TAMPA | Post SoHo Square | 4 stories |192 apartments | U/C

AKBTampa · February 15th, 2008, 07:37 PM

Whiskey Soho closes, locals and traveling athletes must look elsewhere to get arrested!

Quote:

Clubs change hands, names
By Sharon Ginn, Times Correspondent
Published February 15, 2008

The demise of Whiskey SoHo this week doesn't necessarily mean things will be quieter on the corner of Swann and Howard avenues.

Post Properties has received the approval for its long-planned residential project and gave Whiskey SoHo the notice to vacate last month, said Larissa Rydin, marketing manager for the popular nightclub and lounge. Work on the four-story, 192-unit apartment complex with 19,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and office space could begin soon.

Atlanta-based Post Properties purchased the Whiskey SoHo site and surrounding property for a total of about $12-million in 2005, according to the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser's Office. Original plans were for condominium and retail units to be built on the site, but city records show Post submitted new plans in July that changed the residences to apartments.

The project received final city approval on Jan. 31. Post representatives could not be reached last week for further details.

Whiskey SoHo's closing on Sunday is coinciding with the debut of a new nightclub property by the same ownership group. The Kennedy is set to open within the next few weeks at the former site of Bahasa Lounge, which closed in July. The new club, located at 2408 W Kennedy Blvd., will be a "boutique lounge," Rydin said.

Like Whiskey SoHo, Hyde Park Caf, Cheap, SoHo Pizza Joint and other nightspots and restaurants in and around SoHo, the Kennedy is owned by a partnership led by Tommy Ortiz.

Most employees of Whiskey SoHo will be transferred to the Kennedy or other Ortiz businesses, Rydin said.

The Kennedy will have a different atmosphere from Whiskey SoHo. "It's a lot of dark woods and very luxurious," Rydin said. "Nothing like we've ever done before."

The Kennedy will initially hold only 100 or so people, Rydin said, but will expand as stages of construction are finished.

The club will be open only Thursday-Saturday at first, from "early evening until 3 a.m.," she said.

Jasonhouse · February 15th, 2008, 09:55 PM

I went to that club once. It was so awesome I almost went back again... Almost.

koopalicious · February 15th, 2008, 10:01 PM

Heh. I've been once too. It was one of the weirdest places I've ever been.

Hopefully Post makes this more like their Harbour Island property and less like their locations down the street and at Rocky Point. Bonus points for a garage.

jonknee · February 15th, 2008, 10:02 PM

I got dragged to the North Tampa version a few weekends ago (someone's birthday, so I really had to go). What an abomination. Faux log cabin meets suburban ghetto chic.

Atl Dan (via Tampa) · February 15th, 2008, 10:17 PM

From the comments on the SOHO tampa site, you would think there were a lot of trip hazards with all the baags of Bolivian marching powder laying around.

The renderings that have been presented to Arch Review and City council were really generic. The Site Plan was detailed, but from the elevations shown it was clear that they were still value engineering the hell out of the exterior. The rendering in particular was a joke (on TV at least, I was obsessed with watching those meetings).

AKBTampa · February 15th, 2008, 10:32 PM

Dan, you could post the link for Soho Tampa comments, that website is a hideous clusterf*#$. I never even heard about this project until today. (p.s. thanks for formatting the title).

FloridaFuture · February 15th, 2008, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atl Dan (via Tampa)

From the comments on the SOHO tampa site, you would think there were a lot of trip hazards with all the baags of Bolivian marching powder laying around.

The renderings that have been presented to Arch Review and City council were really generic. The Site Plan was detailed, but from the elevations shown it was clear that they were still value engineering the hell out of the exterior. The rendering in particular was a joke (on TV at least, I was obsessed with watching those meetings).

Can you post a link to these comments? I can't find them at sohotampa.com.

Edit:

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKBTampa

Dan, you could post the link for Soho Tampa comments, that website is a hideous clusterf*#$. I never even heard about this project until today. (p.s. thanks for formatting the title).

AKBTampa, you beat me to the question, and I agree about that site's lack of organization.

And no problem on the title. I think Jason cleaned it up even more so after I did.

Atl Dan (via Tampa) · February 15th, 2008, 10:51 PM

I was actually referring to the general level of hatred to Tommy Ortiz on that site. Apparently he has burned a lot of bridges in SOHO and has a significant portion of the neighborhood's residents hating him. The problem stems from how he has treated the Dubliner, Sangrias, et al. Basically he left a beat up van and a couple other vehicles he owns parked in front of Sangrias for months. And it probably was like 6 months because I drove past them everyday and they never moved. It blocked out some of the very limited parking that was there.

He owns Hyde Park Cafe too and well thats were Jessica Sierra (Paul has got to be proud) got busted for carrying. Supposedly that place was worse/better depending on your view of powder usage. Anyway, you love him or hate him and as you mentioned SOHO Tampa hates him in their own slightly disorganized, hard to navigate kind of way.

Really doesn't matter because Whiskey is coming down shortly. I would have preferred something a bit more contemporary, not too crazy, just generic like the Starbucks/Barber Shop across the street. That is kind of non-descript, but not ugly either (That Chinese place further up Howard really sucks).

AKBTampa · February 15th, 2008, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atl Dan (via Tampa)

(That Chinese place further up Howard really sucks).

You mean Royal Thai Palace? It is Thai, and it has a really great atmosphere - cozy and unpretentious and the interior has some great detailing! It looks like they took and old house and rehabbed it.

Back on subject, I'll have to agree with all those Tommy haters, the Sangria's debacle really got to me. Does he own cheap? I thought it was connected with Fly somehow.

jonknee · February 16th, 2008, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKBTampa

Back on subject, I'll have to agree with all those Tommy haters, the Sangria's debacle really got to me. Does he own cheap? I thought it was connected with Fly somehow.

He does own Cheap. And it's not connected with Fly in any way.

JBrisco · February 16th, 2008, 12:43 AM

Post apartments in Harbour Island suck. My friend lives there and its really bad.
The gate fell on somones car twice so far. The managment is just awful

CubanBread · February 16th, 2008, 05:36 AM

Bahasa was one of my favorite clubs,... glad to see the building isnt going to go unused,...but I don't like the fact it's going to be a yuppie club

Atl Dan (via Tampa) · February 18th, 2008, 05:46 PM

Nah, not the Royal Thai. I love that place too especially the Amazing Chicken. Its the one at the corner of Howard and Platt, you know the Box with the awning added for architectural detail. They tacked on some vaguely Chinese dragons/detailing too, but basically its a box with an awning.

The only problem w/ Royal Thai is parking.

But back on topic I fully expect the new Post Howard property to be a VE architectural turd. Any of the larger builders have a desire to squeeze every last cent out of past architectural fees, so expect to be underwhelmed. A friend of mine worked for Beezer as an architectural designer and he was supposed to answer to the marketing department regarding design decisions. He lasted about a year before he couldn't take it anymore.

FloridaFuture · June 30th, 2008, 04:16 AM

There is a sign on site dubbing the project "Post SoHo Square" and there is a rendering on the sign. I couldn't tell if there was a website or not.

I checked the Post website and they didn't have anything on the SoHo project, but they did have a section on a Citrus Park project under the "coming soon" tab.

DShenise · June 30th, 2008, 02:33 PM

In addition to the general Florida real estate malaise, Post has apparently been going through some management issues. These are two recent AJC articles about what has been going on. They may or may not have been part of the problem getting this project rolling.

http://www.ajc.com/search/content/bu...9/saporta.html

http://www.ajc.com/search/content/bu...ties_sale.html

FloridaFuture · December 17th, 2008, 07:59 PM

An old article, but it was never posted here and is the most recent update on the project...

Post Properties delays Soho Square
Friday, July 25, 2008
Tampa Bay Business Journal - by Janet Leiser

A luxury apartment community planned for Hyde Park is being delayed until the economy and local housing market improve, the developer said Friday.

Construction was supposed to start this year on 192-unit Post Soho Square at the corner of South Howard and Swann avenues in Tampa.

"But the overall economic conditions warrant delaying the start," said Tom Senkbeil, executive vice president and chief investment officer for Post Properties Inc., a real estate investment trust based in Atlanta.

The starting date for the project, which will include 17,000 square feet of retail space, will be reassessed in January.

"We plan on developing this property," Senkbeil said, adding that the company doesn't intend to sell the 4-acre site. "It's just that in Tampa you have a very large unoccupied condominium overhang," Senkbeil said.

Many of those condominiums might be converted to apartments, possibly saturating the market, he said.

Post Properties (NYSE: PPS) paid $12 million for the site in 2005. The company manages and develops apartment complexes. It owns several thousand apartments in the area.

http://tampabay.bizjournals.com/tamp...1/daily58.html

TampaMike · May 5th, 2012, 06:36 PM

This project is in front of the Council again on May 10th. Maybe another go around to get this thing going?

Jasonhouse · May 5th, 2012, 10:40 PM

Wouldn't surprise me at all to see this get built. My guess is there's plenty of demand for Hyde Park rentals to soak up this project.

koopalicious · May 6th, 2012, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TampaMike

This project is in front of the Council again on May 10th. Maybe another go around to get this thing going?

I know I'm going away from the topic, but I see that additional parts of the West End project are on the agenda as well.

Casey · May 9th, 2012, 01:17 AM

Developer seeks OK for restaurants

By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune
Published: March 07, 2012

SOUTH TAMPA --
Plans for the South Howard Avenue site, which formerly housed Whiskey Park, include 231 apartments and up to two restaurants.

A rezoning request for the site, 708 S. Howard, is expected to head to Tampa City Council in May, said attorney David Mechanik, who represents developer Post SoHo Square LLC.

In 2006, the location was rezoned to allow 231 apartments and roughly 19,000 square feet of retail use.

Under the new proposed rezoning, developers still would have the same number of apartments but add restaurants, which would reduce the total amount of retail square footage, Mechanik said.

If the zoning is approved, Mechanik said, he believes Post would begin work on the site this year.

Post hasn't developed the site since the location initially was rezoned because "they were waiting for the market conditions to be better suited for what they were doing," Mechanik said.

February 15th, 2008, 10:02 PM	#4
jonknee Downtown resident Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tampa Posts: 2,285 Likes (Received): 0	I got dragged to the North Tampa version a few weekends ago (someone's birthday, so I really had to go). What an abomination. Faux log cabin meets suburban ghetto chic. __________________ What I've been up to in the kitchen

February 15th, 2008, 10:32 PM	#6
AKBTampa Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: St. Petersburg - Tampa Posts: 613 Likes (Received): 0	Dan, you could post the link for Soho Tampa comments, that website is a hideous clusterf*#$. I never even heard about this project until today. (p.s. thanks for formatting the title). __________________ My Blog http://www.tampaniatampa.blogspot.com My Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...f977&z=12&om=0

June 30th, 2008, 04:16 AM	#14
FloridaFuture Former Mod Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tampa/Gainesville Posts: 5,234 Likes (Received): 0	There is a sign on site dubbing the project "Post SoHo Square" and there is a rendering on the sign. I couldn't tell if there was a website or not. I checked the Post website and they didn't have anything on the SoHo project, but they did have a section on a Citrus Park project under the "coming soon" tab. Last edited by FloridaFuture; June 30th, 2008 at 04:27 AM.

May 5th, 2012, 06:36 PM	#17
TampaMike Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 6,140 Likes (Received): 5	This project is in front of the Council again on May 10th. Maybe another go around to get this thing going? __________________ Corporations Are People Too - Mitt Romney For the People that dress up like Corporations.

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February 15th, 2008, 09:55 PM	#2
Jasonhouse Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 12,268 Likes (Received): 7	I went to that club once. It was so awesome I almost went back again... Almost.

February 15th, 2008, 10:01 PM	#3
koopalicious Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tampa Posts: 409 Likes (Received): 4	Heh. I've been once too. It was one of the weirdest places I've ever been. Hopefully Post makes this more like their Harbour Island property and less like their locations down the street and at Rocky Point. Bonus points for a garage.

February 15th, 2008, 10:17 PM	#5
Atl Dan (via Tampa) Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Atlanta Posts: 150 Likes (Received): 0	From the comments on the SOHO tampa site, you would think there were a lot of trip hazards with all the baags of Bolivian marching powder laying around. The renderings that have been presented to Arch Review and City council were really generic. The Site Plan was detailed, but from the elevations shown it was clear that they were still value engineering the hell out of the exterior. The rendering in particular was a joke (on TV at least, I was obsessed with watching those meetings).

February 15th, 2008, 10:51 PM	#8
Atl Dan (via Tampa) Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Atlanta Posts: 150 Likes (Received): 0	I was actually referring to the general level of hatred to Tommy Ortiz on that site. Apparently he has burned a lot of bridges in SOHO and has a significant portion of the neighborhood's residents hating him. The problem stems from how he has treated the Dubliner, Sangrias, et al. Basically he left a beat up van and a couple other vehicles he owns parked in front of Sangrias for months. And it probably was like 6 months because I drove past them everyday and they never moved. It blocked out some of the very limited parking that was there. He owns Hyde Park Cafe too and well thats were Jessica Sierra (Paul has got to be proud) got busted for carrying. Supposedly that place was worse/better depending on your view of powder usage. Anyway, you love him or hate him and as you mentioned SOHO Tampa hates him in their own slightly disorganized, hard to navigate kind of way. Really doesn't matter because Whiskey is coming down shortly. I would have preferred something a bit more contemporary, not too crazy, just generic like the Starbucks/Barber Shop across the street. That is kind of non-descript, but not ugly either (That Chinese place further up Howard really sucks).

February 16th, 2008, 12:43 AM	#11
JBrisco USF Architecture Student Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tampa, FLA Posts: 1,525 Likes (Received): 0	Post apartments in Harbour Island suck. My friend lives there and its really bad. The gate fell on somones car twice so far. The managment is just awful

February 16th, 2008, 05:36 AM	#12
CubanBread POW SUCKA! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Ybor City Posts: 506 Likes (Received): 0	Bahasa was one of my favorite clubs,... glad to see the building isnt going to go unused,...but I don't like the fact it's going to be a yuppie club

February 18th, 2008, 05:46 PM	#13
Atl Dan (via Tampa) Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Atlanta Posts: 150 Likes (Received): 0	Nah, not the Royal Thai. I love that place too especially the Amazing Chicken. Its the one at the corner of Howard and Platt, you know the Box with the awning added for architectural detail. They tacked on some vaguely Chinese dragons/detailing too, but basically its a box with an awning. The only problem w/ Royal Thai is parking. But back on topic I fully expect the new Post Howard property to be a VE architectural turd. Any of the larger builders have a desire to squeeze every last cent out of past architectural fees, so expect to be underwhelmed. A friend of mine worked for Beezer as an architectural designer and he was supposed to answer to the marketing department regarding design decisions. He lasted about a year before he couldn't take it anymore.

June 30th, 2008, 02:33 PM	#15
DShenise Designer, 1404designs Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Santa Monica Posts: 1,133 Likes (Received): 0	In addition to the general Florida real estate malaise, Post has apparently been going through some management issues. These are two recent AJC articles about what has been going on. They may or may not have been part of the problem getting this project rolling. http://www.ajc.com/search/content/bu...9/saporta.html http://www.ajc.com/search/content/bu...ties_sale.html

December 17th, 2008, 07:59 PM	#16
FloridaFuture Former Mod Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tampa/Gainesville Posts: 5,234 Likes (Received): 0	An old article, but it was never posted here and is the most recent update on the project... Post Properties delays Soho Square Friday, July 25, 2008 Tampa Bay Business Journal - by Janet Leiser A luxury apartment community planned for Hyde Park is being delayed until the economy and local housing market improve, the developer said Friday. Construction was supposed to start this year on 192-unit Post Soho Square at the corner of South Howard and Swann avenues in Tampa. "But the overall economic conditions warrant delaying the start," said Tom Senkbeil, executive vice president and chief investment officer for Post Properties Inc., a real estate investment trust based in Atlanta. The starting date for the project, which will include 17,000 square feet of retail space, will be reassessed in January. "We plan on developing this property," Senkbeil said, adding that the company doesn't intend to sell the 4-acre site. "It's just that in Tampa you have a very large unoccupied condominium overhang," Senkbeil said. Many of those condominiums might be converted to apartments, possibly saturating the market, he said. Post Properties (NYSE: PPS) paid $12 million for the site in 2005. The company manages and develops apartment complexes. It owns several thousand apartments in the area. http://tampabay.bizjournals.com/tamp...1/daily58.html

May 5th, 2012, 10:40 PM	#18
Jasonhouse Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 12,268 Likes (Received): 7	Wouldn't surprise me at all to see this get built. My guess is there's plenty of demand for Hyde Park rentals to soak up this project.

May 9th, 2012, 01:17 AM	#20
Casey Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tampa Posts: 306 Likes (Received): 0	Developer seeks OK for restaurants By JOSH POLTILOVE \| The Tampa Tribune Published: March 07, 2012 SOUTH TAMPA -- Plans for the South Howard Avenue site, which formerly housed Whiskey Park, include 231 apartments and up to two restaurants. A rezoning request for the site, 708 S. Howard, is expected to head to Tampa City Council in May, said attorney David Mechanik, who represents developer Post SoHo Square LLC. In 2006, the location was rezoned to allow 231 apartments and roughly 19,000 square feet of retail use. Under the new proposed rezoning, developers still would have the same number of apartments but add restaurants, which would reduce the total amount of retail square footage, Mechanik said. If the zoning is approved, Mechanik said, he believes Post would begin work on the site this year. Post hasn't developed the site since the location initially was rezoned because "they were waiting for the market conditions to be better suited for what they were doing," Mechanik said.