Building gets taller, retail added as developer revamps multifamily proposed near Oxford Exchange

/in /by

A South Florida developer who wants to build near Oxford Exchange has proposed a taller, mixed-use building for the site in response to requests from the surrounding neighborhood and city planners.

Altman Development Corp., based in Boca Raton, submitted a new site plan and updated documents to the city last week that now show Altis Grand Central as a nine-story building with 274 residential units and 2,614 square feet of specialty retail — two 1,300-square-foot spaces that front Grand Central… …read more

As urban land gets scarce, residential projects get smaller — and some get taller

/in /by

Several residential projects proposed around Tampa in recent days illustrate the scarcity of urban land.

The owner of prime property in South Tampa is looking to rezone it to make way for just 15 multifamily units. Townhouses proposed in Westshore will be up to 3,000 square feet — but stacked over a garage in three or four stories.

Here are some of the mostly recently proposed projects in urban Tampa:

Townhouses in Westshore

Icon Residential is proposing 93 townhouses in the heart of Tampa’s… …read more

Supreme Court: Discrimination includes policies that have ‘disparate impact’ on minorities

/in /by

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that businesses and government can be held liable for violating the Fair Housing Act even if they didn’t intentionally discriminate against minorities.

In a 5-4 decision, the court ruled that policies that have a disparate impact on minorities constitute housing discrimination. In the case in question, Inclusive Communities Project Inc. accused the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs of continuing segregated housing patterns by allocating too many low-income… …read more

‘Miami’s most prolific condo developer’ is bullish on downtown Tampa

/in /by

One of the most credible real estate developers in Florida sees downtown Tampa’s real estate market as “very promising” for years to come.

Miami-based Related Group has confirmed its plans to redevelop the Tampa Tribune’s waterfront office building into an eight-story residential tower with 400 units.

Related is under contract to buy the 4.4-acre site and lease it back to the Tribune, said Arturo Pena, a vice president and development manager for the company. Demolition of the existing Tribune… …read more

More apartments in the works for North Hyde Park

/in /by

A Clearwater developer is proposing a small apartment project in North Hyde Park.

Southport Financial Real Estate LLC has asked the city to rezone 1.7 vacant acres at 707 N. Rome Ave to make way for 86 apartments ranging from 750 to 1,150 square feet.

Sixty units will be 900 square feet with two bedrooms; 12 units will have one bedroom and 14 will have three bedrooms.

The North Hyde Park area is seeing an influx of multifamily development as land becomes more scarce — and more expensive —… …read more

New home sales hit seven-year high; more good news for housing market (Video)

/in /by

Sales of new single-family homes increased by more than 2 percent in May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 546,000.

That’s the best sales number since February 2008 and is nearly 20 percent above the pace at which new homes were being sold a year ago.

The median sales price was $282,800, according to the Commerce Department report.

The report is another sign of a recovering housing. The National Association of Realtors reported Monday that sales of existing homes had hit their highest… …read more

Highwoods preps New Tampa land for potential multifamily development

/in /by

Highwoods Properties Inc. is adding the potential for a new multifamily building in Highwoods Preserve, a mixed-use development in New Tampa.

Raleigh, North Carolina-based Highwoods (NYSE: HIW) has filed plans with the city to add multifamily zoning to a nearly 15-acre parcel at 18311 Highwoods Preserve Parkway.

Highwoods is requesting additional zoning that would allow 250,000 square feet or 400 multifamily units.

A Highwoods spokeswoman said Monday there were no immediate plans for the property.

“Our… …read more

Prime South Tampa site being prepped for multifamily development

/in /by

A prime South Tampa site — a block off Bayshore Boulevard and walking distance to bars and restaurants — is being readied for a multifamily development.

John Dingfelder, a land use attorney and agent with Keller Williams, has filed a request with the city to rezone the .44 acres at 2901 W. Barcelona St. for a new multifamily building. The site is currently zoned for single-family residential and commercial, as a home and a former plumbing business are located there.

About 15 units in four or… …read more

Existing home sales hit highest level since 2009

/in /by

Sales of existing homes jumped to their highest level in nearly six years in May, according to the National Association of Realtors.

The 5.1 percent increase in May brought sales to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.35 million. That’s 9 percent above the pace a year ago. Included in this total are sales of single-family homes, townhomes, condominums and co-ops.

“Solid sales gains were seen throughout the country in May as more homeowners listed their home for sale and therefore provided… …read more

Urban townhouses proposed for Westshore near former Without Walls site

/in /by

Westshore’s residential boom rolls on, this time with a developer proposing for-sale townhouses near Met West International.

Icon Residential Living, based in Largo, is asking the city to rezone about 5 acres of the southern portion of the former Without Walls International Church property, which is on Columbus Drive. (See map below.) The rezoning would allow single-family attached housing on the site.

Icon would build 93 townhouses on the site, said Michael Horner, who represents Richman Group,… …read more