With property deal done, the Warehouse District Arts Enclave moves to next phase

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By Eric Snider The Warehouse Arts District Enclave on the southern edge of downtown St. Petersburg has gone from idea to project to, as of a few weeks ago, reality.

In late December, the nonprofit Warehouse Arts District Association (WADA) closed on a 2.7-acre site that includes 50,000 square feet of warehouse space in six buildings. The organization made a year-end purchase deadline by achieving its fundraising goal of $350,000.

“It’s happening now,” said WADA President Mark Aeling. “It’s not an if.”

The deal… Read More

Source:: TBBJ Real Estate

Hacking of CENTCOM resembles prior Albuquerque media hack

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By Pam Huff Call it coincidence.

Weeks before hackers got hold of U.S. Central Command’s social media accounts, a similar attack happened to the Albuquerque Journal’s website and then its Facebook and Twitter feeds.

Hackers using the same “CyberCaliphate” and “i love you isis” messages took control of the social media accounts of CENTCOM, located at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, earlier this month, as previously reported.

CENTCOM maintained control of its Facebook account, though its Twitter and YouTube… Read More

Source:: TBBJ Real Estate

CenterState Banks profit swells in Q4 2014

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By Margie Manning A much-improved credit environment and Florida real estate market helped boost income at CenterState Banks Inc. in the last three months of 2014.

CenterState (NASDAQ: CSFL), a Davenport-based bank that’s among the largest community banks in Tampa Bay, reported net income of $7.3 million, or 16 cents a share, for the fourth quarter of 2014, compared to $1.8 million or 6 cents a share, in the same quarter in 2013.

Nonperforming loans and nonperforming assets are both down by 18 percent from the third… Read More

Source:: TBBJ Real Estate

Developer: Apartment project is in ‘one of the more transitional areas’ of Tampa Heights

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By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer Michael Mincberg is up front about the fact that his latest development project is in a dicey part of one of Tampa’s up-and-coming urban neighborhoods.

“All of Tampa Heights is transitional, and this is definitely one of the more transitional areas,” said Mincberg, president of Sight Real Estate. “There’s definitely a level of risk because there are some nice, fixed-up bungalows and some really decrepit property there, too.”

Sight Real Estate is planning to convert an old bottling factory at the… Read More

Source:: TBBJ Real Estate

Developer to convert old Tampa Heights bottling plant to apartments

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By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer A developer is planning to reinvent an old brick bottling plant in Tampa Heights.

Tampa-based Sight Real Estate said Saturday that it has closed on the Graham Bottling Co. at the corner of North Jefferson and East Plymouth streets in Tampa Heights. The company plans to convert the 46,000-square-foot building into a 22-unit apartment complex named The Bootlegger.

Sight paid $375,000 for the warehouse, which was built in 1925, according to Hillsborough County property records. Sight will do the project… Read More

Source:: TBBJ Real Estate

Kriseman unveils police station funding plan, highlights business leaders in State of the City

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By Margie Manning St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman kicked off his second year in office with a State of the City address that focused in large part on the city’s economic improvements.

He cited the city’s expanding skyline, westward movement of shops and restaurants along Central Avenue, and growth of the arts as evidence of a resurgence of the city.

“At least once a week, over the entirety of the last year, I’ve had the pleasure of working with developers, entrepreneurs and local business leaders, on their ideas,… Read More

Source:: TBBJ Real Estate

5 things to start the day: Kale and bacon are out, Starbucks scores big with gift cards, Jeff Gordon’s last NASCAR race

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By Pam Huff Metropolitan Ministries will open “Miracles for Pasco” housing modeled after MiraclePlace in Hillsborough County, with 24 new supportive housing units for homeless families with children. Since July 2014, Metropolitan Ministries said more than 700 families in Pasco have reached out for help with housing, according to a statement. State lawmakers awarded a $1 million grant and Pasco County has $600,000 earmarked for it, which totaled is enough for 12 units. Metropolitan Ministries goal is to raise… Read More

Source:: TBBJ Real Estate

At NYC Council hearing, Airbnb official says company doesn’t look for illegal listings

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As expected, New York City Council members had tough questions for Airbnb’s head of global policy during an hours-long hearing yesterday. But, perhaps surprisingly, David Hantman admitted that his company does not actually try to determine if any of its listings are illegal.

Hantman said that San Francisco-based Airbnb does pay attention to its listings, but it focuses on “quality”. Specifically, he was quoted by Capital New York saying, “We’ve removed thousands of listings in New York, for instance,… Read More

Source:: TBBJ Real Estate

GeekWire reads my mind in Tampa Bay startup scene write-up

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By Wade Tyler Millward A Seattle technology news website seems to have cracked open my skull and poured out all the anecdotes, reports and interviews I have come across during my first 87 days reporting on Tampa Bay’s emerging technology and startup scenes.

Metaphorically speaking, that is.

GeekWire published today the first of a four-part series on Startup Week events in areas outside the best-known startup hubs, beginning with Tampa.

The article by John Cook captures the past triumphs and tribulations that members… Read More

Source:: TBBJ Real Estate

Long-awaited residential tower in Channelside delayed by financing

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By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer As the residential boom in downtown Tampa’s Channel district rolls on, one key parcel remains dormant.

Although the city has plunked down new sidewalks on Madison Street, it could be a few more months before the vacant lot between Madison and East Twiggs streets sees the groundbreaking of a long-awaited residential tower.

The cause of the delay: Securing financing for the tower, the 23-story Martin at Meridian, which will include a retail space on the street level rumored to be for a grocery store.

Mercury… Read More

Source:: TBBJ Real Estate