Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Everybody's business

MacDill Credit Union headquarters moving

Now just outside the base, the facility will close this summer in favor of a new headquarters on Delaney Lake Drive.

By MICHAEL CANNING
Published January 28, 2005

The headquarters for MacDill Federal Credit Union is moving farther away from its namesake to expand.

Now at 6701 S Dale Mabry Highway just outside MacDill Air Force Base, the headquarters is set to close in June or July, according to Emily Nichols, product development manager for the credit union.

That's when a new five-story, 125,000-square-foot headquarters will open at 9927 Delaney Lake Drive, near the Falkenberg Road and Crosstown Expressway junction in east Tampa.

The retail banking component of the old Dale Mabry headquarters will stay open until the fall, when a new branch opens at 4502 W Gandy Blvd.

Nichols said the 6,000-square-foot Gandy branch will have four drive-through lanes and a drive-through ATM lane, about 15 employees and a traditional brick exterior. The new east Tampa headquarters will also have a separate 15,000-square-foot employee training center.

The credit union will put its Dale Mabry building up for sale after closing it, said Nichols.

Founded in 1955 to serve civilian workers at MacDill Air Force Base, the credit union now has 17 locations in the bay area and more than $1.5-billion in assets.

APARTMENTS GO CONDO: Condominium conversion specialist Ceebraid-Signal Corp. is at it again, opening its sales office two weeks ago for Beachwalk Condos, formerly Bayside Village apartments.

The company bought the 292-unit property in Baycrest a year ago.

Beachwalk fronts Old Tampa Bay next to the Pam Callahan Nature Preserve, and Ceebraid-Signal has pledged a portion of every sale exceeding $45,000 to environmental groups Tampa Bay Watch and Tampa Bay Estuary Program.

But Ceebraid-Signal also has added amenities to the property for people. The clubhouse sports a community wine cellar, rock climbing wall, virtual golf game, fitness center, cyber cafe with wi-fi Internet access, juice bar and catering kitchen.

Outside there's a pool with sun deck and waterfall, plus a pet walk area, boat dock, and waterfront boardwalk configured to avoid mangroves.

Floor plans include one-bedroom, one-bath condos ranging from 746 to 1,030 square feet, and two-bedroom, two-bath condos ranging from 1,227 to 1,298 square feet. Prices start at $150,000 for one-bedroom units, and $190,000 for the two-bedroom units.

Construction for the conversion is expected to be completed in the spring. Ceebraid-Signal spokesperson Rosalind Sedacca said more than 117 units have sold. The sales office is a few blocks from Beachwalk at 5831-01 Memorial Highway. The phone number is 884-7755.

Ceebraid-Signal, which has offices in West Palm Beach, Stamford, Conn., and Freeport, N.Y., also converted the Audubon Villas in Feather Sound to Audubon Condominiums last year.

COTTAGE MOVES TO KENNEDY: After being tucked away for six years in the heart of S MacDill Avenue's boutique district, Rosemary Cottage tea room and boutique has moved to 3644 W Kennedy Blvd.

Owner Angie Heath decided she needed a different space so she could reconfigure her business. Rather than a tea room, the new location will have a tea bar, plus about six tables. The change will allow a greater emphasis on the boutique side of the business, which offers gourmet teas and coffees, bath and body products, candles, a baby boutique including Shabby Chic pajamas for children and adults, china, dinnerware, and tea pots.

The changes also extend to the decor, which has shifted from what Heath described as "shabby chic" to "Paris chic."

Rosemary Cottage's menu remains familiar, with teas, scones with Devonshire cream, pastries, cappuccino and coffee drinks.

The business opened on Kennedy west of Himes Avenue on Jan. 5. Heath expected the tea bar to open today.

- Do you know something that should be everybody's business? Call 226-3382, or e-mail mikecanning@hotmail.com

[Last modified January 27, 2005, 09:34:05]