Construction crews, large machinery and those all-too-familiar bright orange cones have returned to the intersection of S.R. 56 and I-75, as work on the much-anticipated Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) has finally and officially resumed.
Superior Construction Company Southeast, LLC, was chosen by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and surety bond companies to replace D.A.B. Constructors, which defaulted on the project on July 1 and went out of business shortly thereafter.
D.A.B. defaulted on six other projects in Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties, including the S.R. 54 widening project from east of Curley Rd. to east of Morris Bridge Rd.
D.A.B. told FDOT on July 28 it could not afford to complete the S.R. 54 widening, due in part to penalties incurred by missing benchmarks on the DDI project.
Superior began work to complete the $36-million DDI on Sept. 13, which included mobilization of labor, equipment and materials, erosion control, survey, jobsite cleanup of debris and office setup. Full maintenance responsibility was transferred to the new contractor on Sept. 20.
The project, originally scheduled for completion before the end of 2021, is now expected to be finished within 10 months, likely in the summer of 2022, said FDOT spokesperson Kris Carson in an email.
Superior also currently is working on the realignment of S.R. 52 in eastern Pasco County. Pasco Commissioner Mike Moore represents District 2, where the DDI is located, and he said he was happy with the choice.
“I’ve heard great things about them,” Moore said. “And they are actually ahead of pace on the S.R. 52 project, so that’s a good sign.”
Stepping into a new project that already was more than halfway finished is unusual but not unprecedented in the construction business, especially considering the effect that Covid-19 and staffing issues have had on the entire construction industry.
“While this process is not how a typical FDOT project is executed, there are procedures in place for replacing a contractor,” Carson said. “It will take the new contractor some time (a few weeks) to clean up items from the previous contractor in order to complete the new work items. The new contractor evaluates the remaining work items and prices the items that are left to complete. Superior has already mobilized a staff and are in the process of mobilizing crews to complete the work.”
Meanwhile, the surety company put out an advertisement for bids for completion contractors on Sept. 9 for the $42.5 million S.R. 54 widening project, and were expecting to receive bids by the end of the month.
A subcontractor, Southern Precision, has been taking care of the S.R. 54 site in the meantime, with mowing, little control and filling potholes. Last week, work began on milling driveways and side streets, as well as some paving.
County planners say the lone remaining property in the parcel above (outlined in red) should be preserved for retail and office space, not more apartments.
In a sign that developers in Pasco County may be facing a new uphill battle when it comes to rezoning property in order to build apartments, the county’s planning staff and Planning Commission rejected an effort to do just that in the Seven Oaks development, just off S.R. 56 and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd.
First, the county’s planning staff recommended denying a substantial modification to the Seven Oaks MPUD Master Planned Unit Development (MPUD) Master Plan, and then, by a 3-1 vote on Sept. 8, Pasco’s Planning Commission voted down the plan to rezone 86,000 square feet of retail and office space for a 320-unit apartment complex.
Chris Williams, the director of planning for the Pasco School Board, had to leave before the Planning Commission vote but did voice his support for the developer’s plans.
Roberto Saez, MBA, CGC, AIA, a 14-year Seven Oaks resident, made the motion to deny. Saez formerly served as a senior construction project manager for Pasco County, and while he noted that the project was impressive, and something needed in the county, “this is not the right location.”
The proposed apartments would be located on a 10-acre parcel, currently zoned for commercial and retail development, adjacent to the Sam’s Club on S.R. 56. Ancient Oaks Dr. serves as the western boundary of the parcel, BBD as the eastern boundary and S.R. 56 as the southern boundary.
The proposed apartment complex would include a pool, a dog park and open space for gatherings in the southern portion of the complex.
But, opponents of the project note that there already are two apartment complexes in that area of Seven Oaks — Windsor Club at Seven Oaks to the east and Colonial Grand at Seven Oaks to the west. And, the Enclave at Wesley Chapel and Bonterra Parc apartments are both located right across the street, on the south side of S.R. 56. The residents also raised concerns about traffic issues on Ancient Oaks Blvd.
Joel Tew, the attorney for the developer DD/SR 56 LLC and Walmart, refuted each argument, and claimed the decision to recommend denying the rezoning appeared to be driven by politics, a reference to the county’s current multi-family moratorium.
Politics Or Public Benefit?
Pasco’s Board of County Commissioners, led by District 2 commissioner and Seven Oaks resident Mike Moore, issued a moratorium on accepting any new apartment applications back in May, after debating for months whether the county, and specifically most of the Wesley Chapel area, was facing too much of a glut of multi-family development.
While the Seven Oaks application was submitted prior to the moratorium going into effect, the political headwinds were still felt, Tew says.
“At the pre-app (meeting), staff told us that there was no problem with this application,” Tew said. “Staff said it was a great spot for this. It’s only now, due to a political directive, that staff at the last minute was told to oppose this application. That’s unfortunate.”
The county’s Planning and Development Department wrote that the project, as proposed, “is inconsistent with Comprehensive Plan Policy FLU 1.8.7, Economic Development, and Policy FLU 1.8.10, Preservation of Capacity for Employment-Generating Uses.”
“I “In a normal world, if this project came in, it would be on (the) consent (agenda). You wouldn’t think twice about it. You’d be thanking the developer for building exactly the mixed-use project that this county has begged all developers to build.” — Attorney Joel Tew
Nectorios Pittos, the director of planning and development for Pasco, said an independent third-party analysis that was conducted concluded that the proposed 320-unit rental apartment development would generate $188,375 in annual county revenue over a 10-year average, but the current MPUD entitlements for nearly 90,000 square feet of commercial use would generate $743,375 in annual county revenue.
The county, Pittos said, is placing a high priority on county revenue- and employment-generating land uses, which he says the current project would not do.
However, Tew, who complained he received the third-party analysis days before the hearing, disputed it by showing a chart of other similar multi-family projects and their tax bills. Extrapolating those numbers to the proposed 320 units, Tew said the proposed Seven Oaks project’s tax bill actually would generate $850,000 yearly, which, over 30 years, which would mean a $25-million windfall for the county’s coffers — and more revenue than the $22.3 million that a commercial project would generate over the same time period.
“I don’t know where they came up with those (lower) numbers,” Tew said.
Without the political overtones, Tew said, the proposed multi-family project would be a slam dunk.
“I ask that you look past the politics,” he said. “In a normal world, if this project came in, it would be on (the) consent (agenda). You wouldn’t think twice about it. You’d be thanking the developer for building exactly the mixed-use project that this county has begged all developers to build.”
Three Seven Oaks residents spoke against the project at the meeting, which was held at the Dade City Courthouse, while two others called in, also in opposition. John Thompson, one of those residents in attendance, said the project was like “fitting a square peg in a round hole” and that the area needed more room for small businesses, not more apartments.
County planners did offer another option for committee action — a continuance to the Nov. 4 Planning Commission meeting to allow the Planning & Development Department to “develop and include conditions of approval for vertically integrated mixed use building(s) that have commercial and office entitlements on the ground floor and multi-family entitlements on the upper stories.”
Tew rejected the alternative motion, saying the developer said there was “no viability” or market for such a project.
“Ironically, when I bring new clients in to meet with staff, this is exactly the kind of project they ask my clients to build,” Tew said. “When we find a hole in the donut that has everything around it, all of a sudden it’s not acceptable.”
Moore and the rest of the county commissioners will hear Tew’s apartment proposal in the coming weeks.
The county’s six-month moratorium, which went into effect May 4, has been extended another six months. Part of the plan is to determine exactly how many multi-family projects already exist in the county, and study whether the county, especially in areas like Wesley Chapel, has reached its saturation point.
Moore says he is not opposed to multi-family projects, just the efforts to rezone parcels approved for commercial and retail projects to build apartments. He says that there already is plenty of land with entitlements for multi-family projects, and cited a number of projects currently in progress.
Dr. Jay Nelson has sold his dental practice and now focuses dental sleep medicine and specifically helping those who suffer from sleep apnea at his Nelson Dental Sleep Medicine practice located off S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel. (Photo: Courtesy of Dr. Nelson)
After decades of practicing dentistry, Dr. Jay Nelson, D.M.D (Doctor of Dental Medicine), has sold his dental practice in Lutz to focus exclusively on dental sleep medicine.
It’s been his passion for more than a decade, since he first took a course that he says sparked his interest.
As his knowledge, expertise and dental sleep medicine practice have grown over more than 10 years, it led Dr. Nelson to sell his dental practice, located off S.R. 54 in Lutz, in January. He had originally opened that practice in 1987, about the same time he moved to New Tampa, where he still lives.
In April of this year, he opened Nelson Dental Sleep Medicine on Foggy Creek Rd., in the Cypress Creek Professional Center off of S.R. 56 (less than a mile east of I-75).
The move to the new office allows him to focus fully on treating those who suffer from sleep apnea “We’re actually saving lives,” Dr. Nelson says.
Building on what he learned while earning his D.M.D. degree at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in Philadelphia, Dr. Nelson has since earned advanced certifications from professional organizations such as the Academy of Laser Dentistry (ALD), Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics (ACE) and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM).
Frances Cameli (left) and Betsy Ramos both worked with Dr. Nelson at his dental practice and have now joined him at his Nelson Dental Sleep Medicine office.
Nelson Dental Sleep Medicine is the only facility in Florida and one of the first 20 dental offices in the U.S. to be accredited by the AADSM.
Recently, Dr. Nelson was one of only two dentists asked to speak before the 21st annual Current Concepts in Sleep medical conference, where he taught virtually to a national audience.
His team at his new office includes Frances Cameli, who worked in his previous practice for more than 10 years and serves as the dental sleep manager in the front office, while Betsy Ramos, who also came from Dr. Nelson’s previous practice, serves as the office’s clinical assistant.
Dr. Nelson offers a free consultation to people who wonder if their snoring might be a sign they have a serious underlying condition. And often, it’s not the patient who suggests they visit Dr. Nelson, but those who have to sleep within earshot of them.
“We save marriages, too,” Dr. Nelson says, referring to those couples who sleep separately because of the disturbances from snoring.
To find out if you’re at risk for sleep apnea, Dr. Nelson suggests using Google to search for the “STOP BANG” survey questionnaire. It asks questions about snoring, tiredness and other risk factors. There also is a similar assessment (that requires personal information to be entered) on the Nelson Dental Sleep Medicine website: SleepBetterFlorida.com/take-our-quiz.
Sleep apnea is a condition affecting more than 200,000 people in the U.S. each year. It causes patients to stop breathing for brief periods of time during sleep, which can lead to drowsiness that increases risk for auto and other accidents, as well as an increased risk of overall mortality, strokes and cancer.
“If you have symptoms of sleep apnea,” he says, “get tested or get treated.”
Obstructive sleep apnea is a medical condition, so those who see Dr. Nelson will be referred for evaluation at a sleep testing center, as well as to their primary care physician for diagnosis.
The standard treatment for obstructive sleep apnea has been to pump a continuous stream of air into a patient’s nose or mouth while sleeping. This method — using a Continuous Positive Air Pressure (or CPAP) system — is effective, but many people find the CPAP machine cumbersome and uncomfortable to use, Dr. Nelson says, resulting a high failure rate, usually due to patient non-compliance.
“We know that 50% of people who start on a CPAP give it up within a year,” explains Dr. Nelson, “so we provide an alternative to that.”
Instead of the unwieldy, scary-looking CPAP machine, Dr. Nelson makes an FDA approved oral appliance that is adjusted to position the tongue and jaw to allow greater airflow to the lungs while sleeping.
“Many people find the oral appliances more comfortable than the CPAP,” Dr. Nelson says, explaining that those who have been diagnosed with mild or moderate sleep apnea can begin using an oral appliance, while those who have severe sleep apnea should start with the CPAP. If they are not able to comfortably use the CPAP, they then become a candidate for an oral appliance. Nelson Dental Sleep Medicine does offer both types of appliances.
Ed Sapiega is one of Dr. Nelson’s patients, who first came to him about three years ago. Tired of the hassle of lugging his CPAP machine around while he traveled, Ed was thrilled with the appliance that Dr. Nelson made for him.
“I had lived with a CPAP machine for years,” Ed says, “The noises it made prevented my wife from sleeping almost as much as my snoring did.”
Recently, Ed’s original oral appliance broke, and he went back to Dr. Nelson for a new one. However, he found out that since he first became Dr. Nelson’s patient, an even better device (above) has become available.
“It’s quite fantastic,” he says. “It’s easy to use, and there’s no pain and no strain. I didn’t have to go through a process of learning to sleep with it.”
He says that while he was very happy with his first device, times have changed, and his new one, while from the same company, is much better.
“Compared to the CPAP, it’s very convenient and extremely effective,” Ed says. “Dr. Nelson is very good with these devices and keeps very current. I’m extremely pleased.”
Ed adds that Dr. Nelson was able to accommodate him very quickly, and he has nothing but good things to say about him. “He’s a very pleasant dentist and professional to deal with.”
Because the treatment is for a medical condition, Dr. Nelson and his staff help patients navigate the confusing world of medical insurance and accept Care Credit, which offers payment plans for those who have out-of-pocket expenses.
Nelson Dental Sleep Medicine is located at 26907 Foggy Creek Rd., Suite 101, in Wesley Chapel. To make an appointment or for additional information, visit SleepBetterFlorida.com or call (813) 733-4169.
Gas N Grills on Livingston Ave. (at Bearss Ave.) in Lutz has plenty of options to help transform your outdoor cooking space into an awesome outdoor kitchen. (Photo: Charmaine George)
Football season has arrived which, for many people, also means grilling season. With cooler weather (finally) around the corner, it’s time to invite those fantasy football buddies over for some beer, beef and football. It also might be time to upgrade your grill game.
Gas N Grills, located on Livingston Ave. just north of E. Bearss Ave. and a 1.2-mile west of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., likely has everything you need to make all of your friends envious.
Not only does the location offer grilling accessories, charcoal, wood chips and propane. The store’s selection of gas and other grills also can help transform your outdoor cooking space into a charming culinary oasis.
Gas N Grills owner Joe Baker says that while it is tough to compete against the bigger box stores and online shopping, those who prefer to spend their money with smaller, local businesses will be pleasantly surprised by the quality offered at his store, which has been located in the same plaza since 1989.
“We specialize in high-end grills,” Joe says. “You get a good product here, not the cheap stuff. Good quality products, with good warranties.”
What you won’t find at Gas N Grills are the same, basic $199 grills you see lined up outside the big box stores, especially during the spring and summer.
At his store, Joe offers everything from simple Broil Master grills to a number of high-priced stainless steel beauties from top name brands like Alfresco, Blaze and Tec.
Alfresco grills are made in the USA, Joe says Blaze is his best seller and boasts commercial-grade cast stainless steel burners, as well as a lifetime warranty, and Tec uses infrared heating, which puts a good char on your meat. All are ideal for any outdoor kitchen, according to Joe.
Joe also sells the Weber brand, arguably the most popular and highly-rated grill in the country.
Naturally, any grill store would be incomplete these days without kamado grills, which are the popular kettle-shaped grills with a ceramic shell that offer both charcoal grilling and smoking versatility.
At Gas N Grills, Joe sells the Saffire Grills, which are similar to the more-well-known Big Green Egg grills but are even higher quality, he says.
The Saffire uses charcoal, and can be used to grill, smoke, bake, roast and BBQ. Not only can you cook steaks and burgers on it, you also can slow-cook some ribs, and even use it to make a true wood-fired pizza, if you so desire.
“It gives you better results than a regular grill,” Joe says. “The food stays so juicy that once you eat food cooked on it, you will never go back to just a ‘regular’ grill.”
The Saffire grills are definitely a little pricey — although they are available in multiple sizes, a medium-sized one will set you back about $1,000 — but they all come with a lifetime warranty and Joe says it will probably be the last grill you’ll ever buy.
In fact, that’s the case with many of the grills Joe sells at Gas N Grills, which are more for the dedicated and serious grilling enthusiasts who like to cook outdoors more than they do inside, moreso than the usual weekend chefs just looking to cook up a few burgers and hot dogs every once in a while.
“We target those customers who are looking for a better cooking experience,” Joe says. ”People who know the difference are very interested in what we have. Spending $1,000, though, may be overkill for some people. But, I have customers who cook on their grills five times a week.”
At Gas N Grills, the high-end grill choices feature large cooking areas and added perks like rotisserie kits, side burners, adjustable warming racks, shelves, cabinet storage and even blue LED lights for nighttime grilling.
Gas N Grills also sells camping stoves, turkey fryers, pizza ovens and grilling accessories, like a wide variety of different types of smoking wood with some flavors that Joe says you cannot find anywhere else.
Gas N Grills also specializes in various grill replacement parts, which can be ordered in-store or online and are a big part the store’s business. Even during Covid-19, when parts are hard to come by, Joe was able to help out customer Charles Sailor.
“I was looking for igniters for my (grill),” Sailor wrote in a review. “No one had it or it was back ordered 10 days. Also, this was all during the Covid-19 stay at home. I called Gas N Grills, (Joe) answered the phone and was very helpful…. ordered both parts on a Wednesday and (it came on Thursday). Efficient, quick and very helpful. If you have a hard time getting or finding parts, this is the place. I dealt with five other companies, but this was the only one that came through for me.”
Gas N Grills is located at 14615 Livingston Ave. For more information, visit GasNGrills.com or call (813) 972-4984.
Acropolis New Tampa owners Eddie Nasr & Stacy Esposito.
When Acropolis Greek Taverna opened a dozen or so years ago in the Oak Ramble Plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. (just south of Tampa Palms), it became an instant hit, with its great Greek and Mediterranean cuisine and entertainment every weekend.
Neighborhood News readers and yours truly both kept Acropolis at or near the top of our respective annual surveys for “Favorite Restaurant in New Tampa,” as there were few, if any, other places in or near zip code 33647 for authentic Mediterranean food or the great vibe you felt every time you visited Acropolis.
The last few years, however, several other less expensive Mediterranean restaurants began opening in New Tampa, and while some of that competition has since closed, Acropolis had started dropping both with our readers and with a certain hungry editor.
A Fresh Approach
But, on April 1 of this year, new owners Stacy Esposito and her husband Adib (Eddie) Nasr took over the New Tampa location of what is now a five-restaurant mini-chain (with other locations in South Tampa, Ybor City, Riverview and St. Pete) and have brought new energy to what was already a great concept.
Lamb chops
Gyro and frieds
Saganaki
Greek salad
chicken Rhodes
Shrimp appetizer in a creamy lemon sauce
Together with new general manager (but long-time employee and manager) Jason Stiger, the New Tampa Acropolis is definitely waking up taste buds once again in our area.
Eddie, who is Lebanese, has upgraded this location’s fried kibbe appetizer and a couple of other dishes with his mother’s recipes, but he and Stacy also have improved other dishes simply by selecting the finest produce and quality meats available — and it shows.
My two favorite dishes at Acropolis always have been (and still are) the Frenched rack of lamb lollipops, which are all-natural, antibiotic-free and no added hormones) and the Athenian fish, which is a lightly breaded and seasoned filet of whatever fresh fish is available each day and topped with a dollop of a unique fresh pesto sauce. The lamb chops are served over lemony Greek-style potatoes and the fish is served with fresh roasted seasonal veggies over Greek-style orzo rice. Both of my favorite dishes are even better now than they were when Acropolis first opened.
Another long-time favorite on the menu is the yummy saganaki cheese appetizer, which is set on fire and served with perfect pita triangles.
We also loved the authentic spanakopita (spinach pie) appetizer, the calamari and photographer Charmaine George gave thumbs up to the shrimp appetizer in a creamy lemon sauce, topped with cheese and served with toast points. Those seeking more adventurous, authentic tastes should try the grilled octopus, Ouzo mussels, dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), tirosalata (a creamy blend of feta cheese and garlic topped with oregano and extra virgin olive oil), avgolemono (lemon) or lentil soups, hummus or baba ghanouj.
Mousaka
Pineapple upside down cake
Chocolate “Bombe”
Among the other great dishes to try are the gyro trio (traditional lamb, pork and chicken, served on pita and with crispy fries), the authentic “Yia Yia’s Recipe) mousaka (Greek-style lasagne, but with potatoes, eggplant, zucchini, ground beef and creamy bechamel sauce with tomato sauce and feta cheese), the whole grilled red snapper, or the pork, chicken, beef or kefta (ground beef) kabobs. Mine and Jannah’s newest favorite is the chicken Rhodes — two grilled breasts in a garlic parmesan wine sauce sautéed with artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and olives, topped with crumbled feta. It’s a true taste sensation!
Do not skip dessert at Acropolis, either. Stacy and Eddie are rightfully proud of the decadent chocolate “bombe” (filled with white and milk chocolate mousses), the outstanding baklava (topped with Haagen Dazs ice cream), baklava cheesecake and the addictive pineapple upside down cake that also is set on fire to give it a creme brulée-style outer crust. OMG!
And yes, Acropolis still has weekend entertainment like George, the buzuki player, the incredibly talented and lovely belly dancer Gypsi and Stacy promises that the dancing servers and plate-breaking will be coming back soon. Stacy and Eddie also are proud of the recently revamped outdoor patio, which offers a variety of your favorite hookah water pipe flavors. And, both indoor and outdoor bars offer the finest in Greek beers and wines, plus premium alcohol and so much more! Can you say “Opa?”
Acropolis Greek Taverna is located at 14947 BBD Blvd. and is open Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight) and 11 a.m.-1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit DineGreek.com or call (813) 971-1787.
