Haines City : Development News

UK-Based HB Leisure recently brought its business to the Winter Haven area in Polk County east of Tampa.

Opening its new office in downtown Winter Haven's the Beymer Building in Fall 2011, the expansion coincided with the opening of Legoland, one of HB Leisure's clients. HB Leisure currently assists in the supply, operation and solutions of amusement and theme parks.

Built in 1923, the three-story, 22,000-square-foot Beymer Building, at 280 Central Ave. W., is owned by Winter Haven's 6/10 Corporation. Leasing arrangements for HB Leisure's move to Central Florida were facilitated by 6/10 Commercial Real Estate.

“The 6/10 Corporation purchased the building in September 2010 and spent a year on renovations and improvements,” says Angela Harwell, broker, realtor and director of sales and leasing for 6/10 Corporation. “At the time the first tenants were ready to take occupancy in September 2011, the building was already 70 percent leased.”

Located in close proximity to Interstate 4 and the Polk Parkway, the Beymer Building includes a conference room, break area, copy/print/scan services and multiple common areas, and is equipped with the latest technology including fiber optic and WiFi services.

“The property is ideal for a wide array of businesses,” says Harwell. “The building was chosen by HB Leisure because of its downtown location and amenities such as restaurants and service providers within a short walk.”

As downtown Winter Haven's business landscape continues to expand, the city is currently in the process of constructing a new three-story parking garage slated to open in early 2012 and plans to construct a roundabout north of downtown on Third Street. In addition, a number of older buildings in the downtown area are undergoing renovations.

“Winter Haven strives to offer both its residents and visitors plenty of destinations for professional, leisure and recreational activities to appeal to a wide variety of interests,” says Harwell.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Angela Harwell, 6/10 Corporation

Winter Haven's historic downtown Forum Center is transforming into The Hoffman Building thanks to an investor's infusion of cash and appreciation for the past.

Recently acquired by the 6/10 Corporation, the 57-year-old building housed Florida's historic Hoffman's Department store in the late 1930s.

With renovations currently underway, including interior and exterior improvements such as a new paint, carpet, landscaping and the addition of a common conference room, the work planned on the new and improved 8,800-square-foot Hoffman Building is slated for completion by Fall of 2011.

“The presence of the Hoffman Building have been contributing to the Winter Haven area by bringing new professional businesses into downtown,” says Angela Harwell, broker for the 6/10 Corporation. “We are pleased with the response to our improvements with regard to leasing activity.”

Purchased in June for $363,800, the Hoffman Building's first-floor executive suites have already been leased. Only second-floor offices remain vacant. The building's location at 39 Third St. in historic downtown Winter Haven is expected to be a significant contributor to neighborhood retail businesses and restaurants.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Angela Harwell, 6/10 Corporation

Haines City, the third-largest city in Polk County with just over 18,000 residents, is rapidly becoming a hub for medical services in eastern Polk County and western Osceola County.

Commercial properties along U.S. Highway 27, a major thoroughfare running north-south through Polk County, are enjoying a boom in construction and business, due in large part to Legoland Florida's impending opening in October 2011. Haines City is just north of Winter Haven, where the new theme park will be located.

According to Allison Beeman, director of the Haines City Economic Development Council, much of the growth along the Highway 27 corridor has been attributed to the medical industry, particularly the Regional Medical Complex located at 40100 US Highway 27.

"Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center is the anchor of the complex, which is a five-story regional hospital with a fifth floor that will be completed by January 2012," says Beeman. Class-A Medical Office Building called MedEplex is currently under construction on a site immediately south of the hospital, and a full-service rehabilitation and fitness facility called "HealthPlex"  is also under construction on the same site. And there are about 50 medical offices that have opened within a two-mile radius of Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center."

Beeman says Polk State College has purchased property that will house a Northeast Polk County Campus on the same property on which the Medical Office Building and a rehabilitation facility will be located.

The growth around Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center  is related to a contract RERC Strategic Advisors proposed for Polk County government, introducing an economic development strategy for the area. It identified the new $150 million Legoland Florida theme park, Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center, high-speed rail, the CSX Multi-Modal Center and the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex as the major cornerstones of a regional strategy for the corridor.
 
Writer: Missy Kavanaugh
Source: Allison Beeman, Haines City EDC

Legoland is coming to Winter Haven in Polk County, and like a minifig on a Lego pirate ship, Haines City is hoping to share in the booty that  its new neighbor is likely to attract. So city leaders are laying plans to lure tourists traveling between Disney and the new attraction.

"We're extending a leg to trip them on their way to a park," says Jane Patton, president of the Haines City-Northeast Polk County Regional Chamber. "We sit at the beginning of the Scenic Highway 17, a beautiful drive through orange groves, past lakes and some undeveloped land between Haines City and Frostproof."

Allison Beeman, deputy director of the Haines City Economic Development Council, is working on getting the word out to hotel chains, developers and investors. "Our location is perfect for business coming to and from Disney and Legoland. We are just off I-4 and along US 27. We have property owners who are willing to work with investment folks and/or developers. They are willing to work out a deal."

Patton likens the arrival of Legoland and its impact on her community to the impact Disney had on Orlando and Kissimmee, and wants to see deliberate planning take place. "We are holding a tourism forum to raise awareness, identify people interested in participating on a task force and develop an action plan."

Beeman sees it as an opportunity for Haines City residents who currently commute to the Disney Resort for work to find employment closer to home. "If you look at our county, we're positioned northeast of Orlando," she says. "There are lots of people who live in Haines City and work in Orlando. Hopefully the new park will bring lots of opportunities for people to work closer to home."

Writer: Missy Kavanaugh
Sources: Jane Patton, Haines City-Northeast Polk County Regional Chamber; Allison Beeman, Haines City Economic Development Council

On April 16, leaders from across Tampa Bay will meet to discuss sustainable growth. One Bay, the group hosting the meeting, has deemed the event the Congress of Regional Leaders.

The One Bay Liveable Communities Initiative is a "regional visional process" that grew from the Tampa Bay Partnership Regional Research and Education Foundation. It is committed to long-term thinking and planning to make the seven counties that comprise the Tampa Bay region a thriving and sustainable mega region by the year 2050. The counties included in the initiative are Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk, Manatee and Sarasota.

The April 16 meeting is a culmination of polls, surveys and workshops that resulted from the Reality Check of 2007. The data collected indicates a need and desire for a more proactive and deliberate approach to planning.

"When we looked at the data, it was interesting because there were common guiding principles across transit, water and environmental areas," explains Betty Carlin, a spokesperson for the Tampa Bay Partnership. "It's telling us these are the things that people think are important. People really don't want to see growth happen as it has in the past. We want to do it differently. So now we have to put community leaders together to share the vision and make it happen."

Dan Mahurin, chairman of SunTrust Bank and chair of One Bay, sees the meeting as a celebrated outcome as well as an exciting launch.

"This event is a celebration of several years of great input and hard work from across the community to develop a shared vision for Tampa Bay. It is also a turning point for us to bring leaders back together to begin planning how we can implement this vision."

The meeting will take place at the Tampa Convention Center from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Writer: Missy Kavanaugh
Source: Betty Carlin, Tampa Bay Partnership; Dan Mahurin, SunTrust

Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center in Haines City is growing at an accelerated pace to keep up with community needs, says CEO Jay Finnegan.

"We have experienced double-digit percentage growth in ER visits this past year, particularly in the area of cardiac catheterization," Finnegan explains.

To meet this demand, the hospital's cardiac catheterization lab is undergoing a $2 million construction that will be completed in July 2010. In addition, the hospital renovated ER space not directly used for patient care into areas that would allow for more treatment. An urgent care facility on Cypress Gardens Boulevard opened in August 2009 to accommodate non life-threatening emergencies.

"We added 40 beds to our fourth-floor surgical unit and 2009 was the first full year of use," says Finnegan. "But despite that addition, we're still at full capacity."

Finnegan says Heart of Florida plans to build out a fifth floor to add an additional 40 beds, and plans are underway to begin construction on another five-story tower to accommodate more patients.

In addition, the hospital recently acquired digital mammography equipment for its imaging center, thereby enhancing its diagnostic services.

Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center has grown from a small community hospital to being the primary health care source for Haines City, Winter Haven and surrounding communities. The urgent care facility is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

Writer: Missy Kavanaugh
Source: Jay Finnegan, Heart of Florida Regional Hospital

 

The Florida Business Continuity Center (FBCC), a 14,000-square-foot facility designed to help businesses and government entities maintain operations through a time of transition or crisis, opened in Winter Haven in February.

The FBCC, with 250 workstations, is located at the Inland Fiber & Data Technology Park. The central location is situated in an area of minimal flood hazard (Flood X zone), which helps shield the site from the major damage inflicted on Florida's East and West coasts in the event of a hurricane.

Businesses and government entities can lease space at the center, which can become a temporary headquarters in the case of natural or man-made disasters. It also can serve as a temporary facility during large renovations or repairs.

"Organizations are wise to prepare early for potential downtime of their primary offices, to insure continuity of daily functions and provide convenient, close-proximity, easy-access, temporary workspace for their staff," says FBCC President Carl J. Strang III, who also owns the Polk County based commercial property developer, 6/10 Corporation.

FBCC features plug-and-play disaster and workspace recovery services. The center's amenities include advanced call capabilities, onsite technical support, private offices, conference rooms, break room, kitchen and equipment and storage space. There also are full bathroom and shower facilities.

Writer: Carter Gaddis
Source: Tim Nissen, Florida Business Continuity Center

Polk State College has secured land for a new northeast Polk County facility in Haines City that may include a couple of multistory buildings.

The college spent $2.7 million for 7.8 acres off U.S. 27, south of Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center. It is within a medical complex being built by Civix, which sold and donated the land.

The college, which has campuses in Lakeland and Winter Haven, has been looking to expand into Haines City for a number of years. Polk State's first president, Fred Lenfestey, even had his eyes on that area, known as the four corners.

"We are pleased to take this important step toward establishing a center in Northeast Polk County that will serve the higher educational and workforce training needs in this dynamic area of the county," said Eileen Holden, president of Polk State College.
While the Lakeland and Winter Haven sites have 100 acres and classrooms in one- and two-story buildings, the Haines City property will likely have taller buildings because of its smaller footprint, the college said.

Other than location, the expansion site is also desirable because it has infrastructure in place, including roads, electricity and water and sewer lines. The college estimates this will save $3 million.

Construction awaits funding. Polk State earned $2.7 million in state Public Education Capital Outlay money for the northeast Polk facility. But that money was limited to a land purchase. The state has not given the college additional money for construction so far.

Still, Civix, the Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center and Polk economic development officials are excited about how the college and the medical development can help each other grow at that site. Civix plans several buildings that will house 50 medical practices and a diagnostic center.

Writer: Dave Szymanski

Source: Eileen Holden, Polk State College


 

Haines City has recently finished what some call the community's crown jewel: the $28 million expansion and restoration of Lake Eva Park.

The 8-acre project, on the site of a previous park, included a waterfront 30,000-square-foot banquet hall seating up to 1,400 people, a concert band shell, new and improved playgrounds, bicycle trails, tennis courts and outdoor basketball courts.

The complex also has a 25-meter competition swimming pool, a water play area for young children, the restoration of the old armory building and a walking path along Lake Eva.

This past July 4, The Commodores played at an Independence Day event at the park. The expansion work began in March 2008, but the vision for the project started about 10 years earlier. City commissioners wanted an events facility to serve eastern Polk County and central Florida. Planning for the project took about three years.

Today, people are calling Haines City to use the Eva Park facility for weddings, corporate meetings and other events.

"It turned out great,"  says Haines City Parks and Recreation Director Kelly Callihan. "The community really taken ownership of the park. It has made a difference."

Haines City paid for most of the park costs. It also received $400,000 in county, state and federal grants.

Writer: Dave Szymanski

Source: Kelly Callihan, Haines City Parks and Recreation Department