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Around the Bay: Business news from the Tampa Bay region

By Times Staff
Published March 19, 2007

Tampa

The crematory business finds demand here

Ron Mees punches a code into the keypad on the wall of Florida Mortuary. This is the only functioning human cremation machine in Tampa - the only place where at about 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit, human bodies become ash. But soon, there will be more. And city officials are powerless to stop them. A crematory in Temple Terrace got a permit in October. One in East Ybor City got a permit in February. Another in East Ybor City could be approved this month. Residents of East Ybor and the nearby Gary neighborhood don't want them near their homes. They fear pollution. They fear loss of property value. They fear the crematories will cast a shadow on their historic district, just blocks away. But every year, more and more people are choosing cremation over burial. Florida has the second most cremations in the country. Only California ranks higher. In 2005, about 32 percent of Americans chose cremation. The Cremation Association of North America predicts that in 20 years, 51 percent will. Florida just streamlined its permitting process. Two months ago, crematories had to apply for construction permits. Now, they don't. If their machinery works, they're guaranteed a permit in 30 days.

Trinity

Developer designs a downtown

In this sprawling collection of upscale suburban neighborhoods, a commercial developer has a novel idea. Let's get together on Main Street. No, not an actual Main Street, as in downtown New Port Richey, fewer than 10 miles away. Developer Quality Holdings of Florida wants the 3,500 families of Trinity to have a gathering place at Trinity Town Center, the shopping center that broke ground in January at Little Road and Trinity Boulevard. The Palm Harbor developer is promoting the complex of retail shops, offices and restaurants as the "Main Street for the Trinity Community." The shopping center will be built with an almost-idealized downtown in mind, with pedestrian-friendly, tree-lined cobblestone paths, a bandshell, fountains and a signature clock tower. It is envisioned as a place for people to mingle, to stop by the bank, stick around for lunch, then linger through the shops before relaxing on a sunlit park bench. "It will have a unifying effect for all the (residential) developments," said Paul Aiello, vice president of real estate development for Quality Holdings' subsidiary, South Capital Construction.

Inverness

Citrus students might get construction help

Lecanto High School has an academy for aspiring artists. Crystal River High School has an academy for those who want to go into health care. Citrus High School's academy is for students looking at careers in business. Now one of the county's three high schools, or a separate site, could end up grooming the next batch of electricians and construction workers. Citrus County school district staffers have asked the school board to support a partnership with a regional work force development group and pursue funding to study a proposal to create an academy for students interested in filling construction and energy jobs. According to the CLM Workforce Connection estimates, future demand for workers in construction will create 222 jobs in Citrus and 1,195 jobs in Marion. Hourly wages will range from $12.02 to $14.03. Students from the proposed academy could graduate with a certificate showing the skills they mastered that would be recognized by contractors and that would put them to work immediately. They also would be prepared to go into accelerated programs at a community college or vocational school.

Brooksville

Suzuki exec visits to welcome dealership

People used oversized wooden scissors to cut an oversized red ribbon to officially open Hernando Suzuki this month at the new car dealership on State Road 50 just east of the Suncoast Parkway. Suzuki is a growing company, and the 3-acre auto lot is doing brisk business. And this ribbon cutting was no ho-hum ribbon cutting. There was valet parking. There was star fruit on the hors d'oeuvres spread. There was even an Elvis impersonator with purple shades and a hairy chest. And there was Koichi Suzuki, president of the automotive operations of the American Suzuki Motor Corp., a bona fide big shot in Hernando County. "I'm pleased to be here," he told the crowd of folks dressed in suits in the sun. The scene was just another of the many little indicators over the past couple of years that Hernando County's not so sleepy anymore. "Growth," said Pat Crowley, the executive director of the Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce. "I think it's great for the county."

[Last modified March 16, 2007, 17:52:44]