Category: Tampa Bay

Three years ago this month, Tampa hosted Super Bowl XXXV. Right before the $45-million Channelside entertainment area opened. Talk about timing.

When Channelside did open, it was in piecemeal fashion. In fits and starts — and departures. Talk was more of vacancies and competition from Centro Ybor than of a place to hang out and have fun. Tampa’s Chamber of Commerce wound up taking space to help jumpstart the complex.

Fast forward to now. Stumps Supper Club is a success, and Howl At The Moon does well on weekends. But it’s the new tenants and their $10 million in investment that have made the marketplace take note. No one remembers the last rites for Pop City. The buzz is all about the new mix at Channelside — as well as its role in Channel District synergy and its part in plans for Tampa to create an increasingly attractive destination for visitors and locals.

“It looks like a good mix,” assesses Karen Brand, vice president for marketing for the Tampa Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It gives us a great package to sell to groups.”

Nothing embodies change at Channelside more than Hooters. The ultra successful, high-energy, wings-beers-and-babes restaurant occupies Channelside’s northwest corner and fronts — uh, beacon-like — Channelside Drive.

Hooters also brings a Channelside order of savvy marketing. It has a radio studio. It offers the “Hooters Express,” a free HARTline bus shuttle to accommodate the downtown lunch crowd. There are co-promotions with The Forum and possibly “bon voyage” parties for cruise customers.

“We love collectively bringing the market here and then letting it bounce around to the other places,” says Hooters’ co-founder Ed Droste.

Directly above Hooters is the 250-seat Signature Room Grille, scheduled to open in February. It will feature 1930s dinner club ambience and live jazz. It’s the first venture outside the Chicago market for owner Rick Roman, who also owns the Signature Room near the top of the John Hancock Center in downtown Chicago.

“Tampa is the perfect town for us,” says Roman. “A strong business community, a growing tourism base, nice weather and we’re on the water. What’s not to like about the potential around us? We love this location.”

And what of the juxtaposition with Hooters?

“We love the exposure,” deadpans Roman.

Other high profile newcomers include: Splitsville, 27,000 square feet of high-end, retro-look bowling alley; Grill 29 steak house; TinaTapas and Cold Stone Creamery. Channelside is 80 per cent leased. According to Susan Martin, marking director for Channelside leasing agent CB Richard Ellis, retail is being targeted for the remaining 20 percent.

“More clothing, a souvenir shop, perhaps a day spa,” says Martin. “We have stuff in the works.”

To Hurricane Pass Outfitters owner Bruce Rabon, his yearlong wait has been worth it.

“They said they were going to aggressively market the center, and they have,” notes Rabon. “I think the restaurant and entertainment components will be phenomenal. I recently told a business acquaintance, ‘You wait another year and you won’t be able to afford it.'”

Channelside opened ahead of its time, points out Christine Burdick, president of the Tampa Downtown Partnership. “But now it’s the right space for the right time. It’s in the heart of an area with other attractions, such as The Forum and the Aquarium. It’s on the way to Ybor — by trolley. And it’s so close to the most eclectic neighborhood in Tampa.”

Indeed, Channelside will benefit from burgeoning neighborhood development. From tony lofts to pricey condo towers, more than 1,500 residential units are in the works for various projects in the Channel District. Nearby Harbour Island will soon be built out — and home to 8,000 residents. In fact, 88,000 people currently live within a mile radius of downtown.

It should also be helped by a sizable hike in cruise passengers — to an estimated 800,000 in fiscal ’03 — plus plans for several more downtown hotels, including a 400-unit Embassy Suites across from the Tampa Convention Center.

The final piece in the short, closely scrutinized evolution of Channelside will be a subtraction. That’s when the chamber leaves to make way for a more entertaining tenant.

Timing is everything.

Channelside Tenants

Banana Joe’s Island Party

Grille 29

Cold Stone Creamery

Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce

Ciara’s

Howl At The Moon

Cigars by Antonio

Hurricane Pass Outfitters

Channelside Cinemas and IMAX

Joffrey’s Coffee

Margarita Mama’s

Tampa Bay Information Center

Paintings Of The World

TinaTapas

Signature Room Grille (Opening)

Wine Design

Splitsville

White House Gear

Stump’s Supper Club

Quoteworthies

The newcomer: “We saw the Channelside Shops location with new major restaurants coming in, the cruise ships increasing their visits as a perfect spot

There’s no denying that Ed Turanchik thinks big. And you know what? Somebody has to.

Tampa’s urban innards — the part between downtown and Ybor City — doesn’t need a makeover. It needs a start over. What it needs is of a scale that can’t be provided by a housing authority, federal grants notwithstanding. What the Central Park Village area needs is more than an islet of nicer, subsidized housing in a sea of economic disadvantage and neglect.

It needs 157 acres worth of massive investment that can only emanate from the private sector.

Turanchik’s company, Civitas, has stepped up publicly after having quietly acquired control or options on hundreds of lots. It proposes a mix of residential — both “market rate” and “affordable” — and retail development. A factory for manufactured housing and expanded public park areas are also part of the plan.

Civitas is backed by prominent investors such as Lazydays RV SuperCenter owner Don Wallace and Westchase developer Bill Bishop. Vince Naimoli could use pockets like that.

Civitas needs the cooperation of the housing authority and approval from the city for a master-planned community. The ultra-ambitious plan involves scenarios dependent on a community redevelopment area, tax-increment financing and tax credits.

Questions yet remain; details beg scrutiny.

But this much is evident. A project of this magnitude can only be pulled off by those who think big, dream big and ask “why not?” It cannot be accomplished by the public sector, self-appointed empowerment advocates and the usual naysaying suspects.

Earlier this year, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani paid a very high-profile visit to Mexico. His consulting firm was there to advise Mexican officials on matters related to crime and endemic corruption.

He preached the gospel of zero tolerance. It was a strategy that had brought results in New York — no modest accomplishment.

Last month another American contingent visited Mexico on a similar mission. Only this one was well under the publicity radar. And it brought a different message.

The group of four academics included three University of Tampa criminology professors: Christopher Capsambelis, Anthony LaRose and Thomas Hickey. Under the auspices of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, they were invited to make presentations to police and justice officials regarding Mexico’s well documented bribe culture — or “mordida.” Their advice: endemic corruption does not lend itself to zero tolerance. Forget that approach.

“If change is going to occur, it will have to involve a change in the culture,” stated Hickey, an expert in U.S. constitutional law. “We’re talking long-term enterprise. Zero tolerance is just a Band-Aid, sound-bite solution that displaces people to other social service agencies. And Mexico doesn’t have that kind of safety net.”

The only realistic strategy, said Hickey, was two-pronged and would likely span at least three generations. From the top down, it had to be communicated that “mordida” was no longer acceptable. He was encouraged, he said, because the rank-and-file officers they met “overwhelmingly” expressed the view that they didn’t want to be regarded as corrupt.

But more important was education, he stressed, which meant schools and — especially — the home. “Parents need to develop a sense of conscience in their kids,” he explained. And, yes, there was reason for optimism because the sense of family — and extended family — is so strong, he noted.

Hickey likened the approach to America’s experience with anti-smoking campaigns. They’re having an impact, but it didn’t happen overnight.

“It really begins within the structure of the family and the educational system,” underscored Hickey. “Reductionist, simplistic suggestions are just Band-Aids and won’t affect long-term change.”

CLEARWATER — This city wants to be known for more than a great beach, awesome sunsets and a drive-thru downtown.

To that end, city officials are aggressively marketing downtown to developers, getting creative with incentive packages and investing in infrastructure amenities. The word has gone out: there are prime parcels — public and private — for redevelopment. Among them: City Hall itself, which overlooks the harbor.

According to Reg Owens, the city’s director of economic development and housing, the campaign has generated about 65 face-to-face meetings with developers — predominately residential — over the last year.

“What’s really driving us is the national trend for urban living,” points out Owens. “Clearwater is safe and clean. Properties can be assembled, and there’s a water view. And now that so much is built out, developers are looking at infill projects. We qualify.”

The city would get no argument from Nick Pavonetti, director of development for Beck Development LLC. Beck is positioned to begin the 140-condo-unit Station Square by the end of the first quarter of ’04.

“Clearwater is ripe for downtown residential,” states Pavonetti. “The support of everyone from Mayor (Brian) Aungst down is the reason we’re here.”

Among other planned downtown projects is the 20-story, $80-million Clearwater Bay Club, a hotel-condo-retail hybrid.

“If you’re putting something into the ground, this is the place,” says Lee Arnold, CEO and chairman of Colliers Arnold, the developer of Clearwater Bay Club. “We see pent-up demand.”

Ralph Stone, Clearwater’s assistant city manager, put the prospects in perspective.

“Clearwater doesn’t enjoy position on the transportation network, but we do enjoy a unique piece of geography,” points out Stone. “We can bring the waterfront into downtown. This could be Dunedin on steroids.”

City officials have also looked west — and did a double take when they glimpsed their pristine beach through the filter of reality. It was world-class in sand and water — but second-class in its many tired properties.

While the proposed $350-million Blue Isle Resort remains uncertain, it’s nothing but clear sailing for JMC Communities. Last year they opened the Mandalay Beach Club luxury condos. JMC is currently building Belle Harbor Condominiums, which will total 200 residences, some priced at more than $1 million.

“We looked at the beach market and saw a lack of recent quality development,” says Lee Allen, JMC’s vice president of finance. “A lack of supply of quality second homes.”

It’s the same story for hotels, according to Richard Gehring, a partner in the ownership group that is developing the Seashell Hotel near mid-beach. Seashell Resort LLD hopes to break ground by the end of next year on its 250-unit, $85-million project.

“We’ve had a lot of city support on issues such as density,” says Gehring. “There’s been no new resort development here for some time. And there’s still strong visitation.”

It’s all enough to get Mike Meidel gushing like the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce president that he is. “I’d call it a self-feeding catalyst,” says Meidel. “The city doing streetscapes and public amenities pools. We’re recruiting retail and restaurants. A number of residential properties are going through the permitting process. All the parts are coming together.”

Infrastructure Help

Clearwater’s synergistic scenario for redevelopment includes more than $100 million worth of capital infrastructure improvements downtown and on the beach. Among them:

*The $64.2-million Memorial Causeway Bridge, set to open in early ’04.

*A 90,000-square-foot, $20-million main public library.

*A $7.5 redevelopment of Coachman Park and environs.

*$13.6 million worth of (downtown) streetscaping.

*Town Lake: $11.8-million urban park and lake.

*Approved plans for a 138-slip marina

*$2.5 million for streetscaping Mandalay Avenue on the North Beach

*Commitment to future development of a pedestrian beach promenade

For those family members personally impacted by the “one punch” death last year of 18-year-old Christopher Fannon, the recent mistrial must be agonizing. Jurors deadlocked over whether the freakish, lethal punch — thrown by defendant Alan Thompson, 22 — was a matter of murder or manslaughter.

A retrial awaits.

But something else lingers on. A different question.

Fannon, a Sickles High School senior, was out with some buddies the night he was felled by that punch at a Citrus Park Steak n Shake. At 3:30 a.m. Not to be insensitive, but what rationale was so compelling — including approaching graduation — that permission was given or inferred for a group of high school teens to be out at such an hour? There are, as we all know all too well, a number of things that can happen at that hour. Almost all are bad; some tragic.

Some folks love nothing more than a really vulgar, really loud, cacophonous performance. Others don’t. That juxtaposition apparently accounts for what happened last weekend at Vinoy Park in downtown St. Petersburg. The “Urban Car Show” tour, featuring rapper 50-Cent, was in concert. It is what it is.

A number of those not among the 5,300 attendees complained. Perhaps they had only themselves to blame. They were, after all, walking, driving, boating and living nearby. Anyway, the UCS was that loud and, apparently, that crude. By all accounts, the complaints were pretty loud too — many of which were aimed at city officials. As in never ever put something like this here again.

And those officials should have been chewed out. The city, whether it was clueless about rap or feckless about its fans, actually co-sponsored the event. Maybe officials were just amenable to authorizing anything that didn’t promise a public suicide.

Some, of course, are already characterizing this as a free speech/censorship issue. While an exercise in First Amendment parody might be more accurate, it needn’t come down to that. Nor is it about “dissing” somebody’s “art.”

This is a matter of responsible judgment — and lack thereof. It’s a matter of what a city will sponsor and what it will permit as a venue.

Its decision must be based on more than the preferences of sponsors and fans. Neighbors and passersby shouldn’t have to be hostage to assaultive entertainment. That’s not an acceptable trade-off. Vinoy Park, a jewel along downtown St. Pete’s waterfront, was not appropriate for a hip-hop performance headlined by 50-Cent. Not even close.

If the “Urban Car Show” couldn’t be accommodated in an enclosed concert venue, it should have been detoured somewhere else. Atlanta comes readily to mind.

Later this month (Nov. 26) Madstone Theaters will usher in a new cinema experience at the erstwhile, seven-screen AMC site in Old Hyde Park Village. According to CEO Tom Gruenberg, Madstone will be a destination for the “sophisticated” movie set. Much of the fare will be foreign, festival and independent. “Cinema for the mind,” Gruenberg called it.

“This market has what we look for,” stated Gruenberg. “The demographics, this facility, the fact that it’s under-served for what we do. And we expect to grow the market.”

And, no, Gruenberg doesn’t expect to be bad news for Tampa Theatre. “It’s one screen, it’s in a great old historic building and they do things that we don’t and won’t,” he noted. “We expect to play off each other.”

Madstone will accommodate — and solicit — those who want to arrive early, stay late and discuss movies. Discussion-friendly concessions will include (wet-zone permitting) wine and beer, as well as coffee and assorted, natural baked goods. Admission will be $8.00. There will be a membership program with discounted admissions and other perks.

The arrival of Madstone, a nine-theater chain based in New York, is obviously welcomed by OHPV, which needed a good-fit tenant for the AMC-vacated spot. “We’re thrilled to have them,” gushed Pat Westerhouse, general manager of the Village.

But Madstone also has caught the aesthetic eye of Paul Wilborn, Tampa’s Creative Industries Manager. And not just because he personally likes a good, eclectic art house.

Madstone also has distribution and production divisions. The former is a boutique venture, the latter a modest, venture capital-like enterprise. Madstone funds first-time, feature-film directors — usually in the $500,000-$1.5 million budget range.

“The light bulb went off,” acknowledged Wilborn, upon learning of Madstone’s versatility. “I was intrigued by the idea that they have an arm that funds new directors.”And, yes, he and Gruenberg have met.

“We want to grow the film industry here,” said Wilborn. “We’re looking for ways to bring in more players. I see them as a real positive part of that. It’s an exciting possibility.

“These kinds of theaters are unique,” added Wilborn. “The indies, the non-mainstream titles. They know how to book it; they send out catalogues. It’s more of a total experience. We’ll definitely get together again.”

As we all know, Tampa has big cultural arts plans. As we also know, we can’t see their manifestation soon enough. Ground-breaking for the new art museum, for example, is still on hold — pending more fund-raising. It’s a key catalyst.

But that doesn’t mean that the cultural status quo must prevail. Thanks in large part to an unprecedented gift of $400,000 by the city, The Florida Orchestra is now in the midst of a tour featuring six free Pops in the Park Concerts — from the University of Tampa to New Tampa.

The opener at Plant Park was as advertised — and imagined. Musical selections ranged from Duke Ellington to pop hits of the 1970s. The finale was Tchaikovsky’s “1812” Overture synchronized with fireworks. It was a graphic reminder that the arts do not have to be an elite experience. In fact, the city will help bring them to your neighborhood.

For one night, under a canopy of stars, it was exhilarating to take in what is special about this area. Those minarets. That orchestra. This waterfront.

Thank you.

Amid all the budget scenarios and Big East subplots, it was easy to miss a recent USF achievement. Once again, USF is a national leader in helping its graduates prepare for the CPA licensing exam.

Specifically, USF had the second highest passing rate in the country on the most recent Uniform CPA Examination. With a passing rate of 66.7 percent, USF finished second to the University of Arizona at 69.2 percent. USF finished eighth in the nation last year.

So there. USF doesn’t have to be in a BCS conference to vie for national honors.

Hopefully, we can all agree that major transportation fixes have to happen or else this area grows malignantly into “Atlanta, the Sequel.”

So, how’s this for a transportation-rallying cry? “When lacking perfectly equitable revenue-raising scenarios and minus safe political cover for everybody, do nothing.” As Hillsborough County Commission mantra, it’s unwieldy. As public policy, it’s unconscionable.