Lakeland - Winter Haven Development News

[HeartofFlorida]

WINTER HAVEN - Leadership members from local restaurants, businesses and county agencies discussed several topics during a Legoland Florida Host City Forum on Tuesday at the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce building.

The meeting lasted two hours, including two presentations and a group discussion segment.

Tom Wodrich, principal planner for Polk County Land Development Division, and Erin Tilghman, planning manager for the city of Winter Haven, each gave a presentation about projected impacts from Legoland Florida.

Tilghman's presentation focused on the study area surrounding Legoland, including Cypress Gardens Boulevard and U.S. Highway 27. She said Cypress Gardens Boulevard is the gateway into Winter Haven and 255,000 people travel on the road every day.

"There is a diverse mix of businesses on the Highway 27 corridor and Cypress Gardens Boulevard," Tilghman said.

Wodrich's presentation focused on the amenities in Legoland Florida and the business opportunities available in the surrounding area of the theme park. He talked about miniature golf, hotels and restaurants as some of the opportunities that could capitalize off of the visitors to Legoland Florida.

"Legoland has a brand name and a message that it sends to its visitors, similar to Disney World in Orlando," Wodrich said. "Just like people incorporate the Mickey Mouse ears with Disney, people are going to incorporate the Lego block with Legoland Florida."

During part of the meeting, groups were given five topics to discuss and generate ideas about. The questions included:

• How can Winter Haven become the best Legoland host city in the world?
• How does Winter Haven preserve and enhance entryways and prevent visual chaos?
• How can Winter Haven be an effective marketing partner?

Fay Downing, the marketing director for Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing, said an open forum will be held Aug. 25 to discuss planning for Legoland Florida.

The forum will have a morning and afternoon session, with each session limited to 30 people, Downing said.

More news.....

[HeartofFlorida]

The University of South Florida Polytechnic's plan for a business incubator on its new campus has been approved by the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government.

The subcommittee has approved $200,000 for the project, which U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., sought, as part of a broader spending bill that funds the U.S. Small Business Administration and the General Services Administration.
The bill now goes to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

USF Poly has a mini business incubator in downtown Lakeland and a business accelerator in Winter Haven.

The federal funding would pay for design and construction of a business incubator and research facility, and infrastructure on the campus being developed at Interstate 4 and the Polk Parkway.

The new campus appears to still be moving in the right direction.

[HeartofFlorida]

This is an artist's depiction of what the new Auburndale Community Center, including two gymnasiums, will look like.

AUBURNDALE | The City of Auburndale received $1.5 million Monday from the county to build a combination gymnasium and community center. It has another $1.5 million in city money to match the grant.

"We've planned this for years," City Manager Bobby Green said. He said the new center means activities now scattered in city buildings all around town can be in one place.

The $3 million project gives continued momentum to a city that has managed to stay lively despite the nationwide tough economic times.

Auburndale's planned new 33,000-square-foot gym and community center will be built at Bennett Street near Charles Avenue. It will house several classrooms and exercise rooms and two gyms. That means basketball, volleyball, music, painting, yoga and all kinds of possibilities.

"We're very excited about it," Parks and Recreation Director Mickey Etherton said. "It's one of the huge things that's happened to Auburndale."

The project will be bid in October and city officials hope to have it open within a year.

Green said the $1.5 million from Polk County came in the form of Community Development Block Grant money. He said the city was blessed to get the money because the county could have spent it for something else. A big advantage, Green said, was that the city project is "shovel-ready."

The city was able to match the money because of the sale several years ago of its speedway property, for $1.8 million.

Also on Monday, during the city's annual "Commission Day," Green introduced C. Fred Jones as the honorary chairman of the city's Centennial Celebration. The Auburndale Democrat left the Florida Legislature in 1992 after 22 years. He held the honorary title of dean of the House.

Jones received a loud ovation during a working lunch meeting Monday.

Auburndale "is right here," Jones said while tapping his heart.

The city's 100th year birthday party will be held May 25 through May 28 next year.

Commission Day is a retreat of sorts, but not a retreat from City Hall to any one place. Commissioners and several city supervisors spent the morning being bused to a variety of city properties.

They visited the city's new water plant, where daily capacity has been boosted from 2 million gallons to 4 million.

They visited the bustling Lake Myrtle Sports Complex, where five youth baseball fields are planned.

And the bus pulled over on Main Street at U.S. 92, where the street scaping alongside one side of the street looks great, but on the other side needs to be finished.

Green explained why: On the unfinished side, some pesky power poles need to come down first.

Glad to see Auburndale getting another project and one that will be beneficial for the community.

[HeartofFlorida]

Auburndale City employees walk past the new future home of the Florida State Soccer Association and Florida Youth Soccer Association under construction at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex in Auburndale Monday morning during a tour. Monday, August 09, 2010

AUBURNDALE - Fire trucks, historic train exhibits and manicured soccer fields started out the annual Auburndale Commission Day. The unveiling of the Millennium Celebration rounded out the day's events.

Beginning at the new city park, employees of the city of Auburndale was led inside the historic train depot, which was showcased along with the rose garden, butterfly garden and new azalea walk, accompanied by instrumental music piped into hidden speakers sprinkled in the new landscape.

"We are able to manage this by using community service workers through Polk Correctional," said Bobby Green, Auburndale city manager.
"They weed, edge and fertilize keeping our cost down. They start here every morning."

Green said they are keeping with the historic train look and the new landscape gives the area a "stately" appearance. The park is also event-ready, bringing more opportunity to generate additional revenue to the city.

A tour bus escorting elected officials and invited guests left the depot to view new projects currently being executed within the city limits of Auburndale.

The $13 million expansion of the Regional Waste Water Treatment Plant was the tour's first stop where attendees learned how the city was changing out the use of ultraviolet rays for disinfecting the waste water, to now using a chlorine contact method.

"This has been tried and true," said Jim Chastain of Chastain Skillman Inc. of Lakeland, consultant engineers for the city.

The facility recently has been expanded from 2 million gallons per day to accommodate 4 million gallons of waste water per day. The expansion also brought the treatment level to be used to irrigate public places such as Lake Myrtle Park.

"We have plenty of expansion for future development." said John Dixon Director of Utilities.

The bus then pulled into Lake Myrtle Park, which is the new home of the Florida Youth Soccer Association, Polk County Sports Marketing and numerous tournaments of lacrosse, baseball and soccer.

Jennifer Davis, office manager for the FYSA said that Florida is in the top four soccer associations in the nation, and their headquarters will be moved from its present location in Kissimmee, to its new location at Lake Myrtle Park.

It is 85 percent booked for next year including the accommodation of three tournaments presented by Disney's Wide World of Sports.
According to Davis, the park awaits 105,000 players and 16,000 coaches. FYSA will employ nine full-time positions, and will be a community service provider to local college students.

A nice amenity to this modern day sporting facility will be showers for team players.

Members of the commission joked about the days when some of the out-of-town teams would stop at the fire station on their way home to take a shower after their tournaments.

A surprise gift of $1.5 million from the Polk County Commission was given to the city of Auburndale, perhaps as an early 100 year birthday present. Those funds will be put with the $1.8 million the city earned by selling the former Auburndale Speedway.

These combined funds will be used to build Auburndale's long- awaited Community Center Gym.

Commission Day ended with a solved mystery.

Green revealed and introduced C. Fred Jones as the honorary chairman of the city's Millennium Celebration. Jones was honored with the privilege after a time capsule was filled with items from the fire station, police department, and Auburndale High School.

Jones was elected to the Florida House of Representatives where he chaired the House Agriculture Committee, House Transportation Committee and the Community Affairs Committee, and graduate of Auburndale High School.

Still expanding Lake Myrtle Park with future projects await over the horizon. WOW!

[SkyDiveJunkee]

Nice project for Auburndale -- I played USTA tournaments there as a kid. Sleepy but pleasant.

[HeartofFlorida]

BARTOW | No decision is expected on the location of the Lakeland-area station for the Florida High Speed Rail until late next year, the county's Transportation Planning Organization was told Thursday.

Two locations, one near Kathleen Road and the other near the USF Polytechnic campus, are being considered. The train will run along an 84-mile route from downtown Tampa to Orlando International Airport, primarily in the Interstate 4 median.

Stan Cann, District 1 secretary for the Florida Department of Transportation, said DOT officials plan to advertise for proposals next spring for a company that will build and operate the project.

“There is a lot of interest,” Cann said. “This is the first high-speed rail project in the United States.”

He said the company chosen to build and operate the high-speed rail will have input into the station location because the choice will affect revenue for the project, which DOT officials want to be self-supporting.

“We don't want to end up with a system that will require any more public dollars,'' Cann said.

DOT officials will make the final decision, he said.

Income from the project will include a mixture of revenue from fares as well as revenue from any development the rail operator can secure from projects around the terminals.

For instance, backers of the USF Poly site have suggested establishing a paid parking area for airline passengers as an alternative to parking at Orlando International Airport.

Cann said another aspect is ridership, explaining that DOT officials are updating ridership projections for each of the planned stations.

In addition to the Polk station, stops are planned in downtown Tampa, Walt Disney World, the Orange County Convention Center and the Orlando airport.

The first phase of the project will cost $2.6 billion, paid mostly from federal funds.

Federal officials awarded Florida $1.25 billion in stimulus funding earlier this year.

Florida DOT officials are asking for a construction grant from federal officials for the remainder. Some state matching funds will be required.

On Thursday, TPO members approved sending a letter to the Federal Railroad Administration seeking those funds.

Cann said DOT's initial design work is about 30 percent complete, which will provide them with enough information to refine their cost estimates so that they will know how much money to ask federal transportation officials for to complete the project.

In the meantime, Cann said DOT officials will be seeking proposals by the end of the year for $100 million in preliminary work along the route.

That work will include construction of a wall that will separate the rail corridor from I-4 traffic and to look for anything that might be an obstacle along the route, such as buried utilities, signs and parts of bridges.

That work is expected to begin by next April, Cann said, which he said fulfills the job-creation goal behind the award of the stimulus funds.

Cann said it is likely a couple of bridges will have to be replaced, though generally the bridges across I-4 were built with enough clearance for the rail.

“The easy way to explain the early work is that it will create a clear path down the middle of I-4,'' Lakeland Mayor Gow Fields said.

More waiting on a decision.

[SkyDiveJunkee]

I do not understand why the developer of the station would have any influence in the decision making process for where the station will be placed. This should be purely based on a feasibility study that indicates which location would best serve the county rather than which location best serves the pockets of a developer.

[HeartofFlorida]

Originally Posted by SkyDiveJunkee

I do not understand why the developer of the station would have any influence in the decision making process for where the station will be placed. This should be purely based on a feasibility study that indicates which location would best serve the county rather than which location best serves the pockets of a developer.

Leave it up to the state to get it wrong.

[HeartofFlorida]

WINTER HAVEN -- Even in tough economic times, downtown business is booming for at least one Bay area city.

Whether it's a pizza place, yoga studio, shops, or even an engineering firm - new businesses are flocking to Winter Haven.

In all, 15 over the past year.

Bistro owner Franco Basalone started plans for his place in 2008, because he said he saw positive momentum.

"I think it just gets better," said Basalone. "No worse than it is."

Main Street Winter Haven president Anita Horn owns a boutique called La Vita Dolce, and said the city is improving the downtown appearance.

"The growth has been amazing," said Horn.

She also emphasized that businesses in the area do a great job of supporting each other.

"And then we say, 'Hey, check out the new place around the corner,'" said Horn. "Because the more people who come here, the more chance they are going to stop in your store."

But all those customers mean that sometimes, it's not easy finding a convenient parking spot.

Parking has become such a large issue, that city officials said they plan to demolish a row of buildings and replace it with Winter Haven's first ever parking garage.

With a location on 3rd Street, the planned three-story, 256 space garage will cost more than $3 million.

Construction is expected to begin early next year.

Basalone, Horn, and other business owners are also banking on a future boom from the Legoland theme park opening late next year.

"I know Legoland is a park for kids," said Basalone. "But, of course, the kids don't come alone. They come with their parents."

The Main Street Winter Haven organization has also been giving out grants to small businesses, so that the front of their buildings can have a common architectural theme.

Good to know someone is still making progress...

[HeartofFlorida]

WINTER HAVEN | Workers will soon break ground on a downtown park that planners say will be more than nice.

"It will be nothing but cool," says Andy Palmer.

Palmer, Winter Haven's Leisure Services project coordinator, is describing the city's downtown trail head park, to be built near City Hall and the city's old fire department building. The state-of-the-art park will house playground facilities for 200 children; an area for children younger than 5 and another for children age 5 and older.

It will also make way for 140 much-needed downtown parking spaces, providing more night parking for Nora Mayo Hall and opening the possibility for weekday park-and-ride.

Latosha Grant, 35, held her 7-month old son Kaniel Friday afternoon at the city library building, where they cooled off on a scorching day. She said she's excited about the building of the new park, which she can walk to, and said she and Kaniel won't be strangers to it.

"I want him to be with other kids," Grant said. "The park will be something new and something nice."

The bid to do the work for $1.5 million was won by Alan L. Uich of Winter Haven. Palmer said the job should begin in early October and be finished next summer.

The park doesn't have an official name, but it might become the Downtown Trail Head Park. The city could name it something else, possibly in honor of a worthy native.

Some of the park's surface will be grass, some rubber. There's some shade there now and more trees will be planted. There will picnic shelters and a "knee wall" around its perimeter, defining the boundaries of the park and providing places to sit.

The park also will have net rope climbing, similar to that in Lakeland's Barnett Park but shaped differently.

City commissioners haven't decided whether to remodel the old, vacant fire station and use it as a facility for city workers that would also provide restrooms for park patrons. If they decide not to do the remodeling job, commissioners will decide whether to build restroom facilities at the park.

In the meantime, Palmer said, people can use the tennis courts and senior center.

The park will come with "period" lighting, the old-style street lamps.
A section of Fourth Street will be closed to make way for the park. City officials say they believe the park will spur private development in the area.

Mayor Jeff Potter said a lot of people are anxious and pleased about the upcoming public development. He said the location was chosen because it's at the start of the Winter Haven Trail and the Winter Haven Area Transit bus station.

"It's an inter-modal facility as a destination rather than just a park," he said.

"It something that the city is going to be very proud of," Potter said. "And it will give us the opportunity to move the farmers market over by the old fire department" on pavement rather than ground.

"It fits the needs for a bunch of things in our community."

Cool.

[HeartofFlorida]

LAKELAND | Skaters and ballplayers at Adair Park would be moved and Bryant Stadium converted to artificial turf under a proposed arrangement between the city and Lakeland Regional Medical Center.

The deal would give the city park to LRMC, providing the hospital with the land it needs to expand south of its current campus as part of a future major renovation onto land now occupied by the city's Adair Park.

LRMC would pay the city $2.65 million for moving and rebuilding the recreational facilities at Adair Park and for turf replacement at neighboring Bryant Stadium. The hospital also would pay all surveying costs, title search fees and other costs associated with the transaction.

A development agreement to let that happen is on the Lakeland City Commission's Tuesday agenda, with preliminary discussion expected at the commission's agenda study session today.

The park, which is east of Bryant Stadium, runs along Lakeland Hills Boulevard from First Street north to the hospital.

The land transfer doesn't include Bryant Stadium or Henley Field, which is south of Bryant Stadium and west of Adair Park.

LRMC needs the Adair Park land for the addition of a wing on the south side of the hospital and moving the emergency department, according to a memorandum from the Lakeland City Attorney's Office.

Details of those proposed projects aren't available yet.

"This is all for future planning purposes," said Cindy Sternlicht, the hospital's public relations director, explaining that final architectural drawings will come after land is obtained.

Hospital officials have said for more than a year that they are planning a significant revamping of the almost 58,000-square-foot Emergency Department.

The development agreement also includes provisions for a property transfer next to Lakeland Regional Cancer Center, involving land mostly north of Robson Street and south of Carol Drive on Lakeland Hills Boulevard that the City Commission previously approved.

The property transferred to the cancer center was in exchange for an entry road and bridge leading to a park Lakeland plans to build on city-owned land behind the center, said Bill Tinsley, director of Parks and Recreation.

Talking about plans for the Adair Park facilities, Tinsley said youth baseball will move from Adair to Simpson Park.

"The real challenge for me is we have not located where the skate park is going to go," he said, adding the city will work with the skating community in making that decision.

Lakeland High School football coach Bill Castle and Athletic Director Dan Talbot said they expect the artificial turf to be installed at Bryant Stadium by the start of the 2011football season.

By removing the athletic fields at Adair and expanding parking, youth football leagues will no longer have a place to practice, meaning their games and their practices will now be at Bryant Stadium. Florida Southern's lacrosse team also plays its home games at Bryant.

One advantage of artificial turf is it can withstand the wear and tear, and not require constant maintenance.

"Late in the season when the playoffs come around, Bryant starts to get a little bad out there from the wear and tear of the season," Castle said.
"With the (artificial) turf, it pretty much takes care itself," Talbot said.
Artificial turf fields vary greatly in cost, ranging from about $600,000 to more than $1 million.

Lakeland Christian School has had artificial turf at its stadium since it was built three years ago, and All Saints Academy will have turf on its field beginning this season.

The Lakeland High Dreadnaughts would be the first Polk County public school to play their home games on artificial turf.

"The hospital was very adamant this be a win-win situation," Tinsley said.

That's a lot of land for expansion. I wonder how long it will be before Bryant Stadium and Henley Field are snapped up as well.

[HeartofFlorida]

A solar electric emergency shelter power system, similar to this one at a Florida high school, soon will be installed at three Polk County public schools.

BARTOW - Three Polk County public schools are among 90 in Florida chosen to receive a 10,000-watt solar electric emergency shelter power system as part of the SunSmart Schools Emergency Shelter program, the county school district announced.

The 90 schools include elementary, middle and high schools and one university, the University of Florida.

Selected for a solar system from Polk were Lakeland's Dr. N.E. Roberts Elementary School, Haines City High School and Poinciana's Palmetto Elementary School.

This system, to be housed on each school campus, will feature a battery backup unit that provides power in the emergency shelter in the event of an electric power outage.

Dr. N.E. Roberts, Haines City and Palmetto are all designated public emergency shelters in the event of a crisis or disaster.

The cost of a solar emergency power system is between $50,000 and $80,000.

A physical requirement of the program is that the school needed approximately 1,000 square feet of unobstructed, unshaded space to place the system.

The SunSmart Schools program is coordinated by the Florida Solar Energy Center, a research institute of the University of Central Florida. The selection process was competitive; schools had to apply to be considered for the program.

The Florida Solar Energy Center hopes to have all 90 schools, including the three Polk schools, equipped with the 10,000-watt photovoltaic (solar electric) emergency shelter power systems by April 2012.

Criteria for selection included each school's responses to numerous questions on an application. Questions on the application included geographic information, overall information about the school and its sheltering capability, partnership opportunities and educational interest.
The educational component is a key goal of the program. Students at Dr. N.E. Roberts, Haines City High and Palmetto and other schools will be able to learn and see firsthand about renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy conservation. Science kits related to the system and the Energy Whiz website also will be used in the instruction.

Educational objectives include:

• Students will gain a basic understanding of how solar, thermal and photovoltaic systems work
• Students will improve their skills in science and mathematics through the use of inquiry methods as they explore concepts of energy
• Students will understand the importance of renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy conservation to their future
• Students will be exposed to careers in the renewable energy and green industries

The three Polk schools will send a minimum of two faculty members to attend orientation workshops hosted by the Florida Solar Energy Center. The workshops will provide teachers with valuable guidance in incorporating the solar educational materials and curriculum into the classroom and incorporating the web-based learning tools.

Each school will send a facilities management staff member to attend workshops to learn operation tips, maintaining and troubleshooting the photovoltaic system and additional information about efficient building use and energy practices. Emergency management personnel from the Polk County Commission will also participate in the workshop.

Go online to www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/education/sunsmart/e-shelters/faq.htm for details about the SunSmart Schools Emergency Shelter program.

Interesting.....

[HeartofFlorida]

BARTOW | Be prepared to dodge barricades and construction equipment on parts of U.S. 98 between Lakeland and Bartow in the next couple of years.

Work is scheduled to begin late this year on the widening of a 0.9-mile section of the highway from Illinois Avenue to Winter Lake Road, which is the area north and south of the Polk Parkway interchange.

The work will widen the highway from four lanes to six lanes.
Estimated cost is $2 million, said Florida Department of Transportation spokeswoman Cindy Clemmons.

The work is scheduled to be completed next summer.

Not long after that project begins, work will begin in early 2011 on widening the section from County Road 540A to Manor Drive in Bartow.

That 3.7-mile segment also will involve widening the road from four to six lanes. Estimated construction cost is $14 million.

Work is scheduled to be completed by early 2013.

Clemmons said the road-widening projects are being done to accommodate expected increase in traffic.

During the past decade, the number of vehicles traveling these sections of the highway on a typical day has increased by between 2,000 and 4,000.

DOT officials plan to improve three other segments of U.S. 98 between Lakeland and Bartow, but no money is available for construction.

The main one is the 3.5-mile segment from County Road 540A to Winter Lake Road, which lies between the two planned road-widening projects. It will include the replacement of the Banana Creek bridge, which was built in 1958 and is classified as functionally obsolete.

Estimated construction cost to widen that section is $16 million, plus an estimated $2 million that will be needed to purchase additional right of way, according to DOT officials.

Clemmons said she didn't think having a four-lane section between two six-lane sections would create any problems, explaining DOT engineers proceeded in the same way on U.S. 27.

U.S. 98 has been identified as needing to be widened to prevent it from becoming seriously clogged with traffic within five years, according to the county's road database.

There are two other unfunded segments.

One is between Edgewood Drive and Brooks Street north of the Polk Parkway. That segment will cost an estimated $6 million.

The other is the section from Manor Drive to State Road 60 and along a section of State Road 60 east to Wilson Drive. That project's estimated price tag is $13 million.

It's about time!

[HeartofFlorida]

HAINES CITY | Two years after opening its first Florida stores, Aldi isn't yet a household name, but the company is working on it.

Operating from state headquarters in Haines City, the German discount supermarket chain has entrenched itself in Central Florida, with more than 40 stores in the region and two Polk County locations - Lakeland and Haines City.

By the end of the year, Aldi's Florida foothold will grow to nearly 50 stores, including its first three locations in South Florida. Considering the economy, industry observers aren't surprised Aldi's limited-assortment, low-overhead business model has caught on in a state where Publix Super Markets Inc. is king.

"It's very appealing particulary in difficult economic times. People are looking to save money and this is one way you can reduce your food bill dramatically," said Bart Weitz, a marketing professor with the University of Florida's Warrington College of Business Administration. "It doesn't offer the assortment or variety or service that a Publix does, but it has the basics. I'm sure some customers find that appealing and will continue to shop there even after the economy gets better."

So what's ahead for the privately owned chain?
More growth.

Aldi officials currently have plans for 10 additional Florida stores in 2011, including locations in Winter Haven (officials are reviewing a potential site at U.S. 17 and Avenue K Southwest) and Sebring, as well as six South Florida locations.

"We made a substantial investment here in Florida. We've been very pleased with how our stores have been received," said David Behm, an Aldi vice president with the chain's Florida division. "There are a lot of people down here, like we anticipated, who are familiar with our operation from up North. In the areas where we're not as well known we're pleased with the sales growth and how we're doing."


NATIONAL BASE IN ILL.

Aldi entered the U.S. in 1976 and currently has more than 1,100 stores in 31 states. In 2008, the Batavia, Ill.-based grocer opened a record 100 stores, complemented by its first television ad campaign and a new, media-friendly attitude.

"We think of them as the 30-year-old overnight success. They've been running essentially the same format under the radar nationally for years," said Jim Hertel, a supermarket consultant and managing partner of Illinois-based Willard Bishop.

Aldi followed up 2008's performance by opening another 100 stores last year and the company expects to repeat that figure again by the end of 2010.

"Our growth has absolutely picked up," said Aldi spokeswoman Heather Tarczan. "In the past we maybe opened between 30 and 50" stores per year.

Though the chain does not disclose sales figures, Supermarket News rated Aldi as the 26th-largest food retailer in North America last year, with an estimated $6.6 billion in annual sales (Publix ranked 7th with $24.3 billion in sales).

It produces those figures using small stores and a low-cost business model. The average Aldi is 10,000 square feet, less than one-fourth the size of a typical Publix, with a small staff and limited assortment of mostly private label goods. Officials say shoppers can find 90 percent of their average weekly grocery list in an Aldi store, with prices up to 50 percent lower than traditional supermarkets.

Dry and canned goods are most plentiful (and usually displayed in their shipping boxes) though items such as milk, fresh produce and frozen foods are available.

In return for steep discounts, Aldi customers have to make small sacrifices, such as bagging their own groceries and making a 25-cent deposit for a shopping cart (reducing the need for extra staff to round them up).


SINGING PRAISES

Local Aldi shoppers don't seem to mind the trade-off.

"I came the first weekend they opened. I love this store," said Shirley Canfield, 59, who was shopping at the Lakeland Aldi on Friday morning. "It's small and everything is laid out good, and, of course, the prices. Prices are probably No. 1. I've been laid off for a year so I compare."

Corey and Crystal Walling don't mind bagging their own groceries and said they have shopped other discount grocers before.

"We had tried Save-A-Lot a few times but I like Aldi better. It's more organized and cleaner, and you still get good deals," said Crystal Walling, 24.

Even with its growing popularity, Aldi and other limited assortment stores account for just 2.4 percent of the U.S. retail food market, according to a report by Willard Bishop.

But it hasn't been lost on Aldi's Behm that the chain is thriving in Florida at a time when Jacksonville-based Winn-Dixie is closing 24 stores across the state.

"For those chains that fall somewhere between what we do and what Publix does, it's pretty difficult. These chains who don't have a niche and maybe don't excel in a certain area find it very difficult to compete with the rest of us," Behm said. "There's some real competition in this state, but we think we're the best at what we do."

More stores coming soon....

[HeartofFlorida]

LAKELAND | The city is planning remodeling projects at the Lakeland Public Library and the Lake Mirror Complex later this year.

Officials are planning to upgrade the lights, chairs and air conditioning at the Lake Mirror Complex, Richard Baker, manager of facilities maintenance, said.

However, in order for work to be done on the lights and air conditioning, asbestos will need to be removed from the ceiling first, Baker said.
He said that right now there's about $350,000 in next year's budget for the renovation.

Pam Page, assistant director of parks and recreation,
said officials are 'still working on construction and design plans' for the Lake Mirror Complex. She said they're waiting to get drawings back from the architect, Ben Mundy.

Lakeland Community Theatre, which leases space at the Lake Mirror Complex, will move out when renovation begins at the start of 2011, said Alan Reynolds, the theater's artistic managing director.

Reynolds said the theater received a letter from the city confirming that they would need to be out of the building from Jan. 1 to July 1.

Reynolds said the theater will work with Southeastern University and Polk Theatre to stage its performances, such as the mainstage production 'Swing' and the Theatre for Youth production of 'The Jungle Book.'

The city has begun the process of remodeling parts of the Lakeland Public Library's main branch on Lake Morton Drive.

The goal is to convert the existing periodicals section into a computer services and reference area.

So far, a notice has been published asking for bids on the project.
All bids are due Sept. 23. So far there is no estimate on how much the remodeling will cost.

The city will meet with the chosen general contractor and outline a schedule for the remodeling. City Librarian Lisa Lilyquist said she expects the work to be done at the end of October or in November.

Lilyquist said that all library services will remain open throughout the construction, but the affected areas will close as the project goes through phases.

More planned work in the area.

[HeartofFlorida]

LAKELAND | New hangars and terminals, longer runways, and an adjacent fire station are all part of Lakeland Linder Regional Airport's $45 million to $65 million wish list.

About 20 people attended a public meeting at the airport's terminal on Friday to view a dozen sketches that show a bigger, more efficient airport 20 years from now.

The expansion plans, which increase the size of the 1,700-acre airport by about 12 percent, must be submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration every five years. Lakeland city commissioners are expected to vote on the plans in October.

The plans, currently unfunded, feature access to the airport off Airport Road, a 1,600-foot extension to a runway, and a water landing area for seaplanes.

More definite, imminent construction includes an expansion of the terminal for flights on Sky King, the charter jet service that recently moved from California to Lakeland. A $2 million grant from the Florida Department of Transportation will pay for the expansion.

Baggage claim, ticketing and a security area for Transportation Security Administration officials will be added for the new airline, said Gene Conrad, airport director.

Conrad said he's spoken with airport officials in Hagerstown, Md., and Windsor, Canada about flights to and from Lakeland on Sky King.
Destination cities from Lakeland should be released later this year, Conrad said. Flights on Sky King should begin by spring.

In addition to the terminal construction, Conrad said in the next several months about $4 million in construction is planned for taxiways, a terminal ramp and a new pond.

Talk of expansion brought nearby residents to the meeting.

Ron Nowak, a resident of nearby Carillon Lakes, said he moved to Lakeland about six years ago.

"It's inevitable that expansion will occur," Nowak said. "I like to be informed and appreciate the meeting."

Part of the airport's future includes a new fire station.

Lakeland Fire Chief Gary Ballard said the station would serve residents in the area as well as be equipped to handle incidents at the airport.

The closest stations to the airport are at Beacon Road and South Florida Avenue and Brunell Parkway, Ballard said.

"The response times are extended a bit," Ballard said.

Very aggressive plan for Lakeland but I like it.

[Lakelander]

I like it. One of first projects I worked on out of school was the Lakeland Linder Regional's terminal building. The airport has come along way since then.

[HeartofFlorida]

Originally Posted by Lakelander

I like it. One of first projects I worked on out of school was the Lakeland Linder Regional's terminal building. The airport has come along way since then.

I must concur. It was only 3 1/2 years ago that we had a brief discussion regarding Lakeland's airport. It's interesting how things play out.....

Originally Posted by HeartofFlorida

The name of the company is Dayjet and it's supposed to be some sort of air taxi. Flights were scheduled to begin in March.
Air Charter Picks Lakeland

Unfortunately, Lakeland's proximity to other area airports may limit the chances of ever retaining adequate commercial serivce. At one point, a carrier by the name of Atlantic Airlines was supposed to take flight out of Lakeland. I don't know what happened with that project as the site is still active and it still lists Lakeland with flights to many southeastern cities. I don't know if it was a hoax or if the company stopped with the plans.

Tampa Int'l - 39 miles west
Orlando Int'l - 45 miles east
St. Pete/Clearwater Int'l - 50 miles west
Sarasota/Bradenton Int'l - 80 miles southwest
Orlando/Sanford Int'l - 81 miles northeast

Originally Posted by Lakelander

With Tampa and Orlando's airports being less than an hour's drive of Lakeland in either direction, it seems like a lost cause. However, I've always believed that Lakeland's central location would be ideal for air cargo and distribution hubs. There's plenty of land for major facilities, the runways are long enough and a company could easily run its Central Florida operations out of Polk County, eliminating the need for Tampa and Orlando facilities.

[HeartofFlorida]

Originally Posted by Lakelander

I like it. One of first projects I worked on out of school was the Lakeland Linder Regional's terminal building. The airport has come along way since then.

Here are the updates to the master plan:

[HeartofFlorida]

http://landingswinterhaven.com/

WINTER HAVEN | Say goodbye to the Orange Dome; get ready for The Landings.

That will be a major development of retail businesses and public facilities at the Chain of Lakes Complex where the dome now sits.

City officials said Wednesday that they expect to have a contract in November with Tony Benge of Winter Haven Downtown Partners.

The deal is for 70 acres at the southeast corner of Cypress Gardens Boulevard and U.S. 17. Private land on the on the west side of U.S. 17 will also be developed.

The city has been trying to sell the property for about five years, starting before the Cleveland Indians spent their last spring in Winter Haven in March 2008.

The main catalyst for a deal now is Legoland and the crowds that facility will bring to Winter Haven starting late next year.

Legoland is becoming the first domino in what the city says will be a series of positive developments.

"It all goes back to Legoland," Mayor Jeff Potter said during the city's quarterly meeting at the Winter Haven Public Library.

The Landings is planned to have two hotels, a theater, apartments, a major retailer, several other retailers and at least one restaurant.
The city is planning a marina, a splash park and an amphitheater.

"I think we've arrived at a plan," Benge said.

He said he expects to begin building early next year after city structures on the property are demolished. And he said several hotel operators are interested.

Dave Dickey, the city's director of community and economic development, said the sale price of the land will be tied to an upcoming appraisal.

A 2008 appraisal valued the land at $23.5 million, which includes waiving impact fees of $7.8 million.

Dickey said he plans to bring a deal to city commissioners in November.
It will cost the city about $1 million to demolish structures on the property.

The new development is expected to generate about $1 million a year in city taxes.

City officials say taxes and proceeds from the sale of the property will go directly into the facilities to be built.

When the sale is closed, city officials said it will be contingent on a new Rowdy Gaines Olympic Pool being built on the land, closer to Lake Lulu than its current location.

The theater at the site could be demolished and rebuilt somewhere on the land - or somewhere else.

Five baseball fields that play host to college tournaments will be built elsewhere.

Community Services Director T. Michael Stavres said he hopes to build the fields in southeast Winter Haven, where public land is available and where most of the city's growth is happening.

Of all the public amenities at the site now, the Orange Dome, built in 1964, is the only facility that will be knocked down and not replaced.
City officials say there are plenty of spots in town capable of hosting the kinds of events held in the dome.

City Commissioner Jamie Beckett said the city has to do a better job of marketing Winter Haven Municipal Airport, which is also called Gilbert Field.
The city envisions people landing at the local airport and taking a small, amphibious plane to the Chain of Lakes and boating to and from Legoland on Lake Eloise and The Landings on Lake Lulu, without ever getting in a car.

That excites Bob Gernert, executive director of the Greater Winter Chamber of Commerce, who said it's time for the city "to look at the Chain of Lakes as an asset."

But Beckett said there's confusion over the name, which he said confuses pilots unfamiliar with the area.

Mayor Jeff Potter said he did an Internet search for the airport and had no trouble viewing the right information.

To prepare for Legoland and The Landings, the city and Polk County are creating a special "overlay" district along Cypress Gardens Boulevard between U.S. 17 and U.S. 27 that officials say will better help them control the certain growth that will follow.

Glad to see another major project in Winter Haven. This should immediately grab your attention entering Winter haven on 17 while creating eye appeal. http://landingswinterhaven.com/