Volume 23 Issue 10
Inside:
We Honor The Student Pride Award Winners! See page 26!
May 9, 2015
Named The 2014 ‘Small Business Of The Year’ By The Wesley Chapel Chamber Of Commerce! The Direct-Mail News Magazines Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Since 1993! For the complete list of neighborhoods we direct-mail to, see page 42.
Shops At Wiregrass Developer Moving Forward With Adjacent Phase II By Matt Wiley
With just short of a decade of being the central hub for dining, entertainment and shopping in Wesley Chapel under its belt, the Shops at Wiregrass mall is about to get started on its second phase of development. Following an April 7 pre-application meeting with Pasco County, Clevelandbased Forest City Enterprises (which developed the 646,000 sq.-ft. mall) is getting ready to launch the second phase of development on a 34-acre parcel of land within the Wiregrass Ranch Development of Regional Impact (DRI), immediately to the east of the mall, with additional frontage on S.R. 56. The expansion will bring not only about 120,000 sq. ft. of additional retail stores and restaurants to the area, but also more luxury apartments that will be developed concurrently by NRP Group, LLC, also based in Cleveland. “For the past few years, the economy wasn’t in anyone’s favor,” says Forest City’s manager of planning & development Abbas Hasan. “But, it’s coming back. The Shops at Wiregrass are doing well and there’s growth in the area.” Hasan says that about a year ago, Forest City started looking at the parcel of land next to the existing mall and having discussions about what could be done with it. He says that the company decided to chop it into two pieces and develop it into
both retail and residential space. “We’re working on our application for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,” Hasan explains, adding that only about 22-25 acres of the parcel are developable because of wetlands. Any plans for development therefore must be approved by the Army Corps to make sure that there won’t be any negative environmental impacts. “Getting the application in and approved will determine the timing for the project. It’s our biggest wild card.” Hasan says that he hopes to see movement on the project within a year of submitting the application to the Army Corps. “We’re looking at a 2017 timeframe,” he says. “We hope it’s earlier in that year than later.” No tenants can be named at this time, Hasan says, also due to the application process. What the Army Corps approves will ultimately determine the size of the buildings that can be built on the site. “We’re looking at the needs in the market and what would be complementary,” Hasan says. “We want to make it all work together.” Hasan also says that Forest City knows what sorts of tenants the company wants and is starting to approach some, which could include a large retailer (either a bigbox store or specialty grocer like Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s), a movie theater concept, restaurants and other retail stores. NRP Group also currently is working on the Army Corps application for the
planned residential segment, says NRP Group’s VP of development Kurt Kehoe. “We’re hoping to submit a formal application sometime in the middle of this year,” Kehoe says. “We’re working hand-in-hand with Forest City.” Kehoe says that NRP Group has a vision for 248 luxury apartments in three- and four-story buildings. Apartments would feature wood floors and granite countertops, as well Although extremely conceptual, the new site plan for “Phase II” of the as other amenities Shops at Wiregrass mall details plans for a possible movie theater (in red), that Kehoe says would specialty grocery store (green), other retail & restaurants (orange), as well exceed anything as nearly 250 luxury apartments (purple) surrounding a pond (in blue). else in the Wesley Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Chapel apartment market. NRP currently is Commerce executive director Hope Allen developing The Beacon, a 430-unit luxury says the Chamber leadership is excited complex in downtown St. Petersburg. about the expansion.“While I haven’t NRP would be the developer, owner formally been briefed on this project, I am and builder of the Wiregrass multi-family excited to hear about the concepts proproject, which Kehoe says is in a perfect posed,” Allen says. “From what I underlocation. “In our minds, if you want to be stand, this project has been in the works for in Wesley Chapel, this is one of the best a long time.” pieces of real estate,” he says. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News & Hasan adds, “We really like this Wesley WCNeighborhoodNews.com will proChapel area,” he says. “That’s why we’re vide updates about this exciting project. starting this project now.”
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Second Wesley Chapel Jazz Festival Rescheduled For May 23! Tyme Productions, LLC, originally tried the successful first WC Jazz FesBy Gary Nager to get the second Jazz Fest rescheduled tival (also held at the WC District
Despite a disappointing day-of cancellation due to intense morning rains back in February, the organizers of the second Wesley Chapel Jazz Festival are proud to announce that the event has been rescheduled for Saturday, May 23, noon-9 p.m., at the Wesley Chapel District Park (7728 Boyette Rd.). Organizer Tim Hancock of Jazz
for March, but now has finalized plans for the festival for two weeks after this issue reaches your mailboxes. Among the groups scheduled to appear at the Festival are Hancock’s own Abnique & Friends, Apt9, NJ Ladyfingers, Nick Dukas, Corrina Olivia and saxophonist extraordinaire Marlon Boone (photo), who also performed at
Also Inside This Issue!
News, Business & Sports Updates
Neighborhood Magazine
S.R. 56 Extension Could Be Four Lanes, New River Autism Event & Wiregrass March Of Dimes Recaps; Plus, Lots Of Local Business Features & More!
Neighborhood News Team Successfully Defends Spelling Bee Title, Dine Or Dash Is A Local Breakfast-Cuban-Italian Gem & More Neighborhood Nibbles & Biz Bytes!
Pages 1-30
Pages 31-44
Park) in August 2014. Hancock also promises there will be even more food vendors, more family-friendly activities (including bounce houses for the kids) and more at this exciting second event than there was the first time around. “People have been begging me to get this done again,” says the always-enthusiastic Hancock, who plays the drums and sings in Abnique. “Bring the whole family out for a day of great music.” For additional information, visit WesleyChapelJazzFestival. com or call Tim Hancock at 609-2531. All of us here at the Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News are proud that we will again be sponsors of this awesome Jazz Fest!