‘Miami’s most prolific condo developer’ is bullish on downtown Tampa

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One of the most credible real estate developers in Florida sees downtown Tampa’s real estate market as “very promising” for years to come.

Miami-based Related Group has confirmed its plans to redevelop the Tampa Tribune’s waterfront office building into an eight-story residential tower with 400 units.

Related is under contract to buy the 4.4-acre site and lease it back to the Tribune, said Arturo Pena, a vice president and development manager for the company. Demolition of the existing Tribune… …read more

More apartments in the works for North Hyde Park

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A Clearwater developer is proposing a small apartment project in North Hyde Park.

Southport Financial Real Estate LLC has asked the city to rezone 1.7 vacant acres at 707 N. Rome Ave to make way for 86 apartments ranging from 750 to 1,150 square feet.

Sixty units will be 900 square feet with two bedrooms; 12 units will have one bedroom and 14 will have three bedrooms.

The North Hyde Park area is seeing an influx of multifamily development as land becomes more scarce — and more expensive —… …read more

New home sales hit seven-year high; more good news for housing market (Video)

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Sales of new single-family homes increased by more than 2 percent in May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 546,000.

That’s the best sales number since February 2008 and is nearly 20 percent above the pace at which new homes were being sold a year ago.

The median sales price was $282,800, according to the Commerce Department report.

The report is another sign of a recovering housing. The National Association of Realtors reported Monday that sales of existing homes had hit their highest… …read more

Highwoods preps New Tampa land for potential multifamily development

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Highwoods Properties Inc. is adding the potential for a new multifamily building in Highwoods Preserve, a mixed-use development in New Tampa.

Raleigh, North Carolina-based Highwoods (NYSE: HIW) has filed plans with the city to add multifamily zoning to a nearly 15-acre parcel at 18311 Highwoods Preserve Parkway.

Highwoods is requesting additional zoning that would allow 250,000 square feet or 400 multifamily units.

A Highwoods spokeswoman said Monday there were no immediate plans for the property.

“Our… …read more

Prime South Tampa site being prepped for multifamily development

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A prime South Tampa site — a block off Bayshore Boulevard and walking distance to bars and restaurants — is being readied for a multifamily development.

John Dingfelder, a land use attorney and agent with Keller Williams, has filed a request with the city to rezone the .44 acres at 2901 W. Barcelona St. for a new multifamily building. The site is currently zoned for single-family residential and commercial, as a home and a former plumbing business are located there.

About 15 units in four or… …read more

Existing home sales hit highest level since 2009

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Sales of existing homes jumped to their highest level in nearly six years in May, according to the National Association of Realtors.

The 5.1 percent increase in May brought sales to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.35 million. That’s 9 percent above the pace a year ago. Included in this total are sales of single-family homes, townhomes, condominums and co-ops.

“Solid sales gains were seen throughout the country in May as more homeowners listed their home for sale and therefore provided… …read more

Urban townhouses proposed for Westshore near former Without Walls site

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Westshore’s residential boom rolls on, this time with a developer proposing for-sale townhouses near Met West International.

Icon Residential Living, based in Largo, is asking the city to rezone about 5 acres of the southern portion of the former Without Walls International Church property, which is on Columbus Drive. (See map below.) The rezoning would allow single-family attached housing on the site.

Icon would build 93 townhouses on the site, said Michael Horner, who represents Richman Group,… …read more

Wells Fargo West Florida leader believes in telling the bank’s story

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A mi d a backlash by two religious organizations against Wells Fargo & Co.’s first national ad featuring a gay couple, the bank’s top executive in Tampa Bay is an outspoken advocate for the bank’s approach. “Being diverse and inclusive, it’s just the right thing to do,” David Guzman, who is gay, said in a wide-ranging interview with Tampa Bay Business Journa l. “We need to tell our story.” The bank’s values and vision resonate with customers, said Guzman, West Florida Region president… …read more

Ellen Macfarlane works to bring women into law leadership

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Ellen M. Macfarlane

• Title, company: Shareholder, chairman, board of directors, Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen PA

• Grew up: In the steel town of Alliance, Ohio

• Education: Ohio State University, undergrad and law school

• Family followed: Her parents and brother followed her to Tampa. “It’s a great place to live and spend your career and raise your children.”

• Favorite law movie:“Philadelphia” — specifically Denzel Washington’s role is the “epitome of what a lawyer… …read more

5 things to start the day: Local architect talks boomer lifestyle, and Allegiant’s woes at PIE

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The U.S. Treasury’s newly redesigned $10 bill will feature a woman. Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew will choose a notable woman — with a focus on celebrating a champion of democracy, the Treasury Department said. So, it’s asking for help in the form of ideas from the American people. The only criterion: the person must be deceased. So get your thinking caps on, Tampa Bay. Visit www.thenew10.treasury.gov to learn more and use #TheNew10 to share ideas on social media.

For the second time in a… …read more