Dick's Sporting Goods at The Grove in Wesley Chapel opens Friday.

Dick's Sporting Goods at The Grove will open on Friday at 9:00 a.m.. This is the second store to open at this new Wesley Chapel mall, joining Best Buy which opened last Friday. Website: www.dickssportinggoods.com .

Projected Opening Dates for New Restaurants in Wesley Chapel and New Tampa

Wesley Chapel:

The Café Fresco and Bakery (on north side of S.R. 56 in the Cypress View Square next to Sports + Field) is planning to open in early December, 2007.

Carrabba's Italian Grill (Shoppes of Meadow Pointe) is projecting a March, 2008 opening.

New Tampa:

Marco’s Pizza (near Bruster’s Ice Cream Shop at Live Oak) has announced a planned January, 2008 opening. Website: www.marcos.com

Interstate Road Improvements planned for Pasco County from the I-275/I-75 Apex North to S.R. 52

Plans to widen I-75 to six lanes also include major bridge improvements over County Road 54 in Wesley Chapel and separate exit ramps when traveling north from I-75 and I-275 to S.R. 56.
Don’t count on reduced commute times anytime soon. The road construction improvements aren’t expected to begin until 2009 and 2010. See following video link.

Wiregrass Hospital

University Community Hospital and Adventist Health System have now decided on building the new Wesley Chapel hospital on 50 acres in the future Wiregrass community. The 80 bed hospital received its certificate of need from the state earlier this year, but competing hospitals are challenging that decision. It looks like that issue could be resolved in March of 2008, giving them the green light to proceed. It's been reported that it will take three years to build the hospital.

The Wiregrass community has The Shops at Wiregrass under construction at this time. Additionally, it will be the home to the Pasco National Tennis Center. The question, I am asked over and over again is: "When will new homes be available in Wiregrass?" I don't know. Previously, Del Webb announced that its active adult community had been placed "on hold indefinitely".

I don't see any visible activity of ongoing construction work at Wiregrass other than the mall. Granted, I didn't do a fly over of the 5,000 acre project! This week I contacted the corporate offices of the builder for Wiregrass to inquire about the timeframe for the rest of the planned residential areas and my call was not returned.

Best Buy at The Grove in Wesley Chapel to Open Friday

I stopped by The Grove, one of the three Wesley Chapel Malls under construction today. A Best Buy employee informed me that they will open on Friday at 10:00 a.m. I also heard that Dick's Sporting Goods, also at The Grove, is planning to open next week. By the looks of the inside of Bed, Bath and Beyond, and Toys R Us I would anticipate at least a few more weeks before they open as the stores are not stocked yet. These stores are among a number of stores that will open in the first phase of The Grove.

Also, construction of The Shops at Wiregrass is moving along. They have a forest of metal up already. I hear they are projecting an opening in August, 2008.

Lastly, the third mall under construction in the Wesley Chapel area, The Cypress Creek Town Center is still in the earth moving stages.

Homeowners Protest in Live Oak Preserve in New Tampa

Today, frustrated homeowners protested outside the sales center for Engle Homes in Live Oak Preserve, located in New Tampa during its "grand opening". Additional information about the Live Oak Preserve homeowners' frustrations/issues can be found at the following: Link to article in the St. Petersburg Times on October 22, 2007.

Oopah! Acropolis Bar & Grill Opening in New Tampa

The public is invited to the grand opening of the Acropolis Bar and Grill tonight at 8:00 p.m. in New Tampa. The restaurant is located in the former Tampa Brickyard in the Oak Ramble Plaza on Bruce B. Downs. Website: www.acropolistaverna.com .

Hunter's Green Community Sale

Hunter's Green will be holding its community "Trash and Treasure Sale", Saturday, October 20, 2007 from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m.

New Tampa Arts Festival

The second annual New Tampa Arts Festival will be held on November 17 & 18, 2007 at the Palm Lake Office Complex in Tampa Palms (near the Bank of Tampa). Hosted by the New Tampa Community Council, the festival will open at 10:00 a.m.

Pasco National Tennis Center in Wesley Chapel

Another major step towards creating the Pasco National Tennis Center in Wesley Chapel was taken recently, when 24 acres of Wiregrass Ranch were donated. The $7.7 million tennis stadium will be paid from tourist tax dollars and will be run by Saddlebrook. Current plans are for 15 practice courts and a 5,000 seat stadium. There is a possibility that construction could begin within one year, after designs are finalized and bids received and awarded.

Hillsborough gets no funding from Pasco for widening of BBD

Yesterday, the state gave its approval for the 5,000 acre Wiregrass development in Wesley Chapel. Pasco County will be receiving $579 million from the Wiregrass development for road improvements. Hillsborough County was hoping to get intervention at the state level for $28 million from Pasco to widen Bruce B. Downs, just south of the Hillsborough/Pasco border. The state essentially ignored the issue and Hillsborough was left holding an empty tin cup.

Bruce B. Downs Toll DEAD!

The preposterous idea by Hillsborough County Commissioners to turn Bruce B. Downs (BBD) into a toll road with toll booths (<------link to previous posts) at the Hillsborough/Pasco border has been declared dead by Hillsborough County Attorney, Renee Lee. The St. Pete Times, quotes Lee: "It's not really a viable solution right now."

Right now? I wonder if the toll would only be collected southbound, or northbound too? How would wting o would be willing to pay a toll to drive on Bruce B. Downs?

Market Analysis for Lexington Oaks in Wesley Chapel

There are currently 76 single family homes listed for sale in the golf community of Lexington Oaks in Wesley Chapel. List prices range from $179,000. to $489,900. The List Price per Square Foot (heated & cooled) range from lows of $92.00 and $94.00 to a high of $164.00.

Four homes have sold in Lexington Oaks in the last 30 days. The Sales Price per square foot (heated & cooled) ranged from a low of $107.00 to a high of $120.00, and the reported sales prices ranged from $217,000. to $323,000.

Note: Information provided by the Multiple Listing System for the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors, and does not include all private sales.

Tampa Palms Arts and Crafts Show

The Tampa Palms Arts and Crafts show will be held this weekend at City Plaza!

Rattlesnake Festival in San Antonio

Nearby San Antonio, FL will be holding its annual Rattlesnake Festival on October 20th and 21st. The festival includes snake and reptile shows, an arts and crafts show, gopher races, and the rattlesnake run. Info: http://www.rattlesnakefestival.com/

Veterans Elementary School in Wesley Chapel

The new Veterans Elementary School in Wesley Chapel is being built for a capacity of 762 students with 83,868 net square feet. The school is expected to open in August, 2008 and is located on highway 54.

Pasco Alliance of Community Associations

The Pasco Alliance of Community Associations was formed recently. The group strives to assist neighborhoods in transition from developer control to resident/owner control. PACA meets monthly and has guest speakers. Additional information can be obtained from their website: www.mypaca.org .

Update on The Grove in Wesley Chapel

These are some pictures taken today of The Grove, in Wesley Chapel. The landscapers were busy, and palms, magnolias, and crepe myrtles have been planted. The opening of the first four stores (Bed Bath and Beyond, Toys R Us, Best Buy, and Dick's Sporting Goods) has been projected for the end of this month. Other stores at the Grove are expected to open next month, and the Cobb Theatres in April, 2008.

Mini-golf at Pebble Creek

Today the Hillsborough Commissioners voted 5-2 rejecting the proposed miniature golf course at Pebble Creek in New Tampa. Click here for VIDEO clip.

Meadow Pointe Garage Sale

Meadow Pointe, in Wesley Chapel will be holding its community garage sale on Saturday, October 13, 2007.

Wesley Chapel Hospital Status

It looks like the proposed Wesley Chapel hospital may be in ICU for a while. First, the S.R. 54 Wesley Chapel site chosen by University Community Hospital was rejected by the Pasco Board and then UCH's competitors filed suit when they weren't granted the CON (certificate of need) at the state level. The Pasco Times reports that next week UCH may be making a decision on an alternate Wesley Chapel site at BBD and S.R. 56 and that the legal issues could take more than a year to resolve.

Epperson Ranch Public Hearings Rescheduled

The public hearings at the Pasco Board of County Commissioners meeting, for the 1,700+ acre Epperson Ranch proposed Wesley Chapel community by Lennar have been rescheduled from tomorrow to December 4, 2007.

Boardwalk Frozen Custard

Boardwalk Frozen Custard on State Road 56 in Wesley Chapel is now open!

New French Bakery and Cafe in New Tampa

Cafe Parisien, located in the Cross Creek Plaza, at 10861 Cross Creek Blvd (near Morris Bridge Road) is now open. The French bakery and cafe opens at 6:00 a.m. daily and offers baked breads, croissants, and cakes, as well as mini pizzas, soups, gourmet coffees, teas, and Italian gelato. Website: http://www.cafeparisien-tampa.com/. Cheerful Manager, Marie is on hand to help you! Seating is available inside and outside.

Pumpkin Festival

2006 Corn Maze

Hunsader Farms in Bradenton, FL will have its annual Pumpkin Festival on October 19, 20, 21 and October 27, & 28, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. The festival has been held since 1992 and includes hayrides, scarecrows, craft booths, and a corn maze. Admission is $7.00 and parking is $4.00. Pumpkin Festival Link

Seven Oaks Garage Sale

The community of Seven Oaks in Wesley Chapel will be holding a garage sale on Saturday, October 6, 2007.

September 2007 Home Sales for Seven Oaks in Wesley Chapel, FL

Eleven homes sold in Seven Oaks in September. Prices ranged from a low of $225,000 for a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom home with 2083 sq. ft. (heated & cooled) and a two car garage, to a high of $620,000 for a 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom pool home with 3538 sq. ft (heated & cooled) and a 3 car garage. The sales price/square foot (heated & cooled) ranged from $108.00 to $175.00.*

The market continues to be slow compared to recent years, yet people are still buying homes. Why Some Homes Sell and Others Don't.

*Note: Source of data is from the Greater Tampa Association of Realtor’s multiple listing system, and data does not include all new home sales and private sales.