Steve Otto's Chili Cook-off returns to The Shops at Wiregrass

2009 Steve Otto Chili Cook-off at
The Shops at Wiregrass

The 23rd Annual Steve Otto Chili Cook-off returns to The Shops at Wiregrass on October 2, 2010 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Entertainment will be provided by Stormbringer.  The entry fee for professionals is $100.00 and $75.00 for amateurs.  For additional information and registration form CLICK HERE, Phone:  Kristen (813) 259-8224.

October 2, 2010 Cancellation Note:

From Steve Otto's newspaper column yesterday:

"Saturday's Steve Otto Chili Contest has been canceled. Like so many things these days it was money that did us in - more precisely, a lack of it. I feel bad, and not because I won't have an opportunity to eat 60 or 70 cups of the stuff.  We have managed to raise thousands of dollars for nearly two dozen nonprofit organizations and charities through the years. For that I want to thank all of you who came out year after year to support the event.  I even will miss the likes of Cowboy Chuck, Margarita Jack, the Red Hot Tomatoes and even the fabulous Sleazettes."

The Listing Presentation Video

Some real estate humor in some tough times.  While most of us don't live in million dollar homes, I think we all still can relate!

Store openings at The Shops at Wiregrass

This week Toys R Us Express and Portrait Innovations opened at The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel.

I also hear that Wet Seal will be coming, with an opening around November and that Brookstone will return for the holiday season.  I previously posted that Red Robin Gourmet Burgers is under construction and should be open for the holiday season.

Wesley Chapel District Park improvements approved

Wesley Chapel District Park

This week the Pasco County Board of Commissioners awarded a bid for the construction of a new concession, meeting and restroom facility at the Wesley Chapel District Park.

Blue skies return

Palm trees in New Tampa

Medical practice in Meadow Pointe to open

The new doctor's office in Meadow Pointe plans to open in the beginning of September and is located at 30000 County Line Road in Wesley Chapel.      (The new office is located in The Meadow Pointe Center, across from the Meadow Pointe II Club- house)   Phone:  (813) 907-8430

Market Square in New Tampa to fill final vacant retail space

Look for Dollar Tree to fill the final vacant retail space (next to B.J.'s Wholesale Club) at Market Square in New Tampa. 

Lexington Oaks market update

Per our local MLS,  three single family homes were sold in Lexington Oaks (by various MLS participants) in the past month.  The reported sold prices ranged from $150,000 for a four bedroom home to $330,000 for a 4 bedroom home with 3 full baths & 2.5 half baths, a bonus room 3 car garage & pool.  None of these was listed as a short sale in MLS.  Currently there are over 25 single family homes in Lexington Oaks listed for sale in our MLS.

National home sales for July plunged

The Wall Street Journal today reports that home resales dropped a whopping 27.2% nationwide in July. This was nearly double the 14.3% drop predicted by economists.You may recall my blog post in the beginning of August showing that single family home sales in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel plunged in July.  The real question right now is if this is a one month drop or more likely a trend that we will see continue for the remainder of the year.
Full link to article in the Wall Street Journal

Bella Vita Ristorante & Market

Announcement of new name for the former Circles New Tampa Bistro, located in the Pebble Creek Collection on BBD.

Cypress Creek Town Center update

(File photo from 2007)

The Tampa Tribune reports that the proposed 1.3 million sq. ft. Cypress Creek Town Center received another blow this week with a ruling by U.S. District Judge Royce Lambeth.  Lambeth ruled that the mall developer may keep the already constructed underground stormwater system and continue to work on the extension of C.R. 54.  The rest of the project however now will require a new development permit.  Originally this proposed mall, located at I-75 and C.R. 54 was to open around the same time as The Grove and The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel.  Full article

Tampa Palms

Tampa Palms is one of the many beautifully landscaped communities in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area.

New Tampa Nature Park to break ground

Permits for the New Tampa Nature Park are finally in place and Project Manager, David Flanagan of the Tampa Parks and Recreation Department says that construction may begin on the new park as soon as the end of September.  Phase I of the 120 +/- acre park (up to 232 acres including neighboring Water Department and SWFMD properties) will include a half mile, 12 ft. wide asphalt trail connecting the park to Flatwoods Park, an asphalt entrance drive, and parking for 24 cars and 2 buses.  Construction of this phase should take approximately 120 days, weather permitting.  Future plans call for the park to include a nature center for exhibits and restrooms.  Access to the new park will be via Dona Michelle Dr. just off of BBD in New Tampa.

Straight A's for New Tampa

All of New Tampa's elementary and middle schools received A ratings!  Read full article from today's paper about New Tampa being one of the top performing zip codes.

Wesley Chapel's Plato's Closet plans September opening

The Wesley Chapel Plato's Closet in The Shoppes at New Tampa (across from The Shops at Wiregrass) plans to start buying in the beginning of September.  Do you have some unwanted & slightly used brand name trendy clothing and want to earn some extra bucks?  Then learn more on their website.

New Tampa Palms Publix to reopen tomorrow

The Publix in Tampa Palms at City Plaza in New Tampa will reopen tomorrow at 8:00 a.m.  (16041 Tampa Palms Boulevard West).  Happy shopping!

Store Phone # (813) 972-2784

New Tampa Players to present musical this month

The New Tampa Players will present Carousel by Rodgers and Hammerstein, starting on August 20, 2010 at the University Area Community Center.  Additional info

More roadwork in Wesley Chapel

County Line Rd. in Meadow Pointe gets resurfaced.

Lately in Wesley Chapel we  face roadwork at almost every turn:    I-75, I-275, BBD, SR 54, Boyette Rd., SR 56, and CLR!

Local home sales plummet in July

The quantity of July, 2010 reported sales of single family homes (by various participants in our MLS) in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel took a dive from June, 2010 and from July, 2009*:

New Tampa (July, 2009)  87

New Tampa (June, 2010) 86

New Tampa (July, 2010)  50

Wesley Chapel (July, 2009)  65

Wesley Chapel (June, 2010) 74

Wesley Chapel (July, 2010) 51

The poor July sales contrast with June, 2010 sales which were up from May, 2010 and June, 2009.  There was an expectation that due to the federal tax credits (which originally were scheduled to expire on June 30, 2010), many home sales were going to be "pulled forward" to close before the end of June and that a drop in home sales likely would occur in July. 
*Data reported in MLS through 8/03/2010 deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Alert Tampa

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Nails at New Tampa

Signs go up at Nails at New Tampa next to hhgregg in Market Square.  Look for an August opening.

A tale of two roads and two counties

Now that SR 56 has been opened to Meadow Pointe Blvd. in Pasco County, it is likely that New Tampa residents will renew their campaign to have Hillsborough County's Kinnan Street connected to Pasco County's Mansfield Blvd. (which connects to SR 56). New Tampa residents living along Cross Creek Blvd. would love a shortcut to The Shops at Wiregrass mall and the I-75/I-275 apex.

All that physically has separated the two roads for years is around 25  paces of unpaved road and a barricade.  Then there is that sticky issue of Pasco not wanting additional through traffic on Mansfield, a two lane road not designed for heavier traffic coming from New Tampa.  Pasco's position has been that Hillsborough/Tampa instead should have designed a New Tampa connection to Pasco's Meadow Pointe Blvd. which is designed for heavier traffic.  Hillsborough has chosen to not make a connection to Meadow Pointe Blvd.  Hence, the "Mexican standoff" between the two counties over the connection and Kinnan Street's nickname, "the road to nowhere" because it dead ends at the county line.

 (Photo taken from Kinnan Street.  Pavement begins again on Mansfield on other side of chainlink fence.)

Pasco has denied allowing the Kinnan-Mansfield connection in the past but there have been reports that it might be willing to revisit the issue after the SR 56 extension to Meadow Pointe Blvd. is complete. 

Also expect opposition to opening this connection from Meadow Pointe residents in Pasco, especially those residing in Wrencrest who already have a frustrating experience turning onto Mansfield (without a traffic light), when parents are dropping off and picking up children at neighboring John Long Middle School and Wire- grass Ranch High School. 

Meanwhile......

(Photo taken from Mansfield Blvd in Pasco looking South towards Kinnan St. in Hillsborough)

Stay tuned.  Oh and let's not forget that this is not the only example of the two counties being at odds with one another over local roads.  Remember a few years ago when miffed Hillsborough County Commissioners wanted to collect a toll on Bruce B. Downs at the County line for southbound traffic coming from Pasco?  Perhaps Pasco now will consider a toll booth for northbound traffic coming from Hillsborough on Mansfield. 

Good Grief!


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Tampa Palms Publix to reopen this month

Shopping carts lined up outside the new Publix in Tampa Palms. 

The new and improved store is located in City Plaza on BBD and is scheduled to reopen at 8:00 a.m. on August 12th, 2010.  I hear that our own Wade Boggs will be on hand for the ribbon cutting.  Store phone number:  (813) 972-2784