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Wal-Mart plans superstore near Ybor

By MARK ALBRIGHT
Published February 21, 2005

TAMPA - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is negotiating a deal to buy a huge Tampa warehouse facility near Ybor City as a site for one of its sprawling supercenters.

Wal-Mart officials and the owners of the Tampa International Center at the southeast corner of Adamo Drive and 22nd Street, declined to confirm any of the details. But Mark Huey, city economic development administrator, said Wal-Mart's hired site selection firm recently outlined the framework of the plan to his staff.

"It's really too early to talk about because they don't have the property under contract," said Huey. "But Wal-Mart has been getting more sensitive about making its projects more closely reflect their surroundings. This could be a real asset."

The site is the latest to surface in Wal-Mart's relentless plan to further penetrate the Tampa Bay market. The chain plans to add 11 supercenters -- which include a supermarket -- and one Sam's Club to its current collection of 36 stores in the Tampa Bay area within three years. Wal-Mart also has been pushing into more urban neighborhoods including south St. Petersburg that many rival grocers have been abandoning in recent years.

Around the region, the retailer has been welcomed royally in some towns such as Pinellas Park and run into a buzz saw of opposition in others. Opponents include prospective neighbors fearing traffic snarls, environmental groups and people who don't like the way the world's largest retailer does business.

The Tampa property is zoned for industrial use, which means adding a Wal-Mart would require a City Council-approved zoning change. Built as a can manufacturing plant, Tampa International Center is 564,375 square feet, twice the size of even the biggest Wal-Mart Supercenters.

Currently, the only tenant is the Tampa Tribune, which leases about 113,000 square feet for a distribution, printing and packaging facility. The newspaper's 10-year lease expires this year. The company's parent, Media General Inc., has been told the lease will not be extended long term.

Beth Drummond, chairwoman of the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce, said she was not aware of Wal-Mart's discussions with the city.

"I can imagine it might be great for the economy, but there is not enough information yet to make a judgment," she said.

America's Capital Partners LLC, a real estate investment firm based in Broward County that maintains a 5.1-million square foot portfolio dominated by office buildings and some land for development, acquired the Tampa International Center in August 2000. The company recently sold the 12-story Westshore Corporate Center near Tampa International Airport and acquired a 31-story downtown tower office tower at 400 N Ashley Blvd. Called the "Beer Can Building" by some downtown wags, it is called The Pinnacle on the company's web site.

-- Mark Albright can be reached at albright@sptimes.com or 727 893-8252.

[Last modified February 21, 2005, 19:23:02]