LIST realty company is continuing its revitalization efforts north of Kennedy Boulevard by opening two new office condos.
By MICHAEL CANNING
Published June 11, 2004
A LIST OF NEW OFFICES: Conventional wisdom and industry pundits tell us that South Tampa's redevelopment activity will inevitably move north of Kennedy Boulevard. Major north-south arteries, such as Howard and Armenia avenues, are likely conduits for the progression.
South Tampa redeveloper LIST Realty, one of the players in the Kennedy corridor's slow revitalization, is now also focusing north of Kennedy. LIST has three new office projects in the works. The furthest along, at the northwest corner of Armenia and Gray Street, is scheduled to be done later this month. Martin Lum, listing agent for LIST, said the building will be divided into two office condos. CPA firm Koehler and Co. will take over one space; the rest of the building is up for sale.
Six blocks north, at the northeast corner of Armenia and Grace Street, LIST plans to build a 2,700-square-foot office building for up to two tenants. Construction should begin sometime this month and be completed by the end of the year.
LIST recently finished a 2,200-square-foot office building at 403 N Howard Ave., two doors south of Gray Street. Construction will start soon on its twin building next door at 401 N Howard Ave, Lum said. No tenants have been selected yet, he said.
All of these buildings feature the ever pervasive Mediterranean style.
NO MORE CAR REPAIR: The former European Motors repair shop on the corner of Kennedy and Henderson boulevards is being converted for office and/or retail use.
Sid Hattab, the new property owner, has already enclosed the former open-air repair bays and refurbished them with new dry wall, flooring and basic fixtures. The new building will have 4,700 to 5,000 square feet, Hattab said. Exterior painting, landscaping and a new paint job for the parking lot are also planned.
Hattab, who also owns the neighboring Palma Ceia Spot Free Car Wash and the nearby NK Cafe with his wife, Rita Hattab, said he's had lots of offers from prospective tenants. A lot of them have been from car repair businesses, which Hattab has refused.
"We want something that will be nice for the neighborhood," he said.
Hattab won't lease to a restaurant, either. "I've been approached by 25,000 restaurants," he said. He doesn't want to create competition for the NK Cafe.
Hattab has considered proposals from art galleries and furniture stores but has yet to make a decision. The building's interior might be divided into multiple storefronts, he said.
TALON GRABS HOLD: Talon Group Title and Settlement Services has moved into a portion of an office building at Henderson Boulevard and De Leon Street, which has been vacant for about two years.
The title company opened April 20. Paramount Dental has occupied the rest of the 1969 building since fall 2002.
Administrative manager Carl Whaley said the office is the first for the Talon Group Title and Settlement Services, a new division of the Santa Ana, Calif.-based First American Title Insurance Co.
MORE TOWNHOMES COMING: Westland Development is staking its claims in Bayshore Beautiful and new townhouse-rich Oscawana/Courier City.
Tuscan Square and Tuscan Square South townhomes are under construction at 211 and 215 Westland Ave., respectively. The two Mediterranean-style buildings will have seven, two-story units ranging from 1,500 to 2,200 square feet. Each will have one- or two-car garages, two or three bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms, wood floors, crown moldings, 10-foot ceilings and granite counter tops.
All seven units sold, fetching prices between $210,000 and $325,000, said listing agent Linda Thomas of Bayshore Real Estate Inc. They should be done in the fall.
Meanwhile, in Bayshore Beautiful, Thomas said Westland Development is also planning two, two-story townhouses at 2936 W Knights Ave. Construction should begin within three months and take eight to 10 months. The units will feature rooftop garden terraces, two-car garages, private driveways and courtyards, and porte-cocheres. Each will be 2,100 to 2,500 square feet.
No takers for them yet. The cost: $499,000 to $550,000.
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