Executive Profile with Lynda Remund
The following is a snippet taken from an exclusive interview with Alexis Muellner at the Tampa Bay Business Journal. Subscribers to the TTBJ can read the full article on their website or readers may view it in our newsroom.
“Why Lynda is a big deal: Lynda has nearly 20 years of experience with the Tampa Downtown Partnership, joining the staff as director of district operations in October 2000. The Tampa native manages and coordinates the daily operations of the Tampa Downtown Partnership including organizational structure, management and vision, company policies, and supporting the organization’s strategic initiatives, as well as leading efforts to expand the special assessment district. The TDP is expanding its special service district for the first time since its creation in 1994 in response to continued city center growth and expansion.”
Beat the Heat with Free Kid-Friendly Programs
We are proud to bring 12,000 square feet of shade and free children’s programs to Tampa’s Downtown with our Summer Series at Curtis Hixon Park. Beginning July 5, there will be programs at 9am, 2pm and 6pm every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Frida, and Saturday through August 4 brought to you by Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park, YMCA, Hillsborough County Library, Salt Block Catering, Fit4Mom, and Barrett School of Music. Make a play date to enjoy the sandboxes and arts and crafts available. We hope to see you out there! Get more information here.
Your Downtown Activity Now Has a Soundtrack
In partnership with Symphonic Distribution, the Tampa Downtown Partnership announces the release of six public playlists on music streaming service Spotify. Spotify users can now access playlists for signature Downtown experiences for living, working, playing, and learning in Tampa’s downtown. “We are really excited to be partnering up with the Tampa Downtown Partnership and providing the soundtrack for Downtown Tampa,” said Janette Berrios, Director of Marketing for Symphonic Distribution. “After moving our operations to the downtown area, we quickly realized that there is a great opportunity to connect this vibrant and dynamic area with the music that is being created in it,” said Berrios. The music featured in the playlists will include music from the best up-and-coming Tampa musicians, indie music from around the globe and some local favorites, including musicians who play during the monthly Downtown music series, Rock the Park which celebrated its 8th anniversary on July 5. View the full press release.
Congratulations Business Women of the Year Honorees
Twenty-seven women have been named finalists for the 2018 Tampa Bay Business Journal‘s BusinessWoman of the Year awards. We would like to congratulate all of the honorees, especially our members, Linda Olson of the Tampa Bay Wave, Jodi Perry of Raymond James Financial, and Kenyatta Lee of the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority. This is the 14th year of the BusinessWoman of the Year awards, designed to honor excellence in women business executives across the Tampa Bay region. Honorees were chosen from more than 300 nominations. To see the full list of honorees, click here.
The following is just a sample of upcoming events in Downtown Tampa. Visit the Downtown Tampa Events Calendar for a more comprehensive list.
Summer Series at Curtis Hixon Park
Through August 4, programs at 9am, 2pm and 6pm select days Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park Summer Series at Curtis Hixon Park offers FREE kids programming throughout the week under 12,000 SF of shade during its installation. Programs begin at 9am, 2pm, and 6pm each day (Sunday and Friday are open play days) and are presented by Barrett School of Music, Salt block Catering, Hillsborough County Library, Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park, and the YMCA. For more information, go to Summer Series.
Movies @ the Library
Friday, July 13, begins 3pm John F. Germany Public Library Bring the kids to the library for a free showing of Despicable Me! In this film, the main character, Gru, delights in all things wicked. Surrounded by an army of tireless little yellow minions, and armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays, and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen, a potential dad. For more information, go to Movies @ the Library.
Sam Smith: The Thrill Of It All Tour
Friday, July 13, begins 8pm Amalie Arena Sam Smith’s international concert tour will make a stop in Downtown Tampa for a night of music you will not forget! The chart-topping artist will bring his crowd-pleasing hits to the stage for an exciting live performance full of pop favorites. Get your tickets and take your seats for a spectacular show! For more information, go to Sam Smith: The Thrill Of It All Tour.
Mindfulness with Evolve: Family Yoga
Saturday, July 14, 9am to 10am Glazer Children’s Museum Embody the energetic qualities of nature as a family with this outdoor yoga class by the river; part of the Mindfulness with Evolve series. With a combination of mindfulness and movement, students will develop purposefulness, balance, focus and flexibility. Participants should water and a yoga mat or blanket. For more information, go to Mindfulness with Evolve: Family Yoga.
On Stage at the Straz Center
Patel Conservatory presents Hello, Dolly! – Thursday, July 12 to Sunday, July 22 mad Theatre of Tampa presents It Shoulda Been You – Thursday, July 12 to Sunday, July 29 Latin Nights – Thursday, July 12, begins 9pm
On the Marquee at Tampa Theatre
The Doctor From India (2018) – Monday, July 9, 7:30pm to 9pm The Les Brown Experience: How to Become a Successful Entrepreneur – Wednesday, July 11, 9pm to 7pm Kings Coast Roast of King Gothalion – Thursday, July 12, begins 7pm The Perfect Storm (2000) – Friday, July 13, 4pm to 6:15pm A Fish Called Wanda (1988) – Sunday, July 15, 3pm to 5pm
Dreamit Launches SecureTech Initiative
Through its new SecureTech initiative, the Jeff Vinik-backed startup accelerator Dreamit Ventures plans to work with 15 to 20 companies a year focused on everything from cyber-attacks to fraud and information warfare. SecureTech, which anticipates its first cohort of startups to begin the accelerator program in early September, will be Dreamit’s third area of concentration. The first two were health care and urban tech approaches to real estate, development and design. During the 14-week SecureTech program, Dreamit plans to work with startups from around the world, help them refine and test their business models, introduce them to potential partners in the private sector, government agencies and the military and prepare them to close their next round of fundraising, ideally within six months of completing the program. Dreamit, which now has offices in New York and Philadelphia, expects to open a Tampa office in 2019. Dreamit Managing Partner said it likely will be closely aligned with the innovation hub that Vinik plans at Channelside Bay Plaza as part of the larger $3 billion Water Street Tampa redevelopment project near Amalie Arena. “Jeff Vinik-Backed Startup Accelerator Dreamit Branching Into Security Technology” – Tampa Bay Times
Where Downtown Chefs Eat
They are the savory elements that make up a day in the life: breakfast, lunch, dinner and, with luck, dessert. Inspired by the Food Networks’s “Best Thing I Ever Ate,” TAMPA Downtown Magazine asked chefs and restaurateurs from around Tampa’s urban core to define their own cuisines and share where they go to get out of the kitchen for each of these meals — because, at the end of the day, food still makes the world go round. Hear from the Owner of Bamboozle Café, the Executive Chef at Steelbach, Head Chef at CW’s Gin Joint, and the Owner and Executive Chef at Rooster & the Till. “TAMPA Downtown’s Best Thing I Ever Ate (Not In My Restaurant)” – TAMPA Downtown Magazine
Lack of Hotel Supply is Good for Buyers
While it’s a good time to acquire a hotel in Florida, it’s an even better time to snatch one up in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area. That’s the conclusion of Lou Plasencia, chairman and CEO of Tampa-based hotel advisory firm, The Plasencia Group. The Tampa/St. Pete region “is one of the more attractive areas to invest in right now,” Plasencia said in an interview with the Tampa Bay Business Journal. But, what makes purchasing hotels in Tampa and St. Pete particularly attractive is the lack of supply. Cities like Miami and Orlando have seen hotel construction soar in recent years. Not so in the Tampa Bay area where most of the new rooms will be concentrated primarily in two of three larger hotels such as the 519-room JW Marriott that will be built as part of the $3 billion, mixed-use Water Street Tampa project in downtown Tampa, being developed by Strategic Property Partners, the real estate company controlled by Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and Cascade Investment LLC. Downtown St. Pete has almost no new supply except for smaller, select service properties, Plasencia said. “Lack of Tampa Bay Hotel Supply Means New Buyers, Development Opportunities” – Tampa Bay Business Journal (subscription required)
Opportunity Zones Designated in Downtown Tampa
Florida has 427 of the 8,700 low-income census tracts nationwide designed as “Opportunity Zones” for economic development under provisions of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017, signed into law by President Donald Trump in December. In April, Gov. Rick Scott requested 427 of the state’s 1,706 low-income community census tracts – 25 percent – be designed as “low-tax opportunity zones.” All the low-income tracts nominated by the state were granted opportunity zone status by the Treasury Department on June 14. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Of 2017, opportunity zone fund projects offer substantial federal income tax benefits to investors and developers. A zone fund (OZ fund) is an “investment vehicle” formed as a corporation or partnership in which 90 percent or more of its assets are dedicated to projects in designated opportunity zones. OZ funds encourage long-term investment and job creation by reducing taxes for businesses that create jobs within qualified opportunity zones. Downtown Tampa and its surrounding neighborhoods are now qualified Opportunity Zones, in particular, Census Tracts 39, 40, 42, and 51.10. Click here to see the full list of where these zones are located. “427 Low-Income Census Tracts Designated As ‘Low-Tax Opportunity Zones’” – Florida Watchdog
Mayoral Candidate on Transit
Start small. Think big. In that order. That’s an oversimplified but good way to sum up Tampa Mayoral candidate Ed Turanchik’s transit plan. Rather than focusing on enhancing regional connectivity, Turanchik instead wants to perfect community-focused transit routes that, together, could support an entire network. Without it, he said there’s no reason to bother funding additional regional transit. Turanchik’s emphasis for now is figuring out where transit needs to be and who it needs to connect. The mode of transportation will depend on what’s best for each individual corridor. “Tampa Mayoral Candidate Ed Turanchik On Transit: Keep It Local” – Tampa Bay Business Journal (subscription required)
Rays to Unveil Stadium Details Tuesday
The Rays are planning a media event for Tuesday in Ybor City in which they are expected to present design renderings of the proposed new stadium and some information regarding costs. That will be a significant step as most of the discussion to this point has been theoretical and prelimary, including total costs and what share the team may pay. The Rays are facing a year-end deadline to let St. Petersburg officials know if they plan to exercise an out clause in the use agreement that expires in 2027. Principal owner Stuart Sternberg told the Times last month he expected to be able to meet the deadline, and this would be a step in that direction. “Rays to Unveil Ybor City Stadium Details Tuesday” – Tampa Bay Times
ICYMI: Water Street Tampa’s Vision for Public Spaces
Strategic Property Partners, LLC (SPP) released its vision for Water Street Tampa’s public spaces today, showcasing a collaboration of work by a talented team of architects, planners, and landscape architects, who have together crafted the overall vision of Water Street Tampa, the 50-acre mixed-use waterfront district located on historic Hillsborough Bay. Once complete, more than 23,000 people will live, work, dine, shop and visit Water Street Tampa daily. The neighborhood will be a place where great streets and vibrant, accessible, open spaces encourage the community to come together and enjoy the outdoors. The public realm master plan has been designed around three core values: reveal and improve connections, prioritize pedestrian comfort, and provide a diversity of public spaces. Further, Water Street Tampa ensures strong connections to the existing Central Business District of downtown Tampa and surrounding neighborhoods of Harbour Island and the Channel District. This will make it much easier and more comfortable to travel between Water Street Tampa and other close-in neighborhoods, as well as between the area’s numerous existing cultural amenities. For more information, visit www.waterstreettampa.com and view a video here.
Where Tampa Ranks in Transit Accessibility
Tampa Bay is one of the worst metropolitan areas for commuting on transit, according to a study released last week by the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Minnesota. Using data from 2017 the study found Tampa Bay ranks 38th out of 49 of the country’s 50 most populated metros. Memphis was excluded from the study due to lack of data. Of the region’s 1.2 million jobs, only 53,000 were accessible on transit within one hour, the study found. Only 343 jobs were available within a 10 minute commute on transit. While Tampa’s place in the ranking is low, it’s the highest in the state. Orlando landed at No. 41 while Jacksonville was at No. 48, next to last. Tampa also improved slightly since the same study was done in 2016. Access to transit for work rose just over 1 percent year over year. “Study Finds Tampa Bay Transit Among The Worst In The Nation, But Best In The State” – Tampa Bay Business Journal (subscription required)
Honor & Design Awards Nomination Open
AIA Tampa Bay is now accepting nominations and entries for our annual awards program recognizing great people, firms, and exceptional design! All winners will be honored at Celebrate Design, Friday, November 2nd at The University Student Center, USF St. Petersburg Campus. The Design Awards Program recognizes excellence in design by the architectural profession and is presented by AIA Tampa Bay, a Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. These Awards are intended to promote public consciousness of the built environment through distinguished works of architecture. The submittals are open to built or unbuilt architectural projects of all types and sizes and can be submitted by individuals or firms either residing in or whose submitted project is located in the chapter’s seven-county region. All designs must have been produced within the past five years. Click here for nomination criteria and to learn more about the awards.
Hill Ward Henderson’s New Practice Group
Hill Ward Henderson has assembled a team of attorneys and consulting experts equipped to guide clients in identifying and correcting noncompliant websites and in responding to demand letters and lawsuits based on website ADA claims. The Digital Accessibility Practice Group led by Robert “Bob” M. Fulton, Jason L. Molder and William “Bill” J. Judge, Jr., was created to address the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination based upon disability in places of public accommodation. Hill Ward Henderson offers several services in the area of digital accessibility, specifically tailored to the needs of each client, encompassing everything from voluntary pre-demand compliance all the way through responding to demand letters and representing clients in ADA-related litigation. The firm also offers digital accessibility local counsel and co-counsel services to other law firms enabling them to have a dedicated digital accessibility team at its disposal. “Hill Ward Henderson Launches Digital Accessibility Practice Group” – Tampa Bay Newswire
Tampa Riverwalk in Architectural Competition
The Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Florida Foundation for Architecture are currently running their annual online People’s Choice Competition, wherein folks all over the world can vote for one of the 39 Sunshine State buildings included on this year’s digital ballot. Now in its fifth year, the contest has seen exponential growth as more Florida residents take an interest in how their communities are developing and represented. This year, the Tampa Riverwalk is one of the featured structures, along with USF St. Pete’s Kate Tiedemann College of Business, Lakeland Regional Health’s Hollis Cancer Center, Sarasota’s Alfred R. Goldstein Library at Ringling College of Art and Design, and a few other West Central Florida works of architectural art. Vote today for Tampa Riverwalk! “Tampa Riverwalk, USF St. Pete Candidates In Statewide Architectural Competition” – Creative Loafing
HART Launches New Route
Commuting to/from the Tampa International Airport and downtown Tampa is now easier and more affordable. On Sunday, July 1, HART launched the new Route 275LX, connecting Pasco County and North Tampa to Tampa International Airport and business districts in downtown Tampa and Westshore area. This seven day a week limited express route, the first of its kind in the region, provides hourly service, connecting Hillsborough and Pasco Counties, and easy access throughout the Tampa Bay region for employment, entertainment, medical and educational opportunities. With direct access to the airport, more travelers can save money by choosing affordable bus fares over the high cost of gasoline, airport parking or rideshare services. Customers can enjoy half-hourly express rides (60LX and 275LX) between downtown and the airport, seven days a week for only $2 per trip and stay connected with free on-board Wi-Fi. More information at www.goHART.org/275LX.
US Adds 213,000 Jobs, Signals Strong Economy
U.S. employers kept up a brisk hiring pace in June by adding 213,000 jobs, a sign of confidence in the economy despite the start of a potentially punishing trade war with China. The job growth wasn’t enough to keep the unemployment rate from rising from 3.8 percent to 4 percent, the government said Friday. But the jobless rate rose for an encouraging reason: More people felt it was a good time to begin looking for a job, though not all of them immediately found one. The growing optimism that people can find work suggested that the 9-year old U.S. economic expansion — the second-longest on record — has the momentum to keep chugging along. “US Adds A Solid 213,000 Jobs; Unemployment Up To 4 Pct.” – Tampa Bay Times
Final Land Transaction Complete for Westshore Marina District
WCI Communities has finalized the second of two land transactions within the 52-acre Westshore Marina District in Tampa, paving the way for 140 upscale townhomes within the mixed-use development. WCI’s June 18 acquisition of 9.5 acres for $12.5 million follows a May 2017 deal for 2.35 acres, which it bought from Westshore Marina master developer BTI Partners for $2.5 million. The Lennar Corp. subsidiary intends to develop a series of three- and four-story townhomes, to compliment other residential offerings in the $750 million community. Miami-based Related Group, for instance, is building 396 upscale rental apartments slated for completion next summer, and Bainbridge Cos. is constructing a 351-unit upscale complex within the waterfront community. It, too, is expected to be completed in 2019. “WCI Completes Second Westhore Marina District Land Purchase” – Business Observer
CareerSource Pinellas Comments on Layoffs
CareerSource Pinellas Interim Executive Director Jennifer Brackney says laying off 133 workers will not affect the continuity of service the agency provides for displaced workers. areerSource Pinellas helps workers, particularly hard to hire individuals, find jobs. The agency notified all CareerSource Tampa Bay employees who work for the Pinellas agency that their jobs would be eliminated effective Aug. 31 as part of a plan to separate the two groups. The two agencies had been sharing staff services and worked under one CEO. CareerSource Tampa Bay voted to separate from its parent agency after former CEO Ed Peachey was fired amid allegations he had inflated job placement numbers. The separation was initially supposed to take effect July 1, but the board postponed that until September 1. “Careersource Pinellas Layoffs Won’t Affect Hiring Assistance For Businesses, Agency Says” – Tampa Bay Business Journal (subscription required)
Will PortMiami Need to Re-dredge?
Despite a massive dredge project that was completed in 2015, PortMiami is still not wide enough in some areas to accommodate large vessels, making it difficult for cargo and cruise ships to navigate its channels. The problem with the dredge completed in 2015: timing, said Port Director Juan Kuryla. The $205 million project, which began dredging in 2013, was based on a study completed in 2004 and authorized by Congress in 2007. Since then, cargo ships have outgrown original size projections nearly 50 percent. To devise a solution, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been allocated $556,250 for a feasibility study regarding port improvements. Susan Jackson, a spokeswoman for the agency, said the study was requested by the port in March because of issues raised by harbor pilots about navigating PortMiami. The study will go before the Miami-Dade County Commission on July 24. “Despite Recent Dredge, Portmiami Still Can’t Fit Some Large Ships. New Project In The Works” – Miami Herald
Monday Morning Memo –Monday Morning Memo is a weekly update of “insider downtown information” regarding developments, transportation, special opportunities and other useful information to help you make the most of downtown. Subscribe to receive this weekly newsletter.
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