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11.9 acres of weeds now to sprout shops

Avenue at Westchase's first phase will offer food choices from Rice Avenue Sushi to Cold Stone Creamery.

By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK
Published August 12, 2005

WESTCHASE - For years, the Avenue at Westchase appeared little more than a promise come and gone, unfulfilled.

The sign across Linebaugh Avenue from Westchase Elementary School advertised new shops and offices by 2003. Reality brought code enforcement officers to investigate complaints about 11.9-acres covered in weeds.

In recent weeks, however, developer Real Property Specialists of Orlando has begun the long-awaited construction. President Alan Charron says the first of three phases - about 60,000 square feet of restaurants, shops and professional offices - should be complete no later than February.

Westchase leaders who fielded so many of their neighbors' gripes couldn't be happier.

"It's good to see that something is happening, which is all I think anyone wanted," said Ruben Collazo, chairman of Westchase's architectural review and community relations committees. "It promises to be nice."

Charron attributed the delay to lengthy negotiations with TECO over a parking area. Then came the rains, making it impossible to prepare the low-lying areas for construction.

Now the land is ready for the buildings, he said.

Phase 1 will include four structures, two with one story and the other two with two stories. The second floors will house offices, and the rest will be retail. Most of the first-floor space is already leased, Charron said.

Tenants include Cold Stone Creamery, Tropical Cafe Smoothies, Tijuana Flats Burrito Company, Rice Avenue Sushi, Quiznos, Tranquility Day Spa and Salon, Planet Beach Tanning, Bay West Real Estate, Coldwell Banker Real Estate, and Martinizing Dry Cleaning. Charron said he is saving a prime corner for a family-oriented sit-down restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Phase 2 will be stand-alone banks, or possibly another office building. Phase 3 will bring as many as 100 townhouse condominiums.

Charron considered his company fortunate to get into Westchase, where he sees strong demand for boutique retail and restaurants, and perhaps even more, office space.

"We actually wish we had much larger acreage out there," he said.

- Jeffrey S. Solochek can be reached at 813 269-5304 or solochek@sptimes.com

[Last modified August 11, 2005, 08:56:11]