I wanted to start an official thread dedicated to the three projects that are scheduled to go up at the intersection of Channelside and Beneficial (at or near at least as well as the other projects in the Channel district:.

The Three Projects...

O2 Condos --
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/8o2_condos.jpg
STATUS: Dead/Undergoing redesign.


Towers at Channelside (http://towersatchannelside.com/) --

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/8finaltowers.jpg
STATUS: Under Construction


And Blu Channelside (http://www.bluchannelside.com/) (formerly Downtown Channelside) --

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/514/8tampa_channelside_30_story_condo_rendering.jpg
STATUS: Undergoing re-design/re-launch. Spproved.

One thing I wanted to make mention of iin this was something hilarious I saw on the Towers at Channelside project. They have the "View" from the 30th floor of the building (and other floors) looking at Downtown Tampa. They don't mention the fact that the O2 Condo developement would be right smack dab in the way of some of those views (or am I wrong?).

I think it's high time I add some projects to the first post of this thread because it's sorely lacking content

Grand Central At Kennedy (http://www.notthesuburbs.com/) is another building that supports the "Twin Towerside" monicker that I gave this thread:

http://photos.stonegauge.com/albums/userpics/10001/400004.jpg
STATUS: Under Construction.

The Place at Channelside (two 8 story buildings):
http://photos.stonegauge.com/albums/userpics/10001/400525.jpg
STATUS:Under Construction

The Ventana (two 11 story buildings):
http://photos.stonegauge.com/albums/userpics/10001/44423.jpg
STATUS:Under Construction

Of course there are more project in channelside than just dual tower stuff..

The Meridian:
http://www.meridianlofts.com/images/rend_the_project.jpg...
STATUS: Complete

EDIT -- 10/23/05

The Plaza at Channelside looks absolutely exquisit:

http://www.simdag.com/images/future_projects/plaza_channelside/preview_2.jpg

http://www.simdag.com/images/future_projects/plaza_channelside/preview_1.jpg

Rendering the building against the Tampa Skyline is also a plus...

STATUS: In Sales with tentative start date after the Tampa Bay Lightning season concludes.


I'll post more soon hopefully...
(apologies for bandwidth theft from Bayciti - links have been changed)

The views towrds the DT core from the Towers won't be so bad. But the views from DT Channelside will definitely have some blockage due to the other projects.

Yea, but they will have clear view of the Channel and off towards the bay, which is the moneyshot, so to speak.

Not sure how clear that will be, with 3-4 towers on Harbour Island being at least 225ft tall, plus the two hotels off to the west. But hey, the views of the Gibsonton gypsum stacks to the SE will be unparalleled.

wow..it'll be a second skyline:):):)

very gold coast

You'll be able to see the bay fine. A couple of buildings at that distance will just enhance the view - believe me. Had I the cash and were tehy selling them now, I might purchase one. Waterfront - the price only go up.

wow great projects :cheers:

what happened with that observation deck thing? well they should build it now definetly over 850 feet tall to be the tallest thing in florida, 600 feet wouldnt have made it that significant, lets see what hapns though

what happened with that observation deck thing? well they should build it now definetly over 850 feet tall to be the tallest thing in florida, 600 feet wouldnt have made it that significant, lets see what hapns though

Personally, I don't ever want to see any "Space Needles" or facsimiles thereof in Tampa, especially at that location. I mean what would you see from such a height? A bunch of parking lots, a grungy port, decrepit warehouses, a sparse, vertically challenged skyline, more parking lots, oh and some water.

If they built the Pinacle Tower at all I would want it completely re-designed...

Last thing Tampa needs is something that looks like the Pinacle Tower - which was very unoriginal in design, IMHO....

REdesigned and taller, but I don't even know if they are still planning to build it. To me it is a mystery. as long as the condos get built, I don't really care.

Right Smiley. I'd rather see the Condos get built.
I was looking at an image from space of te intersection of channelsid andbeneficial and I'm reall osrt of urious how these buildings are gogn to fit on those peces of land -- they look huge in the renderings andthey ay end up looking like toothpicks when built...

^Developers are famous for scaling up their building to make them look "bigger and "better" on the renderings than they really will be.

That's like those pictures which are supposed to represent the future view. They are seldom accurate, and are often from much higher above the ground than the real view will be.


Oh, and I don't see the point of any space needle project, unless it is going to be at least 850ft tall. Unless it's markedly taller than the other structures, it simply isn't much of a landmark, since it is in the skyline, not set away from it.

So the needle is still on:
Crews clear ground for huge condo complex
The project will include a 53-story observation tower and residences starting in the mid $300,000s.
By JANET ZINK, Times Staff Writer
Published February 4, 2005

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Construction crews have started clearing the site for Pinnacle Place, a 6-acre residential/retail complex that includes a 624-foot space needle.

Two 41-story condominium towers, dubbed 02, will be the first phase of the project.

A sales center for the 340 condos will open at Channelside Drive and Cumberland Avenue in the next two months, real estate agent Toni Everett said.

In the past three months, about 120 potential buyers have reserved units, Everett said. Prices on the one- to four-bedroom condos range from the mid $300,000s to $2.8-million.

Construction of the towers and the needle is expected to begin late this year and be done by late 2007, the developers say.

The condominium complex will include a swimming pool, fitness center, movie theater, game room and guest suites.

The observation tower, called the Pinnacle of Tampa Bay, will be the centerpiece of Pinnacle Place, a $500-million project. Standing about 53 stories tall, it will have a restaurant overlooking the city and rooms available for private parties.

"We're going to change the skyline forever," said Ken Morin of Morin Development Group, one of the developers behind the project. "It's the type of project that Tampa has never seen before."

Frank DeBose, president of Pinnacle Group Holdings and one of the project's developers, has been pushing plans for the needle for more than 10 years. The recent redevelopment of downtown Tampa, which includes thousands of residential units, made the timing right.

"All that you see happening in downtown is not happening by accident," he said. "All around the state of Florida, you have people moving back into downtowns."

Pinnacle Place also includes a hotel, parks, amphitheater and 100,000 square feet of retail space underneath residential lofts.

In July, Pinnacle Place Development Partners paid $14.5-million for the land. The partnership includes the development firm of Corvus International, which has offices in Michigan and Sarasota.

Corvus also is developing a 170-unit condominium project with boat slips in Palmetto and five buildings with 29 condos on the Gulf of Mexico in Longboat Key. Corvus builds about 1-million square feet of industrial, high-tech and office space a year in the Midwest, according to a press release.

Morin's projects include Walter's Crossing, a shopping center on the former Walter Industries site at Dale Mabry Highway and Interstate 275 anchored by Target, Linens 'n Things and Designer Shoe Warehouse.

Morin's Suncoast Crossings, a 689-acre master-planned community at the Suncoast Parkway and State Road 54, will have 1,300 single- and multifamily homes, 500,000 square feet of retail space and 1-million square feet of office space.

Janet Zink can be reached at 226-3401 or jzink@sptimes.com

[Last modified February 3, 2005, 10:01:08]
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/02/04/Citytimes/Crews_clear_ground_fo.shtml

53 stories is between 630-680 by my calculations (x12 or x13 - I thuink they will stick to the 630 or so they always put out)

I like the needle. And for what its worth I agree with Smiley, IMO DT Channelside with a SW water view is going to be the pick of the towers.

Ok forget my calculations, for some reason I went right over the height in the article. 624 is still lame - the observation deck will be at like 580 - looking into the penthouses of Trump Tower - that's fun

So the needle is still on:
Crews clear ground for huge condo complex
The project will include a 53-story observation tower and residences starting in the mid $300,000s.
By JANET ZINK, Times Staff Writer
Published February 4, 2005



I'll bet they don't build the needle, I have a printed article from the Tribune from 1995 saying the observation tower will be done by 1997.

If they build the needle, Smiley, I will buy you a car.

Justin
www.bayciti.net

You're on man, you're on. You can give it to me after I buy you lunch at the top and we stare into the wall of the Four Seasons.

How can I lose?

Bad bet Zimna...Ken Morin doesn't fuck around. Remember, he had nothing to do with that project before.


I'm quite certain the "53 stories" is referring to the fact that the actual observation deck will be at like ~530ft above ground... That's a very typical trick by journalists. And that holds water, as the whole thing is only 624ft, and that spire alone looks like it is at least 75ft tall.

And as I've always said, what in the hell is the point of an observation deck that is as tall or shorter than the top floors in multiple other buildings? Sure, there will be a "view", but it isn't going to be a breathtaking view, like one gets from a real observation deck, which is markedly taller than the surrounding landscape...And as Smiley succinctly put it, don't bother trying to look to the NW, because all one will see is the sides of the existing highrises (and coming new ones).

Bad bet Zimna...Ken Morin doesn't fuck around. Remember, he had nothing to do with that project before.


I'm quite certain the "53 stories" is referring to the fact that the actual observation deck will be at like ~530ft above ground... That's a very typical trick by journalists. And that holds water, as the whole thing is only 624ft, and that spire alone looks like it is at least 75ft tall.

And as I've always said, what in the hell is the point of an observation deck that is as tall or shorter than the top floors in multiple other buildings? Sure, there will be a "view", but it isn't going to be a breathtaking view, like one gets from a real observation deck, which is markedly taller than the surrounding landscape...And as Smiley succintly put it, dont' bother trying to look to the NW, because all one will see is the sides of the existing highrises (and coming new ones).

I agree with your last paragraph absolutely 100% and that's why I dont think it will be built. There is a common sense factor with the tower and it just doesnt make sense to build it. No developer intentionally 'fucks around' but every developer has been on the bad end of something, and has played it up in the paper to gauge interest ... I'm just a cynical bastard, that's all.

It's going to be a cheap car Smiley, my Krispy Kreme stock didnt do so well last year.

Cheers,
Justin
www.bayciti.net

no problemo - or to save you the trouble with dealing withcar dealerships, I'll just take a check.

Since we don't have it in this thread, I figured I'd drop a rendering in for reference - the "Calgary Tower of the Americas Skylon," Tampa version:

http://media.tbo.com/photos/sports/2004/jan/pinnacle2.jpg

Add 100 feet to it, and it would be a decent idea. If you note - the condo towers are probably near 450', so the orb spans about 500-575'. Maybe they'll have an outdorr deck in the that little crown thing - that would be a tolerable idea.

The real problem here is that teh building is too close in. Most other observation towers are about this tall, but they are a distance from the core.

:nuts: Isn't it only a matter of time before we have the inevitable announcement for a downtown Tampa residential tower project that will be higher than 625 feet? Where does that leave the tower? The "Sort of Pinnacle?"

Just erect a thrill ride on the top, ala the Big Shot in the Vegas Stratosphere. That will bring them in from Plant City!!!
:nuts:

The Four Seasons proposal is taller than that.

It's not the worst of its genre I've ever seen. My twelve-year old would certainly love it.

I recall other renderings depicting the spire being much more prominent than that. That "Pinnacle" is downright flaccid.

I was hoping we could get through this thread without someone using the term 'flaccid'. :wink2:

Well, it's also anemic, limp wristed and kind of French looking... What of it? :D

don't bother trying to look to the NW, because all one will see is the sides of the existing highrises (and coming new ones).

What existing highrises to the NW are you referring to? If you know of a planned building adjacent to pinnacle that is over 600' tall I want to know about it too! According to my sales literature, the O2 condos are 432'8" tall each. The O2 condos are to the SW of the tower. Even if the observation deck is at 530 feet (which is pure speculation) It will be looking down on everything in channelside.

I don't think the tower has to be the tallest thing in Tampa. As long as its the tallest structure in Channelside, it will have a great view looking back on Tampa. As far as I know, O2 are the tallest planned buildings in Channelside right now, and the development pattern seams to be to build everything shorter north of there.

Another thing, Yeah there might be some other great views in Tampa like from the top of the Four Seasons. But since when is it a problem to have too many great city views. Just more places to take skyline shots of Tampa from different angles.

Hey, I'm not going to complain if a developer wants to build a $500,000,000 624 ft. structure in my hometown. I don't understand the business model, but I will take it.

Sure I wish it was taller too. But I also wish TTT was 800 feet and Four Seasons was 950 feet.

Excellent a real height on O2.

As for the tower's look - it is not French looking - they would do something with much more flare. As I said above, it is basically the "Calgary Tower of the Americans Skylon." Definately a North American design - from 1975

I was down there (Channelside) today and I must say that seeing everything up close again -- it's been months since I was down there) leaves me in awe over those projects.

But like you guys are saying -- the Pinacle Tower deisgn really sucks and seeing that in the skyline does not impress me. Especially with it's minimum height design. Sure, planes fly over downtown so the FAA helps restrict heights... but jesus, at least make it ook like it's worth visiting!

Well, the condos have been redesigned. Ditto for the tower, maybe ?

What existing highrises to the NW are you referring to? If you know of a planned building adjacent to pinnacle that is over 600' tall I want to know about it too! According to my sales literature, the O2 condos are 432'8" tall each. The O2 condos are to the SW of the tower. Even if the observation deck is at 530 feet (which is pure speculation) It will be looking down on everything in channelside.

I don't think the tower has to be the tallest thing in Tampa. As long as its the tallest structure in Channelside, it will have a great view looking back on Tampa. As far as I know, O2 are the tallest planned buildings in Channelside right now, and the development pattern seams to be to build everything shorter north of there.


And to the northwest is the existing cluster of the CBD, with 4 existing buildings which will be basically as tall as the observation levels. Remember, there are several floors, with even the top deck not being above about 550ft. So towers several blocks away, even if they're significantly shorter, will block some portion of the horizon. One of the main points of an observation deck is to provide an unfettered view of the horizon (to fully enjoy sunsets and such)... And then the Four Seasons and Trump will both be 600ft+, and because of thier oblong shapes will have an enhanced walling effect.

This is actually a great project for Tampa, with all of the pedophiles and voyeurs we have around here... This will be a super spot to check out the happenings at various rooftop pools, on balconies, and right through peoples' windows.

Well... I agree with everyone that Pinnacle Tower really SHOULD be taller and redesigned. As currently designed, it's not going to be THE symbol of Tampa or a major tourist attraction. It won't be internationally known. Tampa's skyline won't instantly be recognized. It's not unique. (It really does look a lot like a slightly more modern version of the Calgary Tower, even down to the height.)

Having said all that, I still think it adds to our skyline and is nice. I don't hate it. I will go up and have a look when/if it's built. And hey, if I can see some rich woman in TTT undressing in the penthouse all the better! :)

Hey maybe you are right Jason... All the project needs is Joe Redner to open a rotating strip club at the top floor and it will be the perfect addition to our city!!!
j/k

pinnacle needs another 100-150ft whats the point of the observation tower if in like 10 years its view is going to get blocked by tall towers

:hahaha: @ rotating strip club

:hahaha: @ rotating strip club
Well once every view from the place is another high-rise then it will be a good idea to draw people in..think about it, inside a giant phallus far from children and schools, and if Dale Mabry is ever new urbanized then Mons and 2001 will be perfect for a run down pinnacle.

But seriously, this project is UGLY and will end up like the Euromast in Rotterdam. I like the condos, but lets leave the ob tower in the ground until someone decides to add a 100 feet or so and hire a better architect.

The new elementary school being built off Jefferson is surely within 1000ft of the Pinnacle's location, so no rooftop titty bar.



I don't mind the Pinnacle as is, I just wouldn't be caught dead being responsible for explaining to the investors why they are losing their asses 5 years from now... The way I look at it, I don't care if it gets built as is, because at worst, it will go bankrupt, be foreclosed on, and someone else will open it up with lower price points.

Not exactly Twins, but Grand Central is now over60% sold and GB is supposedly in March or April

odd that no one seems to care that there may be 4 or 5 projects going in March/April

Wasn't sure where to put this, but I guess this thread is as good as any.

In the La Gaceta "as we heard it" section they stated that Kimmins had met with The Barrio this week. They want to put a high rise on the Kimmins site on Adamo. The Barrio doesn't allow high rises in Ybor Historic district. Kimmins is now trying to have their property removed from within the Historic district.

I don't know if I want a high rise there.I do feel it will be one of the most important properties in Ybor, due to the size of the property and the fact that if done right could create great connectivity with Channelside and possibly Downtown.

I've also some murmurs within the Channel District that a developer wants to build a 30-some story res tower on the corner of Washington and Channelside, opposite of 1000 Channelside. Apparently, 1000 Channelside is no longer going to be two buildings flanking Washington st as is was originally designed. There is supposed to be a meeting soon; just rec'd a public notice as a Channel resident.

It's looking more and more likely that Channelside Drive would be lined with several towers above 10 stories in a few years. Consider the projects on the boards or in construction:

Embassy Suites (under construction)
Crescent Heights project (proposed)
O2 (breaking ground this fall)
Towers @ C'side (breaking ground)
Downtown C'side (proposed)
Washington St project (proposed)
Ventana (breaking ground this summer)
Global Communications Center (proposed)

I know not everyone is a big fan of the TECO Streetcar, but I can't believe that it's only coincidence that all these building are on the streetcar line. I'm not saying it's the main factor, but a factor nonetheless.

I think the both site ar ok for towers. The kimmins property is not really in ybor as such - it is the borderland and a tower will both pump people into the area and connect it to Channelside - with the addition of Seaport Center apartments.

The 900 Channelside lot is not too big and isn't it flanked by the Place (maybe I am a block off target but I am not sure how that would fit.

Here's the real question - will people complain about the size or are they now resigned to towers in that area? I personally think the people moving into the 7 story projects will raise hell about a 30 story condo right there, unless they are simply investors and think it will jack up the value of their unit - which is may or may not (if there is a glut)

Smiley, you are right on target. This lot IS flanked by the Place. So those people that invested in a 6th or 7th floor penthouse who thought they'd have a port view over the planned 5-story 950 Channelside building will now be facing a 30-story tower instead.

As an owner at Channelside 212, I have resigned myself to the fact that our little two-story units will be dwarfed by all the newer projects going up around us. However, I think a 30-story tower in that location will just look a bit odd and out of place. I'm not personally against it, but I'll be interested to hear what some of the new owners of the Place will have to say at the forum.

With regards to 950 Channelside becoming a tower... I don't see how it could be out of place, when it will have towers of 14-41 stories a couple blocks away in basically all directions except east... But more importantly, I don't see how they could fit a tower of any significant size there, unless they used 1000 Channelside just for a parking and amenities structure, and had the building span Washington. To fit it entirely on the 950 site would likely require losing any ground retail, and would result in a tall, rather ugly parking base to the tower. It definitely couldn't have a decent setback base, like all the other 30+ towers proposed have.



And I am definitely not opposed to Kimmins getting maximum use of their land, so long as there is going to be a real benefit to the city... (like going tall results in some land left for a public park, or significantly increased tax revenues)... I've often wondered why they don't let projects go a little taller in Ybor, especially on the SW end, closest to DT and Adamo's traffic.

there is no way to fit a 30 story building onto that lot in any reasonable fashion. it would look like a toothpick.

Maybe if there even is such a tower in the works, perhaps it consumes the rest of the block where 1000 Channelside and 212 lofts sit?

Was driving by Channelside today -

Towers site - lots of progress on demolition
O2 site - also seems to be progressing on demo
Ventana site - is cleared
1000 Channelside - has pipes sticking out of the ground - so I guess they really are building it as odd as it is.

I also looked at the 900 or 950 or whatever lot - it is not as small as I thought, though 30 stories still will be damn cramped in there - I think you could make a reasonable 15-20 (a stretch at 20) building for there though

And something I was thinking about... If the possible Kimmins project was done as a little town center around a plaza (maybe with a nice fountain or public art), that would be a nice way of helping to ignite redevelopment in western and southern Ybor.

Also, I think that Kimmins developers should try and lure a general merchandise retailer there. I bet a company like Target would be frothing at the bit to build a store in a couple years, when anything would actually come together. (I've been in a two story Target near DC, and its integration was decent, and it was busy)

Btw, here's a partial rendering of Channelside Villiage that someone sent me. I don't know who sent it though.

Does anyone know the basic specs of this project? (# of buildings, hieght, # of units and so on). I would like to add it to the list.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/8channelsidevillage2.JPG

More Channel District news -

http://www.tampatribune.com/News/MGB4YJHDA5E.html

Grand Central At Kennedy Recruits, Sells
By JANIS D. FROELICH jfroelich@tampatrib.com
Published: Feb 17, 2005


TAMPA - When developer Ken Stoltenberg and his partner, Frank Bombeeck of Mercury Advisors, began calling retailers to measure interest in their Channel District project, their calls weren't returned.
Now, almost two years later, Stoltenberg said retailers are calling them about leasing space at Grand Central at Kennedy.

``Retailers aren't pioneers,'' he said. ``But now that downtown Tampa and the Channel District are on everybody's radar screen with weekly announcements of new residential projects, their ears are perking up.''

Within the next six weeks, Stoltenberg plans to announce a grocery store coming to his 393-unit Grand Central at Kennedy, between Kennedy Boulevard and Madison Street.

He and his partner have sold 266 units since converting reservations to contracts. The units range from 600 to 2,200 square feet and cost between the high $100,000s to $500,000. Most are less than $300,000.

The midrise office, retail and housing community will have two buildings, one at 14 stories, the other at 12 stories. Roof decks have swimming pools, running tracks and private terraces and cabanas.

Stoltenberg said the 20,000- square-foot office and 125,000- square-foot retail will serve the community, as well as tenants. He's working to sign restaurants, a dry cleaner, coffee shop, plus a drugstore.

The groundbreaking should be within the next two months.

Stoltenberg said the majority of his buyers are 28 to 32. ``I was really surprised those interested were a little bit younger than I first thought,'' he said. ``We even have some under age 25.''

Grand Central at Kennedy is one of the first larger projects to go into the Channel District.

Stoltenberg said the sales center at 1208 E. Kennedy Blvd. will remain open through construction of the 4.35-acre property.

Information is available at www.notthesuburbs.com.


Reporter Janis D. Froelich can be reached at (813) 259-7143.

Grocery story is crucial for the area. I hope it goes inside a bigger building and is not stand alone.

Although I checked out their project and question the cost per unit for what you get. It's a nice project but a bit steep, in my opinion

Area Urged To Plan For A Tax Windfall
By JANIS D. FROELICH jfroelich@tampatrib.com
Published: Feb 19, 2005


http://centraltampa.tbo.com/centraltampa/MGBK4RR0D5E.html

TAMPA - As property values have zoomed in the Channel District, Wilson Stair, urban planner for the city of Tampa, urged the booming residential area to come up with a plan quickly for tax money that will be plowed back into the area.

``Get organized and get a group together to try to spend your money,'' Stair said Wednesday during the Channel District Community Association meeting at the Florida Aquarium.

After all, it's not often a neighborhood gets a $500,000 windfall.

The Tax Increment Fund (TIF) money started at an original calculation of about $39 million in taxable property value in the Channel District. But values increased to almost $59 million June 2003, and the latest estimate of $97 million from August 2004.

The district is allowed to keep the tax money that comes from property values in excess of the $39 million base. That would mean $764,484, instead of the $253,385 previously estimated.

The $253,385 is spoken for already, said the city's deputy director for redevelopment Dave Parkinson.

He said salaries and operating costs would equal $22,711. A five-year plan would cost $125,000. A design campaign to identify the Channel District as a distinct neighborhood would be $40,000. And professional services - a grab bag for items such as financial analysis - is about $65,674.

Without sidewalks, landscaping, lighting, gateway markers and signs, residents and developers expressed eagerness to start molding this new place for residential development.

Roger Gatewood, the developer behind Channelside Village, which could bring 360 units to the district, said he is negotiating for underground utilities.

``Any TIF money we receive will be needed to make this a vibrant place,'' Gatewood said.

The Tampa City Council is scheduled to consider the Channel District's budget on March 3.

Reporter Janis D. Froelich can be reached at (813) 259-7143.

wide sidewalks, good lights and decorative garbage cans - you should never forget teh garbage cans - and how about one or two of those paris style pay toilets for people wandering around. If you place it, they will . . well, you know.

I would use that money to pay for sidewalks and lighting, plus two dedicated beat cops (on bikes, like they do in Ybor)...

And actually, I wouldn't mind them spending thier own tax money on decorative lighting, or whatever they want. It's their money.


And this place will be rolling in dough like 5 years from now, when this tax windfall is more like $2m a year. Hell, they could finance their own trolley extension, or museum or some other public amenity.

And here's a couple pics of the wierd wooden pilings at 1000 Channelside.

I don't know diddly about this. The wood looked much like pressure treated telephone poles. On the larger portion, they appeared to be merely buried in the compacted fill.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/81000_Channelside_pilings_1.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/81000_Channelside_pilings_2.jpg
(I guess the pic is too small to tell, but their were wooden piles all around just inside the formwork.

I had lunch last week with a friend who is connected to the 02 Condo / Pinnacle project pretty intimately and I did find out a little bit about the tower. I specifically bugged him about it, because I do not want to have to buy Smiley a car.

It turns out that most of the permits, approvals and financial backing the project has gained depends on it being in it's 'as is' state, that is, including the tower. At this time, they're going forward with "outward plans" to build the observation tower but will not actually construct it as it would put the project too much over budget. If the project can gain additional financial backing the tower will be considered.

He did not really tell me anything concrete or that earth shattering, but, I figured I would share.

Those bastards better built it. . . .

^They will only build it if their risk is mitigated by the city removing 2/3rds of the first decade's tax bill, which is not acceptable IMO. I personally don't care if they do or don't build it, because something tall will inevitably go there is the tower doesn't...

And as far as I'm concerned, I don't think they have much intention at all of building the tower. They are using that as a marketing ploy, and will drop plans for the tower when they don't get the free handout from the city. Then, when it isn't built, they can blame it on the city, while they laugh to the bank with the profits of condo units sold on the premise of the tower being there.

1) I don't think any of the condo buyers cares much about the tower, and

2) I want a new car.

Jasbonhouse, jsut sent you a scan of a rederning of teh Crecent Height project. Please. Let me know if you get/don't get it. I am not sure I have the right email.

yeah, you've got it... My PC and e-mail have been messed up for a while now. I fixed the e-mail recently, and I also got PSP and Photoshop reinstalled very recently. Sorry...


http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/8CrecentHeights_render.jpg

most excellent. First, scanned unusually well for a newspaper. Second, thanks for getting it posted so fast, and third, I kind of like them - the garage area is a bit bland, but otherwise, not bad. I also like that they appaer to be two overlapping L's rather than just linear towers next to each other.

You can find an alternate color version and a brief rundown on the architect's website - http://www.collman-karsky.com/. Look under "multi-family residential."

...and check out the interesting Tuab Channelside Towers (listed as a feasibility study) in the same are of their website (!).

Well, it would be nice if all the buildings are not white with green glass - a nice look, no doubt, but who wants a whole city of it?

^Vancouver BC?

:D

Yep, I can just see it now in about fifteen years people will say "Oh God, those buildings are so 2005." It would be nice if there was more diversity.

You can find an alternate color version and a brief rundown on the architect's website - http://www.collman-karsky.com/. Look under "multi-family residential."

Did you find this by looking up the architect's name from the pic? I almost cropped it, but thought it might prove handy, and would be nice to credit the rendering.


Also, check out all of the multi-family projects listed, as they are all local. There are some renderings I have seen before of other projects.

Looking at the black and white, actually, I think the rendering is a bit different than the one on their website - the tops aer a little different and I think there actually will be a couple of colors, which is nice.

Yep, that's how I found it. Nice cropping on your part.

Is the "double tower" thing a national trend, 'cause we've got a lot of them on the drawing boards in downtown Tampa.

(Towers @ C'side, Downtown C'side, O2, Ventana, Grand Central, this Crescent Heights dealey, and the list goes on...)

^ Who do you guys think you are, Calgary ?

Nah, we beat Calgary at their own game once, we can do it again . . .

Good point. And you may even get a Calgary Tower.

Looking at the black and white, actually, I think the rendering is a bit different than the one on their website - the tops aer a little different and I think there actually will be a couple of colors, which is nice.


The rendering on thier site has to be old, as the rendering posted here matches what I saw during that City Council meeting. I like this version better, but only wish that the towers weren't yet ANOTHER set of twins.

This makes the 9th set of twin projects for DT (though 3 of the projects are only midrises). There's already enough of them to make the skyline look totally generic, especially in views from the south east..

There is a proposal that goes before the city council this Wednesday for the 30-something residentil tower on Washington and Channelside, next to the Place and across the street from 1000 Channelside. I will check out the proceedings and provide an update on the outcome.

Wed? They usually mmet either Tues or Thurs. . .

can you put a link to the agenda?

YES, please!

I just have to know where in the hell a 30 story tower is going on that block...if it doesn't interfere with life, I just might go. I haven't been to a council meeting in probably 1.5 years now...

OK, I probably got the date wrong. I will find out if it's Tuesday or Thursday and post it here. I do know it is this week.

Developer Sees The Big Picture In Gallery
By JANIS D. FROELICH jfroelich@tampatrib.com
Published: Mar 5, 2005




CHANNEL DISTRICT - Developer Roger Gatewood didn't want to set up the typical sales office for his Seaboard Square condominium project.
Why waste space for the next two years or so while the 360 condominium units move toward completion, he thought.

So Gatewood reworked space that formerly housed artist Jeff Whipple at 209 12th St. for a traveling and community art gallery. The first art show and sale, ``The Light of Monet,'' opened Friday night and continues from 1 to 8 p.m. today.

The show features 40 pieces from 20 contemporary artists about how they view Monet's world in their own light. The paintings are from Alla Prima Fine Art, 695 Central Ave., St. Petersburg.

``It's not only a very nice gallery space, but it's ideal for us to have something on the other side of the Bay,'' said Jane Chapin, owner of Alla Prima. ``We also have all these prospective property buyers in the Channel District who will be decorating.''

Gatewood, a former regional president of Westfield Homes in Tampa, said he wanted the Seaboard Square sales center to be more of an experience.

The gallery is next door to where Gatewood and his assistant, Stephanie Lentz, operate WestBay City Homes LLC. The property also is where redevelopment pioneers Richard and Kim Markham operated Channel Medical Clinic.

For the gallery, all Gatewood had to do was repaint the walls and put up moveable wall space. Lentz ordered furniture and decorating pieces from Expressions, a Channel District furnishings store across from the future site of Seaboard Square.

When the owners of Seaboard Cold Storage move from their warehouse space at 110 S. 11th St., Gatewood plans for a larger sales center that will include more than an art gallery.

He intends to use one of the old warehouses to offer Channel District residents grocery items, flowers, books and coffee.

``It will be a place for people to buy stuff and hang out,'' he said.

His reasoning is that most of the 12 or so Channel District residential projects are two to five years away from completion. Meanwhile, there's a lack of retail outlets for residents moving into finished complexes such as the Victory Lofts.

``These small services we offer at the sales center will probably end up being the retailers we have in the Seaboard Square complex,'' Gatewood said.

Gatewood also wants to make sure he offers a venue for the neighborhood's artist population. He doesn't have anything planned after the Monet show, but Gatewood said he is open to ideas on how to use the gallery.

Previously, Gatewood worked on award-winning projects in Westchase in northwestern Hillsborough County, including Villa Rosa and Vineyard subdivisions. Those projects featured innovations such as homes facing green areas instead of streets, and alleys or lanes weaving through the communities.

Seaboard Square, formerly called Channelside Village, will take up about four city blocks, from Meridian Avenue to 12th Street and from Whiting Street to Cumberland Avenue, and will be built as a village of four buildings surrounding a large courtyard.

The buildings, each in a distinct style, will be four to nine stories. Gatewood would like a boutique hotel to be part of the project, which he envisions as a Barcelona streetscape.

The complex also will include offices, restaurants and retail shops. Groundbreaking is slated for June.


Reporter Janis D. Froelich can be reached at (813) 259-7143.
http://tampatrib.com/News/MGBILKPXW5E.html

I just have to know where in the hell a 30 story tower is going on that block...if it doesn't interfere with life, I just might go. I haven't been to a council meeting in probably 1.5 years now...

I have a feeling the building will be on the east side of Channelside, where the parking lot is now.

I heard about this from a friend a couple of weeks ago. The building will go right on the corner, next to The Place. The land is basically the same size the Model T Victory loft building is, and it is on the opposite corner of the block.

IMO, the building will be awesome. I saw the elevations, which showed tons of glass and had a nice curve that will blend well with the boxy buildings that surround it.

The hearing is set for March 10th, at the evening meeting (after 5:30pm)

Hint - Hint, the rezoning is being combined with the rezoning for The Place, so guess who the developer is....




I have a feeling the building will be on the east side of Channelside, where the parking lot is now.

That will be a tight squeeze - I am not sure the city council will go for it.

In other news - the ad for Ventana in the Trib today (Sunday) had "construction starts soon" or "construction starting" or something like that on it. Not that I am opposed, but that would be itneresting if they go that thing going so soon while other projects dallied. Hey, the more cranes the merrier. Let all of them open at the same time . . . build a city from scratch.

Smiley, I agree. It will be a squeeze. The only thing I didn't see or find out was how they were going to manage an efficient parking garage at the base. At only a 1/4 acre, I believe, the parking garage is going to have to be many floors. I guess I shouldn't complain, as it was only a sneak peek that I got.

Drove through Channelside (12th street) and was amazed at the progess. Lots of people walking around Victory and Meridian. I can't wait to see the impact that a mere 24 months of construction will have on the area.

I bet the tower will be quite thin, and only have a few dozen units, like the Alagon going up on Bayshore. Thus, they won't need a whole bunch of parking. And being on the trolley line, maybe the developer can get away with shorting the number of parking spaces a bit?

Just heard that Ventana is scheduled to breakground next month (April)

OK, just got back from a presentation at the sales offices for The Place. First, they claim the Phase I of The Place will be breaking ground in 3 weeks (they are just waiting for permits). But the bulk of the presentation dealt with the tower, or what they're calling Phase II of The Place.

Corner of Washington and Channelside
32 stories - 24 residential and 8 parking
10,000 square feet retail on ground floor
363 feet tall

Strongly emphasized street action for both phases with retail, cafes, etc. and people spilling out onto the sidewalks, interesting landscaping, water features, and a unique 8-story structural element on the corner that includes interesting lighting at night.

Don't have anything to share visually, unfortunately. I'm sure it will be in the papers soon enough.

Excellent work - is it a box like the main one or better.

also - I will be interested to see what Ms. Markham has to say as she wrote a whole speil in the Channelside newsletter about how low boxes are better than towers, but has praised the Place people for a while.

Her comments:
2 Cents
Kim Markham, Editor

Have you noticed that more new downtown condos are claiming to be in The Channel District? In today's newspaper, I read that that the O2 towers provide awe-inspiring yadayadayada "in The Channel District," and yesterday I read, with a laugh, that Trump Tower will be in Channelside. It is flattering that these newcomers wish to be associated with our name, however, it is harmful in the long run. In my direct experience, some members of City Council (who control our money) cannot distinguish between the problems and issues of our district and the ones just across the way. In is inevitable that someone will propose to use Channel District TIF streams for projects in nearby areas. We need to be diligent that the infrastructure problems that initiated our drive for a TIF are addressed first and foremost.

My next comments are directed to members of the newly elected Channel District Council board who have not had a long history with our neighborhood association. In the early days, we had the benefit of personal interaction with some outstanding thinkers in modern urban planning, such as Andres Duany and Victor Dover (who continue subscribing to the Channel District newsletter) and local stars Don Cooper and Doug Johnson. They taught us that a key element of a memorable and economically-enduring neighborhood is a SENSE OF PLACE. A sense of place is produced by distinctive architectural form. Davis Island has a sense of place because it champions the single family home under an oak canopy. Ybor City has a sense of place because of its human-scaled brick and wrought-iron buildings. The predominant architectural form in The Channel District is the big warehouse or big box. A box is different from a tower because a box is wider and deeper at the base than it is tall. The finest old buildings in the Channel District are big boxes: Artists Unlimited, The Dance Project, the Davis-Harmon Law Firm and the Model T Lofts are examples. The artists in Spectrum Video, Expressions and Rustic Steel thrive in boxes. The newest buildings, i.e., the Victory Lofts, the Meridian, Grand Central and Seaboard Square are larger versions of the big box.

Some property owners and developers want to build towers in The Channel District. Why? Duh! Towers are inherently more profitable than boxes. Towers use less land and attract status-seeking luxury buyers. Towers are inherently seductive to revenue-conscious elected officials because towers contribute more tax revenue per square inch than boxes.

The problem with towers is that the Hillsborough County Tax Appraiser, whose job is to raise taxes, is required by law to assess properties at their "highest and best use." The highest and best use of a property where towers are potentiated is another tower. So property taxes and values go up, and small businesses and artists who can only exist in affordable districts get driven out.

The current rage for residential towers in American cities is fueled by low interest rates, a $250,000 capital gains tax exclusion, and the urge of many people to return to urban life. This too shall pass. All buildings get old. Over a long period of time, say 30 to 50 years, it is easier for a neighborhood of shorter, smaller buildings to rejuvenate itself because there are more rehabbers who can tackle a warehouse or box. A tower is very difficult and expensive to rehabilitate. Witness the sad and lonely plight of the Floridan Hotel.

I urge our new Board and the members of City Council to resist granting more variances for towers in The Channel District. Towers have a place in downtown, and that place is the Central Business District. Elegant glass towers should be encouraged in the area around the Cultural Arts District. Boxes have a place in downtown, and that place is The Channel District. There is plenty of room in the downtown peninsula for two distinct and complimentary neighborhoods, each with its unique architectural form. There's an old saying: "You have to draw the line somewhere." The line already exists. Let us respect the line (Meridian Avenue). Let us respect the investment decisions of new and old loft-dwellers who chose The Channel District because they love big boxy buildings.

http://www.tampachanneldistrict.org/Newsletters/2005/Newsletter_2005-03.htm

OK, just got back from a presentation at the sales offices for The Place. First, they claim the Phase I of The Place will be breaking ground in 3 weeks (they are just waiting for permits). But the bulk of the presentation dealt with the tower, or what they're calling Phase II of The Place.

Corner of Washington and Channelside
32 stories - 24 residential and 8 parking
10,000 square feet retail on ground floor
363 feet tall

Strongly emphasized street action for both phases with retail, cafes, etc. and people spilling out onto the sidewalks, interesting landscaping, water features, and a unique 8-story structural element on the corner that includes interesting lighting at night.

Don't have anything to share visually, unfortunately. I'm sure it will be in the papers soon enough.


Hmm, I guess I don't need to bother going to the council meeting tomorrow then...

With regards to Markham's tirade.... She is an utter nutcase IMO. And she doesn't know the first fucking thing about architecture or urban planning by the sound of it either.

In all fairness to Kim, I think that many of the early "pioneers" of the Channel District had a very certain idea of how the district would eventually evolve, which was less upscale, more bohemian, and filled with artist and funky boutiques instead of hi-rises and steak houses. I spoke with the owner of Artists Unlimited this evening, who's been in the Channel District for 12 years, and she is still in shock at the speed and scale at which the area is suddenly developing.

In regards to the tower - to this layman's eye, I feel it both fits in with Phase I of The Place, but definitely stands on its own at the same time. If you were to view from directly above, it would resemble a 45 degree triangle, with the straight edges facing Channelside and Washington. Here's the cool part - the third "edge" is actually an elegant arc. Different than anything I've seen either currently in Tampa or in renderings.

Yah, it kind of sticks up like a toothpick, which was my initial concern, but it's a kick-ass toothpick.

What side of Channelside is it on? It sounds like the building is shaped exactly to repond to the siting on the east side of Channelside.

And now I definitely have to go tomorrow night, to see this thing for myself.




But what gets me about Markham is how she has this total air of superiority... Like "oh, all of us who were here before were so close, and so together"... yeah, and back then, there was a whopping 25 people living in the whole district too... Combined, these people owned miniscule specks of the district, with the rest generally being owned by folks chomping at the bit to sell land they had been stuck with for years. It's not as if in reality the residents had any concensus voice. The owners of land where there was no residency simply did not bother attending these community gatherings or seances or whatever it is they were doing.

Yah, check it out. I'd be interested to hear what others think about it. Also interested in what the city council has to say about it.

I like it for personal reasons, as I think it will enhance the neighborhood. I'm eager for some action on this project, as well as Grand Central.

HEre's teh agenda for tonight - you guys may want to stick around after the Channelside item (see bolded below)

DATE: March 10, 2005 TIME: 5:30 p.m.

MEETING CALLED TO ORDER – GWEN MILLER, CHAIRMAN
Invocation
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

1. 5:30 p.m. File No. F2005-127
Public hearing regarding the Community Development Block Grant Thirty-First Entitlement, Emergency Shelter Grants, Home Investment Partnerships, and Housing Opportunities for Persons with Aids Program.

PUBLIC HEARINGS CONTINUED:

2. 5:30 p.m. File No. E2005-47 - (Also known as PA04-21)
Transmittal public hearing on proposed amendment to Tampa Comprehensive Plan, Capital Improvements Element, by updating schedule of projects for Fiscal Year 2005 through Fiscal Year 2010.

Letter from Robert Hunter, Executive Director of the Planning Commission, transmitting the Planning Commission’s recommendation regarding said amendment. – (To be R/F)

3. 5:30 p.m. File No. PA04-15
First adoption public hearing on small scale plan amendment to Tampa Comprehensive Plan, Future Land Use Element, Future Land Use Map, for property at 1712 South Clark Avenue from Residential-6 to Residential-10.

Letter from Marie Phillips, petitioner, requesting said plan amendment be withdrawn. – (To be R/F)

Letter from Robert Hunter, Executive Director of the Planning Commission, indicating that the plan amendment was being withdrawn by petitioner. – (To be R/F)

4. 5:30 p.m. File No. PA04-16
First adoption public hearing on small scale plan amendment to Tampa Comprehensive Plan, Future Land Use Element, Future Land Use Map, for property at 702 West Ohio Avenue from Residential-10 to Suburban Mixed Use-6.

Letter from James M. LeCrem, petitioner’s representative, requesting said plan amendment be continued to the next available hearing date. – (To be R/F)

Letter from Robert Hunter, Executive Director of the Planning Commission, transmitting the Planning Commission’s recommendation regarding said amendment. – (To be R/F)

5. 5:30 p.m. File No. PA04-17 – (Requires super majority vote of Council)
First adoption public hearing on small scale plan amendment to Tampa Comprehensive Plan, Future Land Use Element, Future Land Use Map for property at 1807 W. Cleveland Street, 109 South Packwood Avenue, 115 South Packwood Avenue, 117 South Packwood, 105 South Packwood Avenue and 107 South Packwood Avenue from Residential-20 to Community Mixed Use-35.

Letter from Robert Hunter, Executive Director of the Planning Commission, transmitting the Planning Commission’s recommendation regarding said amendment. – (To be R/F)



PUBLIC HEARINGS CONTINUED:

6. 5:30 p.m. File No. PA04-18 – (Requires super majority vote of Council)
First adoption public hearing on small scale plan amendment to Tampa Comprehensive Plan, Future Land Use Element, Future Land Use Map, for property at 3306 West Hillsborough Avenue from Community Mixed Use-35 to Heavy Commercial-24.

Letter from Robert Hunter, Executive Director of the Planning Commission, transmitting the Planning Commission’s recommendation regarding said amendment. – (To be R/F)

7. 5:30 p.m. File No. PA04-19 – (Requires super majority vote of Council)
First adoption public hearing on small scale plan amendment to Tampa Comprehensive Plan, Future Land Use Element, Future Land Use Map, for property at 3602 North Boulevard from Residential-10 to Suburban Mixed Use-6.

Letter from Robert Hunter, Executive Director of the Planning Commission, transmitting the Planning Commission’s recommendation regarding said amendment. – (To be R/F)

8. 5:30 p.m. File No. PA04-20 – (Requires super majority vote of Council)
First adoption public hearing on small scale plan amendment to Tampa Comprehensive Plan, Future Land Use Element, Future Land Use Map, for property at 2444 West Mississippi Avenue and 2503 West Mississippi Avenue from Residential-10 to Residential-20.

Letter from Steve Michelini, petitioner’s representative, requesting continuance to June of 2005. – (To be R/F)

Letter from Robert Hunter, Executive Director of the Planning Commission, transmitting the Planning Commission’s recommendation regarding said amendment. – (To be R/F)

PUBLIC HEARINGS – (Quasi-judicial proceedings require witnesses to be sworn in prior to testifying pursuant to Resolution No. 2004-667)

9. 6:00 p.m. File No. V05-16
Public hearing on petition of Callison Architecture, Inc. requesting S-II, bank w/drive-in window at 8857 N. Florida Avenue.

10. 6:00 p.m. File No. Z05-22
Public hearing on petition of Frank Parillo requesting to rezone property at 2511 W. Saint Isabel Street from RS-50 to PD.

11. 6:00 p.m. File No. Z05-24
Public hearing on petition of Stallion Homes requesting to rezone property at 307 W. Martin Luther King Blvd. from RS-50 to PD.

PUBLIC HEARINGS – (Quasi-judicial proceedings require witnesses to be sworn in prior to testifying pursuant to Resolution No. 2004-667)

12. 6:00 p.m. File No. Z05-26
Public hearing on petition of Pawan Rattan and Mezrah Alegra Life Estate requesting to rezone property at 77 & 81 E. Davis Blvd. from RM-24 to PD.

13. 6:00 p.m. File No. Z05-27
Public hearing on petition of Evis Farmer Trustee requesting to rezone property at 2410 W. Gray Street from RM-16 to PD.

14. 6:00 p.m. File No. Z05-29
Public hearing on petition of Rosemary Leathers requesting to rezone property at 3412 Ohio Avenue from RS-60 to RS-50.

15. 6:00 p.m. File No. V05-13
Public hearing on petition of T.A. Eure requesting S-II, 80% lot development, at 413 – 413 1/2 S. Paloma Place.

16. 6:00 p.m. File No. Z05-25
Public hearing on petition of Key Developers Group, LLC requesting to rezone property at 910, 918, 934 & 940 Channelside and 105, 109, 113 and 117 North 12th Street from CD-1 and CD-3 to CD-3.

17. 6:00 p.m. File No. Z05-28
Public hearing on petition of Dale Mabry Investments Co. requesting to rezone property at 3813, 3815 & 3817 Dale Avenue and 3816 Horatio Street from RM-16 to PD.

18. 6:00 p.m. File No. Z04-155
Continued public hearing from January 13, 2005 on petition of Soho Investments, LLC requesting to rezone property at 1405 S. Howard Avenue, 1413 S. Howard Avenue, 2307 W. Mississippi Avenue and 1316 S. Alabama Avenue from CG & RM-16 to PD.

19. 6:00 p.m. File No. Z04-110
Continued public hearing from January 13, 2005 on amended petition of Crescent Resources, LLC requesting to rezone property at 319 Bayshore Blvd. from PD to PD.

Judging by the schedule, it looks like I don't need to be there until at least 6:30.

Or you could come back in a month - maybe they'll get to it by then.

^Yeah, what the hell happened last night? They were still doing projects before those two at midnight! I finally gave up.

I just went by the Place sales center and they were very cagey. They admitted there was a condo project and told me to go to the City Council meeting on April 16 to see the plans. No idea what the deal was but I am disappointed. However, examining the site again, I think you could put on oddly skinny 30 story condo there that might work, especially if you tie it to the main Place project- then it would only be about 20 stories skinny over a big base.

I am unsure what is going on at the Towers site - it is cleared but there seems to be little going on other than maybe levelingthe ground.

1000 Channelside also seems froze.

Very strange.

Oh, and the Skypoint sales office had about 10 people in it when I walked by. A good sign, I think. There is an updated website http://www.skypointcondos.com/
but I can't figure out the floorplan portion - some of the units have info, others not, but it is not clear if they are sold or the website is just funky (likely the latter)

^Yeah, what the hell happened last night? They were still doing projects before those two at midnight! I finally gave up.

I saw the city council meeting. At about 9:00ish, Catherine Coyle (sp?) came up to the podium and informed the council that the city was requesting a continuance due to the fact a study was being done on the channel district that could affect their decision.

Councilman Dingfelder appropriately raised question as to why the city should be allowed to delay a hearing because of a future study… After a little debate, the lawyer for The Place was asked if she agreed to the continuance and she reluctantly agreed, saying they had not initiated the request. She seemed uneasy and commented how the developer wanted to start the project as soon as possible and did not necessarily like the April date.

Something about this reeks. Why would The Place want to risk having a proposal come out that could negatively affect them (considering they want a 30-story tower which is currently not supported by the current design guidelines).

Sounds like either they choose one of three choices:
1. They had a sneak peek of the report, which would enhance their argument to build a 30-story tower.
2. They were forced to agree to continue the hearing, fearing they would not have a chance of support from the city if they did not.
3. They made a very risky and poor decision and just agreed to the continuance.

...

Sounds like either they choose one of three choices:
1. They had a sneak peek of the report, which would enhance their argument to build a 30-story tower.
2. They were forced to agree to continue the hearing, fearing they would not have a chance of support from the city if they did not.
3. They made a very risky and poor decision and just agreed to the continuance.

I saw a rep for The Place at the downtown development forum this morning, she confirmed the tower and that its "about 30 stories" - she told me it was designed by Hariri Pontarini who did Phase one and that it matches that building in style. She promised me a rendering as soon as they get city approvals, and the rendering they've been working with now is "very preliminary" ... sounds cool anyway.

I was down in Channelside today and noticed that they are doing what appaers to be soil testing or something related on the Grand Central site.

And here's a couple pics of the wierd wooden pilings at 1000 Channelside.

I don't know diddly about this. The wood looked much like pressure treated telephone poles. On the larger portion, they appeared to be merely buried in the compacted fill.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/81000_Channelside_pilings_1.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/81000_Channelside_pilings_2.jpg
(I guess the pic is too small to tell, but their were wooden piles all around just inside the formwork.




I finally talked to the superintendent of the 1000 Channelside project today, and asked him about these wooden piles...

Yes, the building is using wooden piles to support a 5 story structure. In fact, there are 229 of them, which go up to 59ft deep...As it turns out, the wooden piles are being used, because salt water intrustion was deemed an issue, and wooden piles will simply hold up to the conditions better and for longer than concrete piles would have. The key is that the piles be heavily pressure treated, and be properly capped and sealed to never be exposed to air... And no, this wasn't a budget thing, as the wood piles actually cost a bit more than concrete (because of the length and number needed)... The wooden piles should last at least 75years, while concrete piles wouldn't be expected to last more than 50 years or so in such corrosive soil conditions.

The super was an old guy, and informed me that when Bethlehem Steel was around, all of thier blast furnaces sat on wooden pilings, and they never had a problem.

_____________________________________________________________


With regards to the tower rumored for the site, the super knew a little about things, of course... The guy developing the Place just has an option on the property, as the sale of 950 Channelside is contingent upon rezoning being approved.... Also, so far as he knew, they were looking at a 25-30 story tower... And like the rest of us, the super had no idea how in the hell they would fit the parking into the structure, or where staging for construction would be.

Did you ask him when they are going to get around to doing more work - it seems like 1000 Channelside has been static for weeks. Gotta fill in all those spaces so more things get proposed and built - build the city man. . .

^They're working quite diligently. I walked around a bit with him, and when I was there, it was raining, yet the plumbers were out there finishing up on the rough-ins for the slab. He also said they were having a delay getting the grade beams done (parts of the structure require them), because of the wood piles or something...

Also, the steel for the concrete vertical columns of the structure were laying there, as was some formwork. I assume they'll be going vertical within a week or two, or they wouldn't have that stuff on site.

Good - I was starting to worry that they had a funding screw up or something. Oddly, five years ago that building would have stuck out and made me ecstatic down there - now it will be a dwarf - but I still think it a good thing.

Not about the towers but still important to the area......

Investor Ready To Buy Channelside Complex

By SHANNON BEHNKEN sbehnken@tampatrib.com
Published: Mar 17, 2005

TAMPA - The Channelside entertainment complex soon could have a new owner who wants to bring in upscale retail shops and cater to the growing trickle of residents moving downtown.

New York-based Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp. is negotiating the price and plans to close the deal within three weeks, owner Ben Ashkenazy said.

``Tampa is growing and is a few years away from having a lot of residential development downtown,'' Ashkenazy said. ``People in Tampa need a good, safe place to go and enjoy themselves.''

The 4.5-acre complex of restaurants, shopping and nightlife is 85 percent leased and is located along Garrison Channel, next to the city's cruise ship port and The Florida Aquarium.

Ashkenazy said his private investment firm had $1 billion in assets and owned 40 properties in 10 states, mostly large shopping centers and office buildings. His attraction to Channelside, he said, is that the center's array of restaurants is doing well, and dozens of high-rise condominium projects are planned for the area.

The complex, which has struggled to keep tenants in the past, is doing well and is in a good position to improve, Ashkenazy said. The way to do that, he added, is to make Channelside a ``lifestyle center'' for residents and tourists.

Ashkenazy said he had not talked yet to specific companies but wants to target retail chains such as Crate & Barrel, Barnes & Noble Booksellers and Starbucks.

``It doesn't need a whole lot, but the more quality tenants you have, the better,'' Ashkenazy said. ``Everybody feeds off that.''

Orix Real Estate Equities, the company that developed and owns the 4-year-old complex, quietly put the property up for sale in January. Orix officials could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but officials at CB Richard Ellis, the leasing agent, confirmed the negotiations.

The Tampa Port Authority owns the land beneath Channelside and voted Tuesday to sign over the rest of the 40-year lease to the Ashkenazy firm.

Port spokesman Steve Valley said the sale and further development of Channelside would enhance the port's cruise business.

``That's one of the marketing tactics the port uses for cruise passengers,'' Valley said. ``Tampa is a destination itself. When cruise passengers come to Tampa, there are things to do - restaurants, nightlife and the trolley.''

Ashkenazy, 34, got his start in real estate at age 17, when he and a partner borrowed $2 million to buy a shopping center in the Bronx, New York. He made headlines in 2001 with the $175 million purchase of three Barney's stores, on Madison Avenue in Manhattan, New York, and in Chicago and Beverly Hills, Calif. The company's portfolio includes retail and office properties in Houston, New York and Plantation.

The Channelside project cost $49 million in 2001. It has competed somewhat with Ybor City's Centro Ybor, a similar entertainment complex nearby. Both complexes feature restaurants, bars and a movie theater, and both have struggled. However, new tenants, including Hooters in 2003 and the more recent Signature Room restaurant and Splitsville bowling alley, have helped Channelside draw more weekend traffic. The newest addition, a Bennigan's restaurant, opened Wednesday.

Christine Burdick, president of the Tampa Downtown Partnership, said buying Channelside was a wise investment and good for future downtown development.

``A residential base alone doesn't make a market for retail, but it creates a base environment that's secure and welcoming,'' Burdick said.

Reporter Shannon Behnken can be reached at (813) 259-7804.

http://money.tbo.com/money/MGB4E3ECE6E.html

The complex, which has struggled to keep tenants in the past, is doing well and is in a good position to improve, Ashkenazy said. The way to do that, he added, is to make Channelside a ``lifestyle center'' for residents and tourists.

Ashkenazy said he had not talked yet to specific companies but wants to target retail chains such as Crate & Barrel, Barnes & Noble Booksellers and Starbucks.


^Yeah, that's exactly how we need to differentiate DT Tampa and make it a lasting success... By bringing in carpetbagging corporate chains which will give DT Tampa the same cookie cutter image every suburb across the country has...:ohno:

I don't particularly care if the shopping complex has chains - I would care if all the retail space in all the new buildings had chains. That is where the diversity comes. The reason those chains survive is because people like them. IF you have thousands of people ready to shop (who knows what disposable income they will have after paying for their condos) then you need all sorts of things. Personally, I have been in starbucks 3 times in my life, so I don't really see what the big deal is.

well, chains are fine in channelside since its not such an 'authentic' place anymore. the artists will be gone soon (and there were not many to start with), and most the people who go there now are from the suburbs anyways (as are most the people who bought condos). let's hope the chains stay in channelside and leave the real downtown open for small business, like in west palm, chains on one side, eclectic stuff on another.

fat chance of that ever happening with Wal-Mart setting up shop as well.

The Meridian appears to be just about topped-out. There are 3 picture on the bottom left of their web page http://www.meridianlofts.com/#. Sorry, I dont know how or if I can post pictures here.

http://www.meridianlofts.com/images/11.jpg

http://www.meridianlofts.com/images/33.jpg

^Thanks Smiley.

No problem, to do it yourself, right click on the picture and go to properties. Copy the url for the pic from properties, then go to "post reply" - the long post thing. There is an icon with a little mountain or something - click on that tehn paste the url in the popup and hit enter. You'll see the code in the reply box. preview it to make sure it works. it's easy to do, once you do it once.

^ Thanks again.

A little update from yesterday:

1000 Channelside - they are moving along, but very slowly, though they are starting to have some rebar framing, so maybe they can pick up the pace.

Towers at Channelside - talk about slow . . . well they dumped a bunch of dirt on the property so I guess they are wokring on leveling it so they can dig all that up andbuild the foundation. I don't think anything will emerge from the ground until July or August at this rate.

Grand Central - they are definitely doing something - which looks like soil testing - out there. that is a nice sign - now if they could officially get moving.

I also find it weird that a lot of the condo designs are "twins". Why not 3 to make it stand out? or one really tall building (say Sears Tower size)? Although a tall one would not mesh with the rest of the skyline.

FAA hieght restrictions, the size of the parcels being developed, and design/construction costs all dictate twins on many sites. Especially with the recent trend of sharply rising construction materials costs.

really tall is really expensive. Twin are the most practical and are seen everywhere. I don't see what the big deal is - also with two buildings you can build one and wait - you don't needto sell out a huge number of units before starting. . . and on and on. . .

Although they could build two with different looks, but whatever.

I'll take the twins. They don't bother me at all. In fact I think the Channelside cluster will look pretty rad. By my count, there are 11 buildings and an observation tower (above 25 stories) planned for the Channel District. The two tallest structures planned for the area are unique.

Pinnacle of Tampa Bay - 53 Stories
Tampa Global Communication Teleconvergence Center - 45 stories
O2 at Pinnacle Place 1 - 40 Stories
O2 at Pinnacle Place 2 - 40 Stories
Downtown Channelside 1 - 30 Stories
Downtown Channelside 2 - 30 Stories
Towers of Channelside 1 - 30 Stories
Towers of Channelside 2 - 30 Stories
Plaza at Channelside - 30 Stories
Crescent Heights 1 - 29 Stories
Crescent Heights 2 - 29 Stories

I'll take the twins. They don't bother me at all. In fact I think the Channelside cluster will look pretty rad. By my count, there are 11 buildings and an observation tower (above 25 stories) planned for the Channel District. The two tallest structures planned for the area are unique.

Pinnacle of Tampa Bay - 53 Stories
Tampa Global Communication Teleconvergence Center - 45 stories
O2 at Pinnacle Place 1 - 40 Stories
O2 at Pinnacle Place 2 - 40 Stories
Downtown Channelside 1 - 30 Stories
Downtown Channelside 2 - 30 Stories
Towers of Channelside 1 - 30 Stories
Towers of Channelside 2 - 30 Stories
Plaza at Channelside - 30 Stories
Crescent Heights 1 - 29 Stories
Crescent Heights 2 - 29 Stories


Don't forget to add Grand Central condos (http://notthesuburbs.com/) . Twin stories.

Marc

He was making a list of 25+ towers. In which case, he shouldn't forget the 25+ tower that may be developed at 950 Channelside by the developer of The Place...

He was making a list of 25+ towers. In which case, he shouldn't forget the 25+ tower that may be developed at 950 Channelside by the developer of The Place...


You're right on that. I reread the post and it did indicate 25+ stories. Nonetheless, that's a lot of twin buildings.

It would be funny to have them symmetrical downtown by placing the pair of buildings on opposite ends. You'd be driving in the West side and next thing you know the East looks exactly the same. Haha.

Marc

Evening everyone, Has anyone noticed the laundry-room opens to the outer corridor on some of the floorplans?? Here's an example. This has to be an error on the website??

http://www.towersatchannelside.com/noflash/showfp.php?bigpic=St_Martin.jpg

^^^every now and then they do this to conserve space...i'd imagine its pretty annoying

/\Actually, those doors open up to the exterior of the building, not the inner corridor. Folks have to use the window cleaning scaffold to get to it.

lol j/k


And yes, that concept is very "ghetto" IMO. Probably one of the first things I would try to do is reverse my front doors to swing out, put the laundry door on the inside in a smaller closet (stacked, and then use the remaining space opened up to the kitchen to be used as a doorless pantry.

I would also reconfigure the master bath to have one sink. The way it is now is asinine IMO. I also think the 'gallery' entrance is a horrible waste of space, as is the hallway within the master suite. There's a good 150sqft thrown away on those two generally needless circulation spaces. Or in other words, a good $40k is spent by buyers to own hallways they have little use for.

Ok, not a twin, but what other channelside threads do we have:
Channel District Tower Plan Draws Opposition
By JANIS D. FROELICH jfroelich@tampatrib.com
Published: Mar 24, 2005




CHANNEL DISTRICT - More residential towers may be coming to the Channel District, but Genie White, president of the Channel District Community Association, isn't happy about the tall buildings.
White thinks the former warehouse area is better suited for midrise buildings, making the area pedestrian friendly. ``I'd like to see 10 or 12 stories at the highest,'' she said.

Another developer is about to face a challenge from the neighborhood, where there is a 60-foot height restriction.

The Place of Channelside Phase II is proposing a 32-story high-rise at Washington Street and Channelside Drive that would need zoning approval by the city council.

``The sad part is there are more developers waiting in the wings to also come in with tall buildings,'' White said.

In the past, residents opposed The Towers of Channelside, a pair of 30-story condominium towers at Meridian Avenue and North 12th Street. However, the city agreed to rezone the property in January 2004, and the complex is under construction.

White said that if it appears residents are going to lose the battle with The Place, she would recommend that developer Fida Sirdar contribute to the neighborhood to buy green space for a park.

Sirdar said he would do that.

``I'm all for it,'' he said. ``I think it's fair that a developer should make contributions - not just me, all developers. I'm really philosophically all for it.''

Sirdar said he will continue to seek approval for the 32-story project. A zoning hearing for The Place is expected in late April.

Meanwhile, Channel District residents are trying to figure out how to make sure developers keep promises to include galleries and artists' work spaces in their projects.

Sirdar said earlier that The Place, 918 Channelside Drive, two terraced buildings rising five and eight stories, would have artist work space as well as galleries along 12th Street.

Stageworks Theater Company plans to use 4,500 square feet donated by Ken Stolenberg, a developer planning Grand Central at Kennedy, at Kennedy Boulevard and Channelside Drive.

Roger Gatewood, whose 360-unit condominium Seaboard Square will take up almost four blocks, plans gallery space as well.

Gatewood said he researched other cities, from Palo Alto, Calif., to Paris, where foundations are set up for developers and property owners to donate units to artists for lower rent.

``It could be a one- or two- year rotation of using the space,'' he said.

With rules in place, Gatewood said the district would be assured of keeping its artist colony background.

``We would require portfolios and bios,'' said White, who owns Artists Unlimited, 223 N. 12th St., a co-op since 1996 where about 40 artists lease space.

``We need to sit down more and define what studios are, too,'' said White, a painter and sculptor. ``We want to include performing arts as well as visual artists.''


Reporter Janis D. Froelich can be reached at (813) 259-7143.
http://www.tampatrib.com/News/MGBFH4Y7P6E.html

Not much information on their website yet - www.seaboardsquare.com - but I'm planning to stop by the sales office this weekend on 12th Street to see what's cooking on this Channelside project.

I spoke with one of the sales reps at Grand Central, who said they are down to only 10 units left. That's great news, and well ahead of where I thought they would be.


Also spoke with a sales rep at The Place, who said they have 10 left as well. Mainly penthouses.

Any other sales updates that anyone can share?

good . . . let's get some action going because the Towers at Channelside are taking forever. 1000 Channelside finally poured the floor, so it is moving. Grand Central has been doing site work for a while now.

Are they waiting until are units are spoken for before they break ground? If not, any idea when they will start with construction? Also, does anyone know what is taken so long with the Towers?

There is some speculation that The Place is waiting until the 14th when the developers go before the city to get approval for the height variance for Phase II (30-some story tower on Channelside and Washington). Depending on the outcome of this hearing, they may be looking for a new sales office. I would guess that they will start demolition of the current office and adjoining warehouses shortly thereafter.

Interesting side note: at the announcement for Phase II that I attended several weeks ago, a comment was made that the land owned by the Port Authority on the East edge of Channelside drive is slated for "a row of high rise condo towers." Guess they'd be neighbors with the new Fairmont Hotel, if that goes through as planned.

Isn't this what he is referring to: 900+ condominium units

Landowner Gets Deal On Parcel Near Port
By SHANNON BEHNKEN sbehnken@tampatrib.com
Published: Mar 19, 2005

TAMPA - The owner of a 53- acre parcel of land near
Tampa's port can move ahead with turning the site into
a residential and commercial hub.
Tampa port, city and state officials said Friday they
signed an agreement with property owner Bruce Woodruff
that will allow up to 900 condominium units to be
built on the site. The Tampa City Council, which must
approve the agreement, is expected to vote on it
Thursday.

As part of the deal, Woodruff had to agree to several stipulations, including building an 8- foot high wall along 22nd Street and a 20-foot landscaping buffer. Any residential development built on the site would also be limited to two entrances.

Property owners would also have to be informed in
writing that homes are located in an industrial area,
officials said.

``We just don't want them to complain about the port
later and want it to leave,'' said Bob Clifford,
planning manager for the state Department of
Transportation. ``We believe we have the best deal we
could work out.''

The land, located across from city shrimp docks and
the former Seabreeze Restaurant, was home to the Auto
Park drive-in from about 1960 into the early 1980s.

Woodruff's proposal, backed by city officials who want
to spruce up the waterfront corridor, had met
opposition from the Tampa Port Authority and state
agencies worried that new residents of a development
and existing maritime industry would clash over noise,
traffic and pollution.

``We hope this agreement will be a win-win for
everyone,'' said Mark Huey, the city's economic
development administrator. ``Any significant road that
comes into the city is a gateway. Right now, [22nd
Street] is not an attractive roadway.''

Woodruff has tried for more than a year to get the
property, located north of 22nd Street, rezoned for
residential use so he can sell it to a developer.

His efforts to get rezoning approval were held up when
the state Department of Community Affairs denied his
request last year, largely because the city's
comprehensive land use plan calls for industrial use
on the property. The Tampa Port Authority and the
state Department of Transportation had also objected
to Woodruff's rezoning efforts, arguing that a
residential development would not fit in with the
heavily industrialized port area.

Woodruff's proposal won preliminary city approval in
March 2004, but stalled while state and city officials
tried to work out whether to amend the comprehensive
land-use plan. The issue was heading to an
administrative law judge when the settlement was
reached.

The gateway idea gained support in January when
businessman George Lorton went public with his
proposal to build condominiums and office space on 54
acres near Woodruff's land, on the south side of 22nd
Street. Lorton has instead agreed to sell the land to
the Tampa Port Authority, which voted Tuesday to buy
39 acres from him for $15 million. The deal is
expected to close next month.

Port Spokesman Steve Valley said Friday the port is
not interested in buying Woodruff's property because
it does not abut deep-water the way Lorton's property
does.

``Our main concern right now is to limit the marine
industry impacts on people who will be moving in,''
Valley said. ``The proposed settlement agreement
handles that.''

Clifford, the planning manager with the state
Department of Transportation, said the department does
not support residential development along the corridor
but can live with the Woodruff agreement. The
department's main concerns, he said, are truck traffic
along the causeway and future residents objecting to
noise and pollution from the port.

Nope - that is on Causeway Blvd . . .

^Yeah, that's on the east side of the port, like 2 miles away. Completely different location.

Next time I talk to my cousin, I'll ask her about it... She works for Wilson Miller as an AA. Since she's a complete busybody gossip queen, she hears everything that gets leaked in the Port Authority HQ.

So, Crescent Hieghts really is three towers, not two wrapping around each other like previous renderings seemed to indicate.


http://media.tbo.com/photos/trib/2005/april/0407cnd2.jpg

Tree Doesn't Stop Condo Plan


By ANDY REID areid@tampatrib.com
Published: Apr 8, 2005

TAMPA - Outrage over the ``butchering'' of a 100-year-old oak tree did not stop plans Thursday for another high-rise condominium downtown.
The Tampa City Council called for an investigation of what happened to the tree developers of Crescent Heights Channelside once agreed to protect.

However, the council still gave preliminary approval to plans for more than 800 condominiums the Miami-based developer proposes beside the tree, across from the St. Pete Times Forum.

``This is one of those blatant butcherings,'' said Councilman John Dingfelder, who cast one of the two votes against the project.

Dingfelder floated the idea of pursuing criminal charges.

``This is one of those classic situations where somebody has done something in the dark of night.''

Other council members said criminal charges went too far and that the development should not be stopped because of damage to the tree.

``I think we are getting out of the purview of what we should be doing,'' Councilwoman Rose Ferlita said. ``Pretty soon we will have ... tree cops out there.''

Channelside Development LLC first planned to remove the towering live oak to make way for condominiums and shops, but city officials instructed them instead to build around the tree, city forester Dave Reilly said.

Reilly noticed the damage when he went to make sure new design plans left enough room for the oak, at the southwest corner of Eunice Avenue and Jefferson Street, north of Channelside Drive.

``When I got out there, about half of the tree was gone,'' Reilly said. ``It will never get back to its full glory.''

With a trunk more than 40 inches in diameter, Reilly said the tree was at least 100 years old and was one of only a dozen trees left downtown considered a ``grand tree'' - which are protected by the city.

City officials consider the tree a total loss and required developers to pay $6,600 for replacement trees. The city code enforcement board could levy a $15,000 fine.

The cutting was a ``mistake'' by the landowners, said consultant John Larocca, who represents the 30-story condominium project. The redesign of the project made the tree the centerpiece of a public courtyard, he said.

``We will do whatever we need to do to make it better,'' Larocca said.

An out-of-town crew brought in by project developers to clean up the site after one of the summer storms ended up cutting the tree, said attorney Truett Gardner, who also represents the project.

Landowners could be punished, as well as the tree trimmer, Dingfelder said.

``The tree company did not come out and do it for free,'' Dingfelder said.

The tree issue surfaced on the same day council members met for about three hours to talk about ways to get tough with city code breakers.

Higher fines for violations such as overgrown lots and junked cars, as well as stepping up efforts to foreclose on land of repeat offenders, were among the options the council discussed.

That's some serious crowding right there

I was thinking that before when they announced this, and I definitely think that now... Why on earth didn't they go with two 40-45 story towers? I think they would have made more money, considering how much better the views for each unit could have been. Like we've already discussed, most units aren't going to see jack from this location, because so many towers are going up all around the project (and because the towers seriously block each other). Only the top few floors will be able to see anything in the best view corridor off to the S, around to the W.

That looks like a monstrosity to be honest.

I mean, it looks like Downtown Channelside with shorter towers and that HUGE base.

I honestly would think about voting against this if I had seen the plans and had been a member fo the city counsel... Which I'm not :p

Too much with too little.

^City council was going ga-ga, and gave the developer high praise when they approved plans several weeks ago.

Personally, I don't like the blank stucco facades fronting both Morgan and Jefferson. I felt that given its location, this project should absolutely have a hotel component and a significant retail/entertainment presence in the base. Maybe we'll get lucky, and the folks developing the Outpost site will build a hotel/retail project. (though that site is quite small, so I doubt it)...

At least the good thing is that hopefully, the retail components in the base of the South regional Parking Garage might be occupied in the future, now that a hotel is being built on one side, and this massive complex is being built on the other. Plus, Cochantobee Park (or whatever it's called) on the channel might actually see some foot traffic from residents.

I realized after working down there last year that it was a huge mistake to put the arena where it is, especially with it basically being a single use structure. Its design should have incorporated like an office/hotel tower, and maybe some sizable retail... Maybe we'll get really lucky and they will plow under both VIP lots, as well as 717's lot south of South Regional. As it is now, that stretch along Channelside Dr is a wasteland unless an event is going on at the arena.

I don't really care about the base height - it will blend in with other buildings in the area - I am concerned that the rendering does not let you see what retail there might be - piecing together the two renderings I have - it looks like there will be at least two sides of retail with that tree plaza thing. There may verywell be two sides of parking/wall, which is less than optimal. but whatever.

And they need abase to get up about 8 stories to get the units over the Forum.

I was down at the park last week and contemplated what it will be like if and when all these condos get built and the forum will seem much more integrated - especially when the people who own the VIP lot cash in - which they are sure to do.

Heard from a friend today that he was told that The PLace has changed their General Contractor for the project. He was told when he bought (and in the marketing materials) that Hardin was the GC. According to him, he was told by his rep that they just made a switch to Bovis Lend Lease.

Anyone know who Bovis Lend Lease is? He was told they are quite large and credible, but I've never seen them in this market (that I can remember).

The only thing I could think is that with Phase II in the the works, they may have put a package deal together. Or, they never went to contract and the costs went up while doing sales?

And they need abase to get up about 8 stories to get the units over the Forum.

I don't care about the base hieght either. Obviously it needs to be tall to get over S regional, the TCC, the crosstown and the arena. I care about the fact that the base will be about a 90 feet sheer vertical wall of stucco. Talk about dehumanizing in scale... Some faux windows, or screens or awnings...Just basically anything to break up that mass would have been great IMO.

Grand Central, with the theater we know for sure:

Bid Date: ASAP Est. Start Date: April 2005

Description:
New construction and site work for a mixed-use development in Tampa. Working plans are calling for 392 studios, one- and two-bedroom condominiums ranging from 620 to 2,169 square feet. The project will also include 55,000 square feet of office space, 125,000 square feet of restaurant, retail, and service business space, a 2,000-square-foot art gallery, and a 4,500-square-foot community theater.

Construction is expected to begin in April 2005 and the general contractor is currently accepting subcontractor bids for all trades.
http://www.bidclerk.com/projects/projectDetail.jsp?projectID=3dbb7d9f-0734-40e2-bd41-598f3fbe78e0

295 More Feet Means A Lot To Developer

By JANIS D. FROELICH jfroelich@tampatrib.com
Published: Apr 9, 2005


CHANNEL DISTRICT - Developer Fida Sirdar doesn't see his proposed 32-story, Phase 2 condominium of The Place at Channelside as a misfit.
Other high rises are in various stages of development for the Channel District, including the recently proposed Fairmont Hotels & Resorts' 55-story tower.

The Fairmont, with 400 hotel units and 180 condominiums, would be across from Sirdar's almost 3-acre property at 918 Channelside Drive.

Sirdar is scheduled to go before the Tampa City Council on Thursday for a zoning change because the Channel District has a 65-foot height restriction.

The Place Phase 2, with 198 units plus retail space, would be 360 feet tall. Phase 1 of the project will have 243 units.

Sirdar sees the urban-style development, where the average condominium will cost $375,000, as economically necessary.

``If you want a mixed-used area, you must increase density,'' he said. He said greater numbers of residents are needed to support the retail businesses and restaurants.

Meeting with residents on April 1, Sirdar told them he plans community improvements such as wider sidewalks, murals, fountains and sculptures.

Sirdar said the last time he sought a zoning change for his 86-foot Phase 1, the council later approved The Towers of Channelside, at Meridian Avenue and North 12th Street, which is twice as high.

Genie White, president of the Channel District Community Association, expressed reservations about high-rise condominiums because they don't reflect the district's pedestrian-friendly scale.

Henry Lewis, who operates City Blue Print at his four-story office/residential structure at 11th and Washington streets, said even though the Phase 2 tower will block the sun, he is not opposed to it.

``We want retail,'' Lewis said. ``The residents at next door Channelside 212 Lofts are really anxious for places to walk to.''

^This project's details keep changing. 32 stories, 198 units, 360ft now... Niiiice. :)

Henry Lewis, who operates City Blue Print at his four-story office/residential structure at 11th and Washington streets, said even though the Phase 2 tower will block the sun, he is not opposed to it.

``We want retail,'' Lewis said. ``The residents at next door Channelside 212 Lofts are really anxious for places to walk to.''

Odd, I was thinking that maybe he wants them to build it so he can sell his land for ridiculous amounts of money once the precedent for tall buildings is set, but what do I know.

^Nope, it's all about benevolence for his fellow nieghbor...;)

HE sure does sound swell.

Lewis isn't looking to move out anytime soon. But it IS a matter of dollars and cents - he runs a reprographics company and would likely win that business if Phase II of the Place were to move forward.

However, like the rest of us living in the Channel District, Lewis is eager to have more restaurants, stores and businesses within walking distance. Higher density would make this more likely.

Of course, anything that raises the property values can't hurt... :)

For anyone interested, the Seaboard Square sales office on 12th Street in the Channel District will officially open this Saturday, 4/16. The first several weeks will be strictily informational in nature, with the sales efforts beginning in mid-May.

Also, tomorrow night is the hearing for 32-story Phase II of The Place.

Hey, can you do us all a favor and go to the Towers office and find out why they are taking so damn long to get moving on that thing - I swear residences at Franklin will be completed before they even get to street level on the Towers at this rate.

Can do, Smiley. I drive by that lot as well as the O2 site multpile times a day, and have been disappointed at the lack of progress at the Towers.

At least there seems to be SOME activity at O2, even if it is a lot of rubble-crushing.

Just got a phone call from a friend at the city council meeting saying The Place has taken Phase II "off the table." Their supposed to go back in May to apply for rezoning of Phase I to add 15 more units, without adding any height.

Any speculation on where they are going to fit 15 more condos?

^wtf? I wonder why that occurred?

Oh well, at least one project in Channelside that doesnt have a twin.

A good deal of activity in the Channel District today -

Twiggs: construction on the framed out Tampa Expressway Traffic Management Center is moving along. You can see the rendering at http://www.tampa-xway.com/timeline.html#.

Twiggs: they're starting to demolish the old warehouses where the new Seaport Town Center is supposed to go. First activity I've seen there in a long time.

Kennedy: lots of hard hats and heavy equipment at the Grand Central site the past couple days. They're tearing up the parking lot at the sales center, and creating a lot of commotion throughout the entire site.

Washington/Channelside: cinderblock walls are going up at 1000 Channelside.

12th Street: Workers are stuccoing the exterior East face of The Meridian.

12th Street: The developers of Lafayette Lofts have sent out letters to Channelside residents re: their hearing to obtain height variance from 60' to 70' for their project.

11th Street: the brick building that's being refurbished by a local law firm seems to be nearing completion. One of the few old warehouses not to get torn down in the Channel District.

Channelside: workers continue to remove bricks and rubble from the O2 / Pinnacle Place site.

Meridian Parkway's progress seems awfully slow, but steady I guess. We're all eager for this street, along with Kennedy, to open up again. Their website says "summer 2005," which provides a nice-sized window for them.

I'll be stopping in to the sales offices of the Towers at Channelside as well as Seaboard Square to get some updated info on those projects.

In other news, I'm having a new backsplash put in my kitchen.....

Thanks and congratulations. I very much look forward to finding out what the deal is with the Towers. . .

Not really for this thread but Residences at Franklin have a fence up and equipment on site - looks like they are moving - which is nice. Need action up there to get more action - I think once people see it coming to life they will be even more interested in buying. Along those lines (stream of consciousness now) Skypoint sent out an email about how busy they are and that they are going to sales starting in May - hopefully they can get it done fast.

Anyone know who Bovis Lend Lease is? He was told they are quite large and credible, but I've never seen them in this market (that I can remember).



bovis is pretty large i think there based in europe but they have many north american divisions including one in miami,they handle alot of the big projects.over at that the miami forum,jr79 works for them.

In other news, I'm having a new backsplash put in my kitchen.....

Awesome. What type of surface are you putting up? Granite, ceramic tile, glass tile...

Glass mosaic tile. I've already got a lot of granite and stainless steel, so it should look good.

Anyway, stopped by the newly opened Seaboard Square sales office this afternoon. They're starting out strictly informational in nature, with sales starting officially in mid-May.

The first phase will include a 4-story contemporary loft building facing Whiting, with a 6-story loft structure adjacent on 11th Street. The anticipated move-in date is August 2006. You can find rough water-color renderings at www.seaboardquare.com.

The second phase will also be residential in nature, not sure of the architectural style. Phase III was described as "something high end, luxury lik you would find on Bayshore." I believe this would be 14 stories. Finally, the last phase will be a boutique hotel.

All four phases are connected by a common circular tree-filled plaza. Retail is planned for ground floors on all phases, and many units are described as live / work.

Stopped by the offices of the Towers at Channelside today as well, but they are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Umm, OK...

^That doesn't sound nearly dense enough or varied in occupant type enough to create the "vibrant european villiage" concept they've been touting.

Hi all. Did anyone else stop by Seaboard Square yet? I stopped in this past weekend.

Overall, I found it to be disappointing. The site design seemed very nice, but the plans were lacking good basic design. Angular floorplans that just didn't make sense is how I would summarize them. Plus, considering the included features will be very much like Victory Lofts, the general price ranges quoted seemed way out of line with the comps.

I wish them well, but the sales center was empty for the entire one hour period I was there. I suppose that anyone that stopped in quickly realized there would not be much to see or learn, seeing as they have no model or specific pricing to release.

Oh well, time will tell...

Any other news out there? I see lots going on over at Grand Central, but not much else at the other "big" projects. Anyone know what the hell is going on with The Place? Adding 15 units is still very confusing, unless they are scrapping the unsold penthouses and making them their basic plans to sell. Just wish they would start soon, as they are already four months behind their Fall groundbreaking/tear down estimate. Plus, they informed all their buyers that the completion date has been pushed back to Oct. 31 2006.

I think I'll just stay in my nice little apartment on Harbour Island for a little longer, at least until most of Channelside gets going :)

I am not that worried about the Place - but I really want to know what is going on with Towers . .

I finally got the chance to stop by the Towers at Channelside office today on the way home from work. I asked the young lady working when she anticipated actual construction to begin on the Towers, and she told me "probably in about four to six weeks." I asked her what the holdup has been, and mentioned that there hasn't been much activitiy in a couple months, and she replied that "things have been going on behind the scenes." Whatever that means.

Also stopped in Ventana, and they will be starting construction NEXT WEEK. Can't believe how relatively fast this project has moved compared to others in the district. She estimated the construction to last about 16 months.

The nice sales lady also told me that it's pretty certain that a Publix will be going in Grand Central, as well as a large gym (she thought one of the chains, such as Gold's Gym), in addition to restaurants and the theatre stage.

that sounds right for ventana perhaps a little earlier than expected
Bid Date: Est. Start Date:
May 2005 Summer 2005

Description:
New construction and site work for an apartment complex in Tampa. Working plans call for a multi-story building to hold 84 multi-family units. The complex will also include a lobby and swimming pool.

The general contractor will be accepting subcontractor bids in the coming months. Interested parties may contact the general contractor.

^That had to have been bumped up then. You don't take bids in May for a project starting next week.

http://media.tbo.com/photos/trib/2005/april/0420chn2.jpg

Channelside Vision Expands

By SHANNON BEHNKEN sbehnken@tampatrib.com
Published: Apr 21, 2005


TAMPA - A developer who plans to build a condominium and hotel in the Channel District said Wednesday he wants to add a similar but smaller development next door.
Roger Gateway, the developer of Seaboard Square, said he has signed a letter of intent with Hilton Suites to manage one of the hotels.

The second hotel would feature 80 bed-and-breakfast- style units and include an additional 60 condominiums and retail space.

``We want to provide a small, intimate hotel,'' said Gateway, president of WestBay City Homes.

The original $100 million proposal, approved by city council in December, will stretch from Meridian Avenue to 11th Street and from Whiting Street to Cumberland Avenue. The plans call for 370 condos and a 120- room hotel in four buildings.

The buildings would range from four to 14 stories, and the condos would cost $245,000 to $500,000.

Linda Saul-Sena, a longtime city councilwoman who wants to see more downtown residential developments, praised Gateway's original plan but questions whether too many condos and hotels are planned.

``Probably not all of the projects planned will come to fruition,'' she said.

Gateway said he thinks the area can sustain another hotel because as downtown and Channelside grow, more people will visit Tampa.

``This area is changing so rapidly,'' he said. ``There will be many more reasons for people to come to Tampa.''

Gateway said he expects construction to begin on the project's first phase in June and will present the plans for the second hotel and condominiums this summer.

Don't really like the building.

URL
http://money.tbo.com/money/MGB6GO7AS7E.html

Seaboard Square is going to have to step up their marketing efforts to keep up with the other projects in the Channel District. With all the projects on the board or in construction at the moment, I would think that it is getting increasingly difficult to separate yourself from the pack in the minds of potential buyers. Although I don't dislike this project, I don't think they're doing a very good job of capturing the attention of the consumer or creating any type of "buzz."

^That might be difficult to do with a plan that doesn't seem to generate the kind of densities needed to create the atmosphere they are touting.

I'm still dismayed that most developments expect pedestrians to walk out in the sun, on hot pavement, being slow roasted to a golden brown. Where are the awnings, or overhangs, or foliage for shade?

Update on the Towers

Tampa Bay Business Journal - 3:51 PM EDT Thursday
Batson-Cook to build The Towers of Channelside
Ken Salgat

Batson-Cook Construction has been selected to build the Towers of Channelside.

The $85-million condominium complex at 1103 Cumberland Ave., Tampa, will house 257 units in two 30-story towers when completed in 22 to 24 months. Units are priced from $275,000 to $755,000, with the penthouses going for more than $1.5 million.

The project began construction in January with the demolition of existing structures on the property. Mike McGuinness, one of the principals of the Towers of Channelside LLC, said a foundation permit request has been filed with the city and he expects approval within the next two weeks.

Batson-Cook Construction is based West Point, Ga.

© 2005 American City Business Journals Inc.

http://tampabay.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2005/04/18/daily60.html?jst=b_ln_hl

I must be confused but I thought it was changed to 3 towers?

^Towers at Channelside has never been three towers. The only three tower project that I know of is the one off Channelside at Jefferson, across from the arena.

Blah bLah, fluff fluff - at least they are sort of getting the word out

Seaboard Square
Seaboard Square's first phase includes the Lofts at Seaboard, the Chandlery and the Plaza.
By MICHAEL CANNING
Published April 22, 2005

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


LOCATION: 110 S 11th St. in the Channel District, bounded by Whiting and 12th streets and Meridian and Cumberland avenues.

DEVELOPER: WestBay City Homes

DESCRIPTION: A three-phase residential, retail, office and hotel development on 4 acres, formerly called Channelside Village.

Phase 1 will have the Lofts at Seaboard, the Chandlery and the Plaza. The Lofts at Seaboard will have a four-story building and a six-story building with 30 lofts and nine live/work spaces. The Chandlery will be an eight-story building with 64 condominiums, eight live/work spaces, 30,000 square feet of office space on the fifth floor and 7,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor. The Plaza will have an open courtyard with trellises, trees and sculptures facing 11th Street.

Phase 2 will have a four-story building with 13 townhomes and 10,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor. It will also have a nine-story building with 116 flats, a 14-story building with 42 flats, 12,000 square feet of ground floor retail and a four- to five-story parking garage.

Phase 3 includes a proposed 120-room hotel, more retail space and more condominiums.

PRICE: Prices for the Phase 1 lofts and condos will range from the mid $200,000s to the low $500,000s. Prices for the other phases haven't been set.

AMENITIES: The Lofts at Seaboard will have a fitness center, a third-level plaza with grilling area and landscaping. Loft units will have 10-foot ceilings, polished concrete floors, stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops in the kitchens, exposed duct work and exposed concrete block walls. The Chandlery will have a fifth-level plaza with grilling area and landscaping. Amenities for the other phases have not been determined.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: "The density is probably 60 units to the acre, which in an urban area isn't that bad," said WestBay president Roger Gatewood. "We've got a pretty good sized piece of land."

The developers changed the name to reference the Seaboard Coast rail line, which had a strong presence in the Channel District.

TIMELINE: Construction on the Lofts at Seaboard is scheduled to begin in June and take 12 to 14 months. Crews are expected to break ground on the Chandlery in December 2006, with construction lasting about a year.

MOVE-IN DATE: Lofts at Seaboard, June or July 2006; the Chandlery, December 2007.

FOR INFORMATION: Call 223-0870 or go to www.seaboardsquare.com

The Latest Development features a new residential or commercial project. To suggest a project, e-mail mikecanning@hotmail.com or call 226-3394.
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/04/22/Citytimes/Seaboard_Square.shtml

I found this rendering of one of th Seaboard square buildings and it is fine filler for the area - not really exciting but it will fit in well. The question, as posed earlier, is, given all the competition, can they fill these things given that they are now kind of bland (sure, five years ago, I would have been thrilled, but now it is filler). . .

http://images1.e-net.com/smith/Development/full/179.jpg

^I think their biggest problem will be that they are doing the project in several phases, strung out over at least 4-5 years. Who wants to live in a noisy, dusty, filthy construction zone for 5 years, before being able to actually enjoy the "villiage setting" promised?

I agree with both of you on the Seaboard Square project.

Meanwhile, to the North, lots of activity at both Grand Central and Ventana sites this week.

The biggest mystery to me in the Channel District currently is the Seaport Town Center project on Twiggs. Other than some minor demolition, it doesn't seem like this project has progressed much in the past two years since it was announced. Have you heard anything about it?

has anyone heard anything on Downtown channelside? There's the O2 Condo's and Towers at Channelside always being discussed -- what about Downtown Channelside (in between Shops at Channelsdie and the Forum)?

I agree with both of you on the Seaboard Square project.

Meanwhile, to the North, lots of activity at both Grand Central and Ventana sites this week.

The biggest mystery to me in the Channel District currently is the Seaport Town Center project on Twiggs. Other than some minor demolition, it doesn't seem like this project has progressed much in the past two years since it was announced. Have you heard anything about it?

They claim construction is expected to start in June.

Yea, they have been talking a lot over the years - that's another "I'll believe it when I see it" jobs - not that I don't want it, but I am not holding my breath either.

FLHawk - I drove by what I believe is the Seaport Town Center site. It looked like they had bulldozed some smaller buildings. I also saw a few people walking around in hard-hats for what it is worth.

By the way, how do you copy someone's previous post, so people know what you are replying to? Thanks.

^PRESS QUOTE

Just curious if anyone else has heard rumors of a new city park going in the Channel District, adjacent to Meridian and in the proximity of O2 / Pinnacle Place and the Con Agra plant?

Got this info from the salesperson for Ventana, and had heard before, but have never read anything about it in the papers.

I heard rumblings, but no definitive news. There is a lot in there that is not accounted for.

If I recall correctly, a sales person at Grand Central told me that an area across the street from Grand Central could potentially become "green space" or a park of sorts.

stopped by Seaboard Square today, seems like a nice project. Sounds like they want to incorporate alot of public space into the project.

I also asked if they knew what was holding up The Towers. They said they are pretty sure the Towers have run into some financial trouble. Hope that's not true!

Just curious if anyone else has heard rumors of a new city park going in the Channel District, adjacent to Meridian and in the proximity of O2 / Pinnacle Place and the Con Agra plant?

Got this info from the salesperson for Ventana, and had heard before, but have never read anything about it in the papers.


I will try to find out form my DPW pals with the city sometime next week.

Channel District Developer Wins OK For 15 More Units

Published: May 6, 2005




TAMPA - Although Fida Sirdar's 32- story, Phase 2 condominium plan is shelved for now, the Channel District developer got Tampa City Council members to agree Thursday to 15 more units for Phase 1 of The Place.
Sirdar attorney Andrea Zelman reminded council members that they had approved the 86-foot Phase 1 in 2003. The Channel District has a 65- foot height restriction.

The expanded Phase 1 would not go any higher than originally approved, Zelman said. About 10,000 square feet would be added, however.

Because of negative feedback from neighbors, Sirdar recently announced he would not pursue rezoning for his proposed 198-unit tower, which would include retail. Instead, he asked the city council for 15 more units to accommodate mixed use, bringing Phase 1 to 245 units.

Sirdar said Phase 1, in the 900 block of Channelside Drive, should be under construction this spring.

Janice D. Froelich <

http://tampatrib.com/floridametronews/MGBB7XUXD8E.html

OK, glad that's settled. Now, break ground already!!!

Several months ago I would have thought these guys would be way ahead of Grand Central and Ventana at this date, but not the case.

Does anyone know if the Towers have died, Or what is going on with them????

This is from Dale (orl) in the Tampa thread:

"TTT had to do the archeology thing. T@C, I read, only recently obtained financing and, reportedly will begin soon. And O2 is right on schedule, by most accounts."

All I can say is drop by their offices and ask them - I can't imagine they sold all their units (or most of them) and then tanked and it never showed up in the paper

I can't conceive of the T@C just dying. I would see it getting upsized before dying, if anything.

I'm just getting anxious, I guess. Can't wait till some cranes get up and that one was the first high rise to break ground. Just figured I would have been seeing more action on that site by now.

Lots of site work at The Plaza site on Harbour Island. They may have their cranes up before anyone else.

Well, Grand Central is certainly on the "fast track." Unfortunately for those of us living nearby, that means being subjected to the thump-thumping of pile driving at all hours, including up to midnight this whole week and even 4:30 am this morning!

Anyone know what the regulations are re: working hours and/or acceptable noise levels? I'm eager to see the thing go up quickly, but not at the expense of my sleep!!!

I'm new to this forum and got a lot of info from the new developments.
Was looking at Channelside and liked O2. The only thing is the Plaza building just accross. Do you guys have any info on the Plaza at Channelside? That will block a good view from the O2 condos up to the 30 floor. Thanks.

There is basiclly little public info on the P@C project so far as I know. No renderings that I have seen, so it's impossible to know how much view will be blocked.

However, I can gaurantee you that the 3 towered, 28 story mass of towers going up at Morgan and Channelside (the block north of the Forum) are going to be blocking some portion of the views from O2. That project is called Crescent Hieghts Channelside...

rendering, looking SE at it...the crosstown is at the bottom of the pic for reference.
http://media.tbo.com/photos/trib/2005/april/0407cnd2.jpg


And with Towers@C, DT C, Plaza@C, Plaza (harbour island), the Marriott and the new Embassy Suites, alot of the views from O2 are going to be blocked or cluttered, except due south and from WNW to ENE (the city view).

Thanks Jason. Drove by this weekend and went up to the top floor of Channelside parking to take a good look. This view will be so different in a few years. Looking forward to see!

Seaboard Square is scheduled to being demolition of the current Seaboard Storage warehouses on 11th Street in June.

Seaport Town Center (Twiggs) is also slated to begin construction in June. They have been busy tearing down the existing building at this site over the past several weeks.

Word is that the Expressway Authority is scaling way back on the Meridian Parkway project due to financial losses from the elevated expressway debacle. Meridian was supposed to be a beautiful "gateway" into Tampa with loads of landscaping, distinctive lighting, decorative signage, wide sidewalks and a curving bike path. It will be interesting to see how much of that gets cut.

I would be really pissed if they cut back on the Meridian Parkway. They should have cut the brandon entrance instead of the downtown entrance to the parkway. You would think with all the new development around downtown that the expressway authority would want to make it look good.

^You would think that with all of the developers pouring billions into DT, that the city and county would tolerate nothing less than what was touted. Afterall, pissing off new residents and developers with shoddy infrastructure isn't a good way for the government to welcome newcomers.

Tif will get it back - and fees from the new developments

Jsut saw today that Grand Central is under construction - they are pouring cement into their big ole tubes in the ground with lots o' rebar.

ventana is doing samples.

tower is still just sitting there.

yay! I will have to find a designated spot and take pics... Grand Central was one of the projects that I wanted to track through construction...

Wow, I am really excited to hear that the Grand Central is begining to pour columns or whatever they are forming. It is actually one of the channelside projects that I am most interested in. I hope someone can take some pics sometime. I am excited to see the progress when I come back to Tampa for memorial weekend and I am excited to stay at that waterside marriott too.

^Not columns, but caissons for the foundation.

Hmmmm...."caissons" sounds vaguely French to me. I say we call them "freedom columns."

omg...lol... I swear I was thinking that yesterday as I left this thread...lololololol

Plans for two new Channel District residential developments will be presented at the next Channel District meeting (middle of June). Word has it that the team behind the Meridian will be presenting their ideas for the land adjacent to that building on 12th St and leading up to Washington Street.

I have heard from neighbors that this project will consist of two buildings of different heights, though I don't know have any specifics yet. I plan to find out in a few weeks, and will pass on any new info as I hear it.

I just found out that the InTown Group - the people behind SkyPoint - will be making an announcement in late July re: their intention to build another property in the Channel District.

Couldn't get any other details than that, but the nice sales lady did tell me that their intentions all along have been to build several projects in Tampa.

InTown generally only does highrises from what I know of them... so I guess another tower proposal is coming. Any friendly wagers on where?

Where is one quesiton -- WHAT is another. A tower is oen thing but will it be residential agian? Mixed use? Commercial? I doube the latter....

If you take a look at Novare Group's website, they pretty much stick to residential towers with retail on ground floor. They have several projects either in development or completed in Atlanta, and are expanding into the Charlotte, Nashville and Tampa markets.

I'm curious if they will stick with the price point that was so successful for them at SkyPoint, or raise the prices to be more in line with the other projects in the Channel District (i.e. $300K and up).

I think that they will try and stay cheaper and do another 30+ story highrise. That is thier bread and butter... I wouldn't be surprised to see the city gladly approve of a more affordable project, even though it will blow past the hieght restriction.

... past the height restriction ...

Such projects are approved with regularity hereabouts. The State-mandated obligation for builders to include affordable units in all new housing projects has led to this state of affairs.

Does anyone know what is going on in the "Northwest Quadrant" of the Twiggs St. / 12th St. intersection (very close to the Crosstown Exprwy)? They recently cleared the land at this location. Right next to it, they are building a 5 story building, which I have heard is going to be rental property. Are these projects connected in any way?

That "quadrant" is the future home of Seaport Town Center, an apartment / mixed use complex that's been on the boards for a while. Supposedly, they will be breaking ground this summer. (Wouldn't be surprised if they went condo very quickly)

The building that's already in construction on Twiggs and Meridian is the HQ for the Tampa Xpressway Authority.

... past the height restriction ...

Such projects are approved with regularity hereabouts. The State-mandated obligation for builders to include affordable units in all new housing projects has led to this state of affairs.

Of course, people neglect the reality that 'hieght restrictions' are one of the causations of municipalities needing to encourage 'affordable housing' in the first place, by restricting a market's ability to have supply meet demand.

That "quadrant" is the future home of Seaport Town Center, an apartment / mixed use complex that's been on the boards for a while. Supposedly, they will be breaking ground this summer. (Wouldn't be surprised if they went condo very quickly)

The building that's already in construction on Twiggs and Meridian is the HQ for the Tampa Xpressway Authority.



They claim construction is to begin in June. I have no idea what thier permitting status is though.

I expect most of these projects to push towards getting their permits before Oct 1st now while they have the chance. There are so many things revised in the new Florida building code, that it could take a couple yrs to really know whats gonna hit you. In fact, getting the permits now is even better because the backlog may take a couple mos. as far back as July.

They could have permitted already and are sitting on it while they get all their manpower. So many commercial jobs are popping up, its hard to find qualified labor at one given time.

Just a guess. :)

Here's an article regarding Amazon Rubber moving out of the Channel District in June and over to East Ybor. For those unfamiliar with the business, it is located at the Southwest corner of 12th Street and Kennedy, across the street from Artists Unlimited.

Word is that the developers who bought the land will be announcing their plans for residential lofts in the near future.

http://centraltampa.tbo.com/centraltampa/MGBP63EU89E.html

Channel District: Developer of tower itches to start again

Downtown's SkyPoint has attracted so much interest, the company wants to build "attainable" condos at 110 N 12th St.

By JANET ZINK, Times Staff Writer
Published June 3, 2005

Atlanta developer Novare Group announced its first foray into Tampa late last year with its downtown residential project called SkyPoint.

Apparently, it likes this town.

The company known for building reasonably priced urban housing now plans to build a condominium tower in the Channel District.

Novare and a local developer, Intown Group, want to rezone land at 110 N 12th St. to make way for an 18-story, 475-unit tower on top of a seven-story garage. The City Council is scheduled to review the request July 21.

"Since the day we came into town and hooked up with our partners down in Tampa, Intown Group, we have been phenomenally excited about Tampa," said John Long, Novare's senior vice president.

The project would also include 10,000 square feet of retail and a half-acre park on 11th Street.

"We thought that one of the things the Channel District lacked was some common public space," Long said. "It's a wonderful area, and we're glad to be a part of it, but sometimes there needs to be a respite from all the urban development. We thought a park would be a good thing to add to the mix."

The site is owned by Channelside Developers, which also is developing the Meridian Lofts with the Intown Group. Meridian is just north of the proposed project.

Novare broke ground in January on SkyPoint, a 32-story tower at the corner of Ashley Drive and Polk Street.

Already, more than 1,000 potential buyers have come through the sales center and expressed interest in the 381 units, Long said. Last week, Novare began randomly selecting 100 people to pick specific units.

Like SkyPoint, the project in Channel District will offer what Novare describes as "attainable" units priced from about $170,000. Most condos in that area start at about $300,000.

"We believe that the lower you can make the units cost, the more buyers there are," Long said. "It's not easy to build a Class A property and then charge prices that first-time home buyers can afford. We've worked very hard to develop a product that you can afford to sell for that much money."

The company has had success with similar residential projects in Atlanta. In the past year, it has launched projects in Nashville and Charlotte, N.C.

- Janet Zink can be reached at 226-3401 or jzink@sptimes.com
[Last modified June 2, 2005, 08:00:13]

http://www.stpetetimes.com/2005/06/03/Citytimes/Channel_District__Dev.shtml

Novare and a local developer, Intown Group, want to rezone land at 110 N 12th St. to make way for an 18-story, 475-unit tower on top of a seven-story garage. Meridian is just north of the proposed project.



I can't figure out where this is going. Immediately to the south of Meridian is Victory lofts. The next lot south, after that, is "The Seaboard Square". Unless the Seaboard Sqaure project died, I am not sure where this is going.

I really like the idea of some green space, though I would have liked to seen it be at least an acre.

Also there is a sign on a site further up 12th St, Across from 12th st lofts, for a project called Lafayette. It looks great!! About 7 or 8 stories, all brick !

I think the writer got her directions mixed up. I'm pretty sure that InTown / Novare will be building on the land directly NORTH of The Meridian.

The Channel District is sorely lacking in all things green, so we will take any green space they can give us!

Also, glad to hear they're sticking with the lower pricing that was so popular at SkyPoint. These units will sell very quickly.

The Lafayette will be 30 units, starting around $300K. It's over the 60 ft height limit in the Channel District, but I'm sure they'll have no problems overcoming that. The rendering looks nice - all brick, which will complement The Dance Project building next door. Their website is listed as www.thelafayettetampa.com (but wasn't operational as of yesterday).

Finally, the Zinc lot on the corner of Washington and Meridian has been sold to developers who are supposedly planning a very high-end project for this land. No further details yet.

I think it is to the north too - Meridian owns that lot already - which fits into the general scheme. They will have a fight to get something in the 20+ story range zoned there though

^Yes, they will... Especially since The Place just got denied for it's ~30 story phase II, which would have only been about 500ft to the southeast of this project's site.

18+7=25... This building would clearly be around 275-325ft...

I personally don't have a problem with it, and would in fact be extremely interested in buying... But I don't know... I hope that what I said before pans out... The "affordable housing" carrot, and the 1/2 acre park carrot will seduce the city council and Mayor, who are very eager to see some reasonably priced units in DT.



btw, you can see exactly where this is located by clicking on this link to the Hills Co prop Appraiser's map...
http://propmap3.hcpafl.org/map/main.htm?cmd=ZOOMFOLIO&folio=1902280000
The south part of the block is all the Meridian, while the rest of the block is all in the name of the same owner, except for the NW corner parcel.

Did the Place get denied officially from the city, or did they simply withdraw their request for 30 stories and change plans? Articles I've read haven't been very specific.

I've already heard rumblings of Channel neighbors protesting this latest development (and Kim Markham's not even here any more!). I honestly believe they're fighting an uphill battle on this one, though. It seems that the Channel District has rec'd some criticism lately for being overpriced, and there's a greater push for housing downtown that's more "affordable" (which is, of course, a relative term).

Should be interesting...

New website for Seaport Channelside...not yet fully functional.
http://www.seaportchannelside.com/

Seaport Channelside will become a cornerstone in the redevelopment of the northern end of the Channel District and contribute to the fast-paced urban renaissance of Tampa's Downtown Channelside. The development plan embraces an urban, high-density, mixed-use development that includes approximately 412 luxury for-rent apartment residences and 10,000 sq. ft. neighborhood retail.

Stopped in Towers office and asked what the deal was. . . the lady said that they JUST got their permitting straightened out and the JUST closed on the financing. She claimed we should see trailers out ther within a week and action should be commencing shortly.

As of today, we have another crane in the air.
Grand Central has been putting a large crane together for a few days now, but Today it's UP!!!!

Stopped in Towers office and asked what the deal was. . . the lady said that they JUST got their permitting straightened out and the JUST closed on the financing. She claimed we should see trailers out ther within a week and action should be commencing shortly.

Great news, but what do you suppose that groundbreaking was about, weeks and weeks ago ?

YEa, but that is still a simple truck/crane - not the big big boys that I think they will need for that height - but will come when they finish the foundation - 4 cranes in a row on Kennedy (Grand Centarl and Ventana) - that would be nice.

^Do you think Ventana will need two tower cranes? I'm not so sure.

In any case, there will be plenty of cranes in DT one of these days... Just as soon as the developers quit dicking around and get on with it.

NEW CONDO TOWER IN WORKS
TAMPA - Developers of the SkyPoint condominium tower downtown are planning another project, a 25-story residential tower in the Channel District that would include a park and retail space.
Here's the link to the Tribune article: http://www.tampatribune.com/Business/MGBHSH7WO9E.html

^Hey, it only took the Trib 5 days to catch up to the Times...Way to go!

They had to verfiy the sources - but if you note, the article says Skypoint is UNDER construction.

Condos Envisioned At Newk's Location
TAMPA - Newk's Cafe, a downtown restaurant popular with Tampa Bay Lightning hockey fans and others, could become the latest Channel District condominium address. Owners of the business, along with other partners, are seeking a zoning exemption so they could build a 300-unit condominium project on the property, located at 514 Channelside Drive.
http://tampatrib.com/Business/MGB0MYUAQ9E.html

Why not paste in the whole article and the link?

Condos Envisioned At Newk's Location
By JANIS D. FROELICH jfroelich@tampatrib.com
Published: Jun 9, 2005




TAMPA - Newk's Cafe, a downtown restaurant popular with Tampa Bay Lightning hockey fans and others, could become the latest Channel District condominium address.
Owners of the business, along with other partners, are seeking a zoning exemption so they could build a 300-unit condominium project on the property, located at 514 Channelside Drive, city records show.

Thomas Newkirk, a partner in Newk's with his brother, Jack Newkirk, said if the zoning change is approved construction could begin next summer.

A hearing on the zoning request is set for July 21 before the city council.

``This wasn't planned at all. It just evolved along with everything else in the Channel District,'' Thomas Newkirk said.

He said the city council rezoned the property last fall for mixed use, including residential. The Newkirks are seeking a zoning exemption to build higher than 125 feet.

The Newkirks' project, if approved, would join more than 20 condominium projects either under way or proposed in the downtown area, including the Channel District.

``The market isn't saturated yet,'' said Christine Burdick, executive director of the Tampa Downtown Partnership. ``It's really a self-regulating issue. If enough condos have been built in the downtown area, then developers won't sell any more.''

Thomas Newkirk and his family have a stake in other Tampa condominium projects, including the Meridian under construction at the corner of 12th Street and Whiting Street, and a 25-story tower recently proposed for a nearby property at 110 N. 12th Street.

Newk's closed recently for the summer. The brothers plan to reopen the restaurant, which closed because of slow business, Sept. 1. The business suffered when the NHL season was canceled. The Lightning play at the St. Pete Times Forum, located across the street from Newk's.

Newk's, with its tropical decor, has been a popular roosting place for Jimmy Buffet concertgoers as well as hockey fans. It opened in 1996 when the Lightning moved in to The Forum, then known as the Ice Palace.

``People have liked our place because it looks different,'' said Jack Newkirk. ``It's like a funky old warehouse. Just about everybody knows Newk's.''


Reporter Janis D. Froelich can be reached at (813) 259-7143.

http://tampatrib.com/Business/MGB0MYUAQ9E.html

Personally, I'd rather see the 25 story res tower that they're planning with Novare go at the Newks site than on the corner of 12th and Washington.

It seems that most of the hi rise towers are planned for the periphery of the Channel District, most notably along Channelside Drive. The majority of the projects along 12th Street from Cumberland to Kennedy are in the 5-8 story range (Victory, the Place, Meridian, Lafayette, Seaboard). Personally, I'd rather see one or two more 6-8 story projects go in on 12th, and keep the consitancy.

It's not about losing a view, which I don't really have in the first place. I'm all for more development in Channelside, believe me, but I'd like development along 11th and 12th to keep close to the 60-70 foot limit that's in place for the district. Just think it would look cooler IMO.

^That's not exactly the case.... There is also GC at Kennedy just a couple blocks north, with 12 and 14 story towers... And two of the towers in the Channelside Villiage project will be like 14 stories, and that's just to the SW.

There are basically tall buildings going up all over the place... And IMO, the 60ft hieght limit is asinine. I don't know why in the heck they put that there in the first place. If anything, it should have been the opposite, with the waterfront having the low limit, and the interior part being where the tall towers go.

Sure, I'm aware of GC and Ventana on Kennedy, and the Towers and possibly Seaboard down by Cumberland. Those are on the North and South ends of the 11th and 12th streets, which stop at Kennedy, and so far everything in between is 6-8 (or shorter).

I'm just saying that I think the 25 story tower will stick out in that spot, and my preference for aesthetic reasons would be to stay in the 8 story range for this few square blocks. I'm a sucker for consistancy.

I'm sure it will get OK'd by the city regardless. They are making a presentation at the Channel Dist meeting next Wed night. If anyone's interested, it's at 5:30 pm at the Aquarium.

There will also be towers going up east of Channelside, flanking the Port HQ. It's not exactly going to be alone...

But more importantly, a 60ft hieght limit simply does not allow the kind of densities Channelside needs to actually become lively. Urban setting or not, it's clear that most folks are going to go from thier door to thier car, to wherever they're going... Thus, to get any kind of street action going, Channelside really needs to pack the residents in, to build streetlife by sheer volume.

I'm probably the only person who is against the Newk's propsal. Not a NIMBY thing, just more like a nostalgia thing... You can pave over anything even if it holds some meaning to people....

Prepare to welcome a new tower to downtown.

I went to the Channel District meeting last night, and saw most of the presentation from InTown Group / Novare on their latest joint venture. To say that this project could completely change the look and feel of Channelside would be an understatement.

The footprint of the building starts next to the Meridian on 12th St, and runs all the way up to Washington. The ground floor is slated for retail, with the next six floors set aside for parking. The facade of these seven stories would be red brick, as a nod to the "warehouse" past of the district.

From there, the residential portion is all shiny glass and steel (ala SkyPoint), and stairsteps up to a center apex of 25 stories. This approach is meant to help the project fit in better with the other buildings adjacent to it (the Place, Lewis Building, Dance Project, Meridian), and diminish any feeling of a tall slab jutting out of the ground (like the Grandview).

A nice bonus is a 1/2 acre park on 11th Street, taking up the land between the Meridian and Lewis Buildings. Greenspace is something sorely lacking in Channelside.

The NIMBY voice was present, mostly from Victory Lofts residents, but that's about when I left.

Don't know exact height, number of units, or costs (although they did mention "attainable pricing," similar to SkyPoint).

The developers are scheduled to go before City Council for height variance on July 21. I should note that both Mark Huey and Christine Burdick were present, lending their silent yet seemingly solid support to this project.

a center apex of 25 stories

So, is this to say that the center of the building will be the 25th floor? If so, I'd say that's the best news yet out of Channelside. Hope they replay this meeting on the city gov channel.

Yeah, I hope so too, though who knows when it would be played...

The tent from the ceremony is already down... TecoCam shows iron wher ethe hole (I thought) was in the picture that I posted with the tent framework.

I love this article - you just want to shout - hey, moron, if all the projects are 60' boxes, what kind of view do think you will have anyway . . .

http://media.tbo.com/photos/trib/2005/jun/0617urb2.jpg

Urban Utopia Not Quite Rising To Condo Tenants' Expectations
By JANIS D. FROELICH jfroelich@tampatrib.com
Published: Jun 18, 2005




TAMPA - Francine Messano, mother of three teenagers, escaped a suburban nightmare of waiting 25 minutes to inch out of traffic leaving the Cheval complex in Lutz.
Now she lives in a 2,700- square-foot condominium at new Victory Lofts in the Channel District, between Port of Tampa and downtown.

Messano hasn't discovered urban utopia - at least not yet.

Yes, her commute time is down considerably, but she and other tenants definitely are more realistic about their new urban lifestyle.

Gripes among a trio of new tenants at a recent Channel District Association meeting included:

* High taxes. Messano said she expects to pay $11,000 annually on her $500,000 condominium.

* Empty floors. Only about 40 percent of the 89 units in the Victory Lofts, which opened in December, are occupied, even though the building is sold out. Resident Janelle Anson said investors are hoarding empty units to lease or sell at higher prices.

Tampa's urban planner, Wilson Stair, said empty buildings are an issue urban developers will have to address. ``They might have to start requiring that a buyer live in a building for at least two years or set some time limits,'' Stair said. ``This is done in other cities.''

* New developers want to build high-rise towers that could block views for residents of lower structures - the Channel District has a 60-foot height restriction.

``It's a bloody shame we're allowing this to happen,'' a heated Craig Miercort, an oncologist, said to a developer at a meeting Wednesday seeking neighborhood approval for a 260-foot, 25-story high-rise.

That project, to be considered for a zoning change by the Tampa City Council on July 21, would block Miercort's view of the city from his sixth- floor Victory Lofts condominium. Residents of the tower would be able to peer into his living room and bedroom, he fears.

``Every single builder wants a variance. They say they can't do retail without more people,'' Miercort said, adding that he doesn't believe it.

Anson told John Akin, who is with the developer, Atlanta- based Novare Group, and Greg Minder, president of intowngroup, which is working with Novare, that the scale of their proposed tower, at 110 N. 12th St., is outrageous.

``It would be right smack in the middle of the Channel District,'' she said.

The developers also are building SkyPoint, a 32-story tower under construction at Ashley Drive and Polk Street downtown.

Stair said the proposed Channel District tower still is under consideration by the city, but he believes the project ``looks good.''

``The planned street activity is what we're looking for,'' Stair said.

Current and future residents of the Channel District and downtown ``must know there's a possibility buildings may come along and block their views,'' he said.

Minder told about 20 people at the Channel District meeting that without the density of the proposed project, ``retail couldn't survive.''

He also said the tower leaves a half-acre of the 2-acre plot for a city park that intowngroup and Novare promise to build on 11th Street.

Anson said she is not sure retail will make a go of it in the Channel District.

``I think people are so mall- oriented, they won't shop here,'' Anson said. ``Look at Hyde Park, a beautiful residential area. They have a tough time of it with the restaurants and shops.''

Stair remains confident that retail development can work in the Channel District and downtown.

``An ideal urban setting has the most activity [and people] in the smallest amount of area,'' he said.

Minder said that to offer reasonably priced urban housing, the 475 units in the tower will have to be smaller.

Messano said that will discourage families.

``We would like a little diversity in this housing in the Channel District,'' she said.


Reporter Janis D. Froelich can be reached at (813) 259-7143.

http://tampatrib.com/floridametronews/MGBYZEBA3AE.html