Fresh market at Wiregrass on Saturday!

Fresh market from 10-3

Don't forget the fresh market at The Shops at Wiregrass this Saturday, from 10-3, followed by Cruisin' at Wiregrass, an antique and classic car show from 3-9!

Cruisin' at Wiregrass from 3-9

I-275 northbound exit ramp to SR 56 construction alert

January, 2011

This New Tampa/Wesley Chapel road construction alert is from the Florida Department of Transportation:

I-275 traffic entering I-75 to be switched to different alignment Monday morning.

Northbound I-275 traffic entering northbound I-75 is scheduled to be switched to a new, temporary alignment between 9 p.m. Sunday (March 27) and 5 a.m. Monday (March 28).

This new alignment will put I-275 traffic on part of the ramp that will route traffic to State Road 56 when the project is finished. Traffic will be in this alignment for about six to eight weeks. Motorists should remain very alert as merging distance will be decreased during this time for both northbound I-75 and I-275 in the State Road 56 (Exit 275) interchange area.

State Road 54 widening update

From last evening's update meeting in Wesley Chapel, here's the status of the $27 million widening of SR 54 in a nutshell:

• Project from I-75 to Curley is 63% complete.
• Overall project which began in March of 2010 is 67% complete in 57% of the scheduled time.
• Lots of asphalt on this six lane east-west road, but some landscaping will make it more attractive (315 crepe myrtles).
• Officials are pleased about the progress of the project but refused to say that it would finish earlier than the originally scheduled January/February, 2012 completion date.

New neighbors in Country Walk



Photo courtesy of blog readers J and L of Country Walk



State Road 54 construction public workshop tomorrow

Don't forget the public workshop--an update of the SR/CR54 construction project and other projects in the area.



Location: Atonement Lutheran Church, 29617 SR 54, Wesley Chapel
Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011
Time: 5:30 to 7:30 P.M.

Tampa residents are reminded to vote!

Top Thai grand opening this week in New Tampa!

Top Thai will have its grand opening this Friday, March 25, 2011.  Located at 20685 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa FL 33647 (just south of County Line Rd.), the  restaurant will have hours from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM.  Additional info:  Lunch menu  Dinner Menu  Phone:  813.973.1533  Facebook Page

Moon over Wiregrass

Moon over Wiregrass Ranch

Taste of New Tampa 2011 tomorrow

Don't forget the 18th annual Taste of New Tampa on Sunday, March 20, 2011.  Where?  Wharton High School (20150 Bruce B. Downs) in New Tampa.  When?  From 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.  Wristbands:  $15.00.  Pre-sale locations and $2.00 coupon

Pasco may fine banks for noncompliance

Pasco County has put banks on notice that they have until April 1st to register their foreclosed properties or else.  The purpose of the registry is for county code enforcement officers to be able to contact someone in charge of the property when homes are in disrepair or present safety concerns.  Pasco may fine the banks up to $500 per day for failure to register.  Neighboring Hillsborough County has a similar ordinance with potential daily fines of up to $1,000 per day for noncompliance.

2010 US Census Data for Florida

This afternoon, the US Census Bureau released the 2010 census results for Florida!

"Data for Florida show that the five most populous incorporated places and their 2010 Census counts are Jacksonville, 821,784; Miami, 399,457; Tampa, 335,709; St. Petersburg, 244,769; and Orlando, 238,300. Jacksonville grew by 11.7 percent since the 2000 Census. Miami grew by 10.2 percent, Tampa grew by 10.6 percent, St. Petersburg decreased by 1.4 percent, and Orlando grew by 28.2 percent.

The largest county is Miami-Dade, with a population of 2,496,435. Its population grew by 10.8 percent since 2000. The other counties in the top five include Broward, with a population of 1,748,066 (increase of 7.7 percent); Palm Beach, 1,320,134 (increase of 16.7 percent); Hillsborough, 1,229,226 (increase of 23.1 percent); and Orange, 1,145,956 (increase of 27.8 percent)."

Additional info.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Oak Park

Oak Park

Groundbreaking ceremony announced for New Tampa fire station #22

Mayor Pam Iorio will be joined by business and community leaders for the Fire Station # 22 in New Tampa groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, March 14, 2011 at 2 p.m. at 10871 Cross Creek Boulevard.

The new fire station will be an 8,660 square foot facility with a center garage that will have three bays for apparatus equipment. The garage will be flanked by work and sleeping quarters. Sustainability features incorporated into the design of the station include high efficiency lighting and controls, solar-powered exterior lighting, energy-efficient HVAC system, solar-powered water heating, and use of recycled materials. Site sustainability elements include preservation of the onsite wetlands, use of Florida Friendly landscaping, and the incorporation of bioswales into the stormwater retention system to provide runoff water quality enhancement.

The $1.58 million project is funded with the federal stimulus American Reinvestment Recovery Act dollars. The contract has been awarded to Pillar Construction Group and anticipated completion date is the end of November 2011.

Improve the curb appeal of your home before putting it on the market

Spring is just around the corner and the time when many homeowners decide to put their homes on the market.  It is said that 49% of buying decisions are based on curb appeal!  The following video gives some easy tips on improving the curb appeal of your home which can reduce the time it is on the market and add value.  Additional info.

How To Improve Your Home's Curb Appeal on Howcast

Update meeting on the SR 54 widening project

The next meeting to update the public on the status of the SR 54 widening project in Wesley Chapel will be held on March 24, 2011 at the Atonement Church in Wesley Chapel from 5:30 to 7:30 PM.

Pasco County Commissioner Wilson to address PACA

Pasco’s newest county commissioner, Henry Wilson will discuss his thoughts and goals when he meets for the first time with the Pasco Alliance of Community Associations on Thursday, March 10.

The public is invited to attend the meeting. It begins at 7 p.m. at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, located at 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. (US 41), three miles north of SR 54.

Cash sales popular in 2011 New Tampa home sales

48% of all reported year to date home sales in New Tampa by our MLS were cash sales! 

What type of homes are selling to cash buyers in New Tampa?

Condos:  59%

Single Family Homes:  30%

Townhomes/Villas:  11%

What price range is selling to cash buyers in New Tampa?

Arbor Greene Market Analysis

Seven single family homes in Arbor Greene were reported sold in our local MLS year to date.  Sold prices ranged from $189,000. to $395,000. with an average sales price/sq. ft. of $89.00.  57% of the reported sales year to date were not distressed sales.  Year to date distressed sales were made up by:  Short Sales/Pre-foreclosures-29%, and REO/Foreclosure-14%.

Currently, the list prices of Arbor Greene single family homes for sale range from $179,000 to $499,000. and 31%  are distressed sales (Short Sales/Pre-foreclosures and REO/Foreclosures).

Grand Opening of Dollar Tree at Market Square

Dollar Tree is having its grand opening of its new store in New Tampa in Market Square.

New Tampa Nature Park

Lately my calls to the Tampa Parks and Recreation Department inquiring on the status of the construction of the New Tampa Nature Park have not been returned, so yesterday I decided to check things out.  It looks like work finally has begun on the new park on Dona Michelle Dr. in New Tampa.

Spring Concert Series announced for The Shops at Wiregrass

The Spring Concert Series will be held on Thursdays from 6:00 to 8:30 PM at The Shops at Wiregrass from March -May, 2011.

Monthly fresh market at The Shops at Wiregrass this Saturday!

This Saturday (March 5th, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM), the monthly Wesley Chapel fresh market held at The Shops at Wiregrass!  In previous months we saw vendors selling fresh produce, herbs and plants, artisan breads, pastas, seasonings, cupcakes, organic produce, handicrafts, and food vendors with pierogis, gumbos, etc.  The weather should be great.

Election day in Tampa: VOTE!

Polls open today at 7:00 in Tampa.