The Watch List 2016: Wesley Burdette

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Wesley Burdette is a relative newcomer to Seminole Heights, but he’s quickly emerged as a public champion for the neighborhood.

It’s not just lip service, either: Burdette is investing millions in the neighborhood, between two multifamily buildings and a townhouse development, with others in the works.

This will be the year that his developments succeed or flop, determining whether Seminole Heights has reached the tipping point of becoming a vibrant urban area or if it’s destined to remain… …read more

Hot Leads: Startups, expansions, moves and new products and services

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• Chocolate store opens in Countryside: Le Bouquet by Francis opened at Westfield Countryside Mall in Clearwater. The shop sells chocolate made by French-born Executive Pastry Chef Jean-François Bonnet, who produces handmade chocolates out of a factory in Brooklyn. For more: www.lebouquetbyfrancis.com.

• Golf tournament proceeds: Joshua House, a program of Children’s Home Society of Florida, was presented a $25,285 donation check from the Fort Knox Golf Tournament Committee in November, with… …read more

Kriseman ‘wins Twitter’ with tweet banning Trump

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With a single tweet, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman landed his city in the Internet spotlight Monday night.

After Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump announced that he supports a ban on all Muslims entering the United States— including immigrants, refugees and tourists — social media went to work.

Close to home, Kriseman weighed in, issuing a ban of his own — on one Donald Trump. (See tweet embedded below.)

“You make a ridiculous statement, so you answer with a ridiculous… …read more

Seminole Heights mixed-use development sent back to drawing board

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A city commission has sent a mixed-use development proposed in Seminole Heights back to the drawing board.

Tampa developer Wesley Burdette had proposed a mixed-use building at the corner of North Florida and East Wilder avenues, to include about 50 loft-style apartments, 2,800 square feet of retail space, a rooftop lounge and on-site dog park.

But after several Seminole Heights residents spoke out in opposition to the project, the city’s Architectural Review Commission voted to continue the public… …read more

Exclusive: Tampa real estate firm hits record sales volume

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Tampa real estate firm Smith & Associates has hit an all-time record sales volume in 2015.

The company said Thursday that it reached $1 billion in sales volume for the first time ever. Its sales volume in 2014 was more than $910 million, according to Tampa Bay Business Journal data.

In the TBBJ’s 2014 ranking of residential real estate firms, the top five had more than $1 billion in sales volume. Smith & Associates ranked No. 6 on that list. The company has residential and commercial divisions… …read more

Publix could pave the way for specialty grocer like Trader Joe’s in downtown Tampa

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Publix Super Markets Inc.’s decision to put a store in downtown Tampa’s Channel district could have ripple effects on residential and retail development in the urban core for years to come.

Lakeland-based Publix confirmed Tuesday that it will build a store at the intersection of East Twiggs Street and Meridian Avenue, just west of a 21-story apartment tower with 323 units. It’s a project that has been in the works for years, with Publix long-rumored as the grocer.

Tampa-based Mercury Advisors is… …read more

Developer reveals more details on Publix, 21-story apartment tower for Channel district (New rendering)

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Tuesday morning’s news was a long time coming for Ken Stoltenberg.

Stoltenberg, principal of Tampa-based Mercury Advisors, has been working on a grocery store and apartment tower in downtown Tampa’s Channel district for years. On Tuesday, Lakeland-based Publix Supermarkets Inc. confirmed the grocery store and Mercury Advisors filed permits for the tower and retail store.

The 37,600-square-foot Publix will be built at the corner of East Twiggs Street and Meridian Avenue (see map below); the 21-story,… …read more