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Park plans scuttled
Plans to turn part of the former Georgetown Apartments site in south Tampa into a waterside park and nature preserve were canceled because Hillsborough County and the property's owners failed to agree on price.
A group of investors led by Tampa-based DeBartolo Development previously agreed to sell half the 160-acre site to the county under its Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program. The owners were asking at least $25 million for the tract, but county leaders didn't want to pay any more than its $17.5 million appraised value.
DeBartolo's group bought the entire property two years ago for $31 million from Bank of America in a foreclosure deal. A South Florida homebuilder paid $125 million in 2005 with plans to redevelop the complex north of Gandy Boulevard.
Zoo campaign begins
Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo launched a $10 million capital campaign to expand animal science and conservation programs. Nearly half the amount has already been pledged.
A gift of $1 million from the Jacarlene Foundation will be used to build a veterinary hospital. The 12,000-square-foot building will include dedicated areas for surgery, pharmacy, radiology, labs and animal quarantine.
In addition to the animal care complex and renovated boardwalk, the campaign will provide for new exhibits and visitor amenities. This is the zoo's first capital campaign in 10 years.
DWIC changes name
Doctor's Walk-In Clinic, a Tampa-based chain of medical care centers for minor injuries and illnesses, will change its name in February to MedExpress Urgent Care to reflect its new ownership. Dr. Stephen Dickey sold the chain to Morgantown, W.Va.-based MedExpress nearly two years ago.
MedExpress has more than 40 centers in four states, including locations in South Florida. It will open its first location with the new brand Dec. 16 at Largo Mall, while eight other DWIC centers in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties will be rebranded.
Algenol plans more space
Algenol Biofuels plans to build a refinery near its laboratory in Bonita Springs to showcase ethanol production from algae.
Partners in the 36-acre project include Dow Chemical, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Georgia Institute of Technology and Membrane Technology and Research.
Algenol recently opened a 40,000-square-foot laboratory after obtaining a $10 million subsidy from Lee County and $25 million from the federal government. The new refinery will be located adjacent to the lab.
Canadian-born entrepreneur Paul Woods and his partners founded Algenol with $70 million in 2006.
Woods previously built and sold two natural-gas companies in Canada before more moving to Bonita Springs.
Allegiant adds nonstops
Low-cost airline Allegiant recently inaugurated more nonstop destinations from Punta Gorda Airport near Fort Myers.
New nonstop destinations include Grand Rapids, Mich., Greensboro, N.C. and Lexington, Ky. Inaugural fares ranged from $40 to $80 each way.
The Las Vegas-based airline and travel company already offers nonstop flights between Punta Gorda and Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C., and Knoxville, Tenn. It also serves the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport.
The Punta Gorda airport, located between Fort Myers and Sarasota, has seen its share of passengers grow as discount airlines such as Allegiant and DirectAir started service there. Allegiant began service in Punta Gorda in March 2009 and DirectAir started in November 2008.
Lee building remains slow
Despite indications of a better winter home-selling season, builders aren't pulling many more permits in Lee County than they did a year ago, according to the Lee County Department of Community Development.
Builders pulled 23 permits for single-family homes in Lee County in November, four more than the 19 they pulled in the same month one year ago.
Commercial-construction activity also remains depressed. Builders pulled commercial permits worth $1.4 million in November, up from $1.2 million in November 2009.
County denies request
Manatee County commissioners recently denied a rezone request from five property owners who wanted to turn homes on one of the county's busiest roads into office space.
The property owners asked the commission to approve a rezone of 1.75 acres in the 7600 block of Manatee Avenue West, near the Palma Sola Park residential neighborhood.
The owners sought a change from residential to professional-small, which covers office buildings up to 3,000 square feet.
But a majority of the commission, in a 5-2 vote, cited the already congested area in turning down the request.
Businesses get incentives
Three companies have announced plans to relocate to Sarasota County, possibly bringing along 147 jobs.
The firms will receive up to $365,000 in performance-based incentive grants and subsidies that were recently approved by Sarasota County Commissioners. The three companies are: Adams Group, a manufacturer from Punta Gorda; Swimwear Boutique, an online swimwear retailer from Blanco, Tex.; and RND Automation & Engineering, a Manatee County-based firm.
Adams Group will receive up to $300,000 if it adds 102 jobs over the next five years.
Swimwear Boutique could get up to $50,000 for 25 jobs over three years, and RND could receive up to $15,000 for one or two employees in the next three years.
Adams Group could hire 24 new employees within a year of arriving in Sarasota, according to CEO Ethan Adams.
Official adds duties
Manatee Economic Development Council Executive Director Eric Basinger was selected to chair the Tampa Bay Partnership's Economic Development Council, which represents eight counties.
Basinger has been with the Manatee EDC since May 2009.
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