Cypress Creek Town Center

The Cypress Creek Town Center , the largest of the "Big 3" area malls under construction now has an anticipated opening in fall 2009 to spring 2010, according to their leasing office.

Shoppes of Wesley Chapel

Photo Update of the Shoppes of Wesley Chapel on BBD!

Ross Dress For Success at Market Square in New Tampa

The sign goes up for Ross Dress For Success in Market Square . The nearby CVS Pharmacy in Tampa Palms is supposed to open on April 27, 2008.

Retention Ponds on BBD in Wesley Chapel

I have had a few inquiries recently about why there is heavy equipment moving earth on BBD in Wesley Chapel, north of the Shoppes of Wesley Chapel (also under construction) and on the opposite side of the street. I stopped by today and inquired because I had no knowledge of any active projects at this Wiregrass location.
I am told that they are building retention ponds in preparation for the widening of BBD.

Cory Lake Isles' Documents Released

Documents for the maintenance/operational expenses of Cory Lake Isles in New Tampa were released today to a group of homeowners in Cory Lake Isles. A number of homeowners filed suit to get the copies to analyze how property owner association fees have been spent over the years.

*Source: St. Pete Times

Average Tampa Home Sale Prices for February 2008 by Area

The following average February, 2008 home sale prices for Tampa by area recently were released by the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors:

New Tampa $379,850
Pasco $206,487
Temple Terrace/USF $157,087
S. Tampa/Davis Islands $523,729
Carrollwood $246,114
Lutz/North West $380,732

*Note: All new home sales and private sales are not included.

Nohl Crest signals a likely end to 23 years of business

James Thorner of the St. Petersburg Times, today wrote that Nohl Crest Homes is “close to going out of business”. The semi-custom home builder has or has had presence in local communities such as Hunter’s Green, Seven Oaks, and Watergrass. Nohl Crest builds upscale homes and with the current housing/mortgage crunch there is less demand for homes in their price range. They have built some pretty homes over the years.

The Scoop on The Shops at Wiregrass and the Groundbreaking for the SR 56 Extension

Groundbreaking was held today for the extension of S.R. 56. Pasco County Commissioners Mulieri, Hildebrand, Mariano, and Schrader were at the event along with Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce reps and others. The event was kicked off by Jim Richardson, VP, Forest City Development. Richardson announced 42 new tenants for The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel who will be joining anchors JC Penney, Dillard’s, and Macy’s when the mall opens this fall:

365 Café Italiano, American Eagle Outfitters, Barnes & Noble, Bath & Body Works, The Body Shop, Brighton, Buckle, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Cache, Champs Sports, Charlotte Russe, Chico’s, Coach, Coldwater Creek, COSI, Fast Fix Jewelry, Fifth Third Bank, Finish Line, Forever XXI, GrillSmith, Gymboree, Head Quarters, Icing, J. Jill, Journeys, Kay Jewelers, Lane Bryant, LensCrafters, Marks & Morgan, Moe’s Southwest Grill, PacSun, Rack Room Shoes and Shades, Select Comfort, Sunglass Hut, Talbots, Tilly’s, U.S. Bank, Victoria’s Secret, The Walking Company, White House / Black Market, XLR8 and Zales.

The first phase of the extension of SR 56 from BBD to Mansfield is scheduled to be open when the new mall opens on October 30, and the extension to Meadow Pointe Blvd. in Wesley Chapel is scheduled to be completed within 18 months.

The picture above shows today’s groundbreaking with a giant ice cream scoop instead of the traditional golden shovels.

The Shops at Wiregrass (below).

Photo Update on The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel

The style of The Shops at Wiregrass now begins to show:

West Meadows Homes For Sale

There are currently 47 single family homes listed for sale in the community of West Meadows in New Tampa, with list prices ranging from $205,000 for a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home to $549,900. for for a 5 bedroom, 4 bathroom home with pool.

Our multiple listing system is reporting a total of five homes sold in West Meadows so far this year ranging in sold prices from $225,000 to $463,500. Sold Price/Sq. Ft. ranges are from $76.43 to $127.37.

Could Wesley Chapel Get TWO Hospitals?

Florida is one of over 35 states that require a “Certificate of Need” which is an approval process at the state level for the construction of new hospitals, with the intent of keeping healthcare costs down by reducing the overbuilding of hospitals.

Last June the University Community Hospital / Adventist Health System proposed Wesley Chapel hospital was granted a Certificate of Need while competing Baycare was denied its Certificate of Need. That denial has been contested and I believe we are supposed to hear the response this month.

Governor Crist’s 2008 budget (recommendation) called for the elimination of the Certificate of Need process. While I am not sure where that stands with the state legislature, if passed it may mean that the University Community Hospital / Adventist Health System hospital planned for Wiregrass AND competing Baycare could both build hospitals in Wesley Chapel.

Mayor Iorio to hold first Town Hall Meeting of 2008 in New Tampa

Mayor Pam Iorio will present the State of the City in New Tampa during her first town hall meeting of 2008 on Wednesday, March 19. The meeting will be held at Clarke Elementary School in the media center, located at 19002 Wood Sage Drive in the West Meadows subdivision of New Tampa from 6 to 8 p.m.

All town hall meetings are free and open to the public and are organized to bring city government closer to the people. City administrators and department representatives will be available to answer questions on a variety of topics. For additional information, please contact Shannon Edge, Neighborhood & Community Relations Director, at (813) 274-7835.

Work begins on new townhomes in Meadow Pointe

Recently work began on new townhomes in Meadow Pointe on Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wesley Chapel. Work on the clubhouse for Meadow Pointe IV seems to be moving at a snail's pace.

New Tampa Recreation Center Update

Work on The New Tampa Recreation Center continues and workers are in the process of installing the gymnastics/dance floor at this time. Heather Erickson, Supervisor in the Tampa Parks and Recreation Department suggests that families register to be on the “interest list” and to receive e-mail blasts: www.tampagov.net/gymanddance . Once there, click on CONTACT US, then click on “Place on the list”. For additional general information you can send an e-mail to: newtampaTGD@tampagov.net . No opening date has been set.

15th Annual Taste of New Tampa

This year the Taste of New Tampa will be held at the New Tampa Community Park on March 30, 2008. Advanced Tickets have a suggested donation of $10.00 for adults and may be purchased at the following locations:

Wingate Inn (813-971-7676) - 17301 Dona Michelle Drive next to Sherwin Williams and Kauffman Tire
The New Wesley Chapel Hampton Inn & Suites (813-973-2288) - 2740 Cypress Ridge Blvd. , Wesley Chapel
You Do the Dishes (813-975-1700) - 15357 Amberly Drive at the Shoppes at Amberly in Tampa Palms
Frame by Frame Gallery (813-977-4841) – 16035 Tampa Palms Blvd West at the Tampa Palms City Plaza next to Publix in Tampa Palms

Vendor registration ends on March 14th.

Commish to speak

Pasco County Commissioner Pat Mulieri (District 2) will speak at the Pasco Alliance of Community Associations on Thursday, March 13 at 7 p.m. in the second floor training room of Wesley Chapel Toyota (5300 Eagleston Blvd., Wesley Chapel, FL) For more info. call (813) 991-6003.

Bridgewater in Wesley Chapel

Last week I wrote about Bridgewater in Wesley Chapel possibly being "ground zero" for homes for sale that are in pre-foreclosure. Today in the Tampa Tribune, Kevin Wiatrowski writes a more in depth article about Bridgewater.

Groundbreaking for SR 56 Extension Rescheduled

The groundbreaking for the extension of S.R. 56 from BBD to Meadow Pointe Blvd. in Wesley Chapel has been delayed according to Pasco County Commissioner Pat Mulieri. The groundbreaking had been scheduled for March 12, 2008 and according to the "commish" it now should be on March 19, 2008. The good news is the contract for the extension has been signed and work is expected to begin by the first of April.

On another note, in the Wesley Chapel public roads workshop held on January 14, 2008 the county pledged to provide road construction updates on its website. To date nothing is showing up. After a brief e-mail to Commissioner Mulieri inquiring on the status of the road construction website updates, I was contacted by Deborah Bolduc of the Pasco Co. Engineering Services Deptartment. Ms. Bolduc advises that the county plans to have road project updates on the county's website before the end of the month.

New Home Builder Leaving Market

Lisa Buie of the St. Pete Times reports that new home builder Kimball Hill Homes will be leaving the Florida market. (Kimball Hill currently has local presence in Ashton Oaks of Wesley Chapel.) Buie added that the builder will complete homes currently under construction and honor warranties.

Average Home Sale Prices In Tampa For January 2008

The Greater Tampa Association of Realtors has released the following average home sale prices for Tampa by area for homes sold in January, 2008.

Note: All new home sales and private sales are not included.

Bridgewater—GROUND ZERO for Short Sale / Pre-foreclosure homes for sale in Wesley Chapel and New Tampa

Bridgewater is a Wesley Chapel community that experienced a lot of investor activity when it was developed a few years ago; today it may be “ground zero” for short sales / pre-foreclosures and bank owned single family homes for sale in the New Tampa / Wesley Chapel area.

More than half of the Bridgewater single family homes listed for sale in our MLS are vacant and I identified at least 58% of the 73 Bridgewater homes for sale as short sale / pre-foreclosure homes or bank owned homes. YIKES!

New Retail in Wesley Chapel

In the new shopping plaza in front of Target at BBD & County Line Rd., Floors to go, Smoothie King, Best Nails, and Anytime Fitness will be coming soon. Verizon Wireless is already open.