TIDBITS by Peter Roos
TAMPA BAY
Tampa was voted best city in Florida and number 22 in country according to Resonance Consultancy, a tourism and economic development agency that releases extensive annual reports ranking cities by factors like population and workforce growth, infrastructure, the economy and leisure options. “Visitor economy” and “cultural infrastructure” propel the Tampa, St. Pete metro area to “best city” honors.
Jewish New Year comes early, right after Labor Day this year. Order your holiday foods for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur from Jo’El’s Deli, Pinellas’ most authentic dine in/take out kosher Jewish restaurant.
Sept. 5, 9am-3pm FINAL DAY for pick up of Rosh Hashanah Foods
Sept. 6 – CLOSED for LABOR DAY
Sept. 7-8 – CLOSED for Rosh Hashanah
Sept. 15 – OPEN 9am-1pm Erev Yom Kippur
Sept. 16 – CLOSED for Yom Kippur
Achieva Credit Union
As Achieva Credit Union’s corporate office settled plans for a more hybrid workforce in 2021, the credit union also worked to evolve the use of their Dunedin headquarters. Beginning earlier this year, Achieva began leasing about 5,000 square feet of the 67,000-square-foot headquarters facility to other local companies in need of office space. Their first lease went to digital marketing company, Hyloq, who due to office building shutdowns in the pandemic, had been in need of a workspace. Achieva Credit Union was listed among the Tampa Bay Times’ annual “Top Workplaces” for the ninth year in a row. To celebrate the occasion, Achieva distributed a $30,000 donation across 33 charities in the communities they serve, with each department and branch team selecting a community non-profit to donate funds to.
Cross Bay Ferry could add year-round service
Under a tentative contract agreement, the Cross Bay Ferry could be adding year-round service between Tampa and St. Pete beginning fall 2024. The new deal, which still needs formal approval from Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, Tampa and St. Pete, is a four-year contract that calls for service to be extended by a month, from April 30 to May 31 in 2023 and to June 30 in 2024. The year-round service would begin Oct. 1, 2024.
PINELLAS
New FEMA flood insurance rate map
Long anticipated changes to the Pinellas County flood rating map will take effect on August 24.You can view pending maps at bit.ly/PinellasPendingMaps
Property owners are encouraged to talk to flood insurance agents and obtain flood insurance before Aug. 24. Contact the National Flood Insurance Program Help Center at 800-427-4661, visit www.floodsmart.gov, or contact a Flood Insurance Advocate bit.ly/PinellasFloodAdvocates for more information.
St. Petersburg / Clearwater Airport (PIE)
PIE offers the 12th lowest round-trip domestic airfare, out of 416 U.S. commercial service airports in 2020. Along with lower costs, PIE continues to assure travelers a faster, more convenient flying experience. As of summer 2021, 64 destinations have non-stop flights to and from PIE.
New Carriers and Expanded Routes
Canada’s ultra low-cost carrier Swoop starts non-stop service from Toronto & Hamilton, Ontario, starting this fall.
Sun Country Airlines® starts air service to St. Paul/Minneapolis beginning this fall. MGM Direct – Sun Country Airlines® charter service to Atlantic City’s Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa also starts this fall.
Allegiant: adds five new destination cities in Fall 2021:
- Provo, UT – October 7
- Toronto, ON – November 5
- Hamilton, ON – November 9
- Wichita, KS – November 19
- Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN – November 25
PIE offers the 12th lowest round-trip domestic airfare, out of 416 U.S. commercial service airports in 2020.
Florida Fishing Pier Finder
Looking for a land-based fishing spot? The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and others have created a GIS-based Fishing Pier Finder to allow anglers to find publicly accessible fishing piers, jetties, fishing-specific bridges, and fingers around the state. There is a website as well as a free app – search for “Fish Hunt FL”. This tool allows you to filter Florida’s 600+ fishing spots based upon their name, the city or county they exist, feature type and whether a fishing license is needed. The results provide names, addresses and features of each site. The app also allows you to easily purchase and renew your license, find fishing and hunting regulations, and discover tide and sunrise/sunset measurements at area stations. View the online Pier Finder.
Red Tide is causing fish kills and respiratory issues in humans in areas throughout Florida’s West Coast. FWC sends emails each Friday with a full report. You can subscribe, or visit them online at www.MyFWC.com.
SKYWAY MARINA DISTRICT
Developer plans to build mixed-use project in Skyway Marina District
Developer Jack Dougherty is planning to create a new mixed-use project in the emerging Skyway Marina District, adjacent to his current development. Plans have been filed for the St. Pete Development Review Commission to review a proposed mixed-use project at 4311 34th St. S. The project entails constructing an eight-story, 400-unit residential building, a 4,500-square-foot restaurant, a 95,000-square-foot self-storage facility and a 2,400-square-foot bank with a drive-thru, according to the plans filed. The site is adjacent to the 245-unit Marina Walk apartment complex, which is currently under construction. The residential apartment building dubbed Marine Beach will overlook Boca Ciega Bay.
ST. PETERSBURG
Boyd Hill Nature Preserve Changes
For campers, the new Terry Tomalin Campground will feature 12 primitive tent camping sides, six newly renovated cabins and a new group campsite by the picturesque Osprey’s Roost activity center (RV camping is not allowed). Rates will compare favorably with most state and county parks, at $30/night for tent sites, $40/night for cabins, and $50 per night for group camping.
Special programming including night hikes, campfire programs and guided nature walks will be available to campers. “We really want to attract hyperlocal residents,” explains Boyd Hill Nature Preserve Supervisor Andrea Andersen, “including folks from Midtown, local school groups, and scouting groups, as well as tourists.”
Millennial Title Opens new office in St. Petersburg with August 18 Ribbon-Cutting
In Tampa since 2015, Millennial Title recently opened its seventh location in downtown St. Petersburg. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 5pm, Wed., August 18, hosted by the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact Steph Horne by email to stephhorne@millennialtitle.com or by phone to 727-888-4853. From the first office in Tampa to expanding offices to St. Petersburg, Louisville, Nashville, Greater Cincinnati, Memphis and New Albany, Indiana, Millennial Title continues to expand and serve individuals and businesses locally and nationwide. For details, access the website at www.millennialtitle.com/st.petersburg.
Amusement ride manufacturer Premier Rides has chosen Minor League Baseball’s former headquarters in St. Petersburg to be their new home. Minor League Baseball, formally known as the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues Inc., sold its headquarters in St. Pete to Baltimore-based Premier Rides Inc. in a $2.35 million deal.
“Modera St. Petersburg” at 20 stories, will include the tallest residential tower in the western half of Downtown. Designed in a “U” shape with a motor court and residential drop-off area at the center, the new development will replace a warehouse that was built in the 1980s.Over 15,000 sf of retail space fronts on the Pinellas Trail at 17th St. S. Modera St. Petersburg will consist of a 20-story and an 8-story apartment building with 383 rental units, and a 475-space parking garage. A ground-level site plan shows retail along the Pinellas Trail, residential units fronting 3rd Avenue N, and the parking garage facing I-275. The project is still in its early stages, but construction could begin by the end of 2021 with move-ins in the fall of 2023.
ST PETE BEACH
Parking Study & Survey
The city of St. Pete Beach is conducting a study to reevaluate the current off-street parking requirements in the Land Development Code. The current parking requirements were incorporated into the code in 2005, and since then many changes have occurred in the parking and transportation environment. Furthermore, outdated off-street parking requirements promote quantity over quality, focusing on ensuring an ample supply of parking.
Corey Landing
The development team behind the proposed $90 million mixed-use project in St. Pete Beach publicly unveiled conceptual renderings and plans for the first time.South Florida-based real estate firm Ram Realty Advisors presented glossy renderings of the planned waterfront development dubbed Corey Landing during a public meeting at St. Pete Beach Community Center. The images revealed a modern building that would have 243 Class-A residential units along with more than 10,000 square feet of retail space to the east end of Corey Avenue.
MADEIRA BEACH
Hospitality operators quickly claim Treasure Island hotel property
The Beach House Hotel located at 12100 Gulf Blvd. in Treasure Island has a new owner who hopes to turn it into vacation rental units. The buyer, Athevest LLC, purchased the property from Alamos Investments Florida LLC in a $1.25 million deal.
Hotel veteran scoops up waterfront Madeira Beach property
Kevin Bowden, the managing partner for Miramar Resort St. Pete LLC, purchased a piece of waterfront property in Madeira Beach that he plans to develop. Bowden purchased the 1-acre property at 420 150th Ave. in a $3.75 million deal from the entity Madeira Beach Town Center LLC.
SOUTH PASADENA
Live Life Moving is a new personal fitness studio with Pilates equipment training, functional strength training, and indoor cycling, specifically for adults over 50 or anyone seeking an alternative to the “no pain, no gain” mentality of mainstream gyms and boutique studios. Live Life Moving offers clients highly individualized coaching through one-on-one sessions and small group sessions limited to six or less participants. Owner Aaron Ellis has traveled across the country training fitness instructors in gyms and health clubs for years.
Aaron opened up his first location of Live Life Moving in Asbury Park, NJ, and the enthusiastic response from the community was overwhelming. Many of Aaron’s clients in New Jersey had second homes in St. Pete, and they thought his business would be a great addition to the community here. Aaron’s new studio is located at 1393 S. Pasadena Blvd., South Pasadena. Call/text 727-202-7779.