Excavation for the New Tampa Skate Park Begins

Work has started on New Tampa's Skate Park located at the New Tampa Recreation Center. The skate park is expected to be completed in late April of next year. Photo below is an artist rendering of the park upon completion:

The Shops At Wiregrass Slideshow

Don't forget the PREVIEW opening of Barnes & Noble on October 29th from 6:00-9:00 p.m.! Also, The Shops at Wiregrass marks its official grand opening on Thursday, October 30 at 10:00 a.m. when county officials and developers cut the ribbon and release hundreds of butterflies to celebrate the change that's come to the area with the opening of the center.

Video of The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel

This video of The Shops at Wiregrass, located at SR 56 and Bruce B. Downs was prepared today! The new Wesley Chapel mall is scheduled to open on October 30th and the three main department stores: JC Penney, Macy's, and Dillard's are already open. The Barnes & Noble bookstore that we anxiously have been waiting for is having its preview party on October 29th from 6:00-9:00 p.m.

Enjoy the video and happy shopping at The Shops at Wiregrass!! (Music is provided in the video so you may wish to adjust your speakers.)

Market Update for Country Walk in Wesley Chapel

According to information reported in our local MLS, five single family homes were sold in Country Walk (Wesley Chapel) in the past month. Sold prices ranged from $147,500. to $397,214.

There are currently over 20 Country Walk single family homes listed for sale in our multiple listing service with prices ranging in list prices up to $425,000.

Bruce B. Downs Lane Closures Announced

NEW TAMPA -- The left lane will be closed in both directions of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard under I-75 from 9 p.m. Sunday (October 26) to 5 a.m. Monday (October 27). One lane will also be closed on northbound (eastbound) Bruce B. Downs Blvd. under I-75 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday (October 29 and 30) nights.

2008 Primary Mortgage Origination Study

J.D. Power and Associates has released its 2008 customer satisfaction survey results for mortgage originators and Suntrust Mortgage ranks the highest. If you are thinking about purchasing a home, choosing a lender based strictly on the lowest rate may not be in your best interest.

A Friends & Family Preview Party At Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble will be having a Friends and Family Preview Party at The Shops at Wiregrass on October 29th from 6-9:00 p.m. The Special Storytime guest reader will be School Superintendent Heather Fiorentino at 6:00 p.m. with a special appearance by the Cookie Mouse.

Entertainment will be provided by the Wiregrass Ranch High School Saxophone Quartet from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Address: 28152 Paseo Drive, Suite 100, Wesley Chapel, FL 33543. Tel. (813) 907-7739.

*A portion of the evening's proceeds will benefit the Pasco County School Board

Another Local Home Builder Throws In The Towel

James Thorner of the St. Pete Times, reports today that local home builder Tripp Trademark Homes can "no longer afford to sell houses at a loss" and will be exiting the industry. The list of new home builders in our local area who have either filed for bankruptcy or have chosen to leave the business continues to grow. We can only wonder which builder will be next, and there likely will be more.

A scene from today in Wesley Chapel

Today, while checking on a home in The Homesteads of Saddlewood in Wesley Chapel, that I have under contract and scheduled for a closing this week, I came across these three nice ladies who allowed me to snap a photo for this blog. Happy trails to you ladies!

Dillards Opens at The Shops At Wiregrass

Shoppers at Dillard's in The Shops At Wiregrass which opened today. Macy's opens tomorrow and the Mall opens on October 30th.

Check back next week for a NEW slide show of The Shops At Wiregrass.

The Silver Ring -- A little bit of Cuba in Wesley Chapel

The Silver Ring Cafe, an institution of Ybor City originally opened in 1947 and sadly closed in May of this year. Ybor's loss is Wesley Chapel's gain however. The Silver Ring recently opened in Wesley Chapel, now offering us their quality Cuban foods such as their famous Cuban sandwich, black beans and rice, Spanish bean soup and Cuban coffee.

Tim Booth (pictured on the left), the owner of the Silver Ring Cafe in Ybor since 1985 and the owner of the recently opened Wesley Chapel Silver Ring says that in the near future meals will be offered such as Yellow Rice and Chicken, Ropa Vieja, Boliche, etc. as well as a catering menu. BUEN PROVECHO!

Additional information: Address: 27427 SR 54 (Wesley Chapel Blvd.), in the Pinebrook Plaza next to Remington's Steakhouse. Phone: (813) 388-6876 Website: http://www.silverringybor.com/ Note: The website is not yet updated to reflect the new location in Wesley Chapel.

hhgregg at Market Square in New Tampa

The future hhgregg appliance store at Market Square in New Tampa. I have no opening date at this time.

PACA Announces November Meeting

A Pasco Alliance of Community Associations (PACA) program presentation on “Foreclosures” is scheduled for Thursday, November 13, 2008, at 7:00 pm.

PACA holds monthly meetings at 7:00 pm in the conference room at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, (5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes FL 34639) PACA website

Beware of U Turns at BBD & SR 56

This week I have seen the police pulling over people making illegal U turns when traveling north on BBD at SR 56, to proceed south on BBD!

This intersection is a bit of a mess right now until they open up the SR 56 extension. Update on October 21, 2008. They opened the extension of SR 56 to The Shops at Wiregrass today, so navigation at this intersection is a bit easier. The No U Turn sign remained at BBD and SR 56.

It should be interesting to see how this intersection works when The Shops at Wiregrass opens on October 30th.

SR 56 Extension

Progress has been made on the first small segment of the extension of SR 56 to The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel. Asphalt is down!

Farther down this future extension at Mansfield Blvd reflects less progress, with Mansfield Blvd. paved, and SR 56 still dirt:

For the last update on the most recent schedule I have received for completion of the different segments: CLICK HERE

Early Voting

Early voting starts today!

Local area early voting locations are:

New Tampa:

10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

New Tampa Regional Library

10006 Cross Creek Blvd.

Tampa, FL 33647

Wesley Chapel:

Monday-Fridays 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Village Market of Wesley Chapel

5325 Village Market

Wesley Chapel, FL 33543

Note: October 29--Effective today and through Saturday, early voting hours in Hillsborough and Pasco Counties will be from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Oscar Mayer Weinermobile in Wesley Chapel

Seen today at the Shoppes at New Tampa at Publix: The Oscar Mayer Weinermobile.

SR 56 Entrance to The Shoppes at New Tampa BLOCKED

This afternoon I noticed that access to The Shoppes at New Tampa at SR 56 was blocked. This forced all east bound traffic on SR 56 and southbound traffic on Bruce B. Downs seeking access to the shopping center to get into the left lane of Bruce B. Downs south of SR 56. Note: traffic backs up in the left lane of BBD south of SR 56. I think this "detour" will be in place for only a few days, but it already was presenting problems and it wasn't rush hour.

Barnes and Noble in Wesley Chapel

The sign's up! According to the Barnes and Noble's Community Relations Manager, when the bookstore at The Shops at Wiregrass opens the end of this month, it will feature a Barnes and Noble Cafe that will serve Starbucks coffee, Cheesecake Factory cheesecake, soups, sandwiches and pastries.

Additionally, the Music & Movies Department will feature the Reddot listening station where customers can listen to 30 second clips of music tracks prior to purchasing the CD.

September 2008 Home Sales in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel

NEW TAMPA:
Our local MLS is reporting 40 single family homes sold in New Tampa in the month of September. Sold prices ranged from a low of $ 126,000. for a home in Cross Creek to a high of $1,550,000. for a six bedroom, seven bathroom home in Hunter's Green

There are currently almost 550 single family homes listed for sale in New Tampa with prices ranging up to $2,999,000.

WESLEY CHAPEL:

Similarly, MLS reports 52 single family homes sold in Wesley Chapel in September, with sold prices ranging from $35,000 for a "handyman's special" to a high of $370,000 for a 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom, pool home in Seven Oaks.

MLS shows almost 700 single family homes listed for sale in Wesley Chapel ranging up to $2,350,000.