The answer to this week’s ‘I Spy’ puzzle is …

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This week’s I Spy Tampa Bay puzzle subject was the Merry Pier in Pass-a-Grille.

Mark McClearnon from Hennessy Construction Services is this week’s winner, sending in a guess at 8:09 a.m. on Tuesday.

Here are the other people who guessed correctly this week:

Deborah Probst, Sirata Beach Resort Adam Phoenix Kim Newberry, Williams Law Association PA Wendy Scolaro, Swim Digital Group Joe Bell Linda Hallgren, Smith & Associates Real Estate Michael Giskin Steven Fidrych, Bright House Networks Business… …read more

Here’s your third ‘I Spy’ clue this week

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Lots of people guessed this week’s I Spy Tampa Bay puzzle on Tuesday, but the clues will keep coming for those who haven’t.

Mark McClearnon from Hennessy Construction Services is this week’s winner, sending in a guess at 8:09 a.m. on Tuesday.

Here are the other people who guessed correctly this week:

Deborah Probst, Sirata Beach Resort Adam Phoenix Kim Newberry, Williams Law Association PA Wendy Scolaro, Swim Digital Group Joe Bell Linda Hallgren, Smith & Associates Real Estate Michael Giskin

If… …read more

5 big deals for downtown St. Pete in 2015

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The vibrancy of downtown St. Petersburg continues to draw investors and developers to the city’s urban waterfront.

The last year saw several luxury condominium developments break ground and more interest in downtown office space. Hofbräuhaus has transformed the former Tampa Bay Times cafeteria into a destination that regularly attracts crowds beyond capacity.

Here’s a look back at some of the biggest deals in downtown St. Pete in 2015:

Million-dollar condos: The city’s luxury condo market is… …read more

Not so fast — millennials do want to buy homes

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Despite common belief and many obstacles, millennials could soon become major players for the residential, single-family homes market.

Zillow.com, a real estate research website, conducted a poll about views on homeownership. In all but one category the 18-to-34 age bracket expressed more favorable views than older generations.

Millennials were much more likely to report that owning a home is necessary to live the good life, provides more personal freedom and is necessary to be a respected member… …read more

Go inside the bids for the Young-Rainey STAR Center

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A nationally known real estate development and investment firm has laid out an ambitious plan to create a business hub at the Young-Rainey STAR Center in Pinellas County.

The company, Industrial Realty Group, based in Los Angeles, was ranked No. 1 of two bidders for the 96-acre STAR Center, said Mike Meidel, director of Pinellas County Economic Development. He’s working to come together with IRG on a price and to bring the deal to the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners in March.

The… …read more

5 blockbuster deals for downtown Tampa in 2015

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It was another banner year for downtown Tampa: Development projects on the books for years started to take shape and new ones were proposed, creating momentum for 2016 and beyond.

“In all of my career, I’ve never seen so much enthusiasm, activity and positive momentum in downtown Tampa,” said Larry Richey, the Tampa-based Florida market leader for Cushman & Wakefield of Florida Inc.

At the center of it all, Richey said, is Strategic Property Partners’ plans for the urban core. SPP, the real estate… …read more

Inside Jeff Vinik’s groundbreaking year

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Jeff Vinik is feeling good.

He’s just back from two days of meetings in New York, where he says “people know” about the $2 billion real estate development he and Cascade Investment LLC are backing in downtown Tampa.

“We’re on the radar,” said Vinik, who owns the Tampa Bay Lightning.

It’s been one year since Strategic Property Partners, the holding company Vinik and Cascade formed for the endeavor, unveiled its plans for a 3 million-square-foot, mixed-use district.

In short, it’s… …read more

Here’s where to see the best holiday lights in Tampa Bay

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Looking for places to see great holiday lights? Real estate website Redfin put together a list of the best places to see displays, including five cities in the Tampa Bay area.

St. Petersburg: Specifically, the Oakdale Christmas House at 2719 Oakdale St. S, which includes 500,000 lights and has been featured on the “Today Show,” HGTV and in People Magazine.

Seminole/Largo: Lake Park Estates, Wieker, Lakeside Estates and Lake Seminole Village puts on a joint display that starts around 109th Avenue… …read more

Multifamily market ‘hotter than ever’

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In mid-December — typically a time dominated by end-of-year closings and little else — two major development projects moved forward.

David A. Mack Properties LLC proposed a mixed-use, 35-story tower in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg. In downtown Tampa, Atlanta-based Carter began demolition on a strip of old buildings on North Franklin Street, making way for a 23-story apartment tower.

“It’s showing things are still alive and still hotter than ever,” said Mark Eilers, director of… …read more

Interest rate spike could cause ‘flurry’ of Tampa Bay development deals

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The Federal Reserve’s decision to raise interest rates could cause a flurry of development deals in Tampa Bay, a land broker said.

The Fed on Wednesday raised interest rates by 25 basis points — the first raise since 2006. Interest raises have been close to zero percent since 2008.

Locally, the first spike in rates probably won’t make much of a difference, said Mark Eilers, director of land services with Colliers International Tampa Bay. But it could put pressure on some multifamily developers… …read more