Lakeland - Winter Haven Development News

[HeartofFlorida]

Originally Posted by KLStorey

Looks like Southeastern University is looking to add an hotel on the north side of their property. I've got to wonder what the neighbors will think once they find out about this, many of them are already upset with the school. That property used to house a single house and was surrounded by other residential properties so I assume the property is zoned residential.

Great info!

[Lakelander]

I'll believe that one when I see it. I used to live behind Southeastern on Lowry Avenue before I moved to Jax. Back then and even now, I believe that entire neighborhood should thank their lucky stars that school is over there to anchor it and the more they expand, the better. It's really the only thing over there to keep it from going down the tubes. With that said, both the neighborhood and school should be working together as it continues to grow and expand.

[HeartofFlorida]

Originally Posted by Lakelander

I'll believe that one when I see it. I used to live behind Southeastern on Lowry Avenue before I moved to Jax. Back then and even now, I believe that entire neighborhood should thank their lucky stars that school is over there to anchor it and the more they expand, the better. It's really the only thing over there to keep it from going down the tubes. With that said, both the neighborhood and school should be working together as it continues to grow and expand.

This is true. I was there a few months back and aside from SEU and a newly remodeled Crystal Lake, that entire area extending all the way to Combee looks like it's ready to be burned to the ground. A Lakeland police officer was shot and later died at Crystal Grove park. (~1000ft south of SEU).

[HeartofFlorida]

Source: The Ledger

LAKELAND | A development company plans to build a 550,0000-square-foot outdoor shopping area on Harden Boulevard just south of Lakeside Village that could bring 1,000 jobs.

The mall, which would be about 100,000 square feet smaller than Lakeside, would be on 70 acres just south of the Polk Parkway. read more...

More: http://www.theledger.com/article/201...p=all&tc=pgall

Yes, another shopping center but I will once again raise the same concerns as before. Can Lakeland really support all this extra retail or will this rely on the patronage of the county?

Lakeland Square
Lakeside Village
Lakeland Park Center (2014)
South Village (2015)

[Jasonhouse]

^Your quote got all messed up somehow. The proposed mall is 100,000sqft smaller than Lakeside, not just 1,000sqft as quoted above.

[HeartofFlorida]

Thanks Jason. I don't know how the hell I did that.

[Lakelander]

All this sounds like is another power center (like the one being constructed across from Lakeland Square Mall). All it will do is pull some more big box retail off of South Florida Avenue, from strip malls like Merchant's Walk.

[HeartofFlorida]

Originally Posted by Lakelander

All this sounds like is another power center (like the one being constructed across from Lakeland Square Mall). All it will do is pull some more big box retail off of South Florida Avenue, from strip malls like Merchant's Walk.

I'm still waiting for some downtown infill.

[HeartofFlorida]

Photos - All News Is Local
Photos - City of Lakeland FB page

[Lakelander]

That's an expensive street. I guess the Turnpike Authority can't be too happy. That makes it easier to skip that toll booth between South Florida Avenue and Lakeland Highlands.

[HeartofFlorida]

Source: The Ledger

LAKELAND | Southeastern University announced a definitive initiative on Monday night to compete in NAIA Division I football in a new 5,000-seat stadium on its Lakeland campus starting in the fall of 2014.

The Fire's ambitious vision to bring small college football to Lakeland in two years was outlined at the university's Founders Circle fund-raising dinner in the Tuscana Ristorante at the Christian college with 2,700 students.
more...

More: http://www.theledger.com/article/201...p=all&tc=pgall

WOW!

[Lakelander]

You can say that again. That school has some pretty aggressive expansion plans.

[HeartofFlorida]

Originally Posted by Lakelander

You can say that again. That school has some pretty aggressive expansion plans.

WOW!

[HeartofFlorida]

http://www.theledger.com/article/201...21109337?tc=cr

[HeartofFlorida]

http://www.theledger.com/article/201...p=all&tc=pgall

[HeartofFlorida]

Source: The Ledger

LAKELAND | Polytechnic visions of job-focused college degrees danced in the heads of Polk County business professionals, politicians and civic leaders when they began to dream of having a state university here.

But that's not all that was dancing. Mental dollar signs were doing the salsa earlier this year when lawmakers approved creating Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland as the state's 12th public university. more...

More: http://www.theledger.com/article/201...p=all&tc=pgall

[HeartofFlorida]

Source: The Ledger

LAKELAND | The last section of a decades-old development plan for Oakbridge in southwest Lakeland got the nod Wednesday from the Central Florida Regional Planning Council.

It's called South Village and will include homes, apartments and another mall. read more...

More: http://www.theledger.com/article/201...tc=pgall&tc=ar

[Lakelander]

500,000 square feet of shopping? Sounds like a power center. I guess that pretty much takes out Merchants Walk when all the anchors relocate to newer gigs.

[HeartofFlorida]

Originally Posted by Lakelander

500,000 square feet of shopping? Sounds like a power center. I guess that pretty much takes out Merchants Walk when all the anchors relocate to newer gigs.

Yep. I keep seeing blown opportunities in favor of "what's popular now". This in addition to the 350,000 Lakeland Park Center (formerly Gateway Commons) on the north side brings the total just under a million in the next few years. Why are these corridors being saturated when a larger-scale project in a different sector (something other than north/south) could spark development potential that could truly benefit the sprawling area? Maybe I'm missing the point.

[HeartofFlorida]

Source: The Ledger

STREAMSONG | Created by corporate foresight during the depths of the Great Recession in 2008-09, and brought to life by the vibrant inspiration of world-renowned golf course architects, The Mosaic Company officially opened Streamsong Resort on Saturday.

Two years after ground was first broken on the unique site in the heart of Polk County phosphate country, Streamsong Blue and Streamsong Red are golf courses that pose a critical examination of a golfer's skill.

More: http://www.theledger.com/article/201...p=all&tc=pgall

Hmmmmmmm..... No comment.