Archive for month: February, 2015

Tampa Bay has always seemed perfect for a high-speed ferry line and Wednesday, the Hillsborough County Commission unanimously recommended forging ahead. The initial plan is to connect south Hillsborough County with commuters to MacDill Air Force Base. The idea is to start with that route in order to test demand. While the plan has won support from the business community, a WMNF News report Wednesday said there are concerns among environmentalists that the fragile ecology of the Bay might be threatened.… …read more

One of the most desirable tracts of vacant waterfront land in Tampa Bay appears to be moving toward development.

The developers of Georgetown, a 162-acre parcel off of South West Shore Boulevard, have filed plans with the city proposing changes to the canal improvement plans for the site.

Christian Tyler Properties, Avanti Properties, DeBartolo Development and Validus Group are the developers, having bought the land from Bank of America in 2009 for $30.5 million.

Georgetown is a 162-acre waterfront… …read more

Tired of snow? Home builders are.

An index tracking builders’ confidence in the market for new single-family homes fell 2 points in February to 55, according to the National Association of Home Builders. You can blame snow for the drop, not weaker fundamentals, according to NAHB.

“Overall, builder sentiment remains fairly solid, with this slight downturn largely attributable to the unusually high snow levels across much of the nation,” said NAHB Chairman Tom Woods, a home builder from Blue Springs,… …read more

Most indicators are pointing to a stronger economy in 2015, and that filters to the Tampa Bay area, according to Mekael Teshome, an economist for The PNC Financial Services Group.

The core economic drivers for the region — housing, consumer spending, tourism and in-migration — are very much tied to national trends. “With a pickup in economic growth nationwide, that’s a plus for Tampa Bay,” Teshome said.

Here’s a look at key indicators cited in a PNC market outlook for Tampa Bay.

Jobs. Tampa… …read more

Downtown Tampa’s newest apartment complex is under way.

Richman Group, based in Connecticut, has started construction on the Aurora, a five-story 351-unit apartment project at 124 S. Morgan St., just north of the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway.

Richman closed on the site — an assemblage of roughly 4 acres bordered by South Morgan Street to the west, East Whiting Street to the north and South Jefferson Street to the east — in July, paying $11 million for the dirt. The construction costs have been… …read more