ABC's SuperNANNY in Meadow Pointe

Jo Frost, star of the ABC show Supernanny, is in Meadow Pointe, Wesley Chapel, FL, assisting a family with control issues of children. 37 year old Frost has said that she is unsure if she wants to have children of her own. I guess 18 years experience as a nanny can do that to you!

Frost is the author of: "Ask Supernanny: What every parent wants to know".

These days I am sure there are lots of parents who would love to get her advice and services.

Del Webb at Wiregrass on hold indefinitely

Today I received an e-mail from Del Webb regarding

WIREGRASS HOMES FOR SALE (<---NEW LINK):

"Dear Russ,

Del Webb at Wiregrass on hold indefinitely

The long anticipated Del Webb at Wiregrass has been placed on hold and no plans are in place to develop this community in the near future. There are, however, a number of exciting Del Webb communities throughout Florida that provide the legendary lifestyle that has made Del Webb the leader in active adult and resort-style living."

Additional Restaurants and Stores named for The Grove mall in Wesley Chapel

Kevin Wiatrowski reports that Fuddruckers, Uno Chicago Grill, Chili’s, Akaya Japanese Restaurant, Pizzeria Valdiano are among the restaurants coming to this new Wesley Chapel mall. Additionally, Verizon Wireless and Eyeglass World will be coming to The Grove, which will have Best Buy, Toy R Us and Dick’s Sporting Goods as its main tenants.

Construction of 16 Screen Cobb Theatres at The Grove in Wesley Chapel Begins

Wesley Chapel's first movie theater, located at The Grove is expected to open in April of 2008. This upscale theater will feature an upstairs restaurant, bar, and lounge. Cobb Theatres feature stadium seating with rocking seats and high backs and a "Frequent Moviegoer" program. Total seating at the Cobb Theatres in Wesley Chapel is reported to be 2,900.

New Tampa may get miniature golf

The Pebble Creek Golf Club in New Tampa will have a zoning hearing on October 9, 2007 on whether it will be able to build a miniature golf course. It will be located on about one acre of land and will have an estimated cost of $400,000. If approved, plans are for an opening next spring.

If you would like more information on this proposed miniature golf course in New Tampa, you can visit a blog: http://www.mgnewtampa.blogspot.com/ .

Boardwalk Frozen Custard in Wesley Chapel to Open

Boardwalk Frozen Custard on S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel, plans to open as soon as the inspections are complete.....hopefully by October 1, 2007. Their website is: http://www.boardwalkfc.com/ .

CVS Drugstore Construction at Market Square in Tampa Palms Begins

Construction of the CVS drugstore in Market Square has begun. A Regions Bank also will be built, with scheduled openings in 2008.

Epperson Ranch Update

The proposed 1,742 acre Epperson Ranch project by Lennar, to be located south of S.R. 52 (on Curley Road) will be the subject of two public hearings in the next three weeks. The first will be on September 25th at the West Pasco Government Center Board Room with the Pasco County Local Planning Agency. Also scheduled, is a public hearing with the Pasco County Board of Commissioners on October 9, 2007 at the Historic Pasco County Courthouse.

Tampa Palms Arts and Crafts Show

The Tampa Palms Women's Club will be having its annual Arts and Crafts show (Under the Palms) at City Plaza on October 20th and 21st, 2007.

New Tampa Business Expo

The New Tampa Business Expo will be held at the Holiday Inn Express across from Muvico this year. In addition to local businesses touting their services and products, food and beverage will be available. The annual Expo will be held on September 26, 2007 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Widening of I 75 from Fowler to S.R. 52

Widening of I - 75 from Fowler Avenue north to S.R. 52 will begin in segments as "funding becomes available". Included in the project plans are modifications to the interchanges at highway 54, and S.R. 52, and S.R. 56 in Pasco County. The Department of Transportation will be holding a public meeting on the I-75 expansion on Thursday at the activity center of the Victorious Life Church in Wesley Chapel (5:00 p.m.).

That's the good news. The possible bad news is that the funding for roads at the state level may be altered with the state budget. Those cuts not only might affect the schedule of the I-75 widening, but also the extension of S.R. 56 and the widening of S.R. 54 in Pasco County.

Tampa New Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Ratings

JD Power has named Centex Homes, Divosta Homes, Pulte Homes, and Standard Pacific Homes as the top four Tampa new home builders in their 2007 customer satisfaction survey. The complete list can be found at the following link.

August 2007 Home Sales for Tampa Palms and Meadow Pointe

This is a “snapshot” of home sales and the housing market for one community in New Tampa and one community in Wesley Chapel, FL.

Tampa Palms:

There were twelve single family homes reported sold in August, 2007 in Tampa Palms. Reported sales prices ranged from $259,000 to $1 million. The sales price per square ft. (heated & cooled) ranged from a low or $110.00 to a high of $227.00. Currently there are 87 single family homes listed for sale in Tampa Palms, with list prices from $234,990 to $2,500,000.

Meadow Pointe:

Twelve single family homes also were reported sold in Meadow Pointe in August. The reported sale prices ranged from $190,000. to $550,000, and the sales price per square ft. (heated & cooled) ranged from $110.00 to $155.00. Currently there are 176 single family homes listed for sale in Meadow Pointe with list prices from $175,000 to $525,000.

The single family home market continues to be a buyer's market, with a lot of inventory available.

Note: These numbers are extracted from home sales reported in the multiple listing service with the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors and do not reflect all new home sales or private sales.

I-75 N Lane Closure at BBD

The left lane on I-75 (Northbound) at Bruce B. Downs will be closed from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. from September 9th-14th.

Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, Babies R Us, and Bed, Bath, & Beyond to Open at The Grove

Today, the St. Petersburg Times reports that Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, Babies R Us, and Bed, Bath & Beyond will be opening at the new Wesley Chapel mall, The Grove in late October. The Times further reports that other stores will be opening at The Grove later this year and that Cobb Theatres will be opening in May of 2008.

Construction of the Shops at Wiregrass

Small sections of The Shops at Wiregrass, under construction in Wesley Chapel have begun to go vertical.

Country Walk Bazaar

Country Walk will be having a bazaar on Saturday, September 8, 2007. Country Walk is located just south of highway 54 on Meadow Pointe Boulevard

Pasco and Hillsborough County Boards to talk....

The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners wants some funding from Pasco County to pay for the widening of Bruce B. Downs from Pebble Creek to County Line Road (Hillsborough County), indicating that the 5,000 acre Wiregrass mall and residential community will significantly add to the daily trips on BBD. It sent a representative to the Pasco Board of County Commissioners’ meeting on July 17, 2007 with that message. That request fell on deaf ears.

Since then, the Hillsborough BOCC directed its staff to investigate the possibility of installing toll booths on Bruce B. Downs at the county border to help it with funding its widening. Staff is tentatively scheduled to report its findings to the Hillsborough BOCC on September 19, 2007. (I can’t wait to hear their report!) Update September 20, 2007--Note: This is now tentatively scheduled for October 3, 2007. Update: October 11, 2007---Rescheduled again! (I wonder why!)

In efforts to continue to ratchet up the pressure on Pasco to “cough up” some funding, Hillsborough also is seeking intervention from the state in ruling on the issue. From what I have read in the local papers, a determination should be made in the next couple of weeks.

Now, the two Boards have agreed to talk about the issue via a telephone conference perhaps as early as tomorrow.

I guess if all else fails, a good old fashioned rumble on County Line Road between the two boards may be in order.

New Tampa Nature Park

New Tampa will be getting a nature park and work could begin as quickly as this fall. Reported to be the largest nature park in Tampa, the park will be located on Dona Michelle Drive in New Tampa. This 232 acre nature park will eventually offer a nature center for exhibits, and restrooms. Phase I will be limited to a parking area, a paved trail, and an entrance road. Additionally, future plans call for it to be connected to Flatwoods Park, also in New Tampa.