media.tbo.com/photos/sports/2003/dev1.jpg

http://media.tbo.com/photos/sports/2003/dev2.jpg

Park Crest at Harbour Island - 8-stories - U/C (nearly topped out)
http://www.sptimes.com/2003/02/21/photos/stp-PARKCREST.jpg

Hillsborough County Center Parking Garage - 10 stories - U/C (nearly complete)

GTE Federal Credit Union HQ - 4 stories - U/C (nearly topped out)
http://www.gtefcu.org/images/Fact%20Sheet_0001.gif

There is also a 5-story office building that just went up in the area. (corporate HQ for KForce) They intend to build another similarly sized building in a year or so.



East Tampa

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - 12 stories - 175ft... U/C (nearly complete)
http://www.hardrock.com/locations/hotels/tampa/images/tampa_rendering.jpg
http://www.cordish.com/images/developments/hrtampa_g01.jpg





Westshore area of Tampa

Tampa Bay One
Two 15 story office buildings, 21 story Hotel/Condo - waiting for big tenant
http://www.tampabay1.com/images/photoscreen2a.jpg

Renaissance Hotel- International Plaza U/C (topped out)
9-story Hotel attached to schmancy mall

apparently they managed to push this unsightly box to 177 feet, which is impressive - though the building is not.

http://www.shopinternationalplaza.com/photos/5439.jpg


Corporate center Three U/C (finishing up)
10-story office building near International Plaza

On a side note, the same developer plans to consecutively build two more 10 story office towers across the street (Cornerstone Plaza) as soon as CC3 is completed and fully leased.

Holiday Inn Rocky Point Redevelopment
12 story Westin hotel and 12 story condo. Proposed




Channelside[/b]


Pinnacle Place - 624ft observation tower - 2 X 37 story condominium towers
The development will include a 4,000 seat amphitheater, 400 room hotel, 70k sqft of retail, 150k sqft of office space and 400 total residential units.

http://media.tbo.com/photos/sports/2004/jan/pinnacle1.jpg

http://media.tbo.com/photos/sports/2004/jan/pinnacle2.jpg


Downtown Channelside - Twin 30 story towers - 310ft - 250 units - 40k sqft of retail... Approved
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/514/8tampa_channelside_30_story_condo_rendering.jpg


Towers At Channelside
Twin 30 story condo towers- 360ft - 260 units, 35k sqft of retail...
Approved

http://media.tbo.com/photos/sports/2004/jan/0111channel1.jpg

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/01/02/images/TP_176381_HO_towers02_1.JPG


1112 Channelside Drive Condos - twin 9 story towers. 96 units and 14k sqft of retail. Plan to break ground in fall of 2004
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/514/8channelside_condo_rendering2.jpg

The Meridian - 6 stories - 35 units - U/C
http://www.meridianlofts.com/images/home2Rendering.jpg

Grand Central at Kennedy - Twin 14 story towers - 496 units - 125k sqft retail - 70k sqft office - In sales
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/514/8grand_central_at_kennedy_elevation_1.jpg

Seaport Town Centre at Channelside - In schematic redesign phase - 400+ units - hieght unknown, though nothing over 6 stories is expected.

Channelside 212 - 28 units - (more buildings than just these renderings) recently complete
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/02/22/photos/stp-arcdraw.jpg

Victory Lofts - 89 units - 6 and 7 story buildings U/C (2nd floor)
http://www.tampagov.net/dept_Planning/research_section/major_development_2002/web_images/4_299.jpg

http://www.victorylofts.com/images/lt_vb_pic2.gif

http://www.victorylofts.com/images/lt_vb_pic4.gif

1000 Channelside, 950 Channelside - 30 lofts - 7 office suites--- (Both phases will be nearly indentical in look)- In sales
http://www.tampachanneldistrict.org/Events/Campbe1.jpg

The Place at Channelside - 7 stories - 220 units - In sales
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/8the_place_12-03_tribune.jpg

12th Street Townhomes - 26 units - Proposed - no rendering available




BAYSHORE


One Bayshore- the rendering is the 17-story condo building, but there is also a 26-story apartment building, townhouses and ground retail - Condo U/C (5th floor)
http://www.crescent-resources.com/condos/onebayshore/images/rendering.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/514/8one_bayshore_new_elevations.jpg

http://media.tbo.com/photos/sports/2003/downtown3.jpg


Citivest 24 stories. Pending approval
Here is the location
http://media.tbo.com/photos/trib/2003/0503bay2.jpg

Bellamy 23-story Condo (site prep underway)
http://www.thebellamy.com/img/thebellamy.jpg

The Alagon... 24 stories. U/C (site work)
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/514/8tampabayshore_alagon.jpg



St. Petersburg

Here it is mostly condo stuff -

Bayway Lofts 510ft, 42 stories - approved - in sales
http://www.sptimes.com/2003/06/24/baywaylofts/images/baywaylofts.gif

http://www.gradypridgen.com/pictures/dev_baywaylofts2.jpg

Opus 400 block
~300ft 27-story condo with lower lever retail and offices. Will begin construction once Opus 300 is complete.
http://www.tampabayillustrated.com/images/April03_biz1.jpg

OPus 300 Block...U/C
this one is ~320ft, 30-stories. Also mixed-use.
http://www.tampabayillustrated.com/images/April03_biz2.jpg

McNulty Lofts - 13 stories...U/C
http://www.mcnultylofts.com/images/lifestyle_building.jpg

Grande Verandahs... 3 indentical condo towers. 8 stories. U/C
http://www.grandeverandahs.com/north.gif

Gateway CBD

Carrilon Hilton Hotel - 9 stories - 217 rooms
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/8tampa_carillon_hilton.jpg

Carillon Town Center - 9 stories - U/C
http://www.eresproperties.com/cp_interface/images/photo_7a.jpg

MLK Development... 2x11 story towers and 2x16 story towers. 175k office space and 350 apartments. Proposed
http://www.gradypridgen.com/pictures/dev_mlk_render.jpg

Clearwater Beach

Belle Harbour - 2x14 stories, 2x12 stories... lots o'condos U/C
http://www.modelmaker.com/images/bharbor.jpg

Blue Water resort - 4 14 story buildings, lots of condos
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/8clearwater_condo_proposal-med.jpg

Markopolous Hotel/condo proposal. 12-14 stories.
http://www.sptimes.com/2003/06/13/photos/northpinellas-rendering.jpg

Marriott Seashell resort - no idea the status
No Rendering


DT CLEARWATER

There are a number of 10-20 story condo proposals appear and then die in Clearwater. Not worth mentioning until they get farther along.

[DruidCity]

Wow, there's a ton of stuff going on down there...

Great for Tampa Bay !

[John F]

Smiley registered over here the other day, Jason -- at least it looked like it. I would have liked for him to have jumped ship over here.

I tried to compile a list like this (see my other post that brought up downtown projects) but got waylaid from the research. SOme of the newer projects were hard to find for downtown and of course there are other projects that are just stalled but still listed on the main "proposed construction" listing

And I just started a thread on one of those Opus projects after I saw the article today about their "Luxury" offering int he paper

[bobdreamz]

like I said to smiley it's great to see so many projects going on in the Tampa Bay area now...the state seems to be in a boom with practically all the major cities reporting increased highrise development...hopefully the majority of the projects will come to fruition....by the way have any of you TB forumers checked to see how many of these proposals are listed over at Skyscrapers.com?

[EastSideHBG]

WOW, quite a bit going on there!!! I may be down in Tampa in the next few weeks for the first time (helping a friend move from Pittsburgh to there). I will know more details about it in the next few days, as it all depends on if he takes the job he has been offered or not. As of now, he does plan on taking it...

[Austin]

That's enough condos to make people from Vancouver jealous.

[Jasonhouse]

Eastside, we will definitely have to meet up... Hell, I could bring my buddy Brian with me. He just moved here from Pittsburgh...

whee!

[FLAplaya]

Great news for the Tampa Bay area indeed. Florida is coming up EVERYWHERE. I Love it.;):)

[EastSideHBG]

Eastside, we will definitely have to meet up... Hell, I could bring my buddy Brian with me. He just moved here from Pittsburgh...

whee!
That was going to be my next question once I got the finalized plans, "Would you like to meet up, Jasonhouse?" :)

So you have a friend that just moved there from PGH too, huh? That is pretty cool!!! My friend who is moving there (Mike) is really trying to talk me into moving down there too. He LOVES Tampa. In fact, my sister spent two weeks down there in March and she really liked it too. Her and her b/f always talk about moving there. I have nothing against Florida, but....I don't know, it's a place I never really thought of for "moving prospects" (but I have never been to FL, so who knows). But I will keep an open mind about it and see what I think when I get down there. What are your feelings, Jasonhouse? How does your friend Brian like it so far? Feel free to drop me a PM if you would like to, or you can answer here. Thanks :)

[Jasonhouse]

My friend Brian likes it alot. Enough so that even though his wife is divorcing him, he is still staying here, even though he doesn't really know anybody, and basically moved here for her anyways.


You know me, I used to knock Tampa alot for numerous maladies, but it's definitely becoming harder and harder to make a strong case against Tampa. Tampa may not be growing gangbusters like Phoenix and whatnot, but I actually think that is a good thing.

[EastSideHBG]

My friend Brian likes it alot. Enough so that even though his wife is divorcing him, he is still staying here, even though he doesn't really know anybody, and basically moved here for her anyways.
Hmm, that says a lot about a place. My friend Mike went there to check it out, and he was hooked. Interviewed for jobs and got a few offers, and now he will be headed down there once he decides which one he will take. My sister was the same way, she liked it a lot after her first visit. I have other friends and family members that feel the same way too. Very interesting...

You know me, I used to knock Tampa alot for numerous maladies, but it's definitely becoming harder and harder to make a strong case against Tampa. Tampa may not be growing gangbusters like Phoenix and whatnot, but I actually think that is a good thing.
That is a good thing. You know I like PHX, but even I can admit it is turing into a real mess :(

I would like to know your feelings on Tampa someday you have the time. Nightlife? Things to do? How it is for day to day living? All that good stuff...

[Jasonhouse]

Nightlife is pretty good, as one would expect from any metro over 2.5 mil. That show "Wild On", on the E channel actually did a spot on Tampa's nightlife recently. Same goes for food. People in Tampa LOVE to go out to eat. Tampa has a very high per capita ratio of restaurants. The Food Network has done a couple shows dedicated to Tampa's food.


As far as "things to do", this is probably where Tampa has it all over similarly sized metros. We've got a good local amusement park and water park (Busch Gardens and Adventure Island), the Aquarium, Ybor City, the beaches, fishing, TONS of golfing and tennis and so on. There are always concerts, as basically all big concert tours come through Tampa. And that will only get better, now that a 20,000 seat outdoor amphitheater is U/C. There are several cruise ships that have Tampa as thier port of call, plus there are several "dinner/gambling cruises" as well. The State Fair is located in Tampa each year, as are several other big festivals like the Strawberry Festival, Freedom Fest air show, Gasparilla and Guavaween (think Mardi Gras, with the drinking and titty flashing for beads)... And, if you get bored with Tampa, Sarasota is an hour away, Orlando is two hours away and Miami is less than 4 hours away.

[Dale]

EastSideHBG -

Just a quick note from an Orlandoan: Orlando is anywhere from ninety minutes to several days, depending on how I-4 is moving.

;)

[EastSideHBG]

LOL Dale

Thanks a lot for the commentary, Jasonhouse. I ran into another friend today who was raving about it. I like to hear all this good stuff, but I still like to have an open mind about it. It may or may not be a fit for me, who knows, we'll have to see I guess.

As soon as I get some finalized plans, I will send you a PM. :)

[O-Town]

It took me 4 & 1/2 hours to drive to Tampa once, I swear to God. :eek:

[Lakelander]

originally posted by Jasonhouse
City negotiating a 27-story condo in downtown arts district. This was an earlier plan


It seems like the city thinks a 27-story condo is to big for that site. This is from an article I found in the Tampa Tribune.

Improving the city waterfront, however, is seen as key to an arts district that becomes a downtown attraction. Enlarging a park planned between the river and the new art museum fits into plans for a riverwalk and a string of parks intended to link the Channel District to Tampa Heights. The cornerstone is the $44 million art museum, a two- year project that city officials expect to begin in January. The history center was to be built south of the Poe garage, but Iorio's administration has balked at that. Davin predicted a final site will be chosen by the end of this year.

Davin also said talks continue with condominium planners. Instead of a 27-story building, the city proposes a cluster of smaller buildings closer to Ashley, which Davin said would fit in better with park plans.

``It's all a work in progress,'' said Paul Wilborn, hired by the mayor to help cultivate cultural businesses and attractions. ``Pretty much everything is on the table for discussion.''

link: http://tampatrib.com/floridametronews/MGA9DZ35LID.html

[Jasonhouse]

Interesting that what started out as a twin tower proposal is now being relegated to what sounds like a collection of lowrise townhouses. The problem is, who in the hell wants to live in a townhouse/lowrise building which fronts busy ass Ashley St? It won't work, and the developer is going to balk.

[John F]

I was at TGH on Friday - there was a crane on site for One Bayshore :D I mean, I'm giddy about one friggin' crane. Sheesh

[Jasonhouse]

It's nice to see some dirt getting pushed around at least. I want to see a few more of these projects actually get started later this year, especially the projects in Channelside and along Bayshore (before the NIMBYs get thier act together and **** south Tampa up in its entirety)...

[John F]

I agree Jason. NIMBY's are going to get vocal and try to put a stop to things sooner than later...

Though they are already trying to stop / limit certain verticle growth as I think was mentioned in this thread already

[Jasonhouse]

A nice surprise for the Gateway area. There's actually a little "skyline" of midrises forming in Carillon now.



Construction Of Hilton St. Petersburg To Begin In October


By CARLOS MONCADA cmoncada@tampatrib.com
Published: Aug 6, 2003




ST. PETERSBURG - A new Hilton hotel is scheduled to open in fall 2004 in the city's Gateway area, Mayor Rick Baker announced Tuesday.
The nine-story, $25 million Hilton St. Petersburg at Carillon Park will feature 217 guest rooms, including 45 suites, 15,000 square feet of meeting space and an 8,000- square-foot ballroom.

Other amenities include a heated pool and spa, restaurant, lounge and concierge level. The hotel will overlook Carillon's lake and wildlife preserve. Boardwalks running through the preserve will provide walking and exercise paths for hotel guests.

Construction is expected to begin in October and be completed by fall 2004.

``We're very happy to be here,'' said Tony Dzianott, director of operations for Iowa- based Heartland Hotel Corp., which will manage the hotel. ``We wish we could open today because we'd be ready to go.''

At a news conference, Baker said the hotel meeting space will provide a central Pinellas County location for countywide gatherings.

Having additional hotel rooms near Tropicana Field downtown will help the Tampa Bay area attract major sporting events such as another Super Bowl or NCAA Final Four in basketball, said Carole Ketterhagen, director of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Plans are for the hotel to cater to the surrounding business community and visitors.


http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/8tampa_carillon_hilton.jpg

______________________________________________________



The odd part is at the end, where it is implied that this hotel will help DT. Huh? The Gateway area has to be at least 7 miles north of DT...:?

[John F]

Channel District plan has 500 homes, stores
The mixed-use development would add the largest number of residences yet in the district along with retail and cultural spaces.
By CORY SCHOUTEN, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 7, 2003

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


TAMPA - A local firm will unveil plans later this month for the Channel District's largest development proposal.

The plan calls for about 500 housing units above a city block worth of retail stores and restaurants. Mercury Advisors also plans to dedicate more than 4,000 square feet for an art gallery and community theater.

The project is planned for 4.35-acre portion of a block bordered by Kennedy Boulevard, Meridian and Madison streets and Channelside Drive.

In the last few years, developers have proposed more than 1,500 new units for an area that now has about 20 residences. Twenty-eight new residences are set to open Friday.

The latest proposed development will include residential, office and retail space, said Ken Stoltenberg, a partner in Mercury Advisors.

"Think of it as Main Street," he said. "All the stuff that people need."

Stoltenberg said his company is working with several potential tenants but won't name them until leases are signed.

Kim Markham, a member of the Channel District Council and one of the area's first residents, said neighbors are excited to see the plans.

At last month's meeting, about 60 people heard plans for the Place at Channelside, a retail and residential development along Channelside Drive at Whiting Street.

"I think people were shocked at the last meeting," Markham said. "I think we'll be stunned again."

Markham said the unthinkable is happening: the Channel District is running out of land to develop.

Mercury Advisors will present site plans and artist renderings of the project to the Channel District Council at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Florida Aquarium. Eventually, the company will seek zoning approval from the City Council.

[John F]

Bigger center would pay off
Expansion of the Tampa Convention Center would draw more business, says a consultant.
By STEVE HUETTEL, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 15, 2003

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


TAMPA - Enough potential business exists to support a significant expansion of the Tampa Convention Center, according to a consultant hired by Hillsborough County's tourism board.

A growing number of conventions and trade shows use all the convention center's exhibit hall and ballroom space, said the consulting firm KPMG LLC.

Competition is heating up from larger rivals, the firm said, and meeting planners say they'd be more likely to pick Tampa if the city has a bigger convention center and more nearby hotel rooms.

The strategy behind proposed expansion - as much as double the current space - isn't to steal big events from top-tier convention cities, said John Moors, Tampa's administrator of convention facilities and tourism. Instead, it would enable the convention center to handle two mid-size conventions at the same time, he said.

"We're not in this to compete with Las Vegas and Chicago," Moors said. "There's enough business similar to the size we're doing today. We think we can double up on that."

KPMG's conclusions didn't surprise Moors or the Hillsborough County Tourism Development Council, which last year identified expanding the convention center as a top goal.

But the next phase of the study will deal with stickier issues. Those include where the center, pinched between the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway and the water, could grow. And, of course, how much the expansion would cost and who would pay for it.

"We'll need to see Phase 2 ... put us in a position to see what's what," said council member Bob Morrison.

KPMG interviewed about 140 meeting planners and local businesses that rely on convention visitors, such as hotels and attractions. Meeting planners said their top priority in picking a city is the availability of meeting facilities and hotels.

More than 75 percent of conventions and trade shows this year needed the Tampa Convention Center's entire ballroom. Forty-four percent required all 200,000 square feet of exhibit hall space.

Meeting planners told the consultants that Tampa was hurt by the limited number of hotel rooms within walking distance of the convention center - about 1,820.

If the city expanded the convention center and added nearby hotels, three-quarters of the planners surveyed said they would definitely or likely consider Tampa for their event. Without either improvement, 55 percent said they would definitely or likely not be interested.

Meanwhile, competition for conventions and meetings is becoming more fierce.

Tradeshow Week estimated last year that projects in the works would increase convention exhibit space in North America by 25 percent to 84.4-million square feet in five years. That's three times the previous record pace of construction in the 1990s.

And Tampa has new competition for its bread and butter: conventions with around 5,000 people.

As more and more groups hold smaller regional conventions rather than one huge gathering, mega-centers like Orlando are selling them on using a portion of their facilities, said Susan Sieger of KPMG.

"The competition is not just buildings similar in size, but buildings in first-tier cities," she said.

The city borrowed $146-million against general revenues to build the convention center after declaring the former Curtis Hixon Hall too small and obsolete. Yet the new building opened in 1990 generates only enough revenue to break even on the cost of running it. It doesn't help the city repay any of its $13.2-million annual mortgage bill.

Three years ago the county spent $5.5-million from taxes on hotel bills to double the center's collection of small meeting rooms.

At the very least, the convention center needs a facelift and technological upgrade with fiber optic wiring and other gear, Moors said.

But KPMG says the city should look at expanding the 279,000-square-foot center to between 494,000 and 559,000 square feet. No one is hazarding a guess at the cost.

Consultants will look at options other cities and counties chose to finance their convention centers, including sales tax, hotel/motel tax, rental car tax and state funding, said Sieger.

"Ideally, you want to make those who are using the building pay for it," she said.

[Lakelander]

this article gives you some insight on problems facing the convention center in downtown

Convention Center Told To Expand Horizons

TAMPA - The Tampa Convention Center needs additional space - as much as twice its current size - in the face of new competition from other cities, consultants told local officials Thursday.
Such an expansion is needed to allow more simultaneous meetings of large groups so a key economic component for downtown can maximize its potential. The Tampa area's only convention center and the hotels that depend on it for business face too many slack periods, said John Moors, the convention center's administrator.

That's because several days are often needed to set up and tear down exhibits for the conventions. More space would allow at least one other large group to meet while other exhibits were being worked on.

``A four-day meeting might take three move-in and move-out days,'' Moors said. ``There's enough business out there today, very similar to what we are doing today, that we could double up on it'' with expansion.

The need for more space was the primary conclusion from the first phase of a KPMG and HOK Venue report commissioned by a Tampa Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau task force and presented Thursday.

``If the [center] is not expanded, it is likely that it will lose market share in the long-term,'' the report stated.

But important questions remain unanswered. Some possible answers will come in November when the report's next installment will be completed.

That second report will outline key issues, including how and where the convention center might be expanded. It's surrounded on three sides by water and an expressway, and on the fourth by a privately owned parcel. November's report also will examine the expense and options for financing.

``We are not in this to attract huge conventions like Las Vegas or Chicago,'' Moors said.

Among the consultant's preliminary recommendations:

* Essentially double the size of the 200,000-square-foot exhibit hall.

* Add up to 35,000 square feet to the 36,000-square-foot ballroom.

* Boost meeting space, currently at 43,000 square feet, by as much as 45,000 square feet.

Overall, the center, which cost $72 million and opened in 1990, would grow from 279,000 square feet to as large as 559,000 square feet.

By giving it the capacity to host more large groups simultaneously, officials say the center could improve its numbers. The facility was occupied 65 percent of the time from October to May 31. That compares with 53 percent from October 2001 to September.

As part of the report, the consultants tallied responses from 140 meeting planners nationwide about using the convention center.

``A significant amount of additional business could likely be attracted if the [center] expanded and additional hotels are developed,'' the report stated.

A plan for more hotels along with convention center expansion approximately doubled meeting planners' interest in scheduling an event in Tampa, compared with simply expanding the convention center, the survey found.

Tampa has nearly 2,400 hotel rooms downtown. But only about 1,820 are within walking distance of the center.

Even with a 400-room Embassy Suites planned across the street from the convention center, Tampa likely would need hundreds more rooms in the area, said Susan A. Sieger, director of KPMG's convention, sports and entertainment practice.

Other constraints include lack of entertainment and restaurants within walking distance, space not available on needed dates, and better incentives elsewhere.

Another finding was the perception of safety and security is not positive, especially for walking from the convention center to the Hyatt Regency or Radisson Riverwalk.

Sieger suggested a convention center expansion plan should be melded with city master plans, in particular to attract residential development that would bring restaurants and transportation.

[Jasonhouse]

Port approves negotiations on development


Carl Cronan
Tampa Bay Business Journal




The Tampa Port Authority on Tuesday (8/19) approved the start of negotiations with a development group that wants to turn an empty corner lot along Garrison Channel into a town-center concept.


The authority accepted a joint proposal by the Byrd Corp., Stuart S. Golding Co. and Giunta Retail Properties Inc. to acquire 3.5 acres on the southeast corner of Channelside Drive and Beneficial Boulevard.

The group, called Downtown Channelside Partnership, wants to build two 30 story high-rise luxury condominium towers totaling 300 units, along with a parking deck with up to 675 spaces built over a retail-office complex at street level.

The partners offered nearly $10.1 million or $66 a square foot for the parcel, which is near an entrance to Harbour Island and is adjacent to the St. Pete Times Forum and Channelside entertainment complex. The Port Authority has been trying to sell the lot for several years and rejected prior proposals that were considered unrealistic.

The developers believe their proposal will be a better fit for the Channelside area, which has experienced a high-end residential boom in recent years.

"We're trying to build a community there," said David Scher, a partner with Golding in Clearwater. The proposed commercial segment would be anchored by a 36,000-square-foot neighborhood market operated by Kash n' Karry Food Stores Inc., along with 10,000 additional square feet of shops and up to 30,000 square feet of office space, he said.

[Lakelander]

Loft Living Begins In Channel District
By JANIS D. FROELICH jfroelich@tampatrib.com
Published: Aug 20, 2003

TAMPA - The pungency of fresh roof tar permeates the air, yet Marica McKeel and Bryan Guyton linger, showing off a project even Mayor Pam Iorio thought unlikely a year ago.
Theirs is the first Channel District residential complex to open in the Port of Tampa warehouse community. Although delayed two weeks by recent rains, Channelside 212 Lofts at 203 N. 12th St. is set to become home to its first residents next week.

Two of the 28 units - ranging from 1,100 to 2,500 square feet - remain available. The rest have been sold to urban pioneers, sharing a kinship with McKeel, an intern at RBK Architects, and her financial partner, Guyton.

``I offered no models,'' McKeel said. ``This project was based mostly on my word.''

Within days of the project being announced in February 2002, there was a waiting list. Units sold from $155,000 to $315,000.

``People who put down deposits then hung in there for more than a year,'' said Marie Preston, real estate agent with Preston & Farley. ``We only had one buyer drop out.''

Adama Development, formed by McKeel and Guyton, envisioned transforming the block of run-down warehouses into lofts with trendy touches. Glass-block interior walls, floor-to-ceiling black- framed windows, exposed steel, cedar siding, polished concrete floors and chrome appliances, including double- headed showers, will surround those living within walking distance of downtown.

McKeel first sought city help and money. When neither was forthcoming, ``we decided to go for it,'' she said. ``Something needed to be done to these neglected buildings.''

McKeel's independence is indicative of how the Channel District, a community of fewer than three dozen residents, has approached redevelopment.

Assistance has been promised from city hall, but private developers are presenting multimillion-dollar plans at Channel District neighborhood meetings without much government input.

Raising $3.2 million for the construction of Channelside 212 Lofts wasn't easy, McKeel said.

``It's about time Tampa had downtown housing,'' she said. ``We're supposed to be a big city.''

Guyton previously worked with McKeel to build a gas station. But finding urban loft development less boring, he said it's fascinating to watch other Channel District residential projects pick up as theirs takes off.

``The Channel District is only three blocks wide,'' Guyton said. ``How much can you do down here?''

The answer is: plenty.

Six other projects in various phases will bring 1,500 residences here. Those include: 950 Channelside and 1000 Channelside (formerly Washington Street Crossing), where a warehouse at Washington Street and Channelside Drive will be torn down next week; Synergy Properties' Seaport Town Centre at Channelside; The Meridian; and The Place at Channelside.

Mercury Advisors LLC plans to unveil its plans at 5:30 p.m. today at The Florida Aquarium for the largest project, Grand Central at Kennedy. A colorful, South Beach-type complex, it will have 496 units plus stores and restaurants.

And Victory Lofts had its groundbreaking Tuesday morning.

``This area is succeeding because of location, location, location,'' said Nick Pavonetti of Beck construction company, the builder of Victory's $28 million, 89-unit project.

Pavonetti said 29 units remain in Victory, ranging from $180,000 to $850,000. ``I'm trying to do some development in east Tampa, but it lacks what this area has: little crime and a high-income demographic,'' he said.

Iorio said before the groundbreaking that she admires the Channel District for not depending on government. ``I like the independence they share very much,'' she said. ``They know what they want here and will keep control of their neighborhood.''

Iorio said the Channel District will get upgraded streets, stormwater systems, utilities, infrastructure and signs.

Predicting the Channel District will become ``one of the most sought-after neighborhoods,'' Iorio said she wasn't impressed when she first toured the light industrial area before her election in March.

``My thoughts were, `Who would want to live here?' Now I think, `Who wouldn't want to live here?' '' she said.

[Jasonhouse]

The happenings in Channelside are getting quite encouraging. Afterall, the Channelside district isn't exactly large, geographically speaking. Channelside could be near build out within ten years. Once that happens, further development in and around the rest of DT would be inevitable because of the momentum.

[Jasonhouse]

Here's a rendering for the twin 30 story condos proposed by the Byrd Corp for DT Tampa.

Looks pretty nice to me. What I especially like is that they aren't in the overdone Mediterranean Revival style that is so en vogue around here these days.


http://www.sptimes.com/2003/08/20/images/large/E_1_channels_167009_0820.jpg

[Lakelander]

Damn, I like it. That's really something thats not seen in the Bay area. If everthing works out, they will be a great asset to downtown's skyline.

[sunshineboy]

it looks better than 55West. Well, maybe because we are not close to the ocean.

[John F]

I was just about to post this. Killer!

Here's the article that goes with Jason's rendering:

Port to negotiate condo deal
Tampa's mayor supports the $102-million project as a way to bring more people to live downtown.
By STEVE HUETTEL, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 20, 2003

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


TAMPA - Plans to build twin 30-story condominium towers beside the Channelside entertainment complex won an initial endorsement Tuesday from the public agency that oversees Tampa's port.

Tampa Port Authority commissioners agreed to negotiate a deal with developers of the project, called Downtown Channelside, on 3.5 acres owned by the agency.

Besides 250 condominiums, priced from $300,000 to $500,000, the project would include a commercial complex anchored by an urban Kash n' Karry supermarket. The big-city model features lots of ready-to-eat foods and parking decks over the store.

The $102-million development would be a shot in the arm for efforts to bring more people to live downtown, said Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio.

"This strikes me as a quality project," she said. "We want to encourage residential (housing) in Channelside, and we need amenities such as a grocery."

Not everyone was so enthusiastic.

Hillsborough County Commissioner Pat Frank said the developer's offer of nearly $10.3-million - or $66 per square foot - was low for waterfront property in the up-and-coming Channel District.

But offers from developers of Downtown Channelside and a competing apartment project, called Channelside Plaza and Portside Towers, were just $65,000 apart, said port director George Williamson.

"My sense is, if we're looking for a much higher figure, these opportunities won't be with us any more," he said.

The decision between the projects boiled down to whether the Channel District would be better off with condo owners or renters.

Owen Ewing of Paradise Development Group said the 350 apartments his company wanted to build would rent for about $1,500 a month and attract the urban pioneers needed to invigorate a downtown that goes dark after the workday ends.

"These are apartments that will bring young professionals to the downtown core," he said. "I don't believe luxury condos at $500,000 will bring young people. They can't afford it."

But Brooks Byrd of Byrd Corp., a Clearwater developer, said Downtown Channelside's condo owners would give the neighborhood more stability. The commercial phase with the grocery, scheduled to open in spring 2005, would spur other neighborhood development, he said.

"A town center . . . helps stimulate the growth of that district," Byrd said. "It will bring walk traffic and car traffic into Channelside at a time (when) it's not there now."

Downtown Channelside developers plan to build about 175 parking spaces over the Kash n' Karry and will let the Port Authority build more at its own cost. The agency would make money from parking revenues, Byrd said.

The port authority would need to replace 330 spaces on the site, which Channelside uses for parking on busy Friday and Saturday nights, Williamson said, and should build more for future growth at the entertainment complex.

Frank questioned whether developers were low-balling the port authority at $66 per square foot.

The 3.3-acre site of the Tampa Waterside Marriott fetched $74 per square foot in 1999. Local government agencies also paid bigger bucks for the city's Fort Brooke Park ($75) and a site across from the Tampa Convention Center ($193) for a trolley turnaround.

Owners of a former moving company site across from Channelside have offered to sell the land to the port for $63 a square foot, Frank said. "Certainly (the port's) waterfront property has to be worth more than that," she said.

Channel District resident Kim Markham raised another objection - how the condo towers would block views of the water for residents and visitors.

"That spot is the only spot that remains in the Channel District where you still have a view of the channel," she said. "They need to step back from the water."

Port authority officials will now try to hammer out a contract with Downtown Channelside developers to bring back to commissioners.

Tuesday's decision was a change of luck for Byrd Corp. The company had a deal with the city of Tampa to build a 25-story residential tower on part of downtown's Curtis Hixon Park, but former Mayor Dick Greco forgot to sign the contract before leaving office in April. Iorio doesn't plan to sign that deal, saying she wants a different kind of residential project near the Tampa Museum of Art. Iorio voted for Byrd's port project Tuesday.

- Steve Huettel can be reached at huettel@sptimes.com or 813 226-3384.

[Jasonhouse]

Pat Frank needs to get a clue. The reason the price for this property seems "underpriced" is because the properties that she cites were grossly OVERPRICED. The most important thing that has held back downtown's development for years is the very fact the government perpetually overpays for DT land, thus driving the market up to exhorbitant and unrealistic prices. I suspect that she's probably keeping an eye out for some of her constituents, who likely own some speculative property in downtown and aren't too happy to see prices coming back down to realistic, economically viable levels.

Also, giving this project to Byrd could be a real help if Iorio does indeed scuttle the Arts District condo that Byrd has already put a deposit down on. Perhaps this will prevent litigation with Byrd and ensure that everyone continues to get along, while Iorio figures out what the heck she wants to do with that land.



And this Kim Markham lady amazes me. There are what, a whopping 30-40 residents living in Channelside, and all of them know full well what's going on with development. And already we've got NIMBYs cropping up! HELLOOO LADY! YOU LIVE IN DOWNTOWN! If she wants to stare at a canal surrounded by grass and lowrise development, she should move to Apollo Beach or something.

[Lakelander]

^^ yeah, what the hell is she thinking. There's no attractive views of the channel from Channelside Drive. If she wants to see water, I'm pretty sure Byrd won't object if she buys a condo unit.

[Jasonhouse]

And now that I think about it, you can't see anything there anyways, because there is usually a massive cruise ship parked right there blocking the "view" anyways.

And besides, NOBODY lives across the street from there, so in reality it isn't ruining anyone's view of anything, other than a dirt parking lot.

And my third and final rebuttal to the NIMBY is this... Let's assume that there is a view there. How many residents enjoy that view from thier home? 5? 10? 30? Well, this new place is going to have 250 units, or roughly about 600 or so people. I personally have no problem at all "sacrificing" the view enjoyed by a few people (who don't even own the property, and are basically getting a free view), so that roughly 600 residents who payed for the view can enjoy it.

Like Lakelander said, if she wants a view, then she should put her money where her mouth is.

[John F]

...Or other things from the Port.

All the good views are on Bayshore...

[Jasonhouse]

DAMN! Big proposals in Tampa are starting to be a pretty common occurence... Here's yet another one, the biggest one yet (in terms of number of units) for the Channelside district if DT Tampa....





Housing, retail plan unveiled for downtown


A combo residential and commercial plan is the largest project for the Channel District so far.


By JAN WESNER CHILDS
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 21, 2003

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


TAMPA - The largest development to date for the Channel District could include two 14-story buildings with condominiums, offices, a supermarket and a drug store.

"A shopping center with people living above it" is how developer Ken Stoltenberg described it to the about 50 property owners, businessmen, developers, real estate agents and interested citizens gathered at the Florida Aquarium Wednesday night for a first look at the project.

Stoltenberg, who with a partner formed a corporation called Mercury Advisors to develop the site, unveiled architectural drawings for two buildings that would include at least 500 condominiums, about 125,000 square feet of retail space, about 70,000 square feet of office space and 1,400 parking spaces. The project is dubbed "Grand Central at Kennedy," and would take up most of a city block at the corner of Kennedy Boulevard and Meridian Avenue.

If built as planned, Stoltenberg thinks it could become a kind of Main Street for Channel District, a warehouse and shipping sector which up until recently had only a few residents. Early redevelopment efforts in the district were geared more toward tourists, with the aquarium and the Channelside shopping and entertainment plaza. The Channelside plaza, across from the aquarium, has struggled to find and keep tenants. Stoltenberg said his project would not face those same challenges because the shops would have a built-in clientele. "It'll be different because I'm going to have over 1,000 people (living) above it," he said.

A grocery store is at the top of the wish list for many of those who recently bought in or are considering a move to the Channel District. Stoltenberg has high hopes he can get one. He declined to name any prospective tenants or to speculate on when they might sign leases.

First, Stoltenberg has to close on the property, which he expects to do no later than this fall. Second, he'll need a rezoning to build higher than six stories. The project architect, Richard Zingale of Urban Studio Architects, said he envisions two buildings stair-stepping up from six stories at their lowest point to 14 stories at their highest. The first two floors would be commercial and office space, the middle floors would combine residential and parking, and the top floors would be all residential.
Stoltenberg said most of the units would sell for less than $300,000, and range from studios to three bedrooms. Some might be two stories. He hopes to start building by the middle of next year, and finish in 18 months. Zingale said the developers would open a sales center by the end of the year.

Many residents and prospective buyers who were at the meeting Wednesday liked the idea of a mixed-use development.
"I think it's fabulous," Mike Baltes, one of the first buyers of the nearby Channelside 212 Lofts, said. "It will be the first time I can walk to get my groceries."

Baltes paid $185,000 for his loft, and will occupy it in about a month. He's moving from South Tampa.
He's typical of the clientele Stoltenberg hopes to attract to his project - singles or small families, people who work downtown, who can't afford to pay several hundred thousand dollars for a home. "I envision this as a project for the "regular folks,"' Stoltenberg said.

[Lakelander]

Even though I somewhat agree with the district's height restriction, I want to see this project approved with both of the 14 story buildings allowed. BTW, when will the Kennedy viaduct be taken down?

[Jasonhouse]

And I'm hoping that us folks interested in the happenings in Tampa have figured out by now that I would like this to be a continuous thread, where we post all happenings about Tampa. Sort of like the old Philly threads in P&C.

[Jasonhouse]

Here's a new article and rendering for the latest Channelside proposal, the Grand Central at Kennedy... I'll try to get a better rendering out of the paper tomorrow when it comes out...



3rd Major Channel District Project To Add 496 Condos, Grocery


By JANIS D. FROELICH jfroelich@tampatrib.com
Published: Aug 22, 2003

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/8tampa_grand_central_at_kennedy_2.jpg


TAMPA - The evolving light industrial arm of downtown Tampa almost had an embarrassment of riches after a developer announced plans for the third mixed-use high- rise anchored by a grocery store.
Ken Stoltenberg's message this week to the Channel District Council was: ``Don't be scared: the more the merrier.''

But the suddenly crowded field has led another of the area's developers to reconfigure his plan.

``Two grocery stores in the Channel District would be plenty - three would be outrageous,'' said Doug Weber, president of Synergy Properties.

Weber planned grocery and drug stores for his Seaport Town Centre at Channelside, on Twiggs Street between Channelside Drive and Meridian Street.

But after learning of two other grocery store-anchored projects, Weber said Thursday that he has changed his plans.

Weber, who hopes to break ground early next year on Seaport Town Centre, said he will add more than the originally proposed 336 lofts, apartments and condos, now that he has erased the grocery store from his blueprints.

``It's really working better for us,'' Weber said. ``We'll have more units to sell and rent.'' Plus, Seaport Town Centre no longer plans to close 12th Street, necessary to accommodate grocery shoppers.

Grand Central at Kennedy, between Kennedy Boulevard and Madison Street, is the largest proposed Channel District project. Its two buildings will feature retail and office space with 496 condominiums.

Its anchor grocery store has not been named. Plans also call for a drugstore, community theater and art gallery.

And then there's Downtown Channelside, to be built next to the Channelside entertainment complex, with 250 condos. Kash n' Karry and an unnamed drugstore are slated to go there.

Of the half dozen residential complexes planned in the Channel District, only one is opposed by residents. Kim Markham, who edits the Channel District newsletter, said Downtown Channelside, twin 30-story towers as high as 300 feet to be built on land offered by the Tampa Port Authority, would block a magnificent view.

Markham also said that although the Channel District wants grocery stores, ``These particular concrete mountains would be placed at a congested dead end as far as traffic goes. It's public land better suited for a waterfront park residents could use.''

Markham said more than 11 developers have conferred with local residents, some amending plans to fit the neighborhood. But Byrd Corp., a Clearwater developer behind Downtown Channelside, did not.

Markham said the best location for a grocery store was Synergy's property. ``This is in the middle of the urban area so you could serve downtown, Harbour Island and Ybor City,'' Markham said.

[Jasonhouse]

And BTW, this is the project I mentioned the other day that will have two 14 story twin towers, as well as a large base that incorporates over 125,000sqft of retail and 70,000sqft of office space. This project is going to be BIG and DENSE.


And again, this Kim Markham lady is CLUELESS and needs to shut the hell up before she starts scaring away developers. I mean Jesus, the damn city is FINALLY starting to become a livable, vibrant and enjoyable city. Tampa is still very much in the mode where we should be taking what we can get. Beggars can't be choosers.

And besides, the location she's referring to would be a terrible location for a park, as users would have to cross a busy road, the trolley tracks, and would also have to deal with the racket from the Channelside complex, as well as the cruise ships. I'm sure that's much of the reason why both proposals for the site were highrises, because potential residents don't want to look out thier window at the side of a cruise ship being loaded and unloaded and all of the noise associated with them when they are in port.

[Jasonhouse]

Damn... And here's an article and rendering about another project that will be done in two phases... 1000 Channelside and 950 Channelside. This project replaces the former Washington St Crossing with a smaller, but more mixed-use project. I think that it looks great.


Proposed loft project redesigned to mixed-use


http://www.tampachanneldistrict.org/Events/Campbe1.jpg



The proposed 30-unit loft project of Washington Street Crossing in the Channel District is being renovated before it's even broken ground.

The property at Channelside Drive and Washington Street has been re-designed by Tampa developers Cruise View LLC to accommodate two new urban work-live mixed-use projects instead of the single residential project of Washington Street Crossing.

Kim Markham, editor of The Channel Newsletter and a member of The Tampa Channel District Council Inc., said the developers simply are responding to market demand.

"The original intent for redevelopment in the Channel District was to have a mixed-use projects," said Markham. "That is what is important to attracting people downtown and keeping them there.

Markham said the developers do not have to apply for rezoning and are not expected to request variances for the property.

Rey Ortega and Dennis Campbell, principals with Cruise View, were contacted regarding the design change, but at press time did not return phone calls.

The first of the two projects will be known as 1000 Channelside.

This development will include 10 residential loft units and five street-level retail and office condominiums, stated a letter from Cruise View to The Tampa Channel District Council. The 2-story loft units each will have private rooftop terraces and 22-foot ceilings. Each unit will face the water and have views of cruise ships as they arrive and depart at the Port of Tampa's new terminals, the letter stated. Construction of this project will start in the fall 2003 and be ready for occupancy summer of 2004.

The second project will be known as 950 Channelside and will be a mirror image in design with 14 residential lofts and seven commercial units.

Construction on 950 Channelside could start as early as spring 2004 and be ready for occupancy in early 2005, however a price increase of 7 percent to 10 percent should be expected for this project, the letter stated.

[Hisma]

good to see Tampa to continue to grow
the rate of new development there is incredible

[Jasonhouse]

BTW, the 89 unit, 7 story Victory Loft project officially broke ground on this Tuesday past.

Also, sitework is well underway at the One Bayshore site, and piles should be sunk within a month.

[bobdreamz]

I'm truly impressed with the amount of projects going on in Tampa...I can remember almost a year ago and nothing was going on!...those 30 story towers by the Byrd Co. look great in addition to all of the Channelside projects proposed.

[Lakelander]

Yeah, now its getting hard to keep up with all the projects being announced.

[John F]

A lot of proposals - not much construction yet...

YET

[Jasonhouse]

There's some construction...

One Bayshore is underway, Victory Lofts are now underway, The Grand at Harbour Island is wrapping up, Park Crest on Harbour Island is U/C, Channelside 212 is just finishing and the site for Seaport Town Center is being cleared.

Also, it appears that there is some kind of site work going on one of the last two lots on Harbour Island. Perhaps it is the site of the proposed 20 story condo/retail project? The developer did say that construction was expected to begin quite soon, as they already had several interested buyers from overflow of The Grand condo project.

[John F]

Jason, here's Markham's official POS website:
http://www.tampachanneldistrict.org/

[John F]

Victory Loft's official website:

http://www.victorylofts.com/indexb.html

[Jasonhouse]

That website does suck, because it is rarely updated it seems. It seems as if this lady spends most of her time bitching these days. What a miserable way to live life...

[John F]

Out of curiosity, Jason, what are the default schools for kids living downtown or on Harbor Island?

[Jasonhouse]

I have no idea. I know that they are building a new elementary school downtown. My guess is that Blake would be the highschool, and there are elementary and middle schools near Swann and S Boulevard that I bet handle those students.

[Lakelander]

^^where is this new downtown elementary school being built?

[Jasonhouse]

I really don't remember what block, but it will be somewhere on the northern side of things, near the new county courthouse if memory serves. Hell, for all I know it could be going into existing space somewhere. I really don't remember the details, but I do know for a fact that one is being built.

[EastSideHBG]

WOW, really exciting news!!! I can't wait to see Tampa for the first time soon. I am hoping to be down there in mid/late-September, and I will keep all of you posted for sure. :)

[Jasonhouse]

Dammit man, you had better not come around the 18th to the 23rd, because I will be in Chicago!

[EastSideHBG]

Dammit man, you had better not come around the 18th to the 23rd, because I will be in Chicago! LOL well I was planning on leaving Friday, Sept. 19. :( I can't go the weekend before b/c of a wedding. I guess I could go the weekend after, which would be the 26th. I am only able to go for 3 days (Friday, Saturday and leaving late on Sunday) because of my stupid f*cking job (I can't get any time off right now because we are so short staffed). Nothing is set in stone yet, and I am pretty flexible right now as far as dates go. But I have to do it over a weekend, so that does limit me somewhat.

[Jasonhouse]

Shit... The next weekend is shitty for me, because I will be working both Staurday and Sunday for the Bucs... Fvck, you might as well just come when it's best for you, and we'll just see what happens...:(

[EastSideHBG]

Shit... The next weekend is shitty for me, because I will be working both Staurday and Sunday for the Bucs... Fvck, you might as well just come when it's best for you, and we'll just see what happens...:(
Damn, that sucks. Oh well, there still may be a chance, you never know. If something else comes up I will have to move it forward, and that will put us into October already (wtf?!? Time is a' flyin', isn't it?).

And if I like it enough, I will be moving there. Key phrase, "if I like it enough." ;)

[Jasonhouse]

October is very nice here. Not so hot, less rain, still no snowbirds...

[John F]

I miss anything the last 2 weeks with Tampa P and C? I've only gotten brief glimpses of the construction of Bayshore One... and Stetson College of Law looks pretty impressive while under construction

[Jasonhouse]

Not much. The only thing of note has been recent announcements of rental properties in DT St Pete going condo, because the demand is so high.

That, and the usual NIMBY squawking in DT Clearwater about a hieght restriction of 150ft being "too much", so the DT set the limit at 120ft for several areas of DT, and is considering what to do with the rest of DT... Those old farts need to just get on with passing on!

[John F]

That's why downtown clearwater continues to suck -- it's a residential place and they will never get beyond that because the retirees dictate too much.

[Hisma]

thats one thing I hate about Florida, old people who have very retrogressive ways of thinking pull waay too much weight in this state. & the only reason they do is because so many of them live here, & they actually vote because they dont have much else to do. They always oppose change, which is much in contrast of the younger, minority crowd.

[Jasonhouse]

You mean younger, majority crowd.

Granted, folks under 35-40 are generally a silent, rather apathetic majority.

[smiley]

Ha ha, it finally works, thanks to Randy.

For your info, the elementary school will be two or three stories, can't remember which, on the former Channel 8 double lot about two blocks south of the old courthouse building. The lot has been cleared. I don't know if work has started yet.

Cheers. Smiley is in the house.

[smiley]

Don't forget this nugget - this or something like it is sure to be built:

http://www.sptimes.com/2003/07/25/photos/proposedhotel.gif
Tampa envisions new 400-unit hotel
An Indiana developer talks of putting an Embassy Suites hotel and parking garage downtown.
By MARK ALBRIGHT, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published July 25, 2003

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


TAMPA - An Indiana hotel developer is talking with city officials about building a 400-unit Embassy Suites hotel across Franklin Street from the Tampa Convention Center.

While rumors and speculative plans for everything from a Ritz Carlton to a Hilton have been floated in the emerging Channel District, city officials think this developer has the clout and financial backing to pull it off.

Whiteco Inc., a Merrillville, Ind., company, confirmed Thursday that it controlled the property and has plans for downtown Tampa. Whiteco owns hotels under 14 different brands, including a downtown convention center Marriott in Indianapolis. "This is a company with the track record to do it," said John Moors, director of the Tampa Convention Center. "We think this will be a great addition."

The Tampa hotel and its 280-space parking garage would be operated as an Embassy Suites by Hilton Hotels Corp., which owns the three-star hotel brand.

The site is currently a dirt parking lot just north of the trolley terminal between Florida Avenue and Franklin Street.

It's unclear what the developers will be asking from the city, if anything, because no site plan has been filed. There also may be questions about the developer's plans to build an upscale, limited-service hotel instead of a full-service Hilton convention hotel.

While hotel construction nationally is having a tough time getting financing because of flagging demand, Whiteco officials said they hope to break ground in March 2004.

The developer's name came out at a Thursday meeting of the Tampa Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau, which has been trying to fashion downtown Tampa into more of a convention destination. A study to determine whether the city's 12-year-old convention center should be expanded is expected to be completed next month. A missing ingredient in making the convention center meet its promise, tourist leaders have insisted, is more downtown hotels.

In 1998, completion of the 717-room Tampa Marriott Waterside as the downtown convention headquarters hotel increased the downtown room inventory to about 2,800. The Embassy Suites would push the room count to about 3,200, double what it was a decade ago.

"I think we've got room for 1,000 more," said Paul Catoe, president and chief executive of the bureau. "We're on the cusp of breaking through."

Other officials wanted to hear more details.

"It's good news - if the demand is there for another hotel," said Gene Gray, economic development director for Hillsborough County.

Demand remains an issue because Central Florida has not fully recovered from 9/11 and a weak economy. In fact, only part of the Tampa Bay tourist industry is having a bang-up summer. While beach hotels in Pinellas County and theme parks have been jammed with leisure visitors as they are every July, the crowds are expected to thin out in a few weeks as school starts.

"I'm hearing that our July is just off the chart," said Carole Ketterhagen, director of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Convention and Visitors Bureau. "But it's still mostly last-minute bookings. We're advertising heavily in markets where school doesn't resume so soon in hopes we can extend this into August."

Inland, however, business travel is coming back slowly, and the ups and downs of conventions and business meetings have made for a so-so summer at many hotels. The Free Will Baptist church convention that filled many downtown Tampa hotels this week will be replaced by a bigger group with a Gospel music convention this weekend. Yet hotels that fill their rooms mostly with business meetings and conferences consider July and August the doldrums.

"Our July has not been great," said Dick Bonning, president of Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel. "August doesn't look much better."
http://www.sptimes.com/2003/07/25/Business/Tampa_envisions_new_4.shtml

[smiley]

Ms. Markham did give us a nice little rundown (and notice there is a development listed by a MArkham (conflict of interest?))


Channelside 212 Lofts
North 12th. St
28 Loft Townhomes
Designed by
Marica McKeel Marie Preston
813-254-3111
www.channelsidelofts.com

Victory Lofts
12th St-Whiting
89 Loft_Condominiums w/secured Parking Garage Nick-Pavonetti,Beck_Group
nickpavonetti@beckgroup.com
or Casey Ellison 813-927-5220
www.victorylofts.com

The Meridian
N. 12th St-Whiting
35 Deco Moderne Lofts Designed by Steve Smith Mark Newkirk
NewkirkMark@yahoo.com or Truett_Gardner
TruettGardner@yahoo.com
www.meridianlofts.com

Zink
Meridian/Washington
22 Lofts Condominiums Tim Zink
TimZ@gte.net

1000_Channelside & 950 Channelside
Channelside/Washington
36 Loft Condominiums w/street level retail Dennis Campbell Managing_Partner Channelside_Partners_L.C.
727-424-4487
dcampbe5@tampabay.rr.com

The Place at Channelside
Channelside-12thStreet
220 Luxury_Condominiums &_Street-Level_Retail &_Art_Galleries_designed by Stephanie December Gaines Fida Sirdar,
727-492-7676
FSirdar@keydevelopers.com

Seaport Town Center
Twiggs-Meridian-12thSt
336 Rental Apartments Michael_DeMarcay
813-221-3344
mdemarcay@synergyproperties.com

Grand Central at Kennedy
Kennedy Meridian Madison
496 Affordable lofts and multi-story retail/commercial, grocery_store,restaurants, community_theater_art gallery_designed_by Richard_Zingale_and Mickey_Jacob Ken_Stoltenberg 813-864-4200
KS@mercury-advisors.com

Private Residences
210 N. 12th Street
7 Seven luxury lofts designed_by_Ken_Garcia and Will Weir Donald Ebbert
Donald@firfin.com

12th Street Townhomes
209_South_12th._Street
26 Fee_SimpleHomes Richard Markham
RMarkham@pol.net

Condominiums Channelside at Kennedy
90 Affordable_to_luxury condominiums_in_two towers_and_12000_sf commercial/retail designed by Walt Chancey Bill Ware
813-224-9624
warereal@aol.com

[Hisma]

heya smiley

[smiley]

I just want to point out that I have a list of buildings for the entire Bay Area, but I will not post it until Skyscrapers.com allows people to copy stuff off their page. I urge anyone who considers listing buildings to not do it until they change their greedy and assinine ways.

They steal your work and then hoard it.

[Jasonhouse]

Ha ha, it finally works, thanks to Randy.



No, I fixed it. Randy just alerted me to the problem. :)

[Jasonhouse]

Oh, please don't ever contribute a DAMN THING to SS.com!!!!

SSc will soon be starting city pages, and these will include comprehensive building lists. I'll let you know when I get off my sorry ass and create one for the Tampa metro.

[smiley]

I've got the list, I just see no reason to put it out there and let them steal it and claim credit.

[Jasonhouse]

Then don't post it.

[smiley]

Just read taht the Mcnulty Lofts, in St. PEte - the six story lofts thing over the parking garage, has started consturction. Can't confimr, but the more the merrier . . .

[smiley]

http://www.mcnultylofts.com/images/lifestyle_building.jpg

Here's the pic - something like 6 stories over a 7 story garage.

[Lakelander]

Smiley, its nice to see you here.

[smiley]

Many thanks. both forums have their good points and their bad, but I like the focus here. in the other everything just gets lost.

[John F]

I saw you register on here just after SSC went to crap (I haven't been on there since they made their perliminary changes)... I was hoping to see more of you over here.

Any new news on the 50 story mixed use building proposed in Downtown tampa? Or is that just a pipe dream still from this architect?

[Lakelander]

Its just a pipe dream.

[Jasonhouse]

SSC kinda depresses me as an Admin of it, and a heavy contributor to its conceptual formation. I think that it has sort of outgrown itself. It's sooo big, with sooo many forums that we just have little hope of ever being able to keep tabs on it all. I warned of this issue many months ago, when it was cropping up and was clearly scaring away many oldtimers from the once seperate forums, but the others in the staff just responded by proliferating the number of forums even more. Now it's quite a mess, though it definitely has a vibe all its own. It's like the Tokyo of highrise forums IMO. A great place to visit, but it takes a certain kind of person to want to live there.

It's really too bad, because we had a very nice Tampa crew there for a few months. There was something like 10 or so folks that would contribute or respond frequently to Tampa area threads. Oh well...:(

[smiley]

There are a number of city based gangs that have no ability to be civil whatsoever. I get tired of that. Its best point is the Intl stuff and that is what I will go there for.

[smiley]

Ah, the more things change - as everyone who read my comments from SSC knows, I predicted this would be 22-25 and would be built. Watch the old country lawyer screw with the rules. this will get done and the neighbors will have to eat it - after a little law business:

Tower Developer Puts Foot Down Over Which Yard Counts As Front
By IVAN J. HATHAWAY ihathaway@tampatrib.com
Published: Aug 24, 2003





Today's Mortgage Rates
Online Mortgage Calculators
Free Online Pre-approval
Apply Online



TAMPA - Front yards, corner yards and the question of which is which are creating tension between the city and a developer trying to build a Bayshore Boulevard condominium tower.
The issue may drop in the lap of the city's Architectural Review Commission in early October. And, thus far, the commission has been none too receptive about the project.

In one fashion or another, the wrangling has been going on since March, when land- use attorney John Grandoff III filed plans on behalf of developer Citivest for a 31-story tower to be built on the vacant corner of Bayshore Boulevard and DeSoto Avenue.

Since then, the city's Architectural Review Commission has twice recommended that the Tampa City Council not grant waivers that would allow construction of the building. The review board said the high-rise would not be in character with the historic Hyde Park neighborhood.

That pleased a contingent of residents who worried about seeing a building go up that some said would eclipse the sun.

As posturing continued, Grandoff responded with a formal request to have the Hyde Park historic district redrawn to exclude the tower site. Then he filed a revised plan reducing it to a 24-story building.

However, when the project went before the Tampa City Council in June, Grandoff withdrew the request for waivers. Then he withdrew the request to redraw the historic district boundaries.

With the lot already zoned multifamily residential, Grandoff now is seeking to build the tower without what are known as setback waivers. A setback is the distance between a property line and where the building begins. City codes say the tower's side setbacks only have to be 7 feet, but the front setback has to at least 25 feet.

The site plan shows the tower's footprint using DeSoto Avenue as the front yard. Grandoff said the developer is following the city's rules for a corner lot by using DeSoto's narrower street frontage for the front. The lot measures about 198 feet along DeSoto and 285 feet along Bayshore, he said. That makes Bayshore the corner yard.

But Bayshore should be the front yard, said Gloria Moreda, of the city's land-use coordination department. If her decision stands, the building would need waivers.

``There's a disagreement over my interpretation of the code,'' Moreda said, adding it is an issue for city attorneys or the architectural review board to resolve.

``We strongly disagree with that interpretation,'' Grandoff said. ``We're following the city's rules. Another [code] section says Bayshore may be used as the front yard if the owner files a request for it - which we're not about to do.''

Negotiations are continuing in an attempt to resolve the issue before the tower's design goes before the review commission, Grandoff said. That hearing was set for Sept. 10 but now will likely come up in October, review commission manager Del Acosta said.

That hearing will bring out the surrounding neighborhood once again, said Jeanne Holton Carufel, president of the Historic Hyde Park Neighborhood Association.

``It's not a matter of 31 stories or 24 stories,'' she said. ``We're open to looking at the plans, but there is total opposition to anything not within the guidelines for our historic neighborhood.''


Reporter Ivan Hathaway can be reached at (813) 835-2103.
http://news.tbo.com/news/MGA5QQ1LQJD.html

[Jasonhouse]

It's nice to hear that the nieghbors don't mind the 31 story tower afterall, just so long as they can figure out a way to built it without waivers. lol... The dumb bitch just stuck her foot in her mouth big time.

[smiley]

22 to 25 by 2005.

If (I think when) they get a permit, they will sell out fast.

[Jasonhouse]

I think that they should push again for 31, now that they are clearly going to have to build it without seeking any waivers. In fact, they may have to make it taller, now that it appears the floorplates will have to shrink.

[smiley]

I think they should just follow the law to the letter. When the ARC stops it again based just on height, they should sue them and waste the city's money. the city is screwed. They can't change the zoning now without getting crushed in court and the ARC has already said the only issue is height, but the zoinig allows the height. There is actually no decent argument and the city should work it out now.

The investor should hire Luke Lirot so that he can crush the city attorneys again.

[Lakelander]

Who is Luke Lirot, and what case did he beat the city?

[smiley]

He is Joe Redner's lawyer.

Every case.

[smiley]

Regardless of the complaints - it is obvious this thing will move forward. The MAyor wants it, the port director want it. etc . . .

Condo foes label proposal waste of Tampa waterfront
Business leaders say the Channel District plan is just what downtown needs. The Port Authority board now must decide.
By STEVE HUETTEL, Times Staff Writer
Published September 17, 2003

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


TAMPA - Depending on who's talking, twin condominium towers proposed for the Channel District are another waste of downtown waterfront or a boon to downtown's residential revival.

Residents of the one-time warehouse district and downtown business boosters squared off Tuesday before the Tampa Port Authority board, which will decide as soon as next month whether to sell 3.5 acres beside the Channelside entertainment complex to the project's developers.

Opponents predicted all kinds of bad consequences from the project called Downtown Channelside. The towers and an adjacent commercial complex would ruin the district's low-rise scale, create traffic jams and ruin views of the industrial port, they said.

Over the years, Tampa leaders have allowed most of the Hillsborough River and other downtown waterfront to become crowded with commercial buildings, said Kim Markham, a Channel District activist.

"We have made mistakes with our waterfront - it is overcommercialized," she said. "If you build concrete mountains there, Tampa will be stuck with them for 100 years or more."

But downtown business interests, including owners of Channelside, the Tampa Marriott Waterside hotel and the Tampa Downtown Partnership, lined up behind project.

Members of the development group said they've met with city officials, surrounding businesses and leaders of the Channel District Council to address their concerns. "Overall, we've had responsive support," said Edward Giunta, a partner in the development team headed by Byrd Corp. of Clearwater. "We will continue to listen."

Downtown Channelside would include two 30-story towers with 250 condominiums, priced from $300,000 to $500,000, and a commercial complex anchored by a Kash n' Karry supermarket with a parking deck on top.

The development group offered the port nearly $10.3-million for the land. The site now is used for valet parking for Channelside and dock space for the StarShip Dining Yacht.

Developers promoted the grocery as an important amenity to the growing Channel District. But residents said store customers would jam Channelside Drive during busy times, such as cruise ship calls and events at the nearby St. Pete Times Forum.

Markham and others say some developers have proposed building a grocery on sites that aren't on valuable waterfront property.

David Scher, another development partner, said Kash 'n Karry asked to be part of Downtown Channelside. The grocery needs customers from Harbour Island, just across the Beneficial Boulevard Bridge from the site, to survive, he said.

After comments from both sides, port commissioners declined to make statements. But port director George Williamson defended the project.

"If our job is to energize this area and bring people downtown, we have an opportunity here," he said.

http://www.sptimes.com/2003/09/17/Business/Condo_foes_label_prop.shtml

Residents Object To Condo Plan
By JANIS D. FROELICH jfroelich@tampatrib.com
Published: Sep 17, 2003




TAMPA - A small band of residents and business owners from the Channel District neighborhood who are opposed to the sale of 3 1/2 waterfront acres to a Clearwater developer complained Tuesday to the public agency that oversees Tampa's port.
The residents said they want a park or transportation hub there instead of a pair of 30-story condominium towers that will include a supermarket. The $102 million proposal calls for 250 condominiums priced from $300,000 to $500,000, plus a Kash n' Karry supermarket, a restaurant, parking levels and retail.

Still, Tampa Port Authority commissioners, including Mayor Pam Iorio, didn't seem swayed while listening to objections to the deal with Byrd Corp.

Kim Markham, a Channel District resident who edits the neighborhood newsletter, said the project, called Downtown Channelside, would block the last remaining view of the port along Channelside Drive.

In what she labeled as ``bad urban design,'' Markham said the development would prevent tourists riding the streetcar from seeing cruise ships.

Markham also doesn't want a grocery store in what she called the Channel District's ``malfunction junction.''

``On cruise ship days, traffic on Channelside Drive crawls due to taxis, limousines, buses, recreational vehicles, cars, sheriffs and tourists competing to get to the waterfront,'' she said.

Lois Greenbaum, whose family has run Seaboard Cold Storage, 110 S. 11th St., for 40 years, asked, ``Why a grocery store on the water?''

David Scher, with retail developer Stuart S. Golding and a member of Byrd's group, said Kash n' Karry asked to be next to the Channelside retail and entertainment complex.

``To become a financial success, a grocery store needs 10,000 people,'' Scher said. ``So Kash n' Karry feels it must have Harbour Island as part of its demographics.''

Scher said he was in the Channel District area during a recent cruise ship day and had no problem navigating. He said the design of Downtown Channelside's twin towers will fit its urban surroundings.

None of the Port Authority commissioners expressed a deviation from their original endorsement of Byrd's plans at last month's meeting.

Port Director George Williamson recalled the port's long history in trying to sell the land. And he told an audience of about 50 that kayak rentals and other public uses if a park were built there would pose a security problem by having leisure watercraft around ships.

Downtown Channelside developers will present plans for the condominium towers to the Channel District Council today at 5:30 p.m. at The Florida Aquarium.

http://tampatrib.com/businessnews/MGA1BVLQOKD.html

[Lakelander]

Seriously, what the hell is Kim Markham's problem with this site? Nobody gives a crap about seeing cruise ships dock at that location. If you really want to see ships and the waterfront from the trolley, you can still do that with the open view between the Aquarium and Channelside. I glad no one is taking her seriously. I wonder how many Channelside residents actually agree with Markham. Presently, there can't be more than about 20 people living in that area, since most residential projects haven't been completed yet.

[smiley]

Go back a page or two to where I have her list of Channelside projects. You will notice that one of the projects is by a Markham. She fear competition and losing control of her little council.

Community activists are always this way. Fortunately, she will lose this one, and probably the next one. The City will develop Channelside whether she likes it or not. It is virgin territory right in the middle of town. It is tax base waiting to be exploited. It will happen.

[John F]

...maybe she'll get a clue and get a better web site while she's at it. I can't believe how porrous the Channelside District Councel web page is

[Hisma]

yea, the channelside website looks like it was made by a 3rd grader with one of those free site-building tools.

[tonyff67]

QUOTE "The residents said they want a park or transportation hub there instead of a pair of 30-story condominium towers that will include a supermarket."

Holy Christ these people are dumb! I am no urban designer , but it seems to me a transportation hub, on the water front, is a freakin stupid idea. A bunch of buses and taxis piled up on the waterfront some how sounds appealling to these people??
If it's a park they want, then walk 200 yards west and there is a seven acre, underutilized park, sitting there, waiting.
By the way, poor design on the cities part. The Fort Brooke park has a playground for kids and not a water fountain in site. Good thing it's always cool here!!:nuts: :nuts: !!

[smiley]

Wow, that sounds kind of like my email:

I am simply writing to express support for the proposed condominium project at the Port Authority property in the Channelside district. It is clear that this land – now a parking lot – is prime development property. The proposed project fits in perfectly with the development all along the Channel and will help turn the area into a truly urban area. Moreover, in response to some of the criticism about the project regarding public space, there is a brand new waterfront park about two blocks away and a riverwalk so that, even with the project, the public will be able to access the waterfront.

[Jasonhouse]

When is the meeting about this project? Will the public be allowed to speak?

[John F]

I thought the public forum was what inspired this article Jason?

The Port Authority is supposed to issue a decision next month at earliest. Does Byrd Corp. have this on their web site (the project)???

[smiley]

I don't think they have a website.

As for websites - I am still looking for the Alagon with a rendering on a website. I have been unable to locate one. Toni Everett is selling. Someone with a scanner should emial her. They'll send you the info - they want to sell sell sell.

[Jasonhouse]

There is some sort of preliminary work going on at the Bellamy site. I noticed it Tuesday. It might just be a fancy sales board, but the equipment out there looked a little too big and pushing too much dirt around just to be putting up a sales sign.


And Tampa Bay One, oh where, oh where have you gone? :(