Thanks, New Tampa & Wesley Chapel, For Our Best Summer Ever!

An editorial by Gary Nager
An editorial
by Gary Nager

Although Iโ€ˆstill hear a lot of the businesses we do business with say that they donโ€™t see the economy recovering โ€” at least not at any pace thatโ€™s helping them โ€” based on the number of new businesses that keep opening in our area and the fact that those owners seem to have little or no trouble spending money with us to promote those businesses, Iโ€ˆthink there is some economic momentum being built in our community.

Every year, it seems, we have a fairly sizable number of advertisers who say, โ€œHold me out until after the summer, because thereโ€™s no one here until the end of August.โ€โ€ˆWell, even though we did have a few businesses pull their ads this summer, there have been even more coming in to take their place. In fact, Iโ€ˆcan safely say that, culminating with this issue, the summer of 2013 has been the best โ€” in terms of both advertising revenue and the feedback weโ€™re getting from readers and advertisers alike โ€” we have ever had in our New Tampa and Wesley Chapel issues for June-August!Continue reading

Cross Creek Blvd. Widening to Morris Bridge Rd. Could Begin as Early as May 2014

By Matt Wiley

Cross Creek Blvd. currently funnels down to two lanes just past the entrance to Cory Lake Isles.
Cross Creek Blvd. currently funnels down to two lanes just past the entrance to Cory Lake Isles.

Getting from Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. to Morris Bridge Rd. by car could get a lot quicker in the next two years, as the City of Tampa plans to widen the portion of Cross Creek Blvd. that currently is still one lane in each direction, making the entire 4.5-mile stretch four lanes.

The project, which has been in the works for several years, could begin as soon as May 2014, according to city documents. Currently, Cross Creek Blvd. which links BBD to Morris Bridge Rd., is a four-lane divided road for two miles, beginning at BBD east to just beyond Cory Lake Dr. at the entrance to the Cory Lake Isles Professional Center.

Continue reading

Celebrating the Rebirth of the Pebble Creek Collection

By Gary Nager

You may not realize it, but the Pebble Creek Collection (PCC) on Bruce B. Downs (BBD)โ€ˆBlvd. is the oldest shopping plaza in New Tampa. Built during the 1970s, the strip center looks as good as it ever has, thanks to an ongoing facelift provided by the centerโ€™s landlord and owner, John Martinez, which has included replacing the entire roof throughout the plaza.

The Pebble Creek Collection shopping plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., just north of Cross Creek Blvd., is experiencing a rebirth.
The Pebble Creek Collection shopping plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., just north of Cross Creek Blvd., is experiencing a rebirth.

Thatโ€™s a good thing, because our office was in the Collection more than a dozen years ago, and roof leaks were an ongoing issue when we were there.

โ€œWeโ€™re also going to replace the plazaโ€™s current monument sign on Bruce B. Downs with something a lot nicer,โ€โ€ˆhe says. โ€œIโ€™m really happy with the way the center has filled back up.โ€Continue reading