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Scientologists seek to expand
The Church of Scientology, which has had a lengthy presence in Tampa's Ybor City, is looking to expand to larger quarters, possibly the historic district's first cigar factory.
In a letter submitted to city officials, the church wants to purchase or lease part of the Ybor Square complex, at Ninth Avenue and 13th Street. A Scientology leader stated that the group has outgrown its 6,600-square-foot space along Eighth Avenue that it has owned for the last six years.
Ybor Square is a collection of three buildings dating back to 1886, when Vicente Martinez Ybor established cigar operations in Tampa. Orlando-based ZOM Development has owned the complex for the last 10 years, converting it from retail to office space.
Clearwater tower planned
A development partnership has plans to build a 19-story apartment tower that will become the tallest building in downtown Clearwater.
Fairfax, Va.-based Republic Land Development and DiCicco Development of Moon Township, Pa., plan to build the project at Court and Chestnut streets at an as-yet-undetermined date. The project is in the conceptual stage and has yet to obtain permits.
DiCicco owns the property through an entity called Court Development Associates and previously planned to build condominium units there before market conditions changed in recent years.
Chamber changes address
The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce moved into its new 10,000-square-foot office at the Tampa City Center building downtown. The chamber was based for the last decade at Channelside Bay Plaza. Bob Rohrlack, president and CEO of the Tampa chamber, stated that the new location “allows us to have a central location from which to work with businesses in Hillsborough County and across the region.” He added that the former office of GTE/Verizon's media center allows for greater convenience to chamber members as well future expansion.”
Collier merges divisions
Collier County recently approved merging two government divisions, eliminating three director-level positions and saving $2.5 million annually.
The community development and environmental services division and the transportation services division have been merged into a new growth management division. The changes are effective June 1.
The new division will reduce the combined staff by 34 positions. To date, the two divisions have reduced staff by 198 positions, over one-third of the work force from peak levels.
Beasley ekes out profit
Naples-based radio operator Beasley Broadcast Group reported higher earnings despite lower revenues in the quarter ending March 31 compared to the same period a year ago.
Revenues fell 3.2% to $21.8 million in the first quarter compared with the same period a year ago, primarily due to a drop in the Fort Lauderdale-Miami and Fayetteville, N.C. markets. But the company's $500,000 net income was a result of cost cutting.
No swimming in Cape Coral
The city of Cape Coral turned down a proposal to subsidize a swim and tennis facility on a 180-acre parcel it owns.
The National Swimming Center Corp., based in Austin, Texas, also proposed building an adjoining 300-room hotel and conference center.
The City Council voted to turn down the developer's request for a 99-year lease for $1 a year or a donation of the land to the nonprofit corporation the firm created.
The company is now exploring locating the swim center at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers, when the Boston Red Sox vacate the facility in 2012 to move to a new stadium near Southwest Florida International Airport.
Project continued
A public hearing and potential vote on one of the largest development projects to come before the Sarasota County Commission in several years was continued April 29.
Another hearing for the project, the Villages of Lakewood Ranch, is scheduled for May 12. The developer behind the project is Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, the company that built Lakewood Ranch. The Villages, planned as at least 5,100 homes to be built between 2010 and 2027, is SMR's first attempt to build homes in Sarasota County, where it has only developed an office park.
The project is planned for lots east of I-75 and south of University Parkway. It's also the first one to be brought forward under Sarasota County's 2050 plan, which was designed to preserve open space and prevent sprawl.
Business discontent rises
A survey of Sarasota business owners and executives hit an all-time high for dissatisfaction of the local business climate.
The survey, commissioned by the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County, pegged the dissatisfaction rate at 84% of all respondents, up from 76% when the survey was last conducted in 2008. The top five business climate issues, according to the respondents, were: Affordability and cost of living; direct costs such as labor, rent and energy; taxes; workforce quality and availability; and financing and insurance.
The survey is based on phone interviews of more than 300 business owners and executives made in January. The EDC presented the survey results to the Sarasota County Commission.
Foundation disperses grants
The William G. and Marie Selby Foundation recently awarded $1 million in grants to 28 nonprofit groups that serve Charlotte, Manatee and Sarasota counties. The funding will go toward capital improvements.
No organization received more than $50,000. That maximum amount was given to a dozen groups, including the All Faiths' Food Bank; the Education Foundation; Marie Selby Botanical Gardens; the Pines of Sarasota Foundation; and the Van Wezel Foundation.
“Our selection process was very difficult this round,” says Selby Foundation President Sarah Pappas. “Even the large, well-established organizations demonstrated significant need.”
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