Tampa Innovation Alliance kickoff lunch draws big crowd, drums up enthusiasm

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By Eric Snider They ran out of box lunches.

Not so great for the handful of folks who didn’t get one, but terrific for the Tampa Innovation Alliance, whose kickoff event Friday drew far more people than its director, Mark Sharpe, expected.

At least 150 people — the number of lunches on hand — turned out for the event, held in the atrium of the USF Connect building. It was part ceremony, part pep rally and part sell job (albeit not heavy-handed) to generate interest, enthusiasm and new members for the Alliance,… Read More

Source:: TBBJ Real Estate

Obama’s top economist: ‘We’d like to see wages go up more’

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By Jo-Lynn Brown The jobs report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Friday morning contains some encouraging news.

The United States economy added 252,000 jobs in December and unemployment fell to 5.6 percent. The number of discouraged workers, or people who have given up on looking for work and not factored into the unemployment number, fell by 177,000 compared to the previous year.

But, and there’s always a but, there is a “Debbie Downer” component within the report — hourly pay.

“In December there… Read More

Source:: TBBJ Real Estate

Weekend Playbook: For football junkies, this is it

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By Rick Johnston If you are a football fan, this is the weekend you’ve been waiting on. The college football world is about to crown a national champion — many argue the first true national champion the sport has seen — and the NFL will be occupying the weekend proper with four fantastic games.

Off the field, however, there’s a lot of money flying around.

As we look toward the Super Bowl, it’s become almost an old-hat subtext to find out what companies are buying in terms of advertising. This week, we learned… Read More

Source:: TBBJ Real Estate

Good month for job growth; bad month for wages

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By Kent Hoover December was another good month for jobs growth, with one exception: Workers made less money.

Here are the headline numbers from Friday’s Bureau of Labor Statistics report: Employment rose by 252,000 jobs, the unemployment rate fell to 5.6 percent — it’s lowest level since since June 2008 — and average hourly earnings fell by 5 cents to $24.57.

Here’s what those numbers mean as we enter this new year:

The economy is cooking when it comes to jobs

Job growth averaged 246,000 per month in 2014,… Read More

Source:: TBBJ Real Estate

Special Report: Sarasota is the Bay region’s lap of luxury

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By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer Sarasota dominated the top home sales in 2014. Of the 25 home sales on the List, 19 were in Sarasota County. The area has always been a retirement for the wealthy, but has started to attract a younger demographic by promoting its vibrant cultural scene.

View the photos to see three examples of homes and information about each. Read More

Source:: TBBJ Real Estate

Roundtable: From retail to office, executives show optimism

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Tampa Bay’s commercial real estate industry had a good year in 2014. There was growth across all sectors, with job and population growth driving new deals throughout the region.

The Tampa Bay Business Journal recently gathered a group of leaders in commercial real estate for their thoughts on the market, obstacles to growth, and what’s to come in 2015.

Doreen DiPolito, owner, Demar General Contracting and vice mayor, Clearwater

Bill Edwards, chairman/CEO, The Edwards Group

Bruce Erhardt, executive… Read More

Source:: TBBJ Real Estate

Tampa City Council signs off on controversial apartment tower on Harbour Island

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By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer A Harbour Island apartment tower opposed by its neighbors received the go-ahead for Tampa City Council Thursday morning, and the residents now must decide whether to continue their fight against the project.

A city official had decided that the Related Group’s plans for a 21-story, 340-unit apartment tower at 402 Knights Run Ave. did not need a substantial change approval to move forward, and city council voted to approve that motion at Thursday’s meeting.

Substantial change approvals are necessary… Read More

Source:: TBBJ Real Estate

Hillsborough Title, Florida Agency Network strike deal for Bella Title

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By Margie Manning Florida Agency Network has acquired Bella Title, a Land O’ Lakes-based real estate title company.

Financial terms were not disclosed. Mica Butterwood, owner and operator of Bella Title, will serve as Florida Agency Network’s relationship manager for northern Hillsborough County, a statement said.

Florida Agency Network is an umbrella organization of title companies that have been consolidated amid industry changes. Launched by Aaron Davis, president and CEO, and with its roots in Hillsborough Title… Read More

Source:: TBBJ Real Estate

St. Joseph’s Hospital-South in Riverview nears opening date

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By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer The newest contender in the battle for commercially insured patients in South Hillsborough County will open its doors next month.

St. Joseph’s Hospital-South is on track to open in February, with plans to hold a community open house from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 17. The hospital is at 6901 Simmons Loop, a half-mile east of the intersection of Interstate 75 and Big Bend Road in Riverview.

The hospital hasn’t disclosed an opening date. The exact date depends on final approvals from the state’s Agency… Read More

Source:: TBBJ Real Estate

Deer Valley top executive steps down

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By Margie Manning Charles Masters has retired as president and CEO of Deer Valley Corp.

Masters’ retirement comes a few months after Peerless Systems Corp. became majority owner of Deer Valley (OTC: DVLY), a manufactured homebuilder that was headquartered in Tampa until recently.

The company does not plan to hire a replacement for Masters, a statement said.

Masters led an investment group that acquired Deer Valley Homebuilders in 2006 and took the firm public through a merger. In 2009, he spearheaded development… Read More

Source:: TBBJ Real Estate