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Times sues over ordinance
The St. Petersburg Times filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block a new city ordinance aimed at halting money collection activities — including hawking Sunday newspapers — at busy intersections.
The paper's owner, Times Publishing Co., argued that having access to streets and sidewalks is essential to First Amendment freedoms. The Times claims its hawkers sell 7,000 papers from the medians at intersections every Sunday.
City officials said the ban is intended to improve public safety and bans all such activities, including panhandling and fund-raising. The St. Petersburg City Council unanimously approved the measure June 3.
TIA seeks suggestions
Tampa International Airport's newly formed marketing committee is conducting an online survey seeking input from business and leisure passengers on their favorite air routes.
The effort seeks to gather details about where people departing from TIA most often travel and which nonstop air service they prefer. Flyers can post their preferences at flymetampabay.com and that information will be used to develop air service marketing strategies.
Glazers deny BBC report
The owners of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers deny reports that they are in financial trouble related to their investment in the world's most valuable soccer franchise. The BBC claims the Malcolm Glazer family is $1.6 billion in debt, putting its ownership of Manchester United in jeopardy.
Bucs spokesman Jonathan Grella stated that the Glazers, who have assets totaling $2.9 billion, are “as financially well-positioned as ever before,” adding that their companies generate at least $800 million in annual revenue. He added that the family's refinancing of commercial real estate holdings in recent years proved to be a wise move.
Man U fans of have been upset at Glazer since he acquired the British football club for $1.4 billion in a leveraged buyout in 2005. The club is now estimated to be worth $1.8 billion, while the Bucs are valued at $1.1 billion, according to Forbes magazine.
Appraised values drop
The total value of property in Manatee County fell $5.1 billion in 2009, according to preliminary data from the county's Property Appraiser's Office.
The drop, 13% from 2008, is the largest percentage drop during the recession for the county, which also saw about $5 billion in total loss of property value in 2008. The total value of property in the county is now $30.2 billion.
Specific regions of the county varied widely in the figures, which are estimates until the Property Appraiser's Office releases official data July 1. For example, Anna Maria Island, which was mostly built out before the boom, only dropped 4%. But Palmetto, a city in north Manatee County with several large condo projects, saw a 19% drop in property values.
County approves project
Manatee County commissioners recently approved a housing development project for Neal Communities, one of the most prolific builders in the region.
The project, Silverleaf, is for 700 homes on 263 acres in Parrish, near U.S. 301, Chin Road and Old Tampa Road. County officials, in debating the project's potential traffic concerns, came to a compromise with homebuilder Pat Neal: The county granted Neal road impact fee credits in lieu of him donating 120 feet of right of way for a four-lane boulevard to connect the development.
Silverleaf is one of several projects Neal Communities has going on simultaneously in Manatee County. The firm celebrated its 40th anniversary this year.
Agency hires executive
Pittsburgh economic development executive Ron Maloney has been hired by the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County to recruit new businesses.
Maloney founded several businesses in Pittsburgh, in software publishing and executive employee relocation services, before a 10-year career in economic development. His roles in that field included working in business development and global marketing for the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance.
Maloney will perform similar tasks in Sarasota.
IBM powers Babcock
West Palm Beach-based Kitson & Partners says it plans to use IBM software to plan and design the technology systems that will power Babcock Ranch.
The 17,000-acre proposed new town that straddles the Lee-Charlotte county line will be the first town powered by solar energy, the developer says. IBM Rational Focal Point software will coordinate engineering and construction of the town, which eventually will include six million square feet of commercial space and thousands of residential homes.
Commercial permits fall
Builders in Lee County pulled 10 permits for commercial buildings in May worth $2.9 million, an 80% drop from the $14.2 million in May 2009, according to the Lee County Department of Community Development.
The downturn in commercial real estate has led to high vacancies and falling rents. Observers say construction won't rebound until those buildings fill up again.
On the residential side, builders pulled permits to build 41 single-family homes, an 18% drop from the 50 they pulled in the same month a year ago. Also in May, builders pulled permits for eight multi-family units, compared to four in May 2009.
Bank names president
The Bank of Naples named John “Jack” Tamblyn as its new president and CEO. Tamblyn replaced Robert Guididas, who retired from banking.
A 42-year veteran in banking, Tamblyn has worked for First Union, NationsBank, SunTrust Bank and SouthTrust Bank. Most recently, Tamblyn served as president of the Lee County market for Florida Community Bank, which was shut down by regulators on Jan. 29.
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