Posts filed under 'Commercial Developments'
Posted: June 19, 2008: 3:39 pm
Schmier & Feurring Realty Inc. of Boca Raton, FL, has announced it has acquired the Winter Haven Citi Centre in Winter Haven, FL, from Winter Haven Citi Centre LLC for $20 million, or about $108 per square foot.
Located at 700 3rd St. SW, the retail center sits on 16 acres and was built in 2001. It totals 185,705 square feet and is at 100% occupancy. Tenants include Macy’s, Belk, Lowes, Staples, GNC Carrabba’s and Longhorn restaurants as well as Pier 1 Imports.
We thank Lockhart Realty for the upadate.
| See other posts filed in: Commercial Developments, Economic Development, Real Estate
Posted: June 10, 2008: 7:32 am
Center Opens in Six Ten Corporation’s “Inland Fiber and Data Technology Park”
Located Downtown
T3 Communications, Inc. based in Fort Myers has opened its second data center in Winter Haven. Together with 6/10 Corporation, T3 Communications has designed its data center (pictured at right) to serve SMB, Enterprise, Government and carrier customers as well as others in need of a secure site for IT infrastructure and disaster recovery needs. This data center features redundant power and cooling systems, high-speed fiber connectivity to the Internet and 24/7 monitoring and surveillance. Located downtown the structure is category 4 hurricane wind load certified and more than 140 feet above sea level.
The technical description of the new center is carrier neutral data and enterprise collocation data center. Adam Sewall, president and CEO of T3 notes, “In order to meet the demands for expansion of advanced data and voice services to businesses in Florida, Winter Haven has proven to be an ideal location.”
Carl J. Strang, III, president of the 6/10 Corporation said, “T3 has built an advanced data center in our Inland Fiber and Data Technology Park located in downtown Winter Haven. We are pleased to add T3 to the growing list of technology companies that have chosen to locate in Polk County. Our inland location and proximity to the Tampa and Orlando markets make Polk County a logical choice for next generation technology providers such as T3.”
| See other posts filed in: City of Winter Haven, Commercial Developments, Commercial Renovations, Downtown, Economic Development, Technology
Posted: June 9, 2008: 2:23 pm
Publix Supermarkets announced today (June 9, 2008) the acquisition of 49 Albertson’s Food Stores throughout Florida. The transaction is expected to close in September and includes store locations throughout the state with 15 locations in North Florida, 30 locations in Central Florida and four locations in South Florida. The Winter Haven Albertson’s location in Spring Lake Square is not included.
The acquisition will allow Publix to operate four stores in Escambia County, a new market area for the company. Publix opened its first store in Winter Haven in September 1930.
You can read the corporate release here.
| See other posts filed in: Commercial Developments, Economic Development, Success Stories
Posted: June 6, 2008: 1:46 pm
Bonnie Parker, immediate past-president of the Chamber has been promoted to City President for SunTrust’s Winter Haven area operations. Ray Sandhagen, Chairman, President and CEO for SunTrust Bank Central Florida made the announcement.
Parker is based at the Winter Haven office as a client advisor in Private Wealth Management. As city president her new responsibilities include community development in the Winter Haven area.
In addition to her role at SunTrust, Bonnie serves on the Board of Directors for several organizations including the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce. She is active in the Rotary Club of Winter Haven, United Way of Central Florida and Girls Incorporated of Winter Haven. Parker is a graduate of Leadership Winter Haven Class XI.
| See other posts filed in: City of Winter Haven, Commercial Developments, Financial Industry, General Announcements
Posted: May 28, 2008: 2:25 pm
A group of 21 Polk citizens left Sunday, May 18 and spent Monday, May 19 touring the Alliance, Texas intermodal rail facility and surrounding business park.
The group spent Monday morning touring the intermodal rail facility observing the equipment in operation, containers being transferred to rail, noise levels, site organization and traffic.
In the afternoon the contingent met with Tony Creme (left) with the Hillwood Corporation as he outlined how the business park has evolved since 1990, the companies who have located there, development standards and deed restrictions covering building color, landscaping and lighting.
Pictured below, the Polk group conducts a Question and Answer session with Hillwood
executive, Tony Creme. He spent more than two and one half hours discussing all aspects of the Alliance/Gateway development from inception in 1990 to present.
Following the Hillwood presentation the group travelled via bus to a new housing development located one-half mile from the intermodal rail facility. Sendera Ranch features a variety of brick homes ranging in price from $110,000 to more than $300,000. (Pictured below)
Monday night after dinner the bus returned to the entrance of the intermodal rail facility to observe lighting and sound levels. The bus was positioned approximately 500 yards from the freight transferring operations and the engine turned off. With windows open facing the facility there were the normal sounds of a spring evening in the country and no audible industrial sounds other than a tractor/trailer exiting the center adjacent to the bus.
The Alliance integrated logistics center (ILC) is far larger than the facility planned for Winter Haven. It also serves a six state area and the Haven site is planned to serve peninsular Florida. Currently all on-site access roads to the Alliance site are two lane. The intermodal rail terminal was designed allowing for a four-lane access road but has operated with just two lanes for the past 16 years. The Polk delegation traveled throughout the ILC all day on Monday never experiencing any type of traffic congestion.
Visitors to Alliance find an immaculately maintained, well landscaped orderly operation that would be the envy of any locale. Hillwood conducts an annual independent survey assessing the tax revenues their project has generated. The current estimated total taxes paid within the communities and counties the project encompasses and within the state of Texas comes to more than $535 million dollars (cumulative total over the past sixteen years).
Those traveling with the group included:
State Representative Frank Attkisson
County Commissioner Bob English
County Commissioner Sam Johnson
County Commissioner Jean Reed
County Commissioner Randy Wilkinson
County Manager Mike Herr
Assistant County Manager Jim Freeman
County Transportation Director Tom Deardorff
Winter Haven City Commissioner Jeff Potter
Winter Haven Community Development Director David Dickey
Assistant to Winter Haven City Manager, Deric Feacher
Director of Utility Services, Pete Chichetto
Winter Haven Chamber President, Sam Killebrew
Winter Haven Chamber Vice President, Howard King
Winter Haven Chamber members Pete Cassidy, Allison Hunt and Wayne Watters
Winter Haven Chamber Executive Director, Bob Gernert
CSX Transportation, Ron Morrow
Lakeland Economic Development Council, Steve Scruggs
East Polk Committee of 100, Jack Barnhart
| See other posts filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, City of Winter Haven, Commercial Developments, Economic Development, Transportation
Posted: May 16, 2008: 2:06 pm
Fresh from her role in delivering a setback for Central Florida Commuter Rail, State Senator Paula Dockery has elected to inject herself into the State’s own DRI process via a letter she sent yesterday. In the letter to Thomas Pelham, Secretary of the Florida Department of Community Affairs, Dockery notes, “The recent events of the legislative session provide DCA with plenty of breathing room to conduct an exhaustive evaluation of the potential impacts of the project, without being subjected to pressure from those trying to hurry the process along.”
We can only hope Secretary Pelham will not be subjected to pressure from those trying to delay the project until it dies.
It is disappointing to note that while we invited Senator Dockery to join the Chamber’s fact-finding visit to Alliance, Texas in this March 13 post, she is not registered as a part of the group that will visit Alliance for a site tour on Monday, May 19. It will indeed provide perspectives based on an operating integrated logistics center that has produced more than 27,000 direct jobs and had a $31 billion economic impact since opening in 1994.
The Winter Haven ILC will provide needed jobs and economic stimulus for not just Winter Haven or Polk but Central Florida. It will play an important role in your business growth for years to come. You may want to drop a note of encouragement to:
Thomas G. Pelham, Secretary Florida Department of Community Affairs, 2555 Sumard Oak Boulevard, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2100
You’ll find the complete text of Dockery’s letter here.
Fortunately, the DRI process she wants to slow is moving at a deliberate, established pace grounded in established policies of the DCA.
| See other posts filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, Commercial Developments, Economic Development, Perspective, Political Scene, Transportation
Posted: May 15, 2008: 8:27 am
Satellite view of proposed master planning DRI
City Commissioners, staff, Chamber and Main Street representatives heard a preliminary overview of how redevelopment of the current Chain of Lakes Stadium/Southwest Complex property is likely to proceed. The City actually plans to trigger a “Development of Regional Impact” study (DRI) on a major portion (approximately 200 acres) of the community’s southwest quadrant bounded on the north by Avenue O, south by the Lake Lulu/Shipp canal, east by Park Lake/First Street South and west by Lake Shipp. Local developer Tony Binge presented the conceptual scenerio involving commercial, residential and enhanced public access to the Chain of Lakes. City staff underscored that the plan will provide for all amenities currently found on the Chain of Lakes property including a new facility for Theatre Winter Haven, a new aquatic center and other recreational amenities. Public access to Lake Lulu and the east shore of Lake Shipp would be greatly enhanced.
The master plan being contemplated will produce land use guidelines including more inter-city in fill development of a very high quality as well as an increased emphasis on Chain of Lakes access and appreciation, connectivity to walking trails and downtown.
The information was shared during the City’s annual planning retreat where those present outlined a vision for the city both five and ten years in the future. The areas of emphasis included Economic Development, Community Neighborhoods, Lakes, Leisure, Growth and Development and City Services. The City continues to use the results of the “Our Future By Design” visioning document as a significant benchmark for planning purposes. The document was developed in 1999-2000 by a broad cross section of Winter Haven residents (approximately 200 participated throughout the process).
| See other posts filed in: Chain of Lakes, City of Winter Haven, Commercial Developments, Cultural Arts, Dining, Economic Development, Parks and Green Space, Real Estate, Sports, Uncategorized
Posted: May 13, 2008: 9:03 am
Look for a new Honda Automobile Dealership to open on Cypress Gardens Boulevard just west of Hill Nissan. Plans call for a 26,719 sq. ft. facility owned by Frank Rodriguez/Greenway Ford of Orlando.
The site is currently being cleared and construction will begin when plans are approved and building permits are finalized.
| See other posts filed in: Commercial Developments, Economic Development, Transportation
Posted: April 17, 2008: 8:49 am
The Winter Haven Chamber has two great events scheduled for next week. You can RSVP at the links provided below.
FREE Chain of Lakes Breakfast Forum!
Tuesday, April 22, start your day with a free breakfast in one of Winter Haven’s most beautiful settings … at the Lake Hartridge Nature Park (pictured R at sunrise). Sponsored by Killebrew, Inc. and presented by Mike Britt and Rashelle Selser of the City’s Department of Natural Resources the breakfast is complimentary to the first 100 people who RSVP. Continental Breakfast will be served starting at 7:30 a.m. in the main picnic pavilion. The program will outline the our water resources and the City’s plans for a new aquatic and nature center to be built at the park. It’s one more step in the City’s quest to become a green community. Learn also how the nature park serves as a stormwater filtration marsh for Lake Hartridge. The program is open to Chamber members and the General Public. Free with your RSVP here.
Holiday Inn Hosts April 24 Showcase!
Join your friends at Winter Haven’s newest hotel … The Holiday Inn (200 Cypress Gardens Boulevard). Thursday, April 24 from 5:30 - 7 p.m. you can tour the beautiful new facility, impressive lobby (pictured below), restaurant and more. Enjoy great food, too! Shake the hand of the “Mystery Guest” and win $25. If you are this month’s “Name Dropper” chosen at random from our database you will win $200 — but you have to be present. Free to Chamber members and a guest with your RSVP here.
| See other posts filed in: Chain of Lakes, Chamber Events, Commercial Developments, Economic Development, Parks and Green Space
Posted: April 11, 2008: 10:24 am
The Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce has organized a fact-finding visit to Alliance, Texas for Polk County leaders. The group will tour the BNSF intermodal rail terminal and also the surrounding business park developed by Hillwood.
Participants include Polk County Commissioners, County Manager Mike Herr, Winter Haven City Commissioner Jeff Potter and City Planning Officials, Winter Haven Chamber leaders, Ron Morrow with CSX, East Polk Committee of 100 executive, Jack Barnhart. The City of Lakeland and Chamber have been extended an invitation to participate to get first hand knowledge of an operating integrated logistics center.
The group will depart Sunday, May 18 from Tampa. Monday, May 19 officials will meet and tour at the BNSF intermodal rail facility in the morning and Hillwood developer of the surrounding office park in the afternoon. An evening return to the rail terminal and office park area is planned to observe lighting and sound levels.
Up to twenty people are expected to participate. The Alliance integrated logistics center is much larger than ILC planned for Winter Haven and it involves a “reliever” airport as well. But the overall project has a proven track record for job and business park development and other economic factors that can be projected to the Winter Haven facility. Winter Haven also has the opportunity to plan its site in much the same way as the Alliance, Texas experience.
| See other posts filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, Chamber Events, Commercial Developments, Economic Development, Transportation
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