No connection for Kinnan - Mansfield

Kinnan / Mansfield barricade

Laura Kinsler of The Tampa Tribune reports that the city of Tampa has responded to Pasco County regarding the Kinnan Street/Mansfield Blvd. connection.  (Pasco previously provided Tampa with a list of requirements to permit the connection.)

Kinsler reports: 

Julia Mandell, an assistant city attorney for Tampa, said that after meeting with representatives from MI Homes, which recently acquired the development rights for K-Bar, neither the city nor developer was "in a position to be responsive" to Pasco's requirements.

"After ongoing discussions between the parties, the city and developer may be revisiting the existing zoning and terms of the (annexation) agreement given the change or conditions and needs within the New Tampa area," Mandell wrote in a letter sent to Pasco officials.

"It's pretty much a dead issue for us," Pasco Chief Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein said.

New water restrictions begin next month affecting New Tampa & Wesley Chapel

Due to below average rainfall, Swiftmud will impose tighter water restrictions effective March 13th.  Key provisions of the restrictions are:

• Lawn watering will be reduced from 2 days a week to once a week on designated days based on your address
• Lawn watering will only be permitted between 6:00 PM and 8:00 AM for established lawns
• Home car washing will be limited to once a week
• Fountains will only be permitted to run no more than 4 hours a day
• Citations can be issued without previous warnings

For additional details on the Phase III water restrictions see this link from Swiftmud.

Ribbon cutting for New Tampa bridge over I-75 tomorrow

New Tampa Blvd. Bridge

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn will be at the ribbon cutting ceremony to open the $12.4 million New Tampa Boulevard Bridge on Wednesday at 10:30 AM. 

The bridge is a new I-75 overpass linking New Tampa and Commerce Park boulevards connecting Tampa Palms and West Meadows.

New connector roads for Wesley Chapel

Laura Kinsler of the Tampa Tribune recently reported that Pasco is planning new roads that would connect BBD to US 301.

Already on the books are plans for the extension of SR 56 and Chancey Blvd. to the east, but also under consideration are proposals to extend Meadow Pointe's Oldwoods Avenue and a four lane Beardsley Drive to US 301.

Also, the controversial  New Tampa,  Kinnan Street /  Wesley Chapel, Mansfield Blvd. connection remains under consideration and Pasco is waiting for a response from Tampa and K-Bar developers.  

Falls Twistee Treat in New Tampa

Photo of the Falls Twistee Treat going in behind the B. of A. building on BBD. in New Tampa.

Falls Twistee Treat in New Tampa

Florida housing market continues upswing

Some interesting information from the Florida Association of Realtors this week:

• Home Sales continue to rise, mortgage rates remain near historic lows and inventory of homes for sale is lower than its been in years
• January sales for existing homes was up 11.7 % compared to a year ago
• The statewide median sales price for single family homes in Florida was $145,000, up 12.4 % from the previous year.
•  This is the 13th month in a row that statewide median sales prices for both singlefamily homes and for townhouse-condo units have increased year-over-year, according to Florida Realtors’ data.

Search homes for sale in Tampa Bay

Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch Virtual Tour

Here's a virtual tour of the new PHCC Porter Campus at Wiregrass currently under construction at Mansfield Blvd. & SR 56 in Wesley Chapel:

You gotta love it!