The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Lutz since 1964 and Pasco since 1981.
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Livingston Avenue

Local businesses getting hit with COVID-19 impacts

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Drive around the region and the impacts of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) are obvious.

Grocery store parking lots are full — with people lining up before the stores open to get their hands on toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and other scarce items.

There’s less traffic on the road because many people are working remotely, and that number may climb if ‘stay at home’ mandates are announced.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered restaurant dining room areas to be closed because of concerns about the potential spread of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Here is a sign letting customers know that the restaurant at Cypress Creek Town Center is open for drive-thru only. (Christine Holtzman)

While grocery stores are slammed, restaurant, gym and nightclub parking lots are empty.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has temporarily shut down bars, nightclubs and gyms, and has ordered dining rooms be closed at restaurants.

Businesses are feeling it.

Some have cut staff, including The Laker/Lutz News, which laid off three employees.

Some businesses have ceased operations, at least for now.

Tampa Premium Outlets had barricades blocking the entrances.

Its website notes that the closure is through March 29, but directs potential shoppers to “stores” and “dining” areas of the website to see if essential retailers, such as pharmacies and food delivery/take-out, are available.

Others are adapting practices to try to preserve business or to respond to changing customer behaviors amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Walkabout Eatery, a restaurant at 18430 Livingston Ave., in Lutz, is serving its customers with takeout, drive-thru and delivery through Uber Eats. The restaurant also has limited its hours to 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and reduced its staff.

In keeping with the governor’s order, Chick-fil-A, at Cypress Creek Town Center, off State Road 56, has closed its dining room and is offering drive-thru only.

Lakeland-based Publix Super Markets, which has several locations in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, is opening at 7 a.m., on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, to allow shoppers age 65 and older the chance to shop for an hour before other shoppers are allowed to enter.

Also, Publix stores are closing an hour earlier, to give staff additional time to do preventative sanitation and restock shelves. Pharmacy hours have been changed to 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, with regular hours on Sunday.

Tampa Premium Outlets, at 2300 Grand Cypress Drive, has barricades to keep people out. The website said the outlet mall was temporarily closed because of concerns about COVID-19.

Business owners and employees, meanwhile, grapple with uncertainty.

Amanda Perkins , a hairdresser for 11 years, has had Haven Hair Studio for two years at Porte Noire — A Salon Collective, at The Shops at Wiregrass.

During an interview last week, she said she’d had a number of cancellations — related to COVID-19 because of where the clients recently traveled, or out of a client’s concern about a relative’s compromised immune system.

She was still operating her shop last week, but was getting nervous.

“For me, if it only stayed at six, seven, eight cancellations, that wouldn’t be the end of my world,” Perkins said.

But, she added: “Everybody has all of the same questions: ‘What if this? How do we deal with this?’ It is just nerve-racking.”

On March 22, she decided to temporarily suspend services, according to her Facebook page. She said she will be emailing her clients to inform them how she’ll be handling appointments, both future and missed.

Hope Kennedy, president/CEO of the North Tampa Bay Chamber, said the uncertainty is a widespread concern.

“It’s very hard for the service industry, and we have a very large service industry in Wesley Chapel and in North Tampa Bay,” said Kennedy, who leads a chamber of about 700 members.

The chamber has reached out to its members and has conducted two surveys to get a pulse of what’s happening, Kennedy said.

Walgreens, at 22829 State Road 54, Land O’ Lakes, has new temporary store hours.
Its website says the company is updating its store hours an extra measure to help provide a clean and safe environment for its customers and employees.

“I can tell you the trend is definitely there’s going to be a very negative impact on our small businesses in our communities,” Kennedy said.

In fact, one business indicted it won’t be able to make it back, Kennedy said. “We’re three days in and we’re already hearing that.”

As the situation continues to evolve, stress levels are high, said Kennedy, who understands the sentiment.

“I told somebody the other day, I feel like I’m going through a hurricane, the BP Oil Spill and the Recession, all at the exact same time,” Kennedy said.

But, Kennedy pointed out that she has experienced all three of those, as a chamber executive, and her organization is working hard to find out what chamber members need and to help point them toward resources that can help.

“There’s so much out there and it changes so rapidly,” said Kennedy, who currently has her chamber office set up on her dining room table at home.

“We’re updating our website almost hourly for the various links,” she said.

Meanwhile, she’s encouraging everyone to: “Keep calm and shop local.”

The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce is sharing a similar message.

It’s encouraging its members to “shop local, shop small, shop now.”

The Greater Pasco Chamber announced it would be reaching out to its members who operate restaurants to find out their new hours of operation and whether they operate takeout or delivery, and also to share menu links, when available.

Once that information is collected, the chamber plans to share it.

It, too, is sharing information about potential sources of help.

The Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., a nonprofit economic development agency, also wants to help businesses. It has compiled a list of potential sources of loans and other types of help that are posted on its website, PascoEDC.com.

While local organizations are trying to help businesses seek out sources of help, Gov. DeSantis is urging that economic assistance be provided quickly and simply — to those needing it, in light of COVID-19.

Need some help?
Information on these websites/links may be useful:
North Tampa Bay Chamber: NorthTampaBayChamber.com
Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce: GreaterPasco.com
Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce: ZephyrhillsChamber.org
Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.: PascoEDC.com
FloridaDisaster.biz/BusinessDamageAssessments
SBDCtampabay.com/coronavirus

Published March 25, 2020

Cardel Homes Earns 3 Top Parade Awards

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Cardel Homes was recognized at the 2019 Tampa Bay Parade of Homes with three prestigious awards, including a top level “Best In Class.”

The builder took the two top honors for homes in the $750,000 and $799,000 class for its models at Bexley. The Grand Award went to its Savannah model, and the Silver Award to its Henley model.

Cardel Homes’ “Best In Class” designation was received for its Master Suite & Bath in its Savannah model at Bexley.

“We’re excited and proud to be recognized as one of the top builders in this year’s Parade of Homes,” said Brian Phillips, vice president of sales and marketing at Cardel Homes. “These awards are evidence that our homes’ thoughtful floor plans and unique design features truly set us apart from other builders.”

Cardel Homes is one of few builders to offer communities of all sizes and price points — from move-up developments like Bexley with its many active lifestyle amenities, to the Enclave at Lake Padgett and Oakwood Reserve, with their acre lots, pristine privacy and luxury custom features.

Bexley
Cardel Homes is a premier builder at Bexley — a master-planned community by Newland along the State Road 54 corridor in Land O’ Lakes. It encompasses 1,200 acres of preserved wilderness and 13 miles of breathtaking trails.

The Henley floor plan is a two-story, four-bedroom home with more than 3,900 square feet of living space. Its four-bedroom Savannah plan features three baths and more than 3,300 square feet of living space in a single-story design. Both models are beautifully decorated and have three-car garages.

Cardel Homes has been building in Bexley since the community opened in 2016, and recently expanded into Phase 2A, with beautiful lots and floor plans beginning in the upper $300s. Two quick inventory homes are available in this new phase, as well as the St. Lucia model home in Bexley’s first phase.

The Enclave At Lake Padgett
There are only a handful of lots remaining on Lake Padgett, which is why Cardel Homes is so excited to be building homes in the Enclave At Lake Padgett.

This secluded, gated community of just 18 homes is conveniently located off U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes, just two miles north of State Road 54. All homesites back up to a natural lagoon that flows into Lake Padgett, and all lots can be permitted for docks that are large enough for fishing, waterski and pontoon boats.

“We have eight large homesites remaining — all very private and perfect for families wanting a waterfront home with no CDD fees,” said Phillips.

Cardel Homes is offering three, one-story plans at the Enclave, all with tile roofs and brick paver driveways as standard features. Homes range from 3,000 to 3,308 square feet, and offer four bedrooms, three or four baths and three-car garages.

The St. Lucia model home is ready now for a quick move-in. This stunning home is 3,336 square feet with four bedrooms, three baths, and a large front porch and covered lanai. An oversized dock is perfect to dock a boat and enjoy the natural backyard setting.

Oakwood Reserve
If you’re looking for a new home in Hillsborough County that’s close to USF, Oakwood Reserve may be the perfect community for you.

Only five lots remain in this exclusive community of 1-acre homesites on Clement Road  — a quiet, rural street tucked between Hannah Road and Livingston Avenue. Oakwood Reserve is just 25 minutes to downtown Tampa, and minutes from Moffitt Cancer Center, James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital and AdventHealth Tampa.

This rural community has lots ranging from 1 acre to 1.55 acres with magnificent mature trees. Two homesites have already been sold, and an inventory home is under construction and will be ready in May.

“Our first two buyers are young professionals who love the location and wanted a small community with no CDD or HOA fees,” said Phillips.

Homes in Oakwood Reserve begin at $447,990, and range from 2,507 square feet to 3,939 square feet. All have four to five bedrooms, three to four baths and three-car garages.

Cardel Homes’ models are open Mondays through Saturday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.

CardelHomes.com/Tampa, (813) 510-4429: Sales Center in Bexley at 4081 Epic Cove, Land O’ Lakes, FL 34638

Published March 27, 2019

Choose The Best Cardel Homes Community For You

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Cardel Homes is one of few builders to offer buyers communities of all sizes and price points — from move-up developments like Bexley with its many active living amenities, to those like the Enclave at Lake Padgett and Oakwood Reserve with acre lots, pristine privacy and luxury custom features.

Here is a quick look at communities where Cardel Homes is building that are attracting buyers from Pasco and north Hillsborough counties.

The Enclave At Lake Padgett
There are only a handful of lots remaining on Lake Padgett, which is why Cardel Homes is so excited to be building homes in the Enclave At Lake Padgett.

This secluded, gated community of just 18 homes is conveniently located off U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes, just two miles north of State Road 54.

All homesites back up to a natural lagoon that flows into Lake Padgett, and all lots can be permitted for docks that are large enough for fishing, waterski and pontoon boats.

“It’s almost unheard of to find new home construction on Lake Padgett,” said Brian Phillips, vice president of sales and marketing at Cardel Homes. “We have eight large homesites remaining — all very private and perfect for families wanting a waterfront home with no CDD fees.”

Cardel Homes is offering three one-story plans at the Enclave, all with tile roofs and brick paver driveways as standard features. The Henley, Wesley and Savannah plans range from 3,000 to 3,308 square feet, and offer four bedrooms, three or four baths and three-car garages.

If your family is looking for a new home now, the St. Lucia model home is ready for a quick move-in. This stunning home is 3,336 square feet with 12-foot ceilings, white cabinetry, quartz countertops, wood-plank tile and tray ceilings in the foyer, bonus room and master bedroom.

The four-bedroom, three-bath home is on a wooded lot with a large front porch and covered lanai. An oversized dock is perfect to dock a boat and enjoy the natural backyard setting.

“Living in the Enclave is the best of both worlds — all the recreation that Lake Padgett offers in a private oasis setting, and the convenience of Land O’ Lakes’ central location and top-rated schools,” said Phillips.

Oakwood Reserve
If you’re looking for a new home in Hillsborough County that’s close to USF, Oakwood Reserve may be the perfect community for you.

Only five lots remain in this exclusive community of 1-acre homesites on Clement Road  — a quiet, rural street tucked between Hannah Road and Livingston Avenue. Oakwood Reserve is just 25 minutes to downtown Tampa, and minutes from Moffitt Cancer Center, James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital and AdventHealth Tampa.

This rural community has lots ranging from 1 to 1.55 acres with magnificent mature trees. Two homesites have already been sold, and an inventory home is under construction and will be ready in May.

“Our first two buyers are young professionals who love the location and wanted a small community with no CDD or HOA fees,” said Phillips.

Homes in Oakwood Reserve begin at $447,90, and range from 2,507 to 3,393 square feet. All have four to five bedrooms, three to four baths and three-car garages.

Bexley
Cardel is being showcased in this year’s Parade of Homes over the next two weekends with two model homes in Bexley — a master-planned community being developed by Newland Homes along the State Road 54 corridor in Land O’ Lakes.

Parade visitors will be touring the Henley and Savannah models. The two-story, four-bedroom Henley provides more than 3,900 square feet of living space, while the four-bedroom Savannah floor plan features three baths and more than 3,300 square feet of living space in a single-story design. Both models have three-car garages and have been newly decorated.

Cardel Homes has been building in Bexley since the community opened in 2016, and recently expanded into Phase 2A, with beautiful lots and floor plans beginning in the upper $300s. Two quick inventory homes are available in this new phase, as well as the St. Lucia model home in Bexley’s first phase.

Bexley is known for its pools, parks and trail system designed for active family living. It encompasses 1,200 acres of preserved wilderness and 13 miles of breathtaking trails that connect to the renowned Suncoast Trail.

Sandhill Ridge
Located across the street from FishHawk Ranch in south Hillsborough County is Sandhill Ridge — one of Cardel Homes’ newest communities.

This private, gated community of just 33 Cardel homes is selling quickly because of the affordability of its large family homes and its A-rated schools. Prices begin in the high $200s for homes that range from 2,010 and 3,132 square feet.

“We have already sold nine homes in Sandhill Ridge, and anticipate that this community will sell out quickly,” said Phillips. “The land is beautiful, with a canopy of oak and pine trees, and people want to live in a quiet community like this with no CDD fees.”

Cardel Homes’ models are open Mondays through Saturday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. Visit CardelHomes.com/Tampa, or call (860) 501-4429.

Bexley, Enclave at Lake Padgett, Oakwood Reserve
Sales Center: 4081 Epic Cove, Land O Lakes, FL 34638
(813) 510-4429

Sandhill Ridge
Sales Center: 11409 Tanner Ridge Place, Riverview, FL 33569
(813) 571-7171

Published February 27, 2019

Discover Your Dream Community With Cardel Homes

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If your New Year’s dream is to build a new home on a beautiful conservation lot in a small, private community with no CDD fees, Cardel Homes gives you two exceptional choices.

The first is Oakwood Reserve in Lutz on Clement Road, located just 10 minutes from USF and 25 minutes to downtown Tampa. Clement Road is one of Lutz’s most idyllic rural roads, tucked between Livingston Avenue and Hannah Road. This unique community has magnificent, mature trees and will be home to just eight families, with lots ranging from 1 to 1.55 acres.

The Enclave at Lake Padgett is a secluded, gated community of just eight Cardel homesites off U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes.

Land O’ Lakes is home to another unique Cardel Homes community—the Enclave at Lake Padgett. This secluded, gated community of just eight Cardel homesites has convenient access off Land O’ Lakes Boulevard (U.S. 41), just two miles north of State Road 54.

All homes in the Enclave will back on to a natural lagoon that flows into Lake Padgett, and can be permitted for docks that are large enough for fishing, waterski or pontoon boats.

“It’s almost unheard of to find new home construction on Lake Padgett,” said Brian Phillips, vice president of sales and marketing at Cardel Homes. “This is an incredible opportunity for families wanting waterfront living on one of Pasco’s largest lakes known for fabulous water skiing and excellent fishing.”

Home prices begin in the low $500s at both Oakwood Reserve and the Enclave at Lake Padgett. Because of the limited number of lots available, Phillips expects both communities to sell out quickly.

One home site at Oakwood Reserve has already been sold, and an inventory home is being built on a second site, leaving only six remaining homesites in this unique community.

This inventory home will be a 3,939-square-foot Henley model, with 5 bedrooms, 4 baths and a 3-car garage. Features and upgrades include a 26 x 23 great room with 12-foot ceiling, 16-foot sliding glass doors that open to an extended covered lanai, upgraded kitchen cabinetry, quartz countertops, upgraded wood plank tile, tray ceiling in the master bedroom and foyer, coffered ceiling in the master bathroom, mosaic master shower floor tile, and an upper level with a large bonus room and fifth bedroom.

Priced in the low $700s, Oakwood Reserve’s inventory home will be ready this Spring for a family looking to move, before the start of the 2019-2020 school year.

Minimum homes sizes in Oakwood Reserve begin at 2,507 square feet, and at 3,000 square feet in the Enclave at Lake Padgett. The Henley plan is available in both communities, and is Cardel’s largest and most popular floorplan.

“The Henley offers our biggest great room and bonus room,” said Phillips. “At almost 4,000 square feet, it’s a lot of house for the money, and one of the best values we offer.”

For those wanting to build their home and select their options, interior colors and finishes, Cardel Homes is currently offering a 50 percent discount at its design center, up to $50,000.

“This is one of our most generous discounts ever, and we’re excited to be offering it to welcome in the New Year,” said Phillips.

Cardel also has an inventory home at the Enclave at Lake Padgett — the elegant one-story St. Lucia, which is 3,336 square feet with 4 bedrooms, 3 baths and a 3-car garage.

This one-story beauty boasts 12-foot ceilings, a den off the entry, formal dining room with coffered ceiling, expansive great room, huge bonus room and a master suite with a sitting area and private lanai at the back of the house. Interior features include white cabinetry, quartz countertops, wood-plank tile throughout and tray ceilings in the foyer, bonus room and master bedroom.

The home sits on a private wooded lot, and features a large front porch and covered lanai in the back. An oversized dock is just steps away from the backyard, and is perfect to dock a boat and enjoy the natural waterfront view. This fabulous inventory home, including its waterfront dock, is selling for $679,000.

“This St. Lucia is the best of both worlds,” said Phillips “You can enjoy all the recreation that Lake Padgett has to offer, without the boat noise and traffic directly in your backyard.”

The unique communities of Oakwood Reserve and the Enclave at Lake Padgett offer families the most desired locations in suburban Tampa. Residents can enjoy beautiful conservation and waterfront views, acre-plus homesites and privacy in exclusive communities without CDDs. Be sure to call Cardel Homes to make an appointment to tour these communities before its best kept secrets are gone.

Published January 23, 2019

Cardel Homes Introduces The Enclave At Lake Padgett

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There are more lakes in Land O’ Lakes than anywhere else in Pasco County. And, of its dozens of lakes, none is more desirable than Lake Padgett, a spring-fed, 200-acre lake that is the largest in central Pasco.

Lake Padgett has been home to beautiful waterfront homes for over 50 years, where residents enjoy boating, water skiing and long views of cypress-lined shores, and stunning sunrises and sunsets.

There are only a handful of homesites remaining on Lake Padgett, which is why Cardel Homes is so excited to be introducing the Enclave At Lake Padgett.

“It’s almost unheard of to find new home construction on Lake Padgett,” said Brian Phillips, vice president of sales and marketing at Cardel Homes. “We’re thrilled to be offering eight beautiful lots directly on the Lagoon, all that are large in size.”

The Enclave At Lake Padgett is a secluded, gated community of just 18 homesites, with easy access off Land O’ Lakes Boulevard (U.S. 41). All of Cardel’s homes will back up to a natural lagoon that flows into Lake Padgett.

“All of our homesites can be permitted for docks that are large enough for fishing, waterski and pontoon boats,” said Phillips. “Plus, none of our docks are shared between homeowners.”

Homes in the Enclave At Lake Padgett must be a minimum 3,000 square feet, and Cardel’s floor plans are as large as 4,260 square feet.

For families looking for a new home, Cardel has an inventory home that is available now — the elegant one-story St. Lucia, which has 3,336 square feet and offers four bedrooms, three baths and a three-car garage.

“Our St. Lucia model has an open floor plan that is very attractive to families of all sizes,” said Phillips.

This one-story beauty features 12-foot ceilings, a den off the entry, formal dining room with coffered ceiling, expansive great room, huge bonus room, and a master suite with a sitting area and private lanai at the back of the house. Interior features are fabulous, and include white cabinetry, quartz countertops, wood-plank tile throughout, and tray ceilings in the foyer, bonus room and master bedroom.

The home is on a wooded lot and has a large front porch, and covered lanai in the back. An oversized dock is just steps away from the backyard, and is perfect to dock a boat and enjoy the natural backyard setting.

“This home is ideal for the family wanting to move up to an exclusive, private community with no CDD,” said Phillips.

“It’s the best of both worlds — enjoying all the recreation that Lake Padgett offers, without the boat noise and traffic directly in your backyard. If you want to start the new year in a beautiful new home, this is one of the best waterfront values in all of Tampa Bay,” he adds.

The St. Lucia inventory home, including its waterfront dock, is listed at just $650,000.

If you prefer to choose your homesite and select a floor plan, colors and finishes, currently, Cardel is offering buyers up to $50,000 off in its design center, for homes contracted before the end of the year. A Cardel home in the Enclave begins at $494,900.

Many families want to live in Land O’ Lakes because of its excellent schools. The Enclave is assigned to top-rated Sunlake High, Charles Rushe Middle and Lake Myrtle Elementary.

For families wanting to build in Hillsborough County, Cardel is introducing a new community in Lutz, located close to USF and I-275.

Oakwood Reserve offers 1-acre homesites on Clement Road – a quiet, rural street tucked between Hannah Road and Livingston Avenue. Like the Enclave at Lake Padgett, only eight homesites are available.

Cardel also builds homes in Bexley, a master-planned community in Land O’ Lakes, along the State Road 54 corridor, next to the Suncoast Parkway.

“Cardel Homes is one of the few national builders to offers buyers communities of all sizes and price points — from move-up developments like Bexley that offer many desirable family amenities, to those like the Enclave At Lake Padgett and Oakwood Reserve, which offer larger lots, more privacy and high-end custom features,” said Phillips.

Visit Cardel Homes at the Enclave At Lake Padgett, or at Bexley, Mondays through Saturday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.

Published November 28, 2018

48 Beautiful Acre Lots at Lake Hanna Preserve

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Lutz is one of the most desirable communities in Hillsborough County, with its beautiful pastoral lands, many spring-fed lakes, outstanding schools and close proximity to downtown Tampa, the University of South Florida, and Wesley Chapel’s shopping and dining destinations.

It is also one of the most protected, low-growth areas of Tampa Bay, limiting lot sizes to a minimum of 1 acre to retain Lutz’s semi-rural residential character.

The Lutz Community Plan has successfully maintained Lutz’s rural heritage that dates back to the early 1900s, and restricts large master-planned communities like those found in neighboring Pasco County.

And, it’s this conservative land use planning that makes the Meritage Homes new Lutz community, Lake Hanna Preserve, all the more unique and desirable.

“Our community is a hidden gem for families wanting a pristine, waterfront community with private, estate-style homes on very large lots with mature trees and natural surroundings,” said Chris Ryan, division president of Meritage Homes for Tampa.

Ryan and his team recently hosted the groundbreaking of Lake Hanna Preserve with civic leaders and chambers of commerce members at the 148-acre site. The community is tucked away off Hanna Road, south of Sunset Lane between U.S. 41 and Livingston Avenue.

“Lake Hanna Preserve is all about location,” said Ryan. “Just when one thinks there is no remaining land available in Lutz, we’re proud to be developing this beautiful new home community for 48 very lucky families.”

The gated community will have 48 homes built on 1-acre or larger lots that average 120 feet in width and are up to 200 feet in depth.

Eighteen homesites are waterfront, backing up to 42-acre, spring-fed Lake Hanna. All homes in the community will have access to 115-acre Lake Stemper, one of Lutz’s largest lakes, via an elevated boardwalk leading to a community dock and kayak launch.

Before Meritage Homes acquired the land for Lake Hanna Preserve, the property was a palm tree farm and nursery for native and non-native plants. Its agricultural setting allowed hardwoods to mature, and many large oaks remain on the property.

“Before we subdivided the land into lots, we hired an arborist to identify and inspect every tree on the property, to make sure lot lines protected all healthy trees,” said Ryan. “We’ve taken great care to preserve this beautiful landscape full of palm trees, pines and oaks for its future owners.”

This summer, Lake Hanna Preserve will open its Kerrville III model. Families can choose from seven unique floor plans ranging from 2,516 to 5,168 square feet. Homes will be one and two stories, four to five bedrooms, two to four baths and all feature three-car garages.

“There is nothing like Lake Hanna Preserve in the market,” said Ryan. “We are very excited about the strong interest in the community for our future homeowners, and look forward to opening our model home in just a few months.”

Meritage Homes, which has designed and built over 100,000 homes in its 32-year history, is the industry leader in energy-efficient homebuilding and has received the ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year for Sustained-Excellence Award for the sixth consecutive year.

Meritage Homes is also committed to giving back to the communities where it builds, helping to serve those in need. In Tampa, it supports the Angel Tree Program.

For more information about Lake Hanna Preserve, please visit MeritageHomes.com/tampa, or call (855) 679-9942.

About Lake Hanna Preserve
Rural Lutz location
Gated community
Lots 1 acre or more
48 home sites; 18 on Lake Hanna
Private access to Lake Stemper
7 unique floor plans
2,516 to 5,168 square feet
3-car garages
Boardwalk, dock and canoe launch on Lake Stemper

Published April 25, 2018

Sunsets restaurant to replace Hot Rod’s BBQ

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A down-home, comfort-style restaurant – named Sunsets – is expected to open in May on the former site of Hot Rod’s Country BBQ.

The popular dining spot in Lutz, locally famous for selling what it claimed to be ‘swamp bat,’ closed in 2013.

Since then, rumors and speculation have swirled around just what would replace Hot Rod’s.

Sunsets restaurant, which will open in May, is under construction on Livingston Avenue on the former site of Hot Rod’s BBQ.
(Kathy Steele)

A wrecking crew took down the old restaurant in March, several months after Sunset Livingston LLC bought the property, at 18430 Livingston Ave., in Lutz.

Construction is well underway on Sunsets.

The restaurant will be the anchor for a small retail and entertainment plaza that will have an escape room, archery shop, consignment store, insurance agency and a barbecue food trailer, according to an email from real estate broker Jerry Shaw.

“The concept is simple, good food at an affordable price,” said Shaw in the email.

There will be a relaxed “sit down” atmosphere, screened porch, a drive-through window, and a menu with a variety of choices, he added.

The other shops, including Lost in Lutz, will occupy existing storefronts located on-site. Lost in Lutz should be open by late March or early April.

Lost in Lutz will be escape room entertainment, where game participants follow clues and solve puzzles in an interactive adventure. Escape rooms are a growing entertainment trend nationwide, according to co-owner Julie Woolary.

Players “crack the lock” and “beat the clock,” according to the website.

The first of three escape rooms to open will have a theme, “Stuck in the ‘70s”. Players will have 60 minutes to solve puzzles, riddles and clues to find their way back to the present.

“We are hoping that people will come out and test their skills and brainpower, and most importantly have fun,” said Woolary.

Hot Rods had been a dining staple in Lutz since the late 1990s. Then-owner, Rod Gaudin, started his restaurant with a barbecue pit and a converted wood-frame house next to a country store he operated.

In addition to barbecue and cornbread, it had an offbeat menu with specialty items such as ‘lizard tail’ and ‘armadillo eggs’. They were more commonly known as beef steak and cheddar cheese poppers.

And, despite the restaurant’s claims, the ‘swamp bat’ delicacy actually was quail, according to a published account by Sherri Ackerman, a reporter for The Tampa Tribune.

Published March 8, 2017

New restaurant to take Hot Rods’ spot

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A lawsuit shuttered Hot Rods Country BBQ in 2013.

Two weeks ago, the quirky Lutz restaurant, locally famous for ‘swamp bat’ and hot sauces, met the wrecking ball.

Hot Rods Country BBQ, a Lutz landmark, closed in 2013. The restaurant recently was torn down to make way for a new, unnamed restaurant at Sunset Lane and Livingston Avenue. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)
Hot Rods Country BBQ, a Lutz landmark, closed in 2013. The restaurant recently was torn down to make way for a new, unnamed restaurant at Sunset Lane and Livingston Avenue.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

County records show the property changed hands in December 2015 when Sunset Livingston LLC bought Hot Rods from Champor Corp Inc., for $525,000. Winter Park-based Alton Lightsey is listed as the registered agent for Sunset Livingston; Lutz real estate broker Jerry Shaw is manager.

Plans are to build a new restaurant with an outdoor patio. The as-yet-unnamed restaurant will serve beer and wine, and could have a few barbecue items.

Co-owner Jerry Shaw said, “It’s going to be home-cooked, family style food.”

The beer and wine license received approval in January.

Next comes settling on a restaurant name, drawing up construction plans, and getting the building permits, Shaw said.

No ribbon cutting is set, but Shaw hopes to open the restaurant within six months or so.

“It’s a matter of getting the drawings completed and approved,” he said.

A dirt lot is all that is left of Hot Rods Country BBQ. The restaurant was torn down to make way for a new restaurant from owners Sunset Livingston LLC.
A dirt lot is all that is left of Hot Rods Country BBQ. The restaurant was torn down to make way for a new restaurant from owners Sunset Livingston LLC.

Hot Rods became legendary in Lutz for its offbeat menu items and rustic décor.

It opened in 1998. A lawsuit over debt led to the restaurant’s closure in May 2013.

Rod Gaudin started Hot Rods with a barbecue pit, next to a country store he had at Sunset Lane and Livingston Avenue. He later converted a wood-frame house into the restaurant. Customers walked onto the porch and opened the front door with a water-spigot handle.

Hot sauces tantalized with names such as “Scorned Women,” “Endorphin Rush,” and “Mosquito Blood.”

Typical dishes were barbecue and cornbread. Atypical dishes were ‘swamp bat,’ ‘lizard tail’ and ‘armadillo eggs’ — known respectively as quail, beef steak and cheddar cheese poppers.

State inspectors revealed the swamp bat secret to a Tampa Tribune reporter, though Gaudin’s lips were sealed on the subject.

Published March 30, 2016

Serving up fried chicken, nostalgia

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They come to the Old Lutz School, on U.S. 41, bearing casserole dishes and memories to share.

These are men and women who have deep roots in Lutz and Land O’ Lakes.

Their families helped settle the area, and every year they come to celebrate the connections they feel to the community and each other.

The size of the annual gathering has diminished over time, as people have died or can no longer attend.

Jim Dennison slices up a platter of fresh veggies for the descendants’ day feast at the Old Lutz Schoolhouse. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)
Jim Dennison slices up a platter of fresh veggies for the descendants’ day feast at the Old Lutz Schoolhouse.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

“We have some people who won’t be with us anymore, like Cliff Dennison, bless his heart. He used to do this with me. He’s in a nursing home now,” said Annie Fernandez, the event’s organizer.

“This year, I pretty much did it myself,” said Fernandez, who was born in her grandmother’s front bedroom, off the edge of an orange grove, in 1942.

The annual get-togethers with descendants of Lutz pioneers used to be organized by Elizabeth Riegler MacManus, a local historian, who co-authored with her daughter, Susan A. MacManus, an extensive history of the area called “Citrus, Sawmills, Critters and Crackers: Life in Early Lutz and Central Pasco County.”

Elizabeth MacManus organized the event for 20 years but, after that, Dennison and Fernandez took over the duties.

The group has met in three different locations over the years. First, they gathered at a church, then at the Lutz Community Center, and for the past few years, at the Old Lutz Schoolhouse.

“We have this event every year because everybody likes to get together and chit-chat about things that happened to them a long time ago,” said Fernandez, whose family ties to Lutz date back to around 1920.

It’s a true potluck, said Fernandez said, noting the menu is never known completely until the participants show up with their dish.

At this particular gathering, diners found plenty of options, including fried chicken, broccoli casserole, collard greens, lima beans, potato salad, Swedish meatballs, fresh veggies and other foods. They could wash it down with iced tea and lemonade, and top it off with a piece of cake or other desserts.

Sonya Salter was busy in the food room, arranging items as they came in. Fried chicken was in one spot, salads in another, desserts and so on.

She’s not from Lutz, but came to help both last year and this year because she’s Fernandez’s friend. She said she thinks its great that people get together to share their memories.

Bodde O’ Steen, who was at the gathering, too, said he’s lived in Lutz since 1937.

“I’ve seen a lot of changes. When I got here, there weren’t many people here,” he said, guessing there were about 300 people living in the general vicinity.

People cared about each other, O’ Steen said.

“If you needed help, everybody helped out everybody,” O’ Steen said.

Joe Strickland, Margie Strickland, Annie Fernandez and Bodde O’ Steen pose together at the annual gathering for the descendants of Lutz and Land O’ Lakes pioneers.
Joe Strickland, Margie Strickland, Annie Fernandez and Bodde O’ Steen pose together at the annual gathering for the descendants of Lutz and Land O’ Lakes pioneers.

The area has changed enormously over time, he added. “Everything was orange groves and truck farming.”

The Dennison name is widely known in Lutz, with some of the Dennisons spelling the name with two Ns in the middle, while others use just one.

Regardless of the spelling, the family has strong ties to the area.

The Dennisons came to Lutz shortly after the Coopers, who arrived in Lutz in 1832, said Jim Dennison, a family historian.

“Allen Scott Denison drove the stage coach from Fort Brook, which is Tampa to Fort King, which is now Ocala. That was the Concord-Apopka Stagecoach Company.

“They carried the U.S. Mail. And he lived off County Line Road,” he said.

Jim Dennison’s family lived near the intersection of State Road 54 and Livingston Road.

“Where the Raceway’s gas station canopy is — that’s where our house stood,” said Jim Dennison, who moved away from the area for 22 years but came back when his parents needed him.

He’s been attending the descendants’ gatherings since around 1982.

“My dad (Milford Dennison) used to like to come out, and I would bring him,” Jim Dennison said.

He keeps coming because he enjoys the event.

“This is my family — my family and childhood friends,” Jim Dennison said. “Old-timers like to get together and tell stories on one another.”

“A lot of people just like to come in and chat, and have a little refreshment. We have a good time,” Fernandez said.

Published October 14, 2015

MPO keeps elevated road on county transportation plan

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A group that spent months successfully fighting a privately built elevated toll road through the heart of Pasco County got a bit of a setback last week. But its members seem to be OK with it … for now.

Jason Amerson, second from left, will fight any elevated road planned to run near his home off State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes, but won’t challenge the county’s current long-range transportation plan as long as elevated roads don’t come up as a viable option. He was one of the leaders of a local protest group, Pasco Fiasco, that included, from left, Patrick Knight, Brian Narcum and Kristine Narcum. (File Photo)
Jason Amerson, second from left, will fight any elevated road planned to run near his home off State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes, but won’t challenge the county’s current long-range transportation plan as long as elevated roads don’t come up as a viable option. He was one of the leaders of a local protest group, Pasco Fiasco, that included, from left, Patrick Knight, Brian Narcum and Kristine Narcum. (File Photo)

Pasco County’s 2040 Long-Range Transportation Plan is on its way to both federal and state authorities, highlighting the county’s plan for roads, transit and sidewalks over the next 25 years. And among the various needs the county’s Metropolitan Planning Organization included in that transportation plan are elevated roads along the State Road 54/56 corridor.

“We knew the (transportation plan) would still contain the elevated toll road,” said Jason Amerson, a Land O’ Lakes resident who was one of the key players in the elevated toll road protest group, Pasco Fiasco. “It’s not something we are worried about unless they start actively discussing it again at MPO meetings.”

Pasco Fiasco came together last year after some homeowners who live just off State Road 54 learned about a proposal by a private company, International Infrastructure Partners LLC, to build a 33-mile elevated toll road, stretching from U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills to U.S. 19 in New Port Richey. The company had said initially it would fund the estimated $2.2 billion project on its own, but then lost its negotiating power with the Florida Department of Transportation after it requested the state help finance it.

That killed the private project, but an elevated road option remained in the county’s transportation plan. While then Pasco County commissioner Henry Wilson Jr., vowed to help Pasco Fiasco and others against an elevated road down State Road 54 remove such projects from the plan, Wilson was defeated in an open primary election last October by Mike Wells Jr.

“It’s not a simple task getting it removed,” Amerson said. “Probably even a harder task now that Wilson is gone.”

The elevated road remains an option for the county between 2020 and 2040 along the State Road 54/56 corridor as an “alternative improvement.” That could include “premium transit improvements” like toll lanes, overpasses like those used on U.S. 19 in Pinellas County, and elevated lanes.

The elevated road stayed in the plan, but the MPO did make more than 30 other changes to the documents after two months of public hearings. The MPO conducted a 30-day comment period through Nov. 23, as well as public workshops throughout November. It concluded with a public hearing on Dec. 11 where the new transportation plan was adopted unanimously.

Many adjustments to the plan were minor, like name changes of some roads at Bexley Ranch near the Suncoast Parkway, and Mitchell Boulevard near the Little Road area.

But there also were some larger changes as well. They included:

  • Moving up the six-lane expansion of State Road 52 from Interstate 75 to Pasco Road from 2040 to 2019.
  • Delaying another 10 years to 2040 projects like Livingston Avenue from State Road 54 to Collier Parkway, Eiland Boulevard from Handcart to Dean Dairy roads, Curley Road from Wells Road to Clinton Avenue, and Lake Patience Road from Sunlake Boulevard to U.S. 41.
  • Keeping the State Road 56 expansion from Meadow Pointe to U.S. 301 two lanes instead of four by 2019, but possibly expanding it to four lanes by 2030.

That last proposal angered city leaders in Zephyrhills, who wanted four lanes leading into one of its key commercial areas, the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport. Lawmakers like new state representative and former Zephyrhills mayor Danny Burgess said they would work with the city to try and restore funding for a four-lane segment.

The MPO also made a number of changes to Tower Road, which runs primarily east to west in Pasco, just north of State Road 54. They include developer-funded improvements like a two-lane stretch from Bexley Ranch to Ballantrae Boulevard, and an expansion to a two-lane road from U.S. 41 to Ehren Cutoff by 2040, paid for by the county.

The Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, and the Florida Department of Transportation will now review the plan, and work with the county to help implement it.

To read the complete plan, visit Mobility2040Pasco.com.

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