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MICHAEL CANNINGTwo projects, one on an office building site and the other near a golf course, will be built in the next several months.
MORE TOWNHOMES ON MACDILL: Townhomes, anyone? These days, they are popping up everywhere in South Tampa.
Two more projects are under way just off S MacDill Avenue. Townhomes of DeLeon are slated to rise on the site of the former Hopco Food Service office, one block west of MacDill at 3111 W DeLeon St.
James Landers, chief executive officer of the project's LandCraft Development, says demolition of the old Hopco building should begin within 30 days. Construction on the 10 units should take eight months.
Landers says the 1,900-square-foot townhomes will have three stories, a ground floor garage, three bedrooms and bathrooms, and hardwood floors.
Prices for the Mediterranean style homes will range from $245,000 to $270,000, Landers said.
Hopco moved to Laurel Street south of Tampa International Airport in March.
A mile south of the DeLeon project, the First Green Townhomes are taking shape.
Located at 3104 W San Miguel St., First Green has three two-story units with partial views of the first green at the Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club.
Martin Lum, listing agent for the project developer South Tampa Land Group, said units will range from 2,700 to 2,850 square feet, have three bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms. Other features include granite counters, hardwood floors, stainless steel kitchen appliances, gas fireplaces, private yards, balconies and ground-floor garages.
Construction is scheduled for completion in February.
Prices range from $399,000 to $449,000. One unit has sold, and one is in contract, Lum said.
FORMER CHURCH GUTTED: The longtime Taylor Memorial Baptist church at Cypress Street and MacDill Avenue closed in June. The church's pastor wanted to move to Plant City and some of the parishioners relocated to Wellswood Baptist Church in central Tampa, said Cari Limberg, co-owner of the property.
Crews have gutted the church buildings and remodeling should begin soon. Plans call for converting the nearly 10,000 square feet into retail or commercial space. Limberg said she hopes to attract some kind of medical business.
The shell of the connected buildings will remain but the exterior will be altered to reflect a Key West look. The project should take about four months.
NEW AT THE MALLS: Two new restaurants are slated for International Plaza.
Fatburger will open this month in the plaza's Portico Cafe indoor food court. The Santa Monica, Calif., hamburger chain offers premium hamburgers with the classic trappings and fancies itself as the "Last Great Hamburger Stand."
Bar Louie will open sometime in November in the plaza's outdoor Bay Street section. It will feature large sandwiches, pizzas, wraps, pastas and entrees, plus an assortment of big martinis, beers and wines.
Janie and Jack clothing store for children and infants opened two weeks ago in the mall.
A mile south, Haagen-Dazs and Payless ShoeSource recently opened at West Shore Plaza. The ice cream shop opened across from Maggiano's on Oct. 14. Payless moved in Oct. 11 from its previous location across from the mall at 309 S West Shore Blvd.
GRILLE GONE: Ybor City's 8th Avenue Grille closed three weeks ago after four years of purveying traditional Italian food and contemporary ambience at 1811 N 15th St. Building owner Kenny Sohl says he's negotiating to lease the space to another restaurateur but declined further comment.
- Do you know something that should be everybody's business? Call 226-3382, or e-mail mikecanning@hotmail.com