Clearwater : Development News

A successful Christian-based coffeehouse in Lutz, a commuter town in Hillsborough County north of Tampa, is making plans for expansion and has opened a second store in Palm Harbor, north of Clearwater in Pinellas County.

With the motto "More Than Just a Coffeehouse,'' Organic Life Coffeehouse offers fresh homemade baked goods, salads and wraps made with organic and locally purchased vegetables, all natural smoothies, and organic fair trade coffee. By day, you'll find a myriad of customers, including business folks conducting one-on-one meetings, people in corners on laptops and moms with their toddlers enjoying a treat. Some evenings live entertainment is added to the mix.

The coffeehouse off of State Road 54 in Lutz has a strong community focus, making it a favored location for group meetings. It was these meetings that sparked the expansion that will include offices and meeting space.

"We have a lot of groups of 10 or 12 people come in, and we don't get a lot of walk-in traffic during that time,'' says Glenn Deller, co-partner and co-owner.

He says he expansion is the result of community partnerships. A storefront a few doors down became vacant, and Deller convinced the children's consignment store next door to move there, making the adjacent space available. A local School of Ministry is financing some of the build out and placing an office in the new space. Local church members are donating time and services.

"We're very happy to be taking care of youth groups, doing community fundraisers, and assisting the community,'' says Deller.

Groups of 10 or more will be able to reserve space for meetings, provided they place a minimum food order while there. The meeting space is scheduled to open in mid-September or early October.

Organic Life's second location is at 35263 U.S. Hwy. 19 N. in Palm Harbor. This was made possible by a financial investment by Deller’s mother and father-in law, Joanne and Larry Davidson, who will be running the second location. Joanne Davidson does a majority of the baking for the current store, and the second location will provide economies of scale for both places. Most of the menu is the same, but the space is smaller with not as much live entertainment.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Glenn Deller, Organic Life Coffeehouse

Construction recently began on an improvement project on Clearwater's Prospect Lake Park.

Located in downtown Clearwater at Prospect Avenue and Franklin Street, the approximately $800,000 project is designed to  improve the water quality of Prospect Lake, which serves as a regional stormwater pond for an area of the downtown district; the pond ultimately discharges into Clearwater Harbor.

According to City of Clearwater Engineering Department Environmental Specialist Sarah Josuns, sediment has built up in Prospect Lake. Using a dredge to remove the sediment, the lake will also be expanded to the south; various wetland plants will also be added to the south end of the pond.

“With the expansion of the lake, stormwater will have additional detention time while the new littoral shelf with wetland plants will have an opportunity to absorb nutrients,” Josuns says. “Stormwater is directed to this lake so many properties in the area do not need to have their own pond.”

Funded by stormwater utility fees, the sediment removal phase is already underway and is expected to be complete by early December 2012. The second phase including pond expansion and wetland plantings will begin in early 2013. Phase two is slated to take about six months, with completion planned for July 2013.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Sarah Josuns, City of Clearwater

The U.S. 19 corridor in Clearwater is about to become more attractive, successful and sustainable.

Preliminary plans are in the works to improve the Clearwater stretch of U.S. 19 because conditions along the main north-south road have changed dramatically over the past several years.

According to Cate Lee, planner at the City's Planning and Development Department, recent construction has begun hurting some businesses dependent on impulse customers relying on direct access from U.S. 19. The City's new plans will allow and incentivize investment in properties located along the corridor that may be prohibited or discouraged now under current plans or codes.

“The City of Clearwater is undertaking this planning process to set the framework for development post-Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) roadway improvements,” Lee says. “The plan that will be the end result of the current study will guide growth along the corridor for the next few decades.”

Offering recommendations on a wide range of topics from land use to urban design and mobility to sustainability, the final report will promote more sustainable forms and patterns of development by improving vehicle, pedestrian and bike connections throughout Clearwater.

Currently, the study area includes the segments of the U.S. 19 corridor from Belleair Road north to Curlew Road while considering the future of Gulf to Bay Boulevard, Drew Street and North McMullen Booth Road.

“This planning effort takes a long range view of the corridor: What is the future? What types of land use and development do people who, work, play and shop along the corridor want to see?,” Lee says. “The roadway improvements allow for greater regional connectivity to Tampa and south Pinellas and north Pasco counties.”

Lee stresses the importance of taking advantage of the corridor plans and improvements to create more jobs and quality places for residents to live, work and play. The City expects final planning and approval of the plan by the end of Summer 2012 with the final adoption by City Council by Fall 2012.

Want to have a say in the changes made along the corridor? The City is encouraging feedback from those who regularly use the Clearwater portion of U.S. 19 to help identify problems, offer ideas and suggest possible solutions via an online discussion board.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Cate Lee, City of Clearwater

A boarded-up 72-year-old Ybor City grocery that helped feed cigar workers and their families will reopen as the headquarters for a Clearwater architecture firm.

Choosing 1708 E. Columbus Dr. to develop its new headquarters, Design Styles Architecture plans to do a $300,000 renovation of an old 1930s Ybor V.M. grocery store before moving its operations and employees to Tampa. The East Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency awarded the firm a $50,000 Façade Grant which will help provide funding to rehabilitate the exterior of the new office.

“Working in an office park in Clearwater just didn't seem to show off our firm's character,” says Jason Dickens, Design Styles' director of operations. “With an office full of creative people and clients with a desire to create something unique, 1708 E. Columbus Dr. seemed like the perfect building to help in fostering that creativity.”

According to Dickens, through more than eight years of vacancy, the building sustained extensive termite damage and a fire, destroying a good portion of the roof. Design Styles plans to secure all of the structural elements to ensure the building's safety before taking advantage of the history both inside and outside of the building.

“Our intentions are to restore the building to look very closely to the way it did in the 1930s,” Dickens says. “Over the past few years, Columbus Drive has experienced a dramatic turnaround as businesses buy and renovate buildings to open their businesses. Design Styles is just another piece to bringing the area back to the place it was in the early 1900s.”

Currently, Design Styles works out of a 1,700-square-foot building located at 2907 S.R. 590 in Suite 7 in Clearwater. The firm's move to Ybor City will nearly triple its operations size: The 1930s Columbus Drive building is approximately 5,000 square feet. The renovation project is expected to take less than one year.

“We are very excited about taking ownership of this building and becoming a part of the Ybor City and East Tampa community,” Dickens says. “We look forward to the opportunities ahead of us.”

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Jason Dickens, Design Styles Architecture

Residents of Tarpon Springs, the future of the beloved Sponge Docks is in your hands.

Dedicating approximately $1 million toward a community outreach improvement project, the City of Tarpon Springs has hired locally based Hoffman Architects to work with the community to develop a conceptual design for the docks.

Currently, the two-phase project is in its beginning stages -- the “Public Involvement and Preliminary Design” phase -- as Hoffman Architects holds interviews and workshops with various stakeholders, boaters, shrimpers, spongers and merchants throughout the area.

“Our goal is to get their input on what they think is needed -- their vision, concerns and what they'd like to see,” says Todd Willsie, senior architect at Hoffman Architects. “Taking all the information we've received, we've started doing some master planning.”

While Willsie and the rest of the Hoffman Architects crew works on a design for the docks, a community workshop will be held on Thursday, Feb. 9, at the Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum at Craig Park. The second workshop dedicated to this project, design concepts will be presented to the public before moving onto Phase II.

“Our goal is to bring more outsiders into the area,” Willsie says. “We want people to hang out down there longer, ultimately spending more money. A big goal in Tarpon is obviously to keep it on the map. It's always been a big tourist destination.”

Phase II of the project will focus on the actual improvement design, working drawings and specifications.

“We're trying to determine whether or not we should concentrate the city's money into one area or spread it out, master planning the whole thing and just improving the important parts now,” Willsie says. “One thing we'll focus on at the meeting is assigning dollar values and then we'll let the public decide what's important.”

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Todd Willsie, Hoffman Architects

2012 is looking bright for beach-goers of Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin.

Located at #1 Causeway Boulevard, Honeymoon Island will undergo a $5.6 million revitalization project, adding three rock T-Groin structures to the beach and nourishing about 2,000 feet of shoreline.

“About 100,000 cubic yards of sand from the ebb shoal of Hurricane Pass will be used to fill the northern portion of the public beach,” says Andy Squires, coastal manager at Pinellas County Department of Environment and Infrastructure.

Tentatively scheduled to begin in late summer or early fall of 2012, construction on the project is awaiting permit acquisition and funding from the State of Florida. Currently, the permit is under review and the funding request will be considered during the 2012 State Legislative Session along with several other beach projects throughout Florida.

“A Joint Coastal Permit must be obtained from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection,” says Squires. “With the permit and appropriate funding, Pinellas projects can take anywhere from one to eight months, depending on the size and weather conditions.”

T-Groin structures serve to attenuate wave energy, ultimately slowing the rate of beach erosion. Temporary geotextile sand-filled tubes are more common and cheaper to install -- such as those located on Upham Beach in St. Pete -- but, according to Squires, plans for rock structures coincide with future nourishment projects for Treasure Island and Long Key in St. Pete in 2013.

“Wide sandy beaches provide storm protection to beachfront properties and infrastructure, recreational space that fuels the local economy through tourism-related activity and habitat for marine sea turtles and shorebirds,” says Squires.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Andy Squires, Pinellas County Department of Environment and Infrastructure

A public meeting was recently held to discuss a handful of proposed improvement projects to the Clearwater Airpark.

Located at 1000 N. Hercules Ave., the Airpark is planning to work on various necessary improvement projects to the facility, operating in accordance with their Master Plan.

The four proposed projects discussed at the January 10th meeting include complete runway improvements including a 800-foot extension to the runway, the replacement of older existing hangars, repairs to the current maintenance hangar and the construction of a new office building.

“When the Airpark was built in 1939, the site had formerly been the location of the community dump and because some of the current runways and buildings were built on top of the existing landfill at the time, the ground has begun to settle,” says Airpark Director of Marine and Aviation Bill Morris. “Building foundations are shifting -- as with the former terminal and Fixed Base Operations Building -- and the ground under the runway has settled, causing depressions and dips in the runway and taxiways.”

The proposed enhancements are grant-funded through the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Eighty percent of funds will be provided by FDOT with a 20 percent match made by the City of Clearwater.

In other words, according to Morris, for $375,000 the Airpark will receive $1.5 million through the Joint Automated Capital Improvement Plan through the FDOT, totaling approximately $1.88 million for projects identified as priorities in the approved Master Plan.

“Improvements such as these will help the Airpark to remain competitive in the marketplace, train new pilots that are essential to our nation's aviation needs and keep the facility's existing tenants while attracting new tenants,” says Morris. “Additionally, the airfield and surrounding neighborhoods will both be safer by having a longer runway, enabling planes to have a longer hard surface to get up to speed for takeoffs.”

According to Morris, this allows the planes to be higher over nearby homes as they climb out/up, resulting in quieter takeoffs for residents.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Bill Morris, Clearwater Airpark

Last nourished in 2006, the Sand Key shoreline in Pinellas County will be getting some attention once again.

Part of a $31.5 million construction project slated to begin in March on 8.7 miles of Sand Key shoreline, the project is anticipated to use about 1.25 million cubic yards of sand from a borrow area approximately 12 miles offshore and west of Sand Key Park.

“Essentially, there are three reasons to nourish beaches: To provide storm protection, to boost the economy through tourism and to provide a nesting habitat for marine sea turtles, as well as a nesting and foraging habitat for shorebirds,” says Andy Squires, coastal manager at Pinellas County Department of Environment and Infrastructure.

Construction on the project will start just south of Sandy Key Park, continuing southward to North Redington Beach, excluding Belleair Shore.

Expected to take about five months to complete, the construction process involves dredging sand from the approved offshore borrow area, pumping the new sand directly from the borrow area to the beach or transporting the sand by barge and spreading the sand on the beach to correct elevations and slopes with bulldozers.

Residents can get involved in the project by assisting the County with planting beach vegetation. The vegetation installed helps to build sand dunes and improve storm protection to upland properties.

“Each year, in late June or early July, the County pays for and provides oat seedlings to beach towns and cities for volunteer groups wishing to build the sand dunes along Pinellas County beaches such as Sand Key, Treasure Island and Long Key," says Squires.

For more information on the protect or volunteer opportunities, call (727) 464-8477.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Andy Squires, Pinellas County Department of Environment and Infrastructure

The Westfield Countryside Mall in Clearwater has two new tenants.

An extension of Westfield's recent $12 million enhancement project, Countryside 12 – Cobb Theatres and Grimaldi's Pizzeria will move into a 70,000-square-foot addition built at the southwest corner of the shopping center in mid-December.

“The new theater -- opening well ahead of its original target of Spring 2012 -- will kick off its opening with a slew of blockbuster holiday releases including Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip Wrecked, and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol,” says Westfield Regional Marketing Director Tara Martin.

Including 12 auditoriums with more than 2,000 extra-wide rocking chair seating, guests of Countryside 12 – Cobb Theatres will be able to enjoy movies on floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall screens featuring state-of-the-art digital projection.

The theater will include Cobb Theatres' newest innovation, D-BOX MFX seating. One auditorium will feature 42 D-BOX seats which will synchronize with on-screen movie action; each seat comes equipped with individual intensity controls.

“We're focused on offering our shoppers, as well as the Clearwater community, the most sought-after entertainment, shopping and dining options available,” says Martin.

Handcrafting brick oven pizza for over 75 years, Grimaldi's Pizzeria will also make its way to Westfield Countryside. Offering fresh ingredients, handmade mozzarella cheese, hand-tossed dough and a “secret recipe” sauce, among other things, customers will be able to enjoy Grimaldi's award-winning dining options in a new 147-seat restaurant.

“We've also recently announced the addition of BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse, slated to open next March,” says Martin. “BJ's will also occupy one of the new locations on the southwest corner of the shopping center. The southwest corner project can include up to five new restaurants, depending on size.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Tara Martin, Westfield Countryside Mall

Tech Data Corp., located in Clearwater, recently rolled out a service it hopes will have a positive impact on the Tampa Bay economy.

Activate IT is a new service that allows end users to open a technological product and begin using the Web via carriers such as T-Moble, Sprint and others instantly, rather than having to go through an activation process.

The rollout reflects a merger between Tech Data and Brightstar, a telecommunications company based in South Florida.

According to Greg Parsonson, VP of Tech Data's client systems division, the new service will enable Tech Data resellers to make more profit. "It enables the resellers, who are our customers, to participate in the commission associated with each activation," says Parsonson. "This is a whole new element of profitability for them in selling these devices."

Parsonson says that while Tech Data has been selling activation devices for years, this is the first service of its kind to pre-activate a product. "So where we were previously selling these services, the end user had to activate the service on their own," explains Parsonson. "Now it's done for them. So the end user opens the notebook and it is already on the Web through the carrier network. We've been selling devices for years that can activate but this is the first foray into selling devices that activate directly."

Parsonson further explains how the new service will affect the Tampa Bay economy. "Its impact is twofold," says Parsonson. "It will enable resellers throughout the Tampa Bay area to increase their profitability through commissions, and in addition, as we see success, it will entail hiring more people in that division, adding more jobs to the Tampa Bay economy."

Writer: Missy Kavanaugh
Source: Greg Parsonson, Tech Data Corp.

We're happy that you've chosen us and we're going to walk beside you as you embrace this journey. You are our first priority. We will protect your privacy, restore your hope and focus on your strengths.

These are the promises a new fountain in the lobby of Clearwater's Directions for Mental Health makes to clients entering the building for services.

April Lott, Directions' new president & CEO, has revitalized both the services Directions provides and the buildings that house those services. Improvements include moving its children's services to a family-friendly Largo location, installing a welcoming lobby with a trickling fountain, adding two in-house physicians and using tele-medicine to reach those who need mental health services but have no transportation.

Lott says that the investments were worth it, given the economic impact Directions has on the community.

"Our economic impact is exponential," says Lott. "We serve over 9,000 clients every year. Those 9,000 individuals are a part of families and businesses. Our services allow them to be productive members of the community and prevent them from becoming homeless or placed in jail."

Lott says the installation of the lobby fountain and the message inscribed on it, were especially poignant for her, given that a family member struggles with mental illness.

"She said every time she went for help, she felt unwelcome. They didn't even look at her. I didn't want people who walk in here to feel that way,'' says Lott. "When I started working with the architect, Shoreline Designs Group, I told them that I wanted the lobby to be welcoming; that I wanted a water feature that communicates our promises to our clients.

"After the fountain was built I shared the promises with my family member. I asked her, 'Would this make you feel welcome?' And she said 'Yes. That would do it.' "

Writer: Missy Kavanaugh
Source: April Lott, Directions for Mental Health

Thanks to a little help from some friends, the home of a marine movie star is getting a much-needed expansion.

The Pinellas County Economic Development Authority helped the Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) apply for financing from the Industrial Revenue Board (IRB). The application was approved in December, allowing the aquarium to expand its operations by increasing its physical space, upgrading its equipment and adding personnel.

"We need the space for where we are today," says David Yates, the aquarium's CEO. "We're anticipating a very strong response  with the release of the movie Dolphin Tale that was shot here.  So it's basically about meeting the needs of people, animals and cars."

According to Yates, the improvements will include construction of a chloride mitigation system, additional animal care areas and equipment,
installation of bleachers, a new 1,000-seat arena, classrooms, lobby areas, restrooms and a community room; an 11,300-square-foot addition to the existing building; a new parking garage; and the purchase of an approximately 1.5 acre parcel east of the aquarium. In addition to the physical expansion, the aquarium's staff is expected to grow by 10 positions.

The aquarium was temporarily closed earlier this year for shooting of Dolphin's Tale starring Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, Harry Connick, Jr. and Kris Kristofferson, as well as Clearwater star Winter the dolphin. The movie tells the story of how Winter, a bottlenose dolphin, was rescued from a crab trap, and had to learn to swim with a prosthetic tail. Winter has enjoyed national and international attention since finding a home at CMA. The movie is expected to be released in September. According to a release issued by Pinellas County, the movie shoot provided jobs and hospitality revenue, and is expected to do more of the same when the movie makes its debut.

Writer: Missy Kavanaugh
Source: David Yates, Clearwater Marine Aquarium

A conglomerate specializing in specialty trucks and equipment is merging subsidiaries and moving them to the Tampa Bay region.

Oshkosh Corporation has consolidated manufacturing operations of MedTec Ambulances with that of Pierce Manufacturing, its producer of fire trucks, located in Bradenton.

Oshkosh Specialty Vehicles (OSV) will merge with Frontline Communications in Clearwater. The two companies manufacture specialty vehicles outfitted with communications capabilities such as news trucks, police and military vehicles.

The planned relocation of both subsidiaries qualify Oshkosh for up to $1.44 million in economic development incentives. Enterprise Florida and the governor's Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development worked with Tampa Bay officials and economic development organizations to assist in relocating the Oshkosh operations. The move is expected to produce up to 200 jobs.

"Historically,we have found Florida to be a good location for our businesses," says John Daggett of the Oshkosh Corporation. "Our facilities have been there for some time and both Frontline and our Pierce Florida locations have found it very conducive for business. After an extensive review of Oshkosh's manufacturing locations across the country and close consultations with Florida officials, Oshkosh  determined that Florida provided the most competitive business environment for the future of these businesses. It optimizes our manufacturing capacities and allows us to remain competitive in very competitive markets."

According to Daggett, Frontline vehicles have been used to broadcast Super Bowl and Olympics events, and products of all four companies are used by law enforcement, fire rescue, medical and military units that need and demand durable products of high-quality.

Writer: Missy Kavanaugh
Source: John Daggett, Oshkosh Corporation

In November 2010, voters in Hillsborough County elected not to support a referendum allowing a one-cent sales tax that would fund the building of a light rail system.

Pinellas County listened and watched, as they themselves planned a similar referendum for 2011. In the wake of the Hillsborough vote, Pinellas has decided to wait until 2012 or 2013 to place a similar referendum on the ballot.

Pinellas Commissioner Karen Seel serves as the chairman of a Pinellas' transportation task force and says much of the decision to table the Pinellas referendum was partially a result of what happened in Hillsborough.

"I think part of it was prompted by the Hillsborough vote," says Seel. "There was a definite feeling that this is not a good time economically to go forward with a sales tax. Analysis and polls done on our side of the bay show that while Pinellas residents are interested in light rail, they feel that now is just not a good time."

Seel says a proposed light rail plan would connect Pinellas and Hillsborough counties along the Howard Frankland bridge, as well as a line that would run from downtown Clearwater, through the Gateway/Carillon area and continue south to downtown St. Petersburg.

Seel says she hopes that voters will ultimately vote for light rail for the sake of the region.

"There's a real recognition among our young people that light rail is needed," she says."How do you attract bright minds when they can go to Charlotte and other metropolitan areas that have light rail and vibrant places to live, work and play. Right now we're just not competitive with other markets.The young and the restless of Florida need light rail."

Writer: Missy Kavanaugh
Source: Karen Seel, Pinellas County Commission