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Missy Kavanaugh

Missy Kavanaugh's Latest Articles

Parkshore Grill Owner Opens New Restaurant At St. Pete Airport
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Development News
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April 20, 2010

The Hangar Restaurant and Flight Lounge, a restaurant located at St. Petersburg's Albert Whitted Airport and owned and operated by local restaurateur Steve Westphal, opened in April with a big bash. Marketed as a "café by day, bistro by night," the restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner in addition to a bar menu of appetizers, beer and wine. It is located on the second floor of the airport and offers a full view of the runway from the restaurant's veranda. The eatery hosts bands from throughout the Tampa Bay region on Thursday evenings. "It's been a phenomenal reception," says owner Steve Westphal. We've been very well-received by surrounding neighborhoods who have been waiting for a long time to see something here at the airport. Today we had some of the guys from the Coast Guard station next door as well as a lady from the Mahaffey Theater, a senator, and about 300 other people such as kids from USF a couple blocks over. But our strongest support is from airport people -- the pilots, crews and airport alumni. I'd like to think we've been a catalyst for other businesses picking up since we've been here." Westphal also owns and operates the Parkshore Grill, 400 Beach Seafood and The Pub Waterfront. He grew up in Pinellas County and started his first business, a restaurant and bar on Bay Pines Boulevard in 1989. "I guess I'm a bus boy gone wild," Westphal says. Albert Whitted Airport is a fixture on the St. Petersburg waterfront. Named for pioneer pilot Albert Whitted, the airport has been home to commercial airlines, commercial blimps and private airplane enthusiasts. Writer: Missy Kavanaugh Source: Steve Westphal, The Hangar Restaurant and Flight Lounge

Magnetic Research Facility Moves To Clearwater
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Development News
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April 20, 2010

Pico-Tesla Magnetic Therapies opened a Clearwater office in April to facilitate its research for Parkinson's and Type II Diabetes. The location, at 4500 140th Ave. N., was chosen for some interesting reasons. "Certainly demographics played a part," explains Allen Braswell, Pico's CEO. "The St. Petersburg Clearwater Airport puts us in the middle of those demographics. If you want to pull people from Tampa as well as Clearwater and St. Pete, this location is perfect for that." Once the geographic location was settled, a building that fit the company's unique requirements needed to be found. Because the company houses magnetic equipment, the building's position was critical. Hallmark Development of Florida stepped in to help. Paul Engelhardt, Hallmark VP, describes how interesting the experience was for him. "When I was first contacted by Allen, he said his treatment rooms needed to be positioned so they run north to south. He was originally interested in another property, but it was diagonally positioned, so I knew that wouldn't work. But this property I knew would work. " However, Braswell makes it clear demographics and building position weren't the only deciding factors. Braswell grew up in Clearwater. "I grew up here and am familiar with the area and the people," he says. "In some ways I feel like I never left. My father and I started a business that is now part of Jabil Circuit, which was the Tampa Bay Chamber's Business of the Year in 1993." Braswell is also happy to be back for other reasons. His favorite hangout is Capogna's Dugout, just down the street from his alma mater, Clearwater High School. When asked why Capogna's, he replies, "You've never had their pizza if you have to ask that question."Writer: Missy KavanaughSources: Allen Braswell, Pico-Tesla; Paul Engelhardt, Hallmark Development of Florida.

New Eagle Lake Park Opens In Pinellas County
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Development News
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April 13, 2010

For generations, the property thrived as a family grove, where oranges grew and cattle grazed. And now it will be a place where dogs roam and children play. Eagle Lake Park, at 1800 Keene Road, is now open to the public. The 163-acre park hosts a dog dark park, six picnic shelters, a recreation trail with shell paths and a playground with a "grove flair." Its 2,000 feet of boardwalk snake through wetlands where fox squirrels, birds and gopher tortoises live. The land originally belonged to the Taylor family, who date back to the days when Largo was a pioneer settlement. The family lived there for almost 150 years before they sold the land to the county for $15 million in 1998.The county then raised an additional $8.4 million to build the park through the Penny for Pinellas tax and grants through Florida Recreation Development Assistance and the Southwest Florida Water Management District. "One of the things we did in the design of the park was to try to preserve that early pioneer feel that reflects the history of the property as a cattle and citrus farm," explains Paul Cozzie, spokesperson for Pinellas County Culture and Leisure. "The greatest indicator of how important this park is for this part of the county is that we had more than 3,000 cars pass through the gates on opening day. The response has been outstanding and we're very glad to have the park open." Anyone interested in volunteering as an auxiliary ranger, or helping with resource management or maintenance can contact the county at 727-582-2100.Writer: Missy KavanaughSource: Paul Cozzie, Pinellas County Culture and Leisure

Sarasota Construction Company Boosts Industry And Arts
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Arts
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April 13, 2010

Holland Construction has devised its own economic stimulus package, called an EF-10, which allows companies with strong credit to choose their own construction financing arrangements, defer fees or establish their own ownership or equity position for a project. "Although we detect a loosening of the equity markets, obtaining adequate financing remains a key obstacle in the initiation and completion of many construction projects," says CEO Joe Holland. "We believe the EF-10 program will offer an attractive and compelling solution to certain companies, and allow them to move forward with their plans. Our ability to successfully implement this plan will benefit end-users, the subcontractor industry and the overall business economy in our local markets." Craig Campbell, vice president of Holland's Florida office, says Holland Construction isn't acting as a financier on every project. "In some cases, yes, we are," he explains. "In other cases, we'll bring in a partner. In other cases, we'll use a bank. It really depends on the deal and what is going on at the time. I don't want to create the perception that we're a bank, because we're not. It's a case-by-case situation based on what's best for us and the person we're working with." Campbell says that three companies are currently negotiating with Holland for projects that would take advantage of the EH-10 offer. Two of the companies are in Southwest Florida. Holland Construction also is currently working on a renovation of the Robert and Beverly Koski Production Center for the Asolo Theater. The Center's campus, located at 1009 Tallevast Road in Manatee County, contains approximately 45,000 square feet of space used for production facilities, set building and costumes and prop collections. The project will provide 12 new jobs during construction, which will be completed in summer 2010. BMK Architects of Sarasota is designing the renovation. Holland also is building a law office on Manatee Boulevard.Writer: Missy KavanaughSource: Craig Campbell, Holland Construction

Mining Magnate Mosaic Opens Headquarters East Of Tampa
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Development News
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April 13, 2010

Mosaic officially opened its new headquarters at 13830 Circa Crossing Drive in Lithia, east of Tampa, on Friday, April 9, with Gov. Charlie Crist in attendance. The company, which specializes in mining nutrient materials, recently moved 400 employees into the new building that is expected to achieve LEED Gold certification due to its energy-saving components. Russell Schweiss, a Mosaic spokesperson, says that the new building achieved the Gold LEED rating by including a reflective roof, a 95 percent use of natural light, rainwater irrigation, incentives for fuel-efficient cars and a bike-friendly environment that encourages and supports riding bicycles to work. The building is situated near the Fishhawk communities in east Hillsborough County, and consolidates multiple Mosaic offices that already exist in Hillsborough and Polk counties. According to Schweiss, the $20 million construction project created hundreds of construction jobs and increased activity for several local businesses, including DaSilva's Coffeehouse, Jet's Pizza and Franks and Subs. In addition, Mosaic donated $100,000 to the Fishhawk Youth Sports Complex. "We recognize the importance of investing in our communities," says Schweiss, "and will continue to make these commitments. We plan to announce a significant new commitment in conjunction with the Tampa Bay Rays at the opening on April 9." Mosaic is headquartered in Minnesota and specializes in mining potash and nitrogen. Its Florida operations focus on phosphate, a material the agricultural industry values for its fertilizing capabilities.Writer: Missy KavanaughSource:  Russell Schweiss, Mosaic

Tampa Software Company Continues Steady Growth, Adds Jobs
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Development News
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April 13, 2010

Pilgrim Software, an international company headquartered in Tampa, is expanding its operations, which will require it to double its local workforce within the next two years."Our infrastructure is continuing to expand," explains Prashanth Rajendran, Pilgrim's COO. "Although we have expanded in Europe and Asia, the company itself has focused on Tampa as the hub. We plan to double in size here in Tampa in the next year or so."The company's growth is due to its global partner strategy and its software-as-a-service product. "As we continue to bring in partners to resell our products, we need more staff to accommodate that growth," says Rajendran. "It's the same thing with software-as-a-service. We take the IT burden away for the customer, but we need the staff to handle it."Partners include Microsoft Certified, CinCom, PSC, HCL and CDC Software. Software-as-a-service, a relatively new service on the IT landscape, provides on-demand software online as opposed to the traditional model that requires software be loaded onto a hard drive.The company's leadership is diverse, led by President and CEO Ami Utji. The original team came together to form Pilgrim largely due to their shared alma mater, the University of South Florida. "The people who started the company had a common ideology," says Rajendran. The company's vision statement is "to be the world's most innovative and trusted provider of compliance and quality management solutions for regulated industries."Pilgrim specializes in providing software solutions to businesses that serve life sciences as well as manufacturers in the automotive, aerospace and other related industries.

Lakeland Linder Regional Airport Receives Renovation Grant
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Development News
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April 13, 2010

Lakeland Linder Regional Airport got a windfall from the federal government last month, earmarked to improve traffic safety. According to a statement on the airport's website, the FAA awarded Lakeland Linder $2.4 million to "alleviate complex geometric intersections and improve the safety of taxiing aircraft at the airport." Construction is to begin this summer and be completed by the close of 2011. "Right now the taxiways leaving our hangers and terminal dump you into this area where the runway intersects with the taxiways,'' explains Gene Conrad, the airport director. "We're trying to take the confusion out of the mix in the interest of safety." The grant, and the renovations they will pay for, couldn't come at a better time. Conrad foresees big things for the airport in the near future. "We envision ourselves as a regional facility. We currently host smaller type aircraft but would like to attract scheduled public charters and a commercial airline. By giving us this grant, even the FAA recognizes that our airport is destined to be more than it is now. "We sit between Disney World and Tampa," Conrad continues. "And our location gives us the perfect opportunity for a commercial airline or a fixed charter line. I've only been here two and a half months, but in doing my due diligence on the area, I think the airport is a diamond in the rough." However, Conrad isn't looking to compete with the major airports in Tampa and Orlando. "We want to stay true to our core by finding our niche. We don't want to replace anyone. We just want to carve out our own niche for the local community." Writer: Missy KavanaughSource: Gene Conrad, Lakeland Linder Regional Airport

One Bay, One Vision: Mega-Meeting To Connect Tampa Bay Leaders
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Development News
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April 13, 2010

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 KavanaughSource: Dan Mahurin, SunTrust

Tampa Luxury Homes Include Special Accommodations For All
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Development News
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April 6, 2010

A new housing development in Tampa offers a little more diversity than your typical suburb. And no, it's not about blending cultures or ethnicities. It's about inclusive, intergenerational living. Ravinia Luxury Courtyard Villas in Carrollwood is building a gated community of homes that cater to the needs of family members -- regardless of age or ambulatory ability. Floor plans offer wider doors, entryways and hallways; and provide curbless showers, single-lever faucet controls and reinforced walls to bear the extra weight of grab bars and handles. "These are designs that are receptive and accessible to everyone," says Ellen Zusman, a representative affiliated with the development. "Whether you are a young family living with strollers or one with older members who can't climb steps, our designs make life a little easier. We actually have intergenerational families buying more than one house so they can be in the same community. "When you buy a home," Zuffman continues, "you don't think about how an older family member will get up the steps to the front porch or how a stroller will fit through a doorway. We have young couples looking at our property and floor plans who are searching for their first home. Some day they may need accommodations that require they retrofit whatever home they're living in by then. If they buy here, this may be the only home they'll ever need." Ravinia has been under contract for three years. But financing suffered during the recession. "Our private financers were persistent," says Zuffman. "We just broke ground on the models. And our first home will be finished by August 1, 2010." Writer: Missy KavanaughSource: Ellen Zusman, Ravinia Luxury Courtyard Villas

Lakeland Contemplates Where High-Speed Rail Should Stop
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Development News
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April 6, 2010

When community and business leaders discuss what the proposed high-speed rail system will mean for the communities along the Interstate 4 corridor, Polk County is eager to participate. The railway system will stop somewhere in Lakeland. The question is, where?According to Nazih Haddad, COO of Florida Rail, the location decision is based upon a number of factors. "Ridership is a factor," explains Haddad. "We want the biggest bang for the buck. We are doing some analysis on ridership as we speak. The Polk Transportation Planning Organization's  number one choice is USF Polytechnic, and their second choice is Kathleen Boulevard. But who we contract for the project will also affect our decision about where we place Lakeland's stop." "No matter where it goes, it's going to be a tremendous opportunity for Polk County," says Jennifer Stults, TPO director. "You sort of target your growth in a concentrated area of mixed-use space. In those mixed-use spaces you can have living areas, commercial and retail all in one compact location. A lot of variety would make that station a producer and an attractor. With mixed-use you can attract people from other places as well as have people leaving their homes to go to work." Wherever the stop ultimately goes, Lakeland Mayor Gow Fields is ecstatic about the possibilities the high-speed rail system will have on his community. "The impact to Lakeland across the economic, commercial, cultural and transportation fronts will be enormous. We have only uncovered the tip of the iceberg in our comprehension and understanding about what this can do for our community and the entire region." Writer: Missy KavanaughSources: Nazih Haddad, Florida Rail Office; Jennifer Stults, Polk Transportation Planning Organization; Gow Fields, City of Lakeland

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