The still unnamed new apartment community under construction on BBD Blvd.
An unnamed, under-construction 248-unit apartment complex on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. (south of the northern terminus of Eagleston Blvd. and the Wells Fargo Bank) in Seven Oaks also includes some future traffic pattern changes on BBD.
The complex, which is owned and being developed by Mast Capital โ which also is redeveloping the nearby Saddlebrook Resort and its surrounding community โ is being required to make some significant changes in anticipation of the additional BBD traffic the complex will generate.
As the apartment community nears completion, construction of these roadway improvements has begun and motorists on BBD will soon notice even more significant mainline roadway work over the coming weeks.
The map of the new apartments and the changes planned for BBD in the area.
All of the roadwork on and near BBD is being paid for and completed by the developer of the apartments (currently known only as โ5101 Bruce B. Downs Apts.โ) โ other than a new traffic signal to be located south of the communityโs entrance (and the existing Frontier Communications building). That signal, which had no timeline as we went to press, will be paid for by the developers of Wiregrass Ranch, which is located across BBD from the new apartment community.
Hereโs a breakdown of the coming traffic changes on BBD:
1) The primary entrance (see photo below) to the 16.24-acre complex will be a gated right-in/right-out only. This means traffic intending to enter the development coming from the south on BBD will be required to use a long northbound U-turn lane that the developer will be constructing, which will feed into a new, long southbound right turn entrance to the apartments. The right turn lane is being made extra long so a bus stop pad can be placed north of the area for U-turning traffic to enter the turn lane. The pad will be connected by a sidewalk that will enter directly into the apartments for ease of access.
2) In order to accommodate this nonstandard median opening for the U-turn, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is requiring that the existing adjacent median opening on BBD serving Wells Fargo (entrance is in gray on map) will be closed.
3) In addition, the existing northbound left turn lane serving that opening will just be connected to the existing one for the traffic signal, making for an extra long turn lane going southbound.
Moreover, because of the size of the apartments, an emergency access driveway is required by the county at the north end of the property, just south of the bank, that wonโt be open to other traffic.
With all of these changes in the works, vehicles both exiting Wells Fargo and the new apartments that intend to go north will have to go down to another new southbound U-turn lane that will be attached to the existing median opening in front of the Frontier Communications Hub building located south of the apartments.
The U-turn lane is being made long and wide enough for it to be converted in the future to southbound dual lefts, as this median opening will serve as the future location for a traffic signal at BBD and the โWiregrass Bypass Rd.โ that will connect BBD to Wiregrass Ranch Blvd. (south of Walmart) and eventually swing up to connect with SR 54 near Saddlebrook.
At our press time, we had no word from Wiregrass Ranch developer JD Porter regarding the anticipated date as to when construction of the new Bypass Rd. or the traffic signal at BBD and the Bypass Rd. will begin.
But, as always, we will keep you posted as more info becomes available.
Shown here is the only entrance to the 5101 BBD Apts. The entrance will be gated and vehicles exiting the complex will have to make a right turn out and U-turn at a future median opening on BBD a little to the south of the entrance.
(L.-r.) RN Sara Wallace, Esthetician Alexys Goff, Certified Family Nurse Practitioner Jessica Rosado & CEO Gabriel Vargas of IV Harmony Clinic, located in the new Publix shopping center at Livingston Ave. & County Line Rd. in Lutz. (Photos on these pages by Charmaine George)
Led by the husband-and-wife team of Gabriel Vargas and Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C) Jessica Rosado, IV Harmony Clinic & Medical Wellness offers preventive and primary care, diagnostics, wellness programs and holistic therapies โ all conveniently located under one roof on County Line Rd. (in the new Publix plaza at Livingston Ave.) in Lutz. This inclusive approach to wellness distinguishes IV Harmony Clinic from traditional medical offices that focus primarily on treating illnesses.
Twenty-three years ago, Vargas, the companyโs president and CEO, transitioned from what he admits was an unhealthy lifestyle to advocating for a proactive focus on wellness. โIโm living proof prevention is the best way to go.โ
Prevention is what became the catalyst for creating a medical clinic dedicated to helping others choose the same type of path.ย
IV Harmony Clinicโs Medical Director Dr. Victor Feliz.ย
Rosado, IV Harmonyโs chief operating officer, completed her nursing degree at Antillean University in Puerto Rico and earned her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree and FNP-C certification from AGM University in Florida. She also has Gerontology Nursing (Gero-BC) and FMCSA (DOT) certifications. Rosado draws from 16 years of experience in cardiac emergencies and seven years at the Moffitt Cancer Center working with cancer patients. Motivated by the stories of her patients, Rosado pursued her MSN to help her patients shift their focus from trying to cure illnesses to promoting overall health. Registered Nurses Josรฉ Del Valle and Sara Wallace and Licensed Esthetician Alexys Goff also assist Rosado.
โAs a Family Nurse Practitioner, I can care for children to seniors,โ Rosado says. โWe have treated children from 7 years old โ with the consent of their parents โ up to 100 years old. We give you the tools your body needs to feel better.โ
She adds, โI have spent the last 24 years in a healthcare setting โ and the last three years in the role of FNP-C. We started IV Harmony in 2022 as a mobile service and opened our doors to the public in our first (brick & mortar) clinic in May 2023.โ
In 2022, IV Harmonyโs Medical Director Dr. Victor Feliz, a cardiologist who is a Fellow of both the American College of Cardiology (FACC) and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (FSCAI) with 22 years of experience, joined the team. Dr. Feliz finished his Internal Medicine residency at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in Manhattan, NY. He later had a Cardiology fellowship at the University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa, following a Geriatric Medicine fellowship.
Weight-Loss Programs
IV Harmony Clinic employs a comprehensive approach to help you achieve your weight-loss goals. The Clinicโs physician-supervised programs include semaglutide (like the brand names Ozempic or Wegovy), tirzepatide (like the brand Mounjaro), peptides for weight loss, as well as a protocol that combines a low dose of Naltrexone, plus Sermorelin, Lipo-Trim SL, and low-calorie intake to achieve optimum weight-loss results.ย
IV Harmony Clinic weight-loss patients weigh in each week on the clinicโs InBody 570 Body Composition Analyzer.ย
Rosado says that lately, โSemaglutide is the most requested weight-loss medicationโ at IV Harmony Clinic. โAnd we only use high-quality semaglutide from the best labs. This treatment isnโt for everyone, so we also offer several other medical weight-loss options. But, our patients who qualify for semaglutide treatment do very well with it.โย
Rosado will identify your underlying health issues impacting weight loss through a detailed medical evaluation, including history, an examination and potential tests. IV Harmony Clinic weight-loss patients also weigh in each week on the clinicโs high-tech InBody 570 Body Composition Analyzer,ย which measures not just your weight, but also your body fat, muscle and water levels.ย
โOur weight-loss programs are personalized plans tailored to each patientโs age, gender, medical conditions, activity level and objectives,โ Rosado says, adding that some patients are referred to Registered Dietitians and nutritionists. โThe patients who get the best results combine calorie control with increased physical activity, and behavior modification. We provide ongoing monitoring, medication, supplements and, if needed, referrals for psychological support.โ
She also explains that, โWhen I know the patientโs background, I can give them options and guide them. Then, we work together to get each patient to their goal.โ
Esthetic Services, Too!
Rosado and Vargas did their due diligence when looking for the right esthetic services for their clients. They chose SkinPen microneedling from Crown Aesthetic for IV Harmony because they knew the safety and research behind the product. SkinPen employs sterile needles to stimulate collagen and elastin production, promoting skin rejuvenation. Patients also can experience revitalization with Botoxยฎ and Dysport treatments. The Clinic also offers peptide hormone therapy, which targets muscle restoration and stimulates human growth hormone (HGH) production.
โWhen you look in the mirror, and you look younger and better, it helps you feel better,โ says Vargas.
Rosado adds, โAt this time of year, we definitely see a lot more patients looking for Botoxยฎ and filler treatments. Everyone wants to look better for the new year.โ
PEMF, PRP & More
IV Harmony patients also can explore the benefits of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF), a non-invasive approach that utilizes electromagnetic fields to enhance cellular health and promote healing processes.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy involves drawing a small amount of the patientโs blood, processing it to concentrate the bloodโs platelets and injecting this platelet-rich plasma into the body. Rosado says PRP therapies can help patients with everything from injuries and musculoskeletal pain to cosmetic procedures. It also can be used in conjunction with microneedling.
Hydrodermabrasion combines water and exfoliation to effortlessly exfoliate and reveal healthier, more radiant skin texture.
HRT & Low Testosterone
Tailored to each individualโs needs and addressing hormonal imbalances in women, IV Harmony Clinicโs Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) tackles symptoms like fatigue, hot flashes, low libido, memory and sleep issues and mood swings.
And, for men with low testosterone, the clinicโs Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) provides effective solutions. Vargas explains that IV Harmony has many success stories, especially referencing a patient with โLow-Tโ complaining of all-over body pain.
โFor a man, a good number is around 600, and insurance doesnโt want to cover you if you are at 200, which is extremely low. We started treating this patient with testosterone, which increased his levels, and the pain in his body disappeared.โ
Available IV Nutritional Therapiesย
IV Harmony Clinic also offers a wide variety of intravenous (IV) nutritional therapies, which rapidly and efficiently deliver essential vitamins and nutrients to the body through the patientโs veins. These therapies โ which provide your choice of a variety of B vitamins, Vitamin C, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium and Zinc, are designed to contribute to the patientโs overall health and wellness.
Rosado says IV therapy delivers essential nutrients directly to the system, making it beneficial for deficiencies, immune support and for providing energy boosts. Bypassing the digestive system enhances absorption of these nutrients, aiding individuals with digestive issues. The therapy supports detoxification, boosts immune function, improves athletic performance, aids hangover relief and promotes skin health through nutrient and antioxidant support for collagen production.
Monthly Memberships
IV Harmony Clinic & Medical Wellness offers a convenient membership program for monthly infusions. Members receive discounts on any service at the Clinic and also are allowed to share their IV treatment services with their family members. While IV Harmony does not accept health insurance, it does accept HSA and FSA and patients also can use their Care Credits. IV Harmony also offers a rewards program for referrals.
When not at their clinic, Vargas and Rosado are cycling fans who assemble at church on the weekend. They have a 12-year-old daughter and a pet guinea pig.
IV Harmony Clinic & Medical Wellness is located at 2749 E. County Line Rd. in Lutz. The office is open Mon.- Fri., 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and 1 p.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday,. For more information, visit IVHarmonyClinic.com, call (813) 325- 3870.ย
Excel Music piano & guitar teacher Regnarene Brown (left) will teach the Royal Conservatory of Music program at Excel, which is located in the Cory Lake Professional Center on Cross Creek Blvd. (Photos by Charmaine George)ย
Located in the Cory Lake Professional Center on Cross Creek Blvd., Excel Music has been teaching children and adults private lessons in voice, piano, guitar, drums, strings, clarinet, recorder, flute, saxophone, and other musical instruments for 17 years.
Serving the communities of Wesley Chapel, New Tampa, Excel Music co-founders John and Sheri Thrasher cannot contain their delight when they talk about two exciting new programs โ one that is available immediately and the other beginning next month (January 2024).
Royal Conservatory-trained and certified teacher Regnarene Brown has joined the faculty of 14 music teachers to instruct Royal Conservatory Piano.
โThis is a method intended for more serious students,โ Regnarene says. โThereโs an adjudication process. They prepare and perform pieces for judges before they can move on to the next level. Itโs for a student who might be interested in a career or pursuing music at a more serious level.โ
John adds, โTypically, we start kids in piano at 5, but an adult can start Royal Conservatory if they want to.โ
As excited as he is about the Royal Conservatory, John is equally thrilled about Excelโs other new program.
โWe are officially starting a Keyboard Band Piano Jam class in January,โ he says. โThis class is for 7-10 year olds, typically beginners, but intermediate students would also enjoy it. From Day One, theyโre learning pop songs, and each child gets their own part to play. There are four levels. Itโs like gamified learning, like a karate class where once they master a level, they move up to the next level.โ
The Keyboard Band students will learn the same skills taught in private lessons, but instead, will work with 4-5 other students in a small group setting. They will work on music reading, as well as chords, melodies and improvisation.
โPlaying with other people, you feel inspired to try a little harder,โ John says. โEven if your part is simple, itโs important. It matters. Quite often, kids worry that playing the piano will be too hard, and that at-home practice will feel more like homework, not something theyโll enjoy. This program is designed to eliminate that concern by establishing some quick wins for the students, so much so that after just a few lessons, each student will have the basic skills needed to play their favorite song. Every three to four months, they will perform at a concert โ not a recital, but a concertโ and/or theyโll do a professional YouTube music video. I have never been as excited for a class.โ
John hopes to schedule the first Keyboard Band concert and video in Apr. 2024.
Post-Pandemic Changes
During the pandemic, Excel Music brought lessons online only, but since reopening to in-person lessons, has continued to offer students the convenience of virtual classes.
โWe still have a fairly large number of students participating virtually,โ he says. โItโs been a great fit. Weโve had students who have moved out of the state or even the country continue their private lessons with us. Many families return to their native countries during the summertime, and the students can continue their music lessons while away. Thatโs been a real benefit to kids during the three-month โsummer slump,โ when many kids tend to slip backward (at school). Learning music is no different, so this has really helped.โย
He adds, โOur focus is on education first. Many places that give lessons, particularly on multiple instruments and voice, are often retail facilities that also offer lessons. Weโve turned that model around. We do have some retail, but only in support of the individual lessons. These are accessories that students need to succeed and do well in their music lessons.โย
Dreva Pauley (left) will work with kids in Excel Musicโs new Keyboard Band Piano Jam program, which begins next month.ย
With each class or curriculum designedย for that particular student, regardless of the studentโs skill level or style of music they like, everything can be accommodated in a private lesson, whether in person or online.ย
At Excel Music, all teachers are either university-trained (many with Master of Music degrees) or have a decade of study and performing experience. The Thrashers take pride in hiring not only the most qualified teachers but also some of the nicest.
โI want people who are there because they love to teach and have a real passion,โ ays John. โPeople who get a thrill when they see the studentโs eyes light up with understanding when they cross that threshold, and the look on their face says, โOh, I got it. Itโs an incredibly exciting moment โ the thrill of sharing a studentโs โa-haโ moment.โ
Student Sam Z says, โI like that my teacher encourages me to learn more and more music, and he gets me music that I want to learn.โ
Upcoming to Excel Music is the ability to text the music school, do online enrollment, and have 24/7 access to information about lessons and answers to questions parents raise.
โOver the years, weโve improved at providing not only a quality music education but also a fantastic experience for our students,โ John says. โWeโve developed many systems that have streamlined and made the way we teach music more effective, as well as how weโve used technology to improve our service and continue to use newer technologies.โ
When not running their music school, John and Sheri, who live in Wesley Chapel, are lovers of the performing arts, traveling and pampering their two pet cats.
Excel Music is located at 10353 Cross Creek Blvd., Suite I. It is open Mon.- Thur., 2 p.m.-9 p.m., 2 p.m.-7 p.m. on Fri., and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sat. It is closed on Sunday. For more info, call (813) 991-1177, or visit newtampamusicschool.com.ย
(Above) BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel held its official ribbon-cutting on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in Feb. 2023, while (below) Orlando Health Wiregrass Ranch Hospital broke ground on Wesley Chapelโs largest hospital earlier this year.
1. Hospitals In The News โ
Although its actual ten-year anniversary was in 2022, a number of things caused AdventHealth Wesley Chapel to postpone its 10-year celebration until Feb. 2023, which would, on its own, be pretty big news for Wesley Chapel.
However, Feb. 2023 also saw the opening of Wesley Chapelโs second hospital โ the 86-bed BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel, less than two miles north of AdventHealth, which also brought the community out in force to check out the new hospitalโs advanced technology.
But wait, thatโs not all! Later in 2023, Orlando Health broke ground on its own Wesley Chapel location on S.R. 56 at Wiregrass Ranch Bvd. With its 300 beds, the multi-story Orlando Health Wiregrass Ranch Hospital will be Wesley Chapelโs largest.
At our press time, the site work for the new hospital was well under way, although vertical construction had not yet begun. We also did not yet have an estimated opening date, but itโs unlikely the new hospital will be completed and opened before 2025.
And finally, Johnโs Hopkins All Childrenโs Hospital announced its plans to build a 356,000-sq.-ft. pediatric hospital at the Wildcat-Bailes site on Overpass Rd. (at McKendree Rd.) near I-75 in the โConnected Cityโ project, although an exact number of beds had not yet been announced, nor was the deal finalized at our press time.
2. Overpass Rd. Exit Off I-75 Opens โ
In the entire 30+ years the Neighborhood News has been in business, Wesley Chapel originally only had one exit off of I-75 โ Exit #279 at S.R. 54 โ and received its second exit, Exit #275, at the new S.R. 56 about a decade ago.
The new Exit 282 off of I-75 at Overpass Rd. opened in Jan 2023.
Since then, there has been no exit off I-75 between S.R. 54โs Exit 279 and Exit 285 at S.R. 54 in the San Antonio/Dade City area.
That remained true until Jan. of this year, when the new Exit 282 off I-75 opened at the new Overpass Rd. extension (see photo right), which finally connected Overpass from Old Pasco Rd. all the way to Epperson, Curley Rd. and even beyond, through the Watergrass community. Overpass Rd. will one day connect to Handcart Rd. in Zephyrhills.
The new exit has done a pretty good job of helping to reduce rush-hour traffic at the S.R. 54 exit and is definitely stimulating new growth in and around the area โ growth that not all local residents are thrilled about.
Among the new development swirling around the new exit is the previously mentioned Johns Hopkins All Childrenโs Hospital, as well as a possible multi-family or mixed-use development at the corner of Overpass, I-75 and Old Pasco Rd.
Weโll keep you posted.
3. Saddlebrook Redevelopment Plan Approved โ
Saddlebrook Resort and the community that sprouted up around it became the first large-scale development in Wesley Chapel when owner and former Pendant Publishing founder Tom Dempsey developed it in the early 1980s.
More than 40 years later, Dempseyโs resort and the surrounding community had lost a lot of their lustre and the resort, in particular, had fallen into disarray.
A rendering of Mast Capitalโs redevelopment plan for Saddlebrook Resort, which was approved by Pasco County in July of this year.
After multiple previous attempts to purchase and improve the 480-acre resort and surrounding community fell through, Mast Capital finally succeeded in not only purchasing the resort, but getting its $15-million redevelopment/rezoning plans approved by the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners, after making a number of concessions in order to come to an agreement with many existing Saddlebrook residents.
One of the big sticking points was that Mast planned to convert the two 18-hole, Arnold Palmer-designed championship golf courses into 27 holes of golf.
Another important aspect of Mastโs plan was a significant amount of new development, including multi-family units, along S.R. 54 both east and west of the communityโs main entrance on Saddlebrook Way at 54.
The redevelopment of Saddlebrook should begin in earnest in 2024.
4. Wiregrass Ranch Blvd. Opens โ
Normally, interior roadways primarily serving only one community would probably not qualify as one of the biggest news stories of the year, especially in an area still growing as quickly as is Wesley Chapel.
Wiregrass Ranch. Blvd. has been open from S.R. 56 all the way to S.R. 54 since August of 2023.
However, in the case of Wiregrass Ranch. Blvd., because the roadway itself had been paved for what seemed like more than a year and had people who were living in the Estancia and other Wiregrass Ranch subdivisions using the roadway illegally to go from S.R. 56 and Chancey Rd. to the Walmart on S.R. 54. for many months โ moving and then replacing the barricades located next to Walmart โ the official opening of the entire nearly four-mile length of Wiregrass Ranch Blvd. in Aug. 2023 certainly was big news.
Next up in Wiregrass Ranch is the eastward extension of Chancey Rd. (which runs east-west through the center of Wiregrass Ranch) all the way to Meadow Pointe Blvd.
5a. Downtown Avalon Park Begins Leasing โ
The site plan for the new Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.
More than just another commercial or multi-family development, the long-awaited Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel is the first in our area to combine both. Only a few of the retail tenants on the ground floor of the first โneotraditionalโ building in the downtown area have been announced since the Aug. 17 Open House that unveiled the construction of that new building โ including Prime Barbershop, Ritaโs Italian Ice, Rudraksh Indian Cuisine and ISI Elite Training. All of these businesses are expected to begin opening sometime in the first quarter of 2024.
5b. Wesley Chapelโs Contract Postal Unit Closes & Opens In New Location โ
A lot of locals (us included) were sad when long-time Wesley Chapel Contract Postal Unit (CPU) contractor Kelly Rossi retired and closed her location on Boyette Rd. at the end of Jan.
The NTBC ribbon cutting for the relocated Wesley Chapel Contract Postal Unit.
Then, we were even sadder to see how long it took new contractors Jevon and Cindy Williams to reopen the Wesley Chapel CPU in its new location in the Freedom Plaza on S.R. 54 in September.
Hopefully, Jevon and Cindy are now recuperating from the CPUโs holiday rush.
We also considered for the top-5…The opening of Cooperโs Hawk, the takeover by Pasco County of the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus from RADDSports and the one-year anniversary of the KRATE Container Park. โ GN
Congrats go out to Christos Paradisis and Colleen Gallagher, who recently opened the new Sausage King in the former location of TJโs Hot Dogs at the KRATE Container Park.
Although we also enjoyed TJโs, Sausage King not only has a greater variety of tasty options, Chris also grills his hot dogs, sweet and hot Italian sausages and Polska kielbasas, and Sausage King is already attracting new fans.ย
I can vouch for the foot-long hot dog with spicy brown mustard and sauerkraut (left photo), as well as the sweet Italian sausage sandwich with grilled onions and peppers. I also enjoyed the crispy fried mozzarella sticks with house-made marinara dipping sauce.
Chris, who moved to this area from hisย native Greece, says the marinara is his โmamaโs own recipe.โ Colleen, who is from Philadelphia, says their goal for Sausage King is to remind folks of the flavors they love from back home in the Northeast. For more info, search โSausage Kingโ on Facebook.ย
