The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

The Shops at Wiregrass

Porter to doubters: Raymond James is coming

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J.D. Porter said he knows there are a lot of people who doubt that Raymond James will ever have a location in the Wiregrass Ranch community of Wesley Chapel.

And, he said he knows that the decision by T. Rowe Price not to locate in Pasco County has helped to fuel those speculations.

But, at a March 10 meeting of the Pasco Alliance of Community Associations in Land O’ Lakes, Porter told the crowd: “I’ll tell you straight up, let’s dispel the myth right now: Is it going to happen? Are they going to close?

J.D. Porter, whose family owns thousands of acres in Wiregrass Ranch, talks about future plans for the area near The Shops at Wiregrass and Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
J.D. Porter, whose family owns thousands of acres in Wiregrass Ranch, talks about future plans for the area near The Shops at Wiregrass and Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

“It’s going to happen. Raymond James will close,” said Porter, whose family owns the sprawling Wiregrass Ranch, which includes thousands of acres of ranch land and citrus groves.

Porter expects Raymond James to get their permits within the next 45 days or so, and that will trigger closing within 30 days of that, he said.

“Once they close, you’ll start seeing dirt being moved to the site,” Porter said.

“It’s exciting. Right now, they’re in for permitting for a million square feet,” he said, estimating that the site will be occupied by 4,000 to 5,000 employees.

“I imagine we’ll have even more interest on the office side, once Raymond James closes,” Porter said.

“We’re currently talking with about four other office users that are Fortune 250 companies, anywhere from 400,000 square feet to another 1.2 million square feet of office,” said Porter, whose family has already sold the land now occupied by The Shops at Wiregrass and Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, and donated 65 acres for Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch.

Porter is also enthused about progress being made for a performing arts center on the state college’s campus. The project received $15. 5 million in funding last year from the Florida Legislature and there’s $11 million earmarked for the project in this session’s proposed budget.

It could be vetoed by Gov. Rick Scott, but Porter doesn’t think it will be. If that money comes through, about half of the funding needed for the first phase of the project would be available, he said.

Porter envisions a facility that can seat between 5,000 and 8,000 people and could be a venue for plays, concerts, graduations and other events.

With the performing arts center, Pasco County high school students would be able to have their graduation ceremonies within the county instead of having to use venues elsewhere, Porter said.

He also talked about other projects that are under way or being planned in the Wiregrass Ranch development. Those include high-end apartments, a hotel, an assisted living facility and a specialty grocer, although he didn’t name which one.

Porter said his family entertains many proposals coming from people who want to open restaurants, gas stations and other uses.

The area’s demographics are enticing, Porter noted.

“You’ve got a median age that’s about seven years younger than the Florida average and about 11 years younger than the national average. You’ve got a median income that’s about $11,000 more than what the national average is and about $14,000 to $17,000 more than what the Florida average is,” he said.

When the family sells land, it’s more interested in how the sale affects the overall quality of the community than whether they can get top dollar, Porter said

The specialty grocery store is an example of this, he said.

“We’re going to take a price hit on that,” Porter said. “But, I think it’s something that will have value. I think it is something that will flourish within the community.”

“You can’t play the short game. You’ve got to play the long game,” he said.

Published March 16, 2016

 

Bank branch to open in Land O’ Lakes

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First National Bank of Pasco is expanding into the growing markets of central Pasco County.

Bank officials filed an application to open their first Land O’ Lakes branch at the northeast corner of State Road 54 and Livingston Road, according to records filed with the Office of Comptroller of the Currency.

It will be the fourth office for First National, which opened in Dade City in 1986. Two other offices are in Zephyrhills, in eastern Pasco.

Steven Hickman is president and chief executive officer of the Dade City-based First National Bank of Pasco. The financial institution plans to expand into central Pasco, opening its first Land O’ Lakes branch. (Courtesy of First National Bank of Pasco)
Steven Hickman is president and chief executive officer of the Dade City-based First National Bank of Pasco. The financial institution plans to expand into central Pasco, opening
its first Land O’ Lakes branch.
(Courtesy of First National Bank of Pasco)

The site for the new branch is adjacent to Terra Bella, a master-planned community of single family homes and a recently completed apartment complex, Alta Terra Bella. And, Tampa Premium Outlets, The Shops of Wiregrass and The Grove in Wesley Chapel are all part of the swirl of development activity along State Road 54 and State Road 56.

“We think it’s a very strategic location for high growth,” said Steven Hickman, president and chief executive officer of First National Bank of Pasco.

Hickman said other locations would be considered for future expansion.

The comment period on the bank’s application ended March 3. Bank officials also have met with county planners to discuss permitting and construction of the bank branch.

Closing on the property is expected by the end of April. Construction would take about a year for a bank branch that will cater to a changing customer base that includes the Gen Y, or millennial generation.

“It’s not going to look like one of our traditional branches in Zephyrhills or Dade City,” Hickman said.

Traditional teller lines will be eliminated, replaced with “universal” employees prepared to help with myriad of banking, insurance or wealth-management needs.

The number of customers opting for online and mobile phone banking services is increasing, particularly among millennials born between 1982 and 2000. And, traditional brick-and-mortar banking isn’t as attractive to young people who grew up in a totally digital world.

The First National branch will be full service, but its customers can opt for as much or as little personal service as they want.

“It’s all going to be a new approach for us,” Hickman said.

Virtual banking is a choice but, he said, “It’s a higher touch if the customer wants it.”

First National of Pasco opened in 1986 in Dade City. The bank reported assets of $137 million and net income of $529,000 in 2015, according to documents filed with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Published March 9, 2016

Mansfield Boulevard and Kinnan Street could meet in the middle

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Discussions on opening up Mansfield Boulevard in Pasco County’s Meadow Pointe community and linking it to Kinnan Street in New Tampa’s K Bar Ranch hit dead-end after dead-end for years.

Pasco County and the City of Tampa sparred over how to divvy up road improvements and pay the costs.

So, the two roadways that cut through expensive subdivisions on either side of the county line still don’t connect. Instead, they end at a barricade that has become a magnet for illegal dumping.

Kinnan Street in New Tampa’s K Bar Ranch is on the other side of a barricade where Mansfield Boulevard dead ends in Pasco County’s Meadow Pointe subdivision. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Kinnan Street in New Tampa’s K Bar Ranch is on the other side of a barricade where Mansfield Boulevard dead ends in Pasco County’s Meadow Pointe subdivision.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

In a recent medical emergency, one K Bar Ranch resident learned just how unsafe the divide could get. Confusion over which agency should respond and the lack of road access left him waiting 45 minutes for medical attention.

There is renewed hope, however, that opposing sides can find common ground.

“It’s like the stars are in alignment,” said Tampa City Councilwoman Lisa Montelione.

Just as she was nearly ready to hit send on an email to Pasco County commissioners, she got a call from Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore.

Both wanted to restart discussions on connecting the roads.

“He didn’t know I was even sending the letter,” Montelione said.

And, the developer of Meadow Pointe had scheduled a meeting with Pasco officials to discuss the same topic.

On March 9, Moore, Montelione, Pasco staff members and Tampa staff members will meet to consider options.

Moore reported to fellow commissioners last month of his conversation with Montelione.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey quickly offered her support.

“I’m all about connectivity,” she said.

Lack of connections kept K Bar Ranch resident, Otto Schloeter, in agony for 45 minutes after a neighbor made a 911 call for him.

Schloeter suffered third degree burns on his arm due to an accident while cooking lunch. Outmoded 911 technology contributed to confusion regarding which rescue unit from which county should respond, but Montelione’s letter cited another culprit as well – the barrier between Mansfield and Kinnan.

It took nearly two hours for Schloeter finally to reach Tampa General Hospital for a severe injury that required skin grafts, according to Montelione’s letter.

“What I’m hoping to get from this is a road map to move forward,” said Montelione. “It’s not about everybody getting everything they want. It’s about getting to some mutual benefit agreement.”

Nearly three years ago, efforts to address the issue fell apart when the City of Tampa rejected Pasco’s request for city taxpayers or the developer to fund traffic calming devices on Mansfield, which is in Hillsborough County.

At the time, Pasco officials were hearing from Meadow Pointe residents who were concerned about increased traffic on Mansfield, if the roads were opened.

Mansfield is located off State Road 56 in Wesley Chapel, just beyond The Shops at Wiregrass.

The boulevard winds past Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, several subdivisions within Meadow Pointe, the construction site for the county’s elementary school “W,” and Dr. John Long Middle School before dead-ending at Kinnan and K Bar Ranch.

Tampa and Pasco officials also tried unsuccessfully to negotiate other grid improvements to improve circulation via Beardsley Drive and Meadow Pointe Boulevard.

Some contentious issues could be smoothed over by a 2015 agreement between the City of Tampa and MI/Homes, the current homebuilder for K Bar Ranch.

The company is open to paying for turn lanes, traffic signals, sidewalks and striping of lanes on Mansfield and Kinnan.

Traffic calming devices on Mansfield, however, are still at issue.

But, Moore said he is hopeful about an agreement.

Opening access for residents to move back and forth between counties is going to be vital, as both counties proceed with new development and expanding populations, he said.

“We want to think responsibly. You’re going to need these connections,” Moore said.

Published February 24, 2016

Economic recovery slow, but steady

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The national economy is recovering from one of the worst downturns in the nation’s history, but it is a recovery that is just “muddling along,” according to Sean Snaith, director of the Institute of Economic Competitiveness at the University of Central Florida.

“It was the worst recession since the Great Depression,” he said. “The recovery is also historical. It’s historically weak.”

The good news for Florida and for Pasco County is that they are seeing better growth than the nation as a whole.

On the plus side for Pasco, people are moving into the county.

Tim Fredritz, account executive at Dex Imaging Co., expects new business opportunities to emerge in Pasco County. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Tim Fredritz, account executive at Dex Imaging Co., expects new business opportunities to emerge in Pasco County.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

“More people brings more economic activity,” said Snaith, who was a guest speaker at the Annual Economic Forecast Luncheon hosted by the Pasco Economic Development Council on Feb. 5 at the Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club.

“People and employment growth will continue. We see some momentum. There’s a lot of construction activity on the way.”

Florida’s growth is outpacing the nation, he said. Florida’s growth rate is about 4 percent, compared to a national rate of 2 percent.

The state also posted good numbers for job creation in the last quarter of 2015, and that likely will continue.

“That’s our launching pad,” Snaith said. “We still have momentum on our side.”

He is especially bullish on the Interstate 4 corridor, which he described as the “bread basket for growth.”

According to Snaith, the recession ended in 2012. But, Craig Weber, general manager of Crown Community Development,

saw signs of recovery in the Wesley Chapel area of Pasco as early as 2010. Signs continue to be good, he said.

Crown is the developer of Seven Oaks and Watergrass.

“Sales of lots are really strong,” Weber said.

Interstate 75, State Road 56, the widening of State Road 54 and The Shops at Wiregrass led the way.

More development has followed, including Tampa Premium Outlets and Cypress Creek Town Center. “All of this makes it the new center for Tampa Bay growth,” Weber said.

Locally, businesses are benefiting from the area’s growth as well, said Tim Fredritz, account executive at Dex Imaging Co.

The national chain has 25 offices in Florida, including one in Hudson. The company had healthy growth even during the bad economy, Fredritz said. “People always need copiers.”

But, new businesses in Pasco, including Wesley Chapel, mean new opportunities, he said.

There are caution signs, Snaith warned.

Global economies are slowing, notably in China. Brazil could be headed into its worst recession in 100 years. Greece has 25 percent unemployment overall, with youth unemployment at 50 percent.

One in eight Canadians come to Florida each year, but Snaith said the Canadian dollar has fallen in value against U.S. currency.

“That’s going to change behavior and how they spend when they are here,” Snaith said

There also is the potential for a national recession, though not on the scale of the last one.

“Don’t go into your panic room,” Snaith said. “Generally speaking, you’re in a region that’s growing faster than the state and generally faster than the nation. This is a pretty good place to be.”

Published February 10, 2016

 

New cinema coming to Wiregrass Ranch development

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A new cinema and grocery store are in the offing for the next phase of development on the former Wiregrass Ranch.

A preliminary site plan shows a 1,050-seat movie house and a 30,000-square-foot grocery store, according to county records.

Plans also show three, four-story buildings containing about 250 apartments. And, the development also includes shops and restaurants.

Forest City Enterprises, the developers of The Shops at Wiregrass, and NRP Group are partnering on the project on about 34 acres of the former Wiregrass Ranch property in Wesley Chapel, off State Road 56. The new development, located next to The Shops at Wiregrass, will be linked to the mall, with shared access points for motorists and pedestrians.

A dine-in cinema is a possibility, though no tenant announcements have been made.

“We wanted to do something we thought would be complementary to the property next door – The Shops at Wiregrass,” said Abbas Hasan, manager of planning and development for the Cleveland-based Forest City Enterprises.

“It really adds to the experience of the area, providing customers with extra options than restaurants and shopping.”

A construction start date is on hold until a permit is received from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. An application was submitted in September.

“That’s kind of driving the entire schedule,” Hasan said.

In the meantime, details such as parking, landscaping, and the design and look of the new development are proceeding.

“All these things take time, so we’re trying to work on these items now,” he said. “Whatever we can move ahead, we will.”

The overall project includes apartments, seven garages, a clubhouse, a dog park, pool and fitness area. About 120,000 square feet is set aside for retail and/or restaurants including the cinema and grocery store.

Published February 10, 2016

Aspiring artists benefit from arts fest

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The 11th annual Suncoast Arts Fest will feature 125 fine artists and craftsmen in a two-day event aimed at raising money to support arts education in Pasco County.

“Our fine artists — they’re growing,” said Pam Marron, co-director of the arts festival. “We’ve got a good blend coming in from all over the United States.

BK Lyons, who created this piece of chalk art, will be one of the chalk artists featured at the 11th annual Suncoast Arts Fest later this month (Photos courtresy of Suncoast Arts Fest)
BK Lyons, who created this piece of chalk art, will be one of the chalk artists featured at the 11th annual Suncoast Arts Fest later this month
(Photos courtresy of Suncoast Arts Fest)

Besides being a place to enjoy or purchase art, the event also offers a wide array of live entertainment and opportunities to be creative, too, Marron said.

“The entertainment — in addition to having professionals there —we also have youth entertainment from the region,” Marron said.

There will be chalk artists at the festival, there’s an art maker space, where arts and technology meet, and, on Jan. 17 there also will be glass etching, Marron said.

“We’ve got the emerging artists area, where the high school art students are able to display their artwork, and that artwork is juried and a prize given for that, as well,” she said.

There is also a kids’ art garden, designed to appeal to younger artists, she said.

Proceeds from the festival benefit “Arts for Education” grants, which go to supplement arts education programs in public, private and charter schools in Pasco County.

Over the past decade, the Suncoast Arts Fest has fulfilled more than 85 mini-grants to teachers to impact the education of more than 15,000 students.

During last year’s event, The Shops at Wiregrass drew a record crowd of more than 100,000 people, according to the festival’s website.

Jasleen Rehsi was a first place winner at the 10th annual Suncoast Arts Festival last year. This year’s festival will feature 125 fine artists and craftsmen.
Jasleen Rehsi was a first place winner at the 10th annual Suncoast Arts Festival last year. This year’s festival will feature 125 fine artists and craftsmen.

The patrons come from all over, but primarily from the Tampa Bay region, Marron said.

The mall is an excellent venue, Marron said.

In addition to the mall’s convenient layout, there are restaurants, restrooms and parking to accommodate both the artists participating in the show, and the patrons attending it, she said.

The Shops at Wiregrass also collaborates with festival organizers to help promote the event, she said. “They’re a good management company.”

Festival organizers are increasing their promotional efforts, too, Marron said.

“We’ve expanded on our social networking and really tried to ramp up why we do the event, which brings in the students and their families to support the event as well,” Marron said.

11th annual Suncoast Arts Fest
What: Juried show features 125 fine artists and craftsmen and their works. The event also includes live entertainment, chalk artists, interactive activities and glass etching.
When: Jan. 16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Jan.17 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive (off State Road 56, east of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard).
How much: Parking and admission are free.
For more information, visit SuncoastArtsFest.com.

Published January 6, 2016

Hanukkah combines history and Jewish holiday spirit

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Most people don’t know a lot about Hanukkah. They know it’s a Jewish holiday. They know that there are candles, and that it goes on for several days. They know it involves presents and usually occurs around Christmas.

But, it’s a lot more than that, said Mitchell Weiss, executive director for Congregation Kol Ami.

“It’s a story of miracle. It’s a story of survival,” he said.

It’s a story that dates back many centuries, when the Maccabees reclaimed a temple that had been defiled by the Syrian Greeks in Jerusalem. There was only one jar of oil, enough to keep the lamps lit for one day. Instead, the oil lasted for eight days, which was enough time to replenish the oil.

This event was hailed as a miracle, and Hanukkah, which can be spelled different ways, is celebrated as the “Festival of Lights.”

Jews acknowledge the holiday by lighting a menorah (a candelabrum, also called a Hanukkiah) for eight nights, adding a candle each day until all eight, plus a head candle, are lit together.

There are other traditions as well.

A spinning top called a dreidel is used to play a game, often with gelt, which are coin-shaped chocolates. Serving latkes, which are potato pancakes, is another tradition.

There are songs and melodies, prayers and a recounting of the miracle, as well.

The sharing of those activities is what makes Hanukkah special, Weiss explained.

“It’s all about the story, it’s all about remembering,” he said.

Hanukkah makes use of a menorah to light candles in observance of the ‘Festival of Lights.’ According to Mitchell Weiss from Congregation Kol Ami, they can be simple, elaborate, decorative or even homemade. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Hanukkah makes use of a menorah to light candles in observance of the ‘Festival of Lights.’ According to Mitchell Weiss from Congregation Kol Ami, they can be simple, elaborate, decorative or even homemade.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Weiss, now 58 and living in Wesley Chapel, has his own memories of Hanukkah. He grew up in Edison, New Jersey, in an area with a large Jewish community. So large, in fact, it was nicknamed “Hanukkah Hill.” Some of his fondest memories include when his grandmother (who was a Holocaust survivor) would make latkes. Hers were a bit different, being made with squash instead of potatoes. He also remembers using a special menorah that he made with his father and brother when he was 10.

Even though those celebrations occurred decades ago, the traditions survive in his family. He still has his grandmother’s recipe, and the Weiss’ enjoy squash latkes each year. And, the menorah he used as a child still resides in his parents’ home. Seeing it brings back special memories, he said.

It’s not unusual for adults to rekindle fond memories of Hanukkah from their own youth, Weiss said.

Kol Ami has a special Hanukkah celebration each year that’s open to the public, on the third night of the holiday. While it’s a time for celebration, it also conjures up a bit of nostalgia.

“We have a lot of seniors here that, in their past when they had their holidays, they remember the good times with their parents,” Weiss explained. “When we have the candle-lighting ceremony, sometimes there are tears, because they remember how good it was when they had Hanukkah.”

Today, children still have it pretty good, with presents usually opened on each of the eight nights. But, like Christmas, the holiday goes beyond material gifts. It’s about fond memories, continuing traditions and spending time with loved ones.

“All Jewish holidays are always about family. No matter what holiday it is, it’s all about family,” Weiss said.

Hanukkah events

Where: Congregation Kol Ami, 3919 Moran Road, Tampa
What: Hanukkah Celebration, including a musical program, a pasta dinner, lighting of the Hanukkiah and games.
When: Dec. 9 at 6 p.m.
How much: The event is free and open to the public.
For more information or to RSVP, call (813) 962-6338, or email .

Where: Congregation Mekor Shalom, 14005A N. Dale Mabry Highway
What: Third Annual 4th Night, 3rd Light Hanukkah. The celebration will include latkes and lighting of menorahs. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own Hanukkiah to join in the celebration.
When: Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m.
For more information, call (813) 963-1818, or visit MekorShalom.org.

Where: The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive, in front of Dillard’s.
What: Chabad at Wiregrass will host its Chanukah Street Fair, which includes hot potato latkes, doughnuts and gelt, as well as live entertainment, face-painting, magic, games and a photo booth. They will also light the menorah.
When: Dec. 13 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Who: It’s free and open to the public. For more information, call (813) 642-3244, or visit ChabadatWiregrass.com.

Where: Chabad at Wiregrass, 2124 Ashley Oaks Circle
What: Chanukah bash and teen heritage night, which includes a limousine ride to Amalie Arena to see the Tampa Bay Lightning and a menorah lighting at Thunder Alley.
When: Dec. 10 at 5:30 p.m.
For more information, call (813) 642-3244, or visit ChabadatWiregrass.com.

Published December 2, 2015

Cash registers jingle at Tampa Premium Outlets

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Shopping madness begins at Tampa Premium Outlets in a shop ‘til you drop holiday extravaganza.

The outlet mall, which is experiencing its first holiday season, will open on Thanksgiving at 6 p.m., and will continuously operate through Black Friday, until 10 p.m.

Mall hours the rest of the weekend will be from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m., on Nov. 28 and from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m., on Nov. 29.

While shoppers are expected to flock to the outlet mall — which had a splashy opening at the end of October — local businesses may pick up some spinoff trade.

Local shops are already reporting that their cash registers are ringing up more sales.

Tampa Premium Outlets is having a shop ‘til you drop holiday extravaganza during its first holiday season. The shopping destination opened at the end of October, off State Road 56, west of Interstate 75. (File Photo)
Tampa Premium Outlets is having a shop ‘til you drop holiday extravaganza during its first holiday season. The shopping destination opened at the end of October, off State Road 56, west of Interstate 75.
(File Photo)

“I’ve already seen it,” said Jeremy Quijano, manager of Kona Swim Bike Run, at 27217 State Road 56. The triathlon shop is a short hop from the outlet mall, at the interchange of Interstate 75 and State Road 56.

Quijano said a man came in the shop after dropping off his wife at the outlet mall. He put his focus on buying sports gear not on hours of outlet mall shopping. “I’m going to have some fun,” Quijano said the man told him.

The outlet mall is one half of a retail bookend that could bring more visibility to locally owned and operated shops.

Another customer told Quijano that he was driving past heading from The Shops at Wiregrass to Tampa Premium Outlets when he spotted Kona.

“I never knew you were here,” the customer said.

Before and during the grand opening, Hampton Inn & Suites saw a boost in reservations as the mall’s developer, Simon Property Group, booked rooms for its team members.

People from corporate headquarters are still flying in, said Todd Patrick, the hotel’s general manager.

But, reservations don’t have to come from long-distance travelers. Patrick said a woman from Spring Hill booked a night at the hotel within the past week because she wanted to get an early start on her shopping.

Overall, he said, “It’s hard to gauge. But, there are a few people making reservations to shop.”

That can happen, apparently, even when the drive from home is only 30 minutes.

The shopping season is expected to be strong as it officially kicks off on Black Friday, according to recent surveys by the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Sales should increase about 3.3 percent, according to one survey. Another consumer survey showed customers plan to spend $702 on average for holiday gifts, an increase from $677 in 2014.

“It’s a pretty sizable jump,” said Jesse Tron, spokesman for the council. Consumers are feeling pretty good. “It should produce what should be a very strong season.”

So, cash registers will be jingling at The Shops at Wiregrass and Tampa Premium Outlets. There really is no direct competition between them, but there is the potential for people who come to one venue to drive on over to the other, Tron said.

“The two are different kinds of shopping trips,” he added.

Local malls typically are destinations for area residents who stop by once or twice a week. Outlets malls draw regionally from shoppers who make it a day trip and stay for hours.

But, he said, “(Local) malls are increasingly looking at becoming experience destinations. They may add unique dining and entertainment options. It’s not necessarily about retail. It’s adding the extra layer. Local malls and shopping centers are very invested in their community.”

For more information on holiday shopping hours for Tampa Premium Outlets, visit PremiumOutlets.com/outlet/tampa/about.

Published November 25, 2015

A gift for shoppers: Two malls within 2 miles

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As Black Friday approaches, shoppers will scour advertisements for deals and map out a strategy to make the most of savings.

And this year, for the first time in Pasco County history, consumers will be able to shop at an outlet mall and a traditional mall within 2 miles of each other.

Greg Lenners, general manager at The Shops at Wiregrass, said the shopping mall expects to benefit from the nearby location of Tampa Premium Outlets. The outlet center will bring more people into the area, and some will likely visit his mall, he said. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Greg Lenners, general manager at The Shops at Wiregrass, said the shopping mall expects to benefit from the nearby location of Tampa Premium Outlets. The outlet center will bring more people into the area, and some will likely visit his mall, he said.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

There was a time when the prospect of having a new mall so nearby would have been a cause for concern, said Greg Lenners, general manager at The Shops at Wiregrass.

But, that was when plans called for a traditional mall on the land where Tampa Premium Outlets opened on Oct. 29.

The landscape of Wesley Chapel has changed dramatically in the seven years since The Shops at Wiregrass opened, Lenners said.

Back then, State Road 56 ended at the mall’s entrance to Dillard’s, and Bruce B. Downs was a two-lane road.

Now, the area is popping.

State Road 56 has been extended to Meadow Pointe Boulevard, with a proposal to make it four lanes all the way to Zephyrhills. Bruce B. Downs is now a six-lane road.

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel opened 3½ years ago, is undergoing a $78 million expansion, 2 ½ years ahead of schedule.

Plus, Lenners noted, there’s an 85,000-square-foot medical office building going up next door, Pasco-Hernando State College opened its Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch down the street, and there are about 1,000 homes under construction within a 3-mile ring of the mall.

“You’ve got Estancia. You’ve got The Ridge. Seven Oaks has got a lot of development. You’ve got Arbor Woods. Standard Pacific has a couple of developments on Meadow Pointe, as well, and you’ve got all that coming by the mall,” Lenners said.

“All of this is happening in our backyard, everything east of (Interstate) 75,” he said.

The primary customers at The Shops at Wiregrass are between the ages of 25 and 44, Lenners said. The average annual household income ranges from $85,000 to $90,000. And, the mall’s annual performance has improved every year since it opened, Lenners said.

The general manager doesn’t view Tampa Premium Outlets as competition to be feared.

Instead, he said, “it’s a perfect complement to what we have.”

An outlet center typically draws customers from roughly a 50-mile radius, Lenners said, His mall draws from a 10-mile ring.

The retail expert expects Tampa Premium Outlet’s longer reach to bring more people into the area, with some of those people deciding to check out The Shops at Wiregrass, at State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

“The benefit for us is that customers that wouldn’t have come typically all of the way up here to visit — from Tampa, or some outer-lying areas — now they’ll come to the outlet (mall),” Lenners said.

The Shops at Wiregrass, just 2 miles away from Tampa Premium Outlets, will likely serve customers who want to eat at its restaurants or explore additional shopping options, he said.

The addition of Tampa Premium Outlets has not prompted The Shops at Wiregrass to rethink its game plan or amp up its events, Lenners said.

“We’ve established ourselves as a staple of the community, and that’s because of the events that we do,” he said. For example, this is the eighth holiday season that The Shops at Wiregrass has hosted “Symphony in Lights.”

This year, the show, presented by Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, has been revamped.

But, that’s not because of the new outlet mall, Lenners said.

The old tree wouldn’t work with current technology, and problems cropped up when it rained, Lenners said.

The new tree is 54 feet tall, including the star, and is about 27 feet in diameter.

“The presentation is much more dramatic,” Lenners said. There are four shows a night, with music from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra for two shows and a mix of holiday songs — that were suggested by mall shoppers — for the other two.

In between the sound and light shows, local groups give live performances on a stage in the mall’s center court, in front of the giant Christmas tree.

That’s been a tradition for years.

“Every night, there’s a different group. They’ve got their 45 minutes of fame,” Lenners said.

The mall will continue to have assorted events, including the Suncoast Arts Festival, car shows, fresh markets and charity walks for various causes, Lenners said.

It also continues to consider new possibilities.

“We’re constantly evolving things. We’re massaging. We’re constantly looking at events: What works? What doesn’t? What’s starting to get stale?” Lenners said.

Having the Tampa Premium Outlets and The Shops at Wiregrass in such convenient proximity adds to the Wesley Chapel area’s growing cache, Lenners said.

“We’re turning into a shopping mecca, destination. You can pretty much make a day of it,” Lenners said.

Published November 25, 2015

Wiregrass Sports Park on new path?

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The future of the Wiregrass Sports Park is in play, again.

A new call for proposals will be issued within the next month seeking developers who want to partner with Pasco County in building and operating a field house for indoor sports such as basketball, wrestling and volleyball.

The project also envisions the potential for four or five outdoor ball fields. And, eventually there could be tourist attractions such as an indoor zipline, indoor skydiving, and a driving range.

But, even as the county puts the project out for bid, negotiations are under way on a new proposal from the Porter family, who have played a considerable role in influencing the development of the area.

The family previously owned the land now occupied by The Shops at Wiregrass, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, as well as residential subdivisions and public schools.

The Porters donated more than 200 acres to Pasco County in 2012 with a stipulation that if a sports complex didn’t happen, then a park would be developed.

Since then, the county has sifted through one proposal after another, but none has panned out.

The family is eager to see work starting at the site.

It came down to one question for them.

“What can we do as a family to get this off the ground and make it a reality?” J.D. Porter asked.

Within the past two weeks, they presented county officials with a new vision for a town center-style community at Wiregrass with homes, hotels and retail. The proposal incorporates the field house, but also draws a grander vision for a wetlands area with trails, a convention center and/or performing arts center at PHSC’s Porter Campus, a public park and green space for Wiregrass residents.

It would all be pedestrian-friendly, interconnected space linking to Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, the college and a public park. The future Raymond James commercial site, with 1 million square feet of office space within six buildings, also is plugged into the plan.

The Porter’s proposal could lead to a land swap agreement returning a portion of the donated land to the family to accommodate their town-center project and also allow for a public park. The land could be split re-divided along several geographic patterns.

It was a lot to digest as county commissioners met on Oct. 27 in a public workshop with the Tourist Development Council.

Pasco County Strategic Policy Administrator Richard Gehring clicked through a slide show of changing scenarios on how development could proceed, and meet everyone’s expectations.

Discussion with the Porters is ongoing.

“There are moving parts,” said Gehring. “The geography is not fixed at this time. We’re trying to make it a win-win for as many people as possible.”

Gehring said it would take about three weeks to write a proposal for the field house. Bidders would have 60 days to submit their plans.

The recommendation to build a field house emerged from a study by Chicago-based Johnson Consulting Co.

The facility would be between 85,000 and 100,000 square feet, built on five to seven acres. There would be up to eight basketball courts, four to six multi-purpose rooms and lockers. It would operate under a private/public partnership agreement.

By the fifth year of operation, about 100,000 people a year would use the facility, said Charlie Johnson, the company’s president.

In future, outdoor ball fields could be added, he said.

“You can start with indoor, and grow from there,” Johnson said.

The field house and the Porter’s future development project is a sound one, said Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore.

“To me, we’re getting everything the (Johnson Consulting) report stated but above and beyond,” he said. “I’m excited…looking at it.”

Porter said the proposal allows the family to “control our destiny,” while also providing park space to county residents.

He anticipates consulting with Pasco parks and recreation officials to determine how to develop the park.

“We’ll ask them what they are lacking there,” Porter said.

If the land swap is done, he added, “We’d start immediately laying it out as amenities, not just for Wiregrass but everybody.”

Published November 4, 2015