Best Buy in New Tampa

Work continues on the new Best Buy in New Tampa, next to Michaels in Highwoods Preserve on Bruce B. Downs. The store plans to open the weekend of April 24, 2010.

Super Buffet opens in Wesley Chapel on SR 54

The Super Buffet opened yesterday at the former Johnny Carinos on SR 54 (next to Applebees) in Wesley Chapel. The new restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and opens daily at 11:00 a.m. The dining in Mon-Fri. lunch buffet price is $7.69 and dinner is $13.99, with brunch on weekends from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at $9.99. Additionally, you can order a la carte and they offer take out. Additional info: Address: 28444 SR 54, Wesley Chapel. Phone: (813) 907-1168.

Federal Tax Credit for Homebuyers Expiring in April

The federal tax credit for qualifying first time homebuyers of up to $8,000 requires homebuyers to have a valid home purchase contract in place by April 30, 2010 and close on the home no later than June 30, 2010. (See video below.)

Meadow Pointe Community Fair Today!

The Meadow Pointe Community Fair will be held today.  It looks like we'll have perfect weather for a fair!

Home Selling Tips

Spring has arrived and it's a time when most homeowners who plan to sell, put their homes on the market.  Now is the time to start preparing your home to put on the market. See the video below for some pointers and also the links provided under the video.



Simple Tips For Staging Your Home

Flowers Add Curb Appeal

Should You Paint?

Preparing Your Home For Sale

Public meeting on widening of Bruce B. Downs in New Tampa announced

Hillsborough County and the Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization will hold a public meeting to provide information and discuss Segment A of the Bruce B. Downs Boulevard widening project from Bearss Avenue to Palm Springs Boulevard in the New Tampa area. The purpose of the meeting is to receive input from citizens as to whether this segment should be reconstructed as a six-lane roadway, per the recently adopted Long Range Transportation Plan, in order to preserve right-of-way for future rapid transit, or as an eight-lane roadway as currently designed.  Construction is estimated to start on the designed eight lanes in the summer of 2011 and should be completed by spring of 2014. The projected cost of the project is approximately $55 million.

County and MPO staff, local agencies and consultants will be at the meeting to discuss the details of the project and future transit plans and to answer any questions residents may have.

Date: Thursday, April 1
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: Tampa Palms Elementary School , 6100 Tampa Palms Blvd.
For additional information, please call Steve Valdez, Public Works Department at 272-5275 or visit the MPO website at: http://www.hillsboroughmpo.org/

Mark your calendars.....

for two major events that will be held in our area in April:

On April 10 & 11, 2010 the Celebration Of The Arts festival will be held at The Shops at Wiregrass and will include entertainment.

On April 18, 2010  from 1:00  to 4:00 pm. the seventeenth annual Taste of New Tampa will be held at Freedom High School,  17410 Commerce Park Blvd., Tampa, FL 33647

Pasco County seeking public input on 2010-2011 budget

Pasco County is facing a possible $14.9 million budget reduction and is holding three community meetings throughout the county to seek public input.  The meeting scheduled for our area will be on Saturday, May 15, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wesley Chapel High School Auditorium, 30651 Wells Road, Wesley Chapel.  Additionally, the county will be posting an online suvey to the county website on April 1, 2010.

Meadow Pointe Community Fair and Fitness Center Grand Opening

Meadow Pointe will have its annual community fair and the grand opening of its new fitness center on Saturday, March 27th from 10:00 a.m.to 2:00 p.m.at the new Meadow Pointe I fitness center & clubhouse.  The new fitness center & clubhouse offer an 800 square foot indoor racquetball court, an 800 square foot exercise room, a meeting room and office.

The free event will feature the services and products of Meadow Pointe residents along with local vendors.  Fun for the children who come to the fair with their parents will include a bounce house, face painting, pony rides, petting zoo, rock climbing wall and other activities.  Snacks and beverages will be available for purchase at the event.

Wesley Chapel public roads construction meeting announced

In order to better inform the residents about what to expect during the major construction project of the widening of SR 54, a public information meeting will be held with County staff, Florida Department of Transportation staff and Pepper Contracting Services, Inc. on Thursday, April 8, 2010, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the Atonement Lutheran Church, 29617 S.R. 54, Wesley Chapel, FL, 33543. Information will be provided about the project work effort, construction schedule, and MOT (management of traffic), as well as contact information during construction and how to receive periodic project updates.

In addition to the S.R./C.R. 54 project, staff will discuss the Meadow Pointe Resurfacing project, S.R. 581 improvements, S.R. 56 construction, and I-75 improvements. This will be an excellent opportunity for residents to get the information they need regarding major roadway construction projects in Wesley Chapel.

Tampa Palms Womens Club to hold community yard and bake sale

The Tampa Palms Women's Club will hold a community yard and bake sale from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on March 27 at Compton Park, (16101 Compton Drive, Tampa, FL, 33647).  Additional info to reserve a table, etc.:  http://www.tampapalmswomensclub.com/ or contact Elvea Kelly at (813) 615-9600.

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Platos Closet coming to Wesley Chapel

Sign announcing Plato's Closet coming to The Shoppes at New Tampa (BBD & SR 56) in Wesley Chapel:

Bid awarded for widening SR 54 in Wesley Chapel

This week Pepper Contracting Services was awarded a $28 million bid to widen SR 54 from I-75 to Curley road. The road will be widened to six lanes and construction time is estimated to be 21 months. Considering the miserable history of missing targeted completion dates for the extension of SR 56, I wouldn't count on 21 months for completion!

A public roads workshop similar to what was held back in January of 2008 is overdue for Wesley Chapel.  That workshop included representatives from Pasco County engineering services, planners, county commissioners, and FDOT representatives.  Considering the massive road projects underway in our area:  (New off ramps for I-75 & I-275 at SR 56, bridgework on I75 at SR 54, the widening of BBD, the planned mega-intersection at SR 56 & BBD, the cursed extension of SR 56, and now the widening of SR 54) the county should schedule a workshop ASAP!  I suggested such a workshop to Commissioner Mulieri last December and she referred it to staff.  Hopefully they are working on coordinating another public workshop for us.

Mayor to hold town hall meeting in New Tampa

Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio will hold a town hall meeting in New Tampa on March 31, 2010.  The meeting will be held at the Hunter's Green Elementary School, 9202 Highland Oak Drive, Tampa, FL, 33647 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Tampa Palms Real Estate Market Update

Ten single family Tampa Palms homes have been reported sold so far this year by our local MLS. Sold prices ranged from a low of $235,000 for a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom home built in 1987 to a high of $697,600 for a 5 bedroom, 4 bathroom, pool & spa home on conservation built in 2007.

Currently, there are over 25 single family homes for sale in Tampa Palms with asking prices ranging from $166,000 to $3,250,000.

Tips from Bernice Ross for those possibly facing foreclosure

Pagellis Italiano at Wiregrass

Pagelli's Italiano which should be opening soon at The Shops at Wiregrass is holding a job fair at the mall on March 5th and 6th.  Applicants should go to the former Shades location at 190 Paseo Dr. (next to Dillard's)between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.  You will have to go in person and they have no phones in place.

From the posters (see photo) it looks like the restaurant will be offering live entertainment when it opens.  No opening date has been provided.

The Gatherings returns to The Shops at Wiregrass

Live entertainment on Thursdays from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at The Shops at Wiregrass resumes with The Gatherings at Wiregrass starting March 4, 2010.

Pasco administrators to speak at PACA in March

Chief Assistant County Administrator, Michele Baker will speak on county issues at the March 11, meeting of the Pasco Alliance of Community Associations (PACA).

Additionally, Ms. Deborah Bolduc, Program Administrator for Engineering Services, will speak on road issues. This issue is very timely due to the massive road construction taking place throughout Pasco county. So all of you will have the perfect opportunity to get answers to questions about the status and dates for roadwork on SR 54, SR 56, Bruce B. Downs, etc.

The meeting, open to the public as well as to PACA members, begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 11, at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center located at 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. (US 41), three miles north of SR 54.