The long-awaited transformation of the Armature Works in Tampa is nearly ready for its debut

TAMPA — It’s not unusual lately to see people stroll off the Riverwalk and tug on the doors at the Heights Public Market, the nearly finished dining and commercial emporium inside the old Tampa Armature Works building. Those doors are expected to open soon — think weeks, not months — after a $20 million job

St. Pete takes major step in building its new pier

The St. Petersburg City Council on Thursday approved an $18 million payment to the construction manager for a new pier. That payment would be the final portion of what was owed to the construction manager, Skanska, under an agreement that put a guaranteed maximum price on the work. About $13.5 million has already been spent
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New 2024 Howard Frankland plan: 8-lane bridge with bike path

The Florida Department of Transportation announced Monday that it now plans to build an eight-lane bridge, complete with a bike and pedestrian trail, to replace the northbound span of the Howard Frankland. That part of the bridge, built in 1960, is old and needs to be replaced. DOT expects the new bridge to open by

Will Hurricane Irma slow Tampa Bay’s booming real estate market?

Expecting the worst from Hurricane Irma, Tampa real estate agent Jeff Shelton fled to Atlanta where wind-whipped trees toppled onto two rental properties he owns. Back in Florida, his house and beachfront condo both survived Irma unscathed. That’s the kind of story he’s happy to share with clients. “I’ve got two executives with a major
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His city spared, Tampa’s Bob Buckhorn resumes life as a mayor in full

TAMPA — After sleeping for an hour on the floor next to a treadmill in an exercise room at Tampa’s emergency operations center, Mayor Bob Buckhorn ventured out Monday morning for what was officially a tour of the damage from Hurricane Irma. But within a few miles, it felt more like a victory lap. “This
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Vinik-Cascade team reveals conceptual design for Water Street Tampa (Renderings)

Strategic Property Partners has revealed the conceptual design of the first phase of its mixed-use district — and it’s essentially a new, tree-lined city between the Channel district waterfront and the central business district. SPP, the real estate holding company controlled by Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and Cascade Investment LLC, on Tuesday rolled out a
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Amazon’s Alexa adds more real estate skills

SEATTLE – Aug. 4, 2017 – More companies are finding ways to integrate digital voice assistants, like Amazon’s Alexa, into showcasing real estate information. Coldwell Banker focused more on voice-assisted devices after a consumer survey earlier this year found that 72 percent of Americans with smart home products want voice control. By the end of
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Study: Best U.S. cities to flip homes

NEW YORK – Aug. 1, 2017 – More than 126,000 U.S. homes were flipped last year – the highest rate since 2007, according to a study by WalletHub. The average gross profit on a single home flip? Nearly $63,000. Overall, Florida metro areas ranked in the top 25 percent for home flipping, with only cities
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Florida’s back-to-school sales tax holiday starts Friday

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – July 27, 2017 – Starting Friday, Aug. 4, Floridians won’t have to pay state sales tax on certain clothes ($60 max), school supplies, personal computers ($750 max) or other items. According to the Florida Retail Federation (FRF), this sales tax holiday is the state’s second busiest shopping “holiday.” It predicts “near record-breaking
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Study: In Florida, owning beats renting

LOS ANGELES – July 27, 2017 – Arizona, Nevada and Washington, D.C. are among the 11 states where it’s more affordable to rent than it is to buy a home. But owning a home still beats renting in Florida, according to a study by website GOBankingRates. GoBankingRates surveyed all 50 states and the District of
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