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Big-box stores join Cypress Creek lineup

By TIMES WIRES
Published January 22, 2007

Costco, Target and Linens-N-Things are joining the tentative lineup for Cypress Creek Town Center, the proposed megamall at Interstate 75 and State Road 56.

Brochures distributed by Colliers Arnold property brokers at a shopping center conference this month showed the three anchors alongside Kohl's at the 1.3-million-square-foot mall.

The Richard E. Jacobs Group, which is developing Cypress Creek Town Center, has confirmed an 18-screen AMC cinema as a tenant but is keeping mum on the others.

The Jacobs Group hopes to have the mall completed by fall 2008, Schmitz said.

TAMPA

Don't be afraid to question solicitors

The spiel goes something like this: A friendly young man at your door says he's selling magazines to raise money for his volleyball team's trip to play in a championship game in Maui. He says he's a student at the University of Tampa, and he's your neighbor; you've probably seen his mom walking her dog on the street every morning. And hey, if you don't want any magazines, you can always donate them to the Boys and Girls Club.

Before pulling out your checkbook, you may want to call the police, said Tampa police Officer Lisa Parashis.

"If you feel that they're misrepresenting who they are, definitely call," she said.

A few months ago, solicitors claimed to be students at the University of South Florida selling magazines to support USF's athletic department. A detective verified that USF was not supporting the fundraiser and notified neighbors.

Police couldn't catch up with the solicitors.

GE EXECS SKIP THE GOLF COURSE TO VOLUNTEER

Senior GE Healthcare executives from around the world attended a three-day leadership conclave in St. Pete Beach earlier this month.

But instead of using their free time whacking around the golf course, the 165 executives opted to spend an afternoon doing something a little more useful - a community service project.

The one-day mission resulted in dramatic upgrades to St. Petersburg Free Clinic facilities.

Among other things, volunteers:

- Hauled 18-inch-square turf chunks, pushed wheelbarrows and set sidewalk blocks at the women's center. They pulled plants from pots and stuck them in the ground. They updated supply sheds and the women's clothing boutique.

- Took out a fence and installed a new one at Beacon House, the men's shelter. They repainted trim, laid a walkway, built an awning, painted benches, refurbished a room and built a TV stand.

GE Healthcare also donated an electrocardiograph system, five vital signs monitors and reusable blood pressure cuffs to the clinic, and has promised to develop a food bank marketing plan to attract more donations.

Including donations, supplies, labor and plan development, the volunteers' project amounted to about $100,000, Free Clinic and GE officials estimated.

Such projects are part of GE's corporate culture, said Heather Menshouse, who runs a GE Healthcare office in Tampa.

GE Healthcare is a $14-billion division of General Electric Co.

YBOR CITY

Centro Ybor tenants are still optimistic

It's not easy being Centro Ybor. Officially, it's a movie, shopping and dining plaza in the heart of Ybor City.

Unofficially, it's Tampa Bay's red-headed stepchild, passed off from foster parent to foster parent. It's deeply debt-ridden and, in a few spots, desperately deserted.

So what will become of poor Centro? Will the 211,000-square-foot complex be razed in favor of condos? Absorbed by Wal-Mart? Converted into the newest megachurch?

Actually, Centro's latest sale - last month, to Chicago's M&J Wilkow - has some of the plaza's tenants expecting a Cinderella story.

"I couldn't be happier," said Vicki Doble, who moved her Tampa Bay Brewing Co. into Centro Ybor last year.

Wilkow bought the plaza, which opened in 2000 at a cost of about $45-million, from the German investment fund BVT for about $16-million.

Fast Facts:

By the numbers

John's Pass Village expansion project

24,000 Square feet of space in the complex once complete

6,000 Square feet in the three original one-story buildings along the boardwalk's western edge.

1 Two-story building with a two-level boardwalk is replacing the original structures.

327 Number of parking spaces in the garage, which has an additional 12,000 square feet of retail space.

2006 Year in which owners hoped to have construction completed. May is now their target.

Don't be avictim

Here are three tips from the Better Business Bureau to deal with solicitors:

1. Be very wary of letting strangers into your home. If you feel suspicious activity is occurring or the salespeople won't properly disclose who they are, who they are with, and some form of identification, contact your local police department and file a report. Give a description, etc., of the people and/or the vehicles they are driving.

2. Checks should be made payable to the company, not to any individual's name.

3. Take notes. Consumers are advised to not let anyone walk away from a transaction without getting the proper information on the company.

[Last modified January 21, 2007, 21:42:02]