Actually MBA, it comes down to the poor urban planning skills that Tampa has. They kinda just plop things wherever developers want to put things with out think about the ramifications. For instance: We have tons of blank lots in Tampa. They demolished Maas Brother's Building for a condo building that never went up. Had the Urban Planer of Tampa been good at her job, she would have told the developer to put it in a blank lot because we already have enough of those.

Its a private property rights issue. The last time the city tried to get tough with a developer was the proposed tower on Bayshore one block north of Howard. The city lost their ass in court. If the developers of Twelve can't afford to go forward, too bad for the city but thats it.

Novare is known for a very similar design scheme, there are at least ten very similar buildings up here in Atlanta as well. Viewpoint and Spire are right across the street from one another and one of their first towers, built in 2001, is three blocks up the street. Buckhead has a couple, Atlantic station has one, very obvious "Novare Tower", and one Novare-Lite across the street. It happens in every city and isn't a terribly valid criticism. Just check the Urban Photo gallery section, it happens from Shanghai to Dubai, to Sao Paulo.

General question to anyone:

Would you rather have Element and Skypoint as twin towers or as they are, being very similar but not twin? Becasue twin tower projects are pretty common in residential projects around the world and people rarely complain about them, at least until you starting getting dozens of similar towers.

Like I said earlier, I think TWELVE would make the other two towers look better. It would break the table-top while giving a centerpiece to that cluster. :yes:

Ill give you another example of the power of persuasion in politics with development: Trump Tower, before they get their initial entitlements and approvals, the developer has to submit a traffic study.There is no way they could have gotten their traffic approvals on Ashley st. for a 52 story building. Since its a only a 2 lane street. But Since it is "Trump", they allowed things like that slip through the cracks. I know its not the most important issue, but it definitely gives a little insight as to how and these things happen.

The number of floors is irrelevant. It was a proposed 221 unit (and then later 190) residential tower and corresponding parking structure. That has a certain traffic calculation... It also had a proposed restaurant of so many seats (think it was 75?). That has a certain traffic calculation.

The traffic of such a plan was less than what the traffic would have been for even a 10 story, 100,000sq ft office building.

Just saw this in one of the photo forums: Hong Kong lots of similarity in these buildings:http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/2008/1220/IMG_5733.jpg

So I don't think Element and Skypoint being similar is much of a problem, especially when you consider that they will start blocking the view of the Park Tower and anything that does that is a good thing.

1-Bedroom residences from $1,300 / month

1-Bedroom plus den residences from $1,500 / month

2-Bedroom residences from $2,100 / month

^Wow, those prices are crazy imo... Remember, these are the starting prices, for the low floors with no view. Who the hell do they think can afford those prices these days anyways?

When their prices comes down about 20%, they'll have some hope of filling the place.

^^
Agreed. Those prices are outrageous. Especially in this economy...

^Wow, those prices are crazy imo... Remember, these are the starting prices, for the low floors with no view. Who the hell do they think can afford those prices these days anyways?

When their prices comes down about 20%, they'll have some hope of filling the place.


Thank god that Skypoint will always have the better view than Element. I hope because of tht the rents do not decrease in skypoint.....

^Wow, those prices are crazy imo... Remember, these are the starting prices, for the low floors with no view. Who the hell do they think can afford those prices these days anyways?

When their prices comes down about 20%, they'll have some hope of filling the place.

My friend just saw a 1600+ home for rent in an affluent neighborhood in another market -- for less than he was paying for renting a condo in Feather Sound here.

But the above prices ARE nuts.

1-Bedroom residences from $1,300 / month

1-Bedroom plus den residences from $1,500 / month

2-Bedroom residences from $2,100 / month

These numbers should be cut in 1/2. What a joke! Hey don't forget to add the other fees just to live there.

And to think... you get the privledge of paying waaaay too much, all-the-while you can hear all of your neighbors business through those thin walls! What a bargin, I tell ya... :nuts:

To be fair those prices surely include what would have been the HOA. So that probably covers water, internet, cable, etc.

I was going to say, while it's high, that's likely an all inclusive, all-access price, sans electric. Cable/internet might be included too.

Friday, January 9, 2009
Coming soon to Element: downtown dwellers
Tampa Bay Business Journal - by Janet Leiser Staff Writer

TAMPA — In mid-January, the first of an estimated 500 people will begin moving their belongings into Element, downtown’s newest and only luxury rental tower.

While the mini population boom isn’t expected to be the tipping point in creating demand for retail, restaurants and services in the Central Business District, it’s a move in the right direction.

“Every little bit counts,” said David Conn, EVP of the retail services division at CB Richard Ellis.

“The best thing we can do for all of downtown is to populate it,” said Greg Minder, partner in Novare-Intown Tampa Development Co., which is developing Element, 808 N. Franklin St.

Fly Restaurant and Bar on North Franklin opened in July 2006, five months before construction started on the 35-story Element, two blocks to the south.

“The outlook on downtown was a lot happier then,” David Bromberg, Fly’s GM, said of the opening. “Tampa was going to be the next big city.”

Downtown won’t soon be transformed into Miami or St. Petersburg: The housing slump and overbuilt condominium market put the brakes on fast residential growth.

But there is growth.

About 90 percent of the 380 units at SkyPoint, cattycorner to Element, and also developed by Novare-Intown, have been sold, Minder said.
Changing views

Tampa criminal defense lawyer John Fitzgibbons has worked from his seventh-floor office in the Tampa Theatre building for about two decades. For most of that time, there wasn’t much to be seen on the street below, except when moviegoers came or went.

“It’s the start of a desert from our block north,” said Fitzgibbons, a co-owner of the theater/office building.

This year, for the first time, the attorney saw a Franklin Street sight that gave him pause: People walking dogs.

“It’s slow, but there are increasing signs of life,” said Fitzgibbons, best known for his defense of Debra LaFave, the former school teacher who made national headlines for her affair with a young male student.

His office, catty-corner to Element, has provided a close view of the new development. Besides construction, most activity he has seen comes from SkyPoint, 777 N. Ashley Drive, and the Fly, several blocks to the north.

Ghost towns might be tourist attractions out West, but they seem to deter pedestrian traffic in downtown Tampa.

“People don’t want to walk in the dark,” said Bromberg, a Boston native. “They want to see other people, other businesses.”

When Element and SkyPoint are fully occupied, the population of downtown, north of Kennedy Boulevard, will be at about 1,500, Minder said.

“It will help,” Conn said. “You need people, you need to see vibrancy. No. 1 so you feel safe.”
A parallel universe

That said, downtown isn’t likely to see much growth until the economy recovers, Conn said. Many retailers are focused on “trying to survive this recession.”

Yet most of the 10,000-square-foot commercial space in SkyPoint is now leased. Tenants include Taps Wine & Beer Merchants, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Azteca Mexican Kitchen and Rawbar Sushi.

http://tampabay.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2009/01/12/focus5.html?b=1231736400^1758221

Downtown won’t soon be transformed into Miami or St. Petersburg:



I'm not one on these forums to go for comparing Tampa to other cities and how we're behind, but even I found it a bit sad that we were compared to St. Pete unfavorably. :bash:

^Didn't bother me, because it's true... Just be thankful the writer didn't bust out Ft Lauderdale, Orlando and Sarasota for dramatic effect... lol

^Didn't bother me, because it's true... Just be thankful the writer didn't bust out Ft Lauderdale, Orlando and Sarasota for dramatic effect... lol

sad but true and there's no excuse. at least it's better than 10-12 years ago.

Downtown Tampa looking up
By Ernest Hooper, Metro Columnist
In Print: Friday, January 16, 2009

Element, the downtown Tampa condo partner of SkyPoint, welcomed its first resident Thursday, and I'm told the chances of adding a restaurant to its first-floor retail space look good. Meanwhile, the new Five Guys Burgers at SkyPoint plans to open Jan. 23.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/article968081.ece

Yesterday they put up a "Now Open" sign on the building.

As of February 27th, the Element cam is no longer taking new pictures.

There are way more lights on in Element, than when Skypoint opened up.. This is a great sign in my opinion..


Maybe once everything settles, maybe Novare can think of some time tables as to when they might start Twelve Tampa Arts District Hotel and Condo's.. Which I believe is going to be 47 stories..

Here's a photo of Element I took on Friday. Notice the art in the bottom left corner on the building...

http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo343/JordanPhoto_album/HPIM1671.jpg

Although people are living in the building, the exterior concrete doesn't seem quite done yet, and the base of the building still has a few more things to do it seems.

I don't really like how the glazing on Element and Skypoint basically matches... I liked the renderings which showed Element with a much greener hue.

I agree. You have to be at the right angle and already know there is a green tint to see it.

Element does look better then Skypoint overall however.

Yeah, big time... I especially dislike how boxy Skypoint looks from the east.

Here's a photo of Element I took on Friday. Notice the art in the bottom left corner on the building...

http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo343/JordanPhoto_album/HPIM1671.jpg

Although people are living in the building, the exterior concrete doesn't seem quite done yet, and the base of the building still has a few more things to do it seems.

BLeh! from this angle it looks like it belongs in the midwest! It looks so gray.
I do likes the top though!

Yeah my only complaint is the concrete and the windows are not really any different than Skypoint. I really wish they could do something to the concrete.

^^ Right?!?! As I see it, unfortunately and painfully so, the two towers look like twins with just a different haircut.

Now, don't get me wrong... let's remember that in the original "renderings," Element's columns were painted a bright white. It appears that budget cuts have rendered Novare impotent, and as a result, they no longer wish to measure up to even their original renderings... :( The outcome is unremarkable... and I, for one, can't help but be disappointed!

A little separation goes a long ways!!! :cheers:

And each parking column had art on them according to the renders, I'm guessing only one column is gonna have art. :(

Both statements are true, but both could be rectified when the economy turns around. I for one am happy that this project got finished at all and seems to be renting rather decently.

Steve

I've yet to see a Novare project with a painted concrete exterior. The various projects they finished up here since 2001 all go with the exposed semi-polished/honed concrete look (the just strip the forms look). Regarding artwork, that is an easier fix and until DT is built out more, they should go forward with that.

And each parking column had art on them according to the renders, I'm guessing only one column is gonna have art. :(

At least two sides have art at the moment.

From the Tampa Downtown Partnership site:

Element has reported to the Partnership that there are currently 130 people living in the building. Element is an apartment high-rise tower located on Franklin Street in the northern end of downtown. The building is putting the finishing touches on the top floor units. Element boasts a modern fitness facility, lavish pool deck and a club room for residents to use as a gathering spot. Views from Element units are dramatic, including the St. Petersburg skyline on a clear day.

Damn thats less than a third. It is pretty expensive.

It will fill up (at least to 80-90% anyways) in the next few months.


It's a real shame that the city doesn't do more to remind people that when urban projects like this are built, we wind up with a place for 500+ people to live, without having to pave over a couple hundred acres of countryside, and pay millions of dollars to build new infrastructure to them. It's not a treehugger thing, it's a 'dollars' and 'sense' thing.

Curitba, Brazil which is much larger than Tampa has 54sqm of green space per person.
Something Tampa doesn't know much about, even though our whole culture and allure is to the outdoors.
What about pedestrian friendliness jesus, this city is for cars! That needs to change.

It will fill up (at least to 80-90% anyways) in the next few months.


It's a real shame that the city doesn't do more to remind people that when urban projects like this are built, we wind up with a place for 500+ people to live, without having to pave over a couple hundred acres of countryside, and pay millions of dollars to build new infrastructure to them. It's not a treehugger thing, it's a 'dollars' and 'sense' thing.
Thats about one of a 1000 things the city doesn't seem to know.

Curitba, Brazil which is much larger than Tampa has 54sqm of green space per person.
Something Tampa doesn't know much about, even though our whole culture and allure is to the outdoors.
What about pedestrian friendliness jesus, this city is for cars! That needs to change.
The city isn't even for cars, driving is a pain in many places and we lack highways. It's just in most places a car is the only and or best way to get around.

As for Element the best angle to see it from is the junction.

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/Tampa/TampaFL/IMG_0337.jpg

It just looks so much better than skypoint.

^That's not too hard to do.

FYI: My cousin owns East Coast pizza and I heard he will be moving in next door to Five Guys. This should be a great addition to the restaurants in that area. Their other location is near Apollo Beach.

Next door to Five Guys? Is he taking the space that was/is Azteca Mexican Restaurant? If so that is in Skypoint rather than Element. Cool beans though, it would be nice to have a pizza restaurant in that building, or in Element.

Steve

I275: I meant how cars have priority over pedestrians. Think about how hard it is to cross Kennedy/Ashley

Correct... East Coast Pizza will be in Skypoint; for some reason I thought I was posting in the Skypoint thread.

Correct... East Coast Pizza will be in Skypoint; for some reason I thought I was posting in the Skypoint thread.

Cool, I look forward to trying it!:)

Steve

I275: I meant how cars have priority over pedestrians. Think about how hard it is to cross Kennedy/Ashley

You're right, JB. This isn't a Tampa thing alone either. This is a Bay area thing. For all complaints about their not being enough highways, there are plenty of six lane boulevards that are used as major thoroughfares around here (Kennedy and Ashley, for example, or all the major east-west routes in Pinellas) that are designed to move traffic but not cater to those walking on the sidewalk.

Correct... East Coast Pizza will be in Skypoint; for some reason I thought I was posting in the Skypoint thread.

YUM, East Coast is some great pizza(my mom lives near the one in Apollo Beach), but does downtown really need another pizza place??(Eddie and Sam's, Westshore Pizza, Domino's, Pizzaiolo Bavaro - all within very close walking to Skypoint, and then there is New York New York and Red Brick(both technically Channelside).

Why no one opens a Dunkin' Doughnuts in Skypoint/Element is beyond me, there are none in downtown Tampa. Wish I had some cash!!

^^

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised how this one will be setup and it will be different than anything else downtown. Also, I thought Red Brick closed down.

^^

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised how this one will be setup and it will be different than anything else downtown. Also, I thought Red Brick closed down.
It did? :(

DT Tampa needs a Greek Restaurant.

I believe they are still open. I just called and they answered the phone...so I would guess that is just a rumor. I actually like Red Brick better than any other place in Tampa. However, they do seem to close early sometimes. I am not sure if they reopen later, but I have been there on a Friday and the closed at 9, and they are supposed to be open until 11pm I think. Plus they have a great atmosphere. Although, I have never been to East Coast, so I will definitely try it.

Steve

RedBrick is popular at UCF. I like Red Brick a lot, just never have the chance to go.

^^

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised how this one will be setup and it will be different than anything else downtown.

is it taking the Azteca Mexican place space? Or are they stil planning on opening that Mexican place?

I am not sure if they are taking the Aztec place or not. I'll have to ask Aaron. I heard a rumor they were closing down... Hopefully Red Brick stays, as it is a good place. As far as Dunkin Donuts... that would be nice downtown.

Hopefully with new businesses moving downtown more people will come and eventually downtown will be a nice walkable city center with retail, restaurants, and parks instead of surface lots or empty store fronts.

RedBrick is popular at UCF. I like Red Brick a lot, just never have the chance to go.

The Red Brick here is still open (I was just there friday nite), but it generally sucks ass... The only thing cool there is this one girl who stares at me and flirts with me, even in front of my girlfriend...lololol

I live NYPD across the street much better... I especially like the calzones... I haven't been to Pizzaiolo Bavaro yet though.

I think the pannoteca restaurant is greek. I am not sure how its spelled the the waitress said they were greek. I can't wait for the sushi restaurant but I hope its good. Also I am curious who will move into the base of element. A dry cleaner would be a nice business cause I am going to need one within walking distance that is open late.

Technically Paninotaca is "Mediterranean" so I suppose it could fall under the "Greek Restaurant" ideal to most people, but strictly speaking it's menu would cover the whole Mediterranean area....but for restaurant purposes I would classify it under Greek.

Steve

The Red Brick here is still open (I was just there friday nite), but it generally sucks ass... The only thing cool there is this one girl who stares at me and flirts with me, even in front of my girlfriend...lololol

I live NYPD across the street much better... I especially like the calzones... I haven't been to Pizzaiolo Bavaro yet though.

Pizzaiolo Bavaro is good - just don't go in expecting to get a pepperoni pizza or anything. If I remember correctly, they only had one or two pizzas that had any meat on them at all. It's an interesting place.

Pizzaiolo Bavaro touts its "authentic" Italian pizza and the oven that was flown in from Naples, Italy. While I respect this concept and I have no doubt that the pizza is, in fact, very authentically Italian, it's just not to my admittedly Americanized tastes.

Their pizzas barely have any toppings on them at all, which is exactly how the pizza was in Venice and Milan when I visited a couple years ago. I guess growing up with everything from NY thin crust to Chicago deep dish, you get accustomed to a lot more meat, cheese, and other toppings.

I wish these guys well, but if I'm going to blow my diet on a pizza, it's gotta have the goods.

Pizzaiolo Bavaro touts its "authentic" Italian pizza and the oven that was flown in from Naples, Italy. While I respect this concept and I have no doubt that the pizza is, in fact, very authentically Italian, it's just not to my admittedly Americanized tastes.

Their pizzas barely have any toppings on them at all, which is exactly how the pizza was in Venice and Milan when I visited a couple years ago. I guess growing up with everything from NY thin crust to Chicago deep dish, you get accustomed to a lot more meat, cheese, and other toppings.

I wish these guys well, but if I'm going to blow my diet on a pizza, it's gotta have the goods.


Yes, one person can easily eat a full 12 inch pizza. The crust is so thin, you almost have to eat it with a fork otherwise it would bend and all the toppings would come off. I thought it was good, but I was still hungry afterwards. If I want pizza, I'll probably go somewhere else. I've noticed it isn't as crowded as it used to be. I went there with co-workers a few weeks back and everyone seemed equally unimpressed.

I dig on it, it's a lot like the pizzas I make at home.

Yes, one person can easily eat a full 12 inch pizza. The crust is so thin, you almost have to eat it with a fork otherwise it would bend and all the toppings would come off. I thought it was good, but I was still hungry afterwards. If I want pizza, I'll probably go somewhere else. I've noticed it isn't as crowded as it used to be. I went there with co-workers a few weeks back and everyone seemed equally unimpressed.

Its kinda pricey as well...they either need to cut back on the prices, or make the pizza's a bit bigger in size to be shared. A one person pizza for $12 isn't going to fly, no matter how good it is...when you can get Eddie and Sam's aorund the corner a whole pie to be shread amongst three or four for $12(ok less ambiance, but GREAT pizza).

Its kinda pricey as well...they either need to cut back on the prices, or make the pizza's a bit bigger in size to be shared. A one person pizza for $12 isn't going to fly, no matter how good it is...when you can get Eddie and Sam's aorund the corner a whole pie to be shread amongst three or four for $12(ok less ambiance, but GREAT pizza).

It's the difference between Napoletana and NY styles. Hard to compare the two really. There's room for both in my book, I usually go NY style for lunch and Naples for dinner. For what it's worth I've been to Pizzaiolo Bavaro twice and shared one pizza both times.

^Right... Different strokes for different folks... The problem would be if Pizziaolo Bavaro weren't using authentic and premium ingredients as their prices imply.


As for me personally, I'm a CHI pie kind of guy. If I go thin, it's still a more robust PHI style pie.

http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo343/JordanPhoto_album/HPIM1671.jpg
(photo by FloridaFuture from page 52 of this thread)

This side now has art on all of the columns that do not have it in this pic. I am not sure about the other sides, I only drove past this side.

Steve

They do I saw it yesterday.

I took a little tour of Element yesterday. I saw 2 units. I didn't get any pictures because it was sort of unexpected. The lady said Element is about 40% leased.

I saw two 1 bed/1 bath units on the 12th floor. The first one was 800 sq. ft. facing north and cost $1500 a month. The second unit I saw was 900 sq. ft. facing south and was $1900 a month.

All of the 1 bed apartments in Element are "loft style" which means there's no door seperating the bed area and the rest of the apartment.

I liked the floor plan of the smaller unit (http://www.elementofyou.com/pdf/floorplans/05071b.pdf) better becasue its bedroom was actually on a window. The larger unit (http://www.elementofyou.com/pdf/floorplans/07a09a1b.pdf) had it's bedroom enclosed by walls and instead had the kitchen where the the smaller unit had the bedroom.

I liked the building overall, but maybe not as much as Skypoint. The main lobby is right across the street from the Kress building so the surrounding neigborhood will be improved drastically when they fix that up.

Loft style is a way to get around egress requirements of having a fully enclosed sleeping quarters w/o a direct window or door to the outside in a unit. When we were looking at Viewpoint up here, we looked at their 1bed+den, which is kind of a two bedroom but not really.

Alright guys, here's a true little story for you all. I have a friend who works in Element as a security guard and a mutual friend of ours sent me his little story:

(I bleeped out his name with ****)

Well, evidently Element is not built that good. I spoke to **** early this morning and this is what he told me . . .

There was a window pane of glass (the height of a door and a little wider than a door) fall from the 32nd floor into the 10th floor pool Saturday. Luckily, it was in the middle of the night or very early morning and no one was in the pool to get hurt -- (What a lawsuit that would have been).

Once the glass hit the pool water from that high, it shattered into many small pieces. The security guards could not believe what they were looking at. **** was shocked. The security guards could not figure out where the glass came from until . . .

Then, about 9:30 a.m., a resident (male) from the 32nd floor called the property management asking if they were doing some work on his window because it was missing. Funny, huh? Hence, the mistery was solved!

Then, **** had to stand for 2 hours by the pool to make sure no one went in it by accident. There were people in the hot tub that he had to ask to leave.

They will have to fully drain the pool, remove all the glass, and refill the pool again (that's why there is a water shortage -- hee, hee).

Among the glass episode and escorting the drunks from the clubhouse and poolside parties, the Elements is a very interesting place to work!

Doesn't really mean the building was built bad, just means improper installment of a glass pane. For I second though, I thought you would be leading to "so....the building will need to be demolish" moment. :eek:

^Well the person that sent it to me has no real interest urban/skyscrapers (so they have no idea what they're talking about ;)) but it isn't a great sign if windows are falling out. What if a hurricane comes? :ohno:

^Well the person that sent it to me has no real interest urban/skyscrapers (so they have no idea what they're talking about ;)) but it isn't a great sign if windows are falling out. What if a hurricane comes? :ohno:

Thanks for posting this. I will no longer walk anywhere near that building!

Somehow I think the truth is something between it fell and it was pushed out. Being curious if they were doing "work on the building" when your living room has a hole leading 32 stories down doesn't exactly make sense. Neither does not being able to figure out that a large amount of blue glass smashed on the 10th floor had to have come from above the 10th floor. Something's missing in this explanation.

If it were just the glass itself, I'd be really surprised. Usually, glazing systems in skyscrapers have some form of metal frame (generally its visually minimized, but its there), and this frame locks into another frame that is bolted to the structure. I saw a Discovery Science channel show on the building across the street from the Jin Mao in Shanghai. They used a system that had a beefy metal flange along the top of the window. This flange hung on a bracket/beam along building side.

When the a tornado went through DT Atlanta a year ago, a bunch of windows were blown out. The tower on the left:

http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/840/PreviewComp/SuperStock_840-103.jpg

Had several dozen windows blown out. Many remain boarded up because they have to custom manufacture the glass. Be happy they just finished the Element, replacement should be easy.

Strange that I am reading this now, because I noticed a few days ago that there was a piece of plywood covering a hole in one of the terrace balconies. I didn't think anything of it. Just assumed it was construction work still going. Wow, scary to think about if someone had been down on the pool deck when it happened. Took a pic of it.
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/trump74/IMG_0533.jpg

^Is that balcony actually on the terrace though? The chances of it passing the terrace and falling all the way down to the pool seems pretty unlikely.

Somehow I think the truth is something between it fell and it was pushed out. Being curious if they were doing "work on the building" when your living room has a hole leading 32 stories down doesn't exactly make sense. Neither does not being able to figure out that a large amount of blue glass smashed on the 10th floor had to have come from above the 10th floor. Something's missing in this explanation.

Yeah, when I first heard the story it sounded like foul play. They just don't take out windows in buildings. I thought maybe the guy was messing with it and it fell out and didn't want to admit it was his fault so he waited until morning when the Element people would assume he is just waking up and noticed it and it fell out when he was sleeping.

That photo isn't of the community terrace, it's one of those big balconies towards the very top of the building. That glass is fastened differently than the curtain, makes more sense. Really good that no one got hurt!

I walked by Element this morning...there is a plywood piece covering an opening in the handrail (which has glass panels on that floor), not the building itself, on the southeast corner of the 32nd floor.

yea.. looks PRECARIOUS... :)

Strange that I am reading this now, because I noticed a few days ago that there was a piece of plywood covering a hole in one of the terrace balconies. I didn't think anything of it. Just assumed it was construction work still going. Wow, scary to think about if someone had been down on the pool deck when it happened. Took a pic of it.
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/trump74/IMG_0533.jpg

I heard that Starwood purchased the note on Element a couple months ago (at a steal)... Also of note, they are being cagey about renewing leases. A hotel conversion could be in the works.

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print-edition/2010/11/12/apartments.html

^^
The article states ex-novare execs have teamed with Starwood Capital Group to produce student housing.

I know that the University of Tampa is so full, it cannot accommodate its students in its dorms. They have been overflowing their students to the Howard Johnson by the Straz Center, and, this past August, one poor kid went HOMELESS for a short while because the dorms were so full.

I'm not sure how I feel about the possibility of the element becoming one big college dorm...

God that would be great for the students, but kinda suck for the residential image for the rest of DT. Keep it rental for a few more years and than do a staggered floor by floor condo conversion.

I think both universities are faced with this problem, especially UT though.

I would not mind seeing a few of the DT properties catering to UT students for a while until UT can provide sufficient housing options and the market gets better.

God that would be great for the students, but kinda suck for the residential image for the rest of DT. Keep it rental for a few more years and than do a staggered floor by floor condo conversion.

I don't imagine the whole thing going for UT, 400 units is a lot of space (at least 600 bedrooms). When they have used hotels in the past it has been only a floor or two. This would be significantly bigger than their largest residence hall even if everyone had their own room.

Definitely can't be a longterm solution... Especially since this is just about the best time to buying/building such a facility, rather than leasing it.

And I'm all in favor of UT housing as many students as they please in DT proper, so long as they are undergrad seniors or higher (21 and up). DT is certainly a nicer environment than the somewhat dicey N Blvd/Kennedy area. As I've said for a long while, there should be a ped bridge between kennedy St bridge and the Cass St bridge connecting Curtis Hixon Park to UT.

I didn't know UT has become so huge. If there is any land left on UT property, they should build up. Don't know what the height limit is in that area but over the years, they started building those drab midrise buildings. Once one filled up, they built another. I think another dorm (to match) should be built up to a minimun 20 stories.

I'm glad Element is getting put to use whether it's rental/dorm/hotel/time share, whatever. As long as there are people in the building, there will be money spent in nearby areas. When I was at Taps a few years ago, there were lots of 20 somethings in there. I'm assuming they were UT students.

^^

UT has plenty of room to expand. Why don't they? Probably for the same reasons as everything else in this city... they're cheap.

^Like the newest building they are putting up... They tore down a two story building and are replacing it with... drumroll... a 4 story building.

They have that additional block on Kennedy though, just east of N Boulevard. Considering they went 12 floors with their last building on Kennedy, I'm guessing maybe they will do a similar number of floors, but on top of a 3-4 floor parking garage. And given the city's precedent of allowing institutional developers to flout zoning rules along Kennedy, I have zero expectation of the structure presenting anything but the ass end of an exhaust belching parking garage, or an iron fence, to Kennedy pedestrians.

Element is getting its first retail spot filled... The Southwest corner will be Kahwa Coffee. They're also opening up in Rivergate Tower--agressive.

http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/print-edition/2011/12/02/local-coffee-companies-thrive-in.html?page=2

It begins!

I think we will start seeing the other spaces filling up shortly. Floridan should be opening any time soon and the area around there is increasingly adding more life to it. I wonder if there is any chance the spaces can be filled up with something besides food and drink options?

I just hope the spaces are filled by businesses that will last.

Element is getting its first retail spot filled... The Southwest corner will be Kahwa Coffee. They're also opening up in Rivergate Tower--agressive.

http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/print-edition/2011/12/02/local-coffee-companies-thrive-in.html?page=2

With no Starbucks downtown, they fill a niche. There's, what? Two coffee places downtown? Indigo Coffee and a indie place north of Downtown?

I know there are co-branded Starbucks places (Embassy Suites, TGH) in downtown, but they aren't stand alone stores.

I just hope the spaces are filled by businesses that will last.
Skypoint has been doing fairly well so far and I don't see Five Guys or many of the other places there closing up anytime soon.

If a clothing place could happen, that would be great. I don't see it happening (especially since Channelside barely has any) but it would be nice.

If they house a clothing store with something that kids these days are into, like H&M, Forever 21, or Zara, the people will come. Especially with UT across the river.

If they house some touristy store with tie dye, foam visors and wind chimes, they will fail.

If they house a clothing store with something that kids these days are into, like H&M, Forever 21, or Zara, the people will come. Especially with UT across the river.

If they house some touristy store with tie dye, foam visors and wind chimes, they will fail.
None of them stores will happen. Get a start up clothing store or something to fill in the space. I can't see a huge retailer name or even something like American Eagle or Gap filling any space due to size and location. They would rather be located near a lot of foot traffic and the area doesn't have it.

Yep. If they can't get comparable foot traffic to a mall at comparable rents, then it won't happen. If rents are higher DT, then they need even more traffic.

I think we will start seeing the other spaces filling up shortly. Floridan should be opening any time soon and the area around there is increasingly adding more life to it. I wonder if there is any chance the spaces can be filled up with something besides food and drink options?

More residential vertically would be nice.

More residential vertically would be nice.
Well, we might see a condominium sometime in the future, but apartments seem to be the only option for that to happen. And yet, we get the 4-story tall Related Group project....