Pasco County Building Construction Services is stepping up to help customers burned by Olympus Pools, offering new tools and financial relief for those whose pool projects are in limbo due to open permits.
They have launched a dedicated webpage to help customers navigate the permitting process, as well as providing answers to any additional questions in this FAQ. Best of all, the county is waiving all fees associated with Olympus Pools permits through Dec. 31, 2021, a move expected to help hundreds of customers left with unfinished pools.
“We hope this action will help ease the financial burden on our customers who choose to seek other permitting options,” said Assistant County Administrator Sally Sherman.
Olympus Pools customers have three options for open pool permits:
Oversee the project yourself.
Hire a new, licensed pool contractor.
Cancel your pool permit.
To choose an option, just fill out the form found HERE and e-mail to BCS@MyPasco.net.
The county says over the past two years, Olympus Pools has pulled hundreds of permits for pool projects in Pasco County, and most remain unfinished. For more information on your options, please visit the county’s new webpage: bit.ly/OlympusPermits.
One month after being kicked off the Diverging Diamond Interchange project at S.R. 56 and I-75, D.A.B. Constructors has informed the Florida Department of Transportation it is voluntarily defaulting on the S.R. 54 widening project as well.
On July 28, “FDOT received letters from DAB informing us that they are financially unable to perform or complete the performance of the work as prime contractor, which constitutes a voluntary default…,” FDOT spokesperson Kris Carson wrote in an email.
But it isn’t just the S.R. 54 widening project, which was supposed to be completed by the end of the year, that D.A.B. Constructors is walking away from. There are five other projects in Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties:
C.R. 580 Sam Allen Rd. from S.R. 39 to Park Rd.
US 19 Widening from Green Acres to W. Jump Ct
US 19 Widening from W. Jump Court to W. Fort Island Trail
US 19 Resurfacing from Hernando County Line to Green Acres
SR 52 Widening from Suncoast Parkway to US 41
“FDOT will be working with the Surety Companies to take over and complete the projects,” Carson says.
D.A.B. Contractors issued a statement, signed by president Doborah Bachschmidt and executive vice president Bill Bachschmidt, earlier this week, published in the Citrus County Chronicle, saying that “After over 33 years as a small heavy civil construction firm based in Inglis, Florida, D.A.B. is winding down all operations and putting the completion of ongoing projects in the hands of our bonding companies.”
D.A.B. essentially says the DDI project led to it pulling out of its other projects due to financial strain.
FDOT’s actions in regards to D.A.B. being behind schedule on the DDI which was made public last fall, were a “deathblow” to the company. D.A.B. says it accelerated construction without payment from FDOT to meet milestone dates.
“When D.A.B. achieved the milestones to the extent feasible under the FDOT-furnished defective plans”, the company wrote, “FDOT moved the goalposts. We suffered a classic domino-effect, as our acceleration efforts had diverted resources from other ongoing projects and drained the company of millions of dollars such that operations cannot be sustained.”
It wrote it has been in a 15-month tug-of-war with FDOT due to errors in the design.
“Despite the existence of a significant errors in the project design provided by FDOT and the recommendation of an independent Disputes Review Board that upheld D.A.B.’s contentions regarding the existence of the design errors and the resulting impact to the project schedule and costs to complete, FDOT has declared D.A.B. in default.”
Last month, in a letter dated June 25, D.A.B. Constructors told FDOT they were “demobilizing” from the DDI project, two days before it was defaulted on the project by FDOT.
D.A.B., which says it is the only remaining woman-owned prime contractor in the state, says it cannot continue to self-finance FDOT projects while it waits on the outcome of court action.
Carson says D.A.B. Constructors filed a lawsuit against FDOT on July 1.
“We very much regret the inevitable inconveniences to the traveling public as D.A.B.’s ongoing jobs are transitioned to others for completion,” the Bachschmidts wrote.” We are working cooperatively with our sureties to expedite take over and completion work. Likewise, despite what we’ve encountered with FDOT, we intend to continue to cooperate with the department.”
That is disappointing news for Wesley Chapel residents, who just a few months ago were expecting the DDI and 54 widening to be completed before 2022. That now appears unlikely.
The 54 widening is a $42.5-million project to transform S.R. 54 from two to four lanes east of Curley Rd to east of Morris Bridge Rd., a 4.5-mile stretch. A sidewalk will be built on the north side of the road and a 10-foot wide multi-use trail will be built on the south side.
New Tampa’s first Aldi store will hold it’s eagerly-anticipated Grand Opening on Thursday, July 29.
The store, located at the corner of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and Highwoods Preserve Pkwy. at the site of the former Ruby Tuesday restaurant, will be 19,160 square feet with 106 parking spaces.
“Our new Tampa, Florida, store is on track to open Thursday, July 29,” Matt Thon, the Haines City, FL, division vice president for ALDI, told us in an email. “We look forward to serving Tampa residents and providing them with the best grocery shopping experience and will reach out with more information closer to the Grand Opening.”
As part of the construction of Aldi (18002 Highwoods Preserve Pkwy.), a new sidewalk has also been built on Highwoods Preserve Pkwy., to aid pedestrians who are shopping, as well as those using the bus stop at the same corner.
Aldi is a popular German discount grocer that carries brands that many shoppers here in the U.S. may not recognize, including their own. More than 90 percent of the brands Aldi carries are exclusive brands. Aldi is investing more than $5 billion to remodel more than 1,000 existing stores, while opening roughly 120 new stores in 2021.
While no specific Grand Opening details have been announced, typically the stores will hand out things like free eco-friendly bags, samples and prizes, like gift cards. Store hours are 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Hillsborough County Dist. 2 Commissioner Ken Hagan called it a “great day in New Tampa” as he joined New Tampa Players president Nora Paine, Dist. 3 Commissioner Gwen Myers and deputy county administrator Greg Horwedel at the groundbreaking of the New Tampa Performing Arts Center on July 8. (Photos: Charmaine George)
Rendering of the New Tampa Performing Arts Center (above).
Nearly 20 years to the day that the idea of a New Tampa cultural center was hatched by a nine-member volunteer committee comprised mostly of Hunter’s Green residents, the project’s very long and very winding road finally has come to an end, ironically, right across Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. from the entrance to Hunter’s Green.
Ground was officially broken July 8 on what is now called the New Tampa Performing Arts Center (PAC) behind the new Village at Hunter’s Lake retail center.
Hillsborough County Commmissioners Ken Hagan (District 2) and Gwen Myers (District 3), New Tampa Players president Nora Paine and deputy county administrator Greg Horwedel used gold shovels to sling a few piles of mud (thanks, Elsa!) to officially kick off the construction of the PAC.
“What a great day it is here in New Tampa,” Hagan told a crowd of about 60. “Elsa passed, last night the Tampa Bay Lightning secured their place in history with back-to-back championships and today, we’re breaking ground on this long-awaited and much-needed facility.”
The 20,000-sq.-ft. PAC was designed by Fleischman Garcia Architects. It is expandable to 30,000-sq. ft. with the addition of a second floor, which would require additional funding down the road.
The PAC features a 350-seat theater and four other rooms that can be used by the community for a variety of purposes, as well as a state-of-the-art lobby.
After years of complications and reboots, the County Commission, with opposition from District 5 commissioner Mariella Smith and District 6 commissioner Pat Kemp, voted 5-2 to approve a $7.3-million construction contract to Dunedin-based Bandes Construction.
While Hagan was the driving force to get the project to the end of the road, he thanked previous commissioner and Hunter’s Green resident Victor Crist for his years diligently shepherding the project, and current District 7 Tampa City Council member Luis Viera, who rallied the city to contribute to the operating costs when the project appeared to be hitting another snag in April of this year.
The original idea behind the New Tampa cultural center was to find a home for local acting troupes like the New Tampa Players (NTP), which has had a gypsy-like existence. The group staged their first production, “They’re Playing Our Song,” at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club in September and at Hunter’s Green Club in October of 2022.
It was former NTP leader Doug Wall’s dream to see the PAC become the troupe’s primary home.
Wall passed away in 2017 after a bout with cancer.
“This means a ton to us,” said Paine, holding back tears. “It’s been a long time coming. He’s not here but he really should be. I know he’s here with us in spirit, though.”
Branchton Park is currently an obscure park located south of Cross Creek Blvd. on Morris Bridge Rd., with plenty of open space, but will be transformed when it gets a $5-million makeover from Hillsborough County, including the addition of all-purpose courts, a playground and a pond.
Tucked away off Morris Bridge Rd. a little south of Cross Creek Blvd., Branchton Park is a quiet, underpopulated spot in New Tampa that few local residents have ever visited.
However, those who do know about it will probably agree — it is a park with limited amenities that is showing its age and is in desperate need of a facelift.
And now, Hillsborough County has plans to do just that. Branchton Park as you know it will cease to exist, and will be “relocated” immediately south of its current location at 15701 Morris Bridge Rd.
The new Branchton Park will be more modern, with a lot more amenities, and will serve a lot more people’s needs, at a cost of around $5.5 million.
District 2 Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan said he secured the funding for the improvements in previous county budgets.
The park currently has a small shelter and playground, a basketball court in need of a refresh and parking for a few cars.
It also has a paved trail and plenty of open space, but no bathrooms (other than Porta Potties) or water fountains. Once the new park is completed, the site of the current park will be home to future development, which could include a restaurant, sports bar or even new homes, Hagan says, adding that he can envision something like The Village at Hunter’s Lake development on Bruce B. Downs Blvd.
The nearly 500 responses to a county survey about what to make the new park look like were exactly what you would expect. Residents would like to see a dog park, a covered pavilion and play area, pickleball and tennis courts, roller hockey, more basketball courts, soccer fields and cricket pitches, a disc golf course, a splash pad, a skate park, walking and running trails, bathrooms, an amphitheater and more activities for the area’s senior population.
Or, in other words, everything.
Many of the resident requests are included in the plans, according to the county’s website.
The project will be funded in phases and, in the first phase, there will be additional parking, walking trails, dog parks, restrooms, shelters and multipurpose courts, though the county notes that likely means four pickleball courts and two basketball courts, which also can be used for volleyball, according to the conceptual site plan.
The separate dog parks for small and large dogs will include shelters, benches, dog agility equipment and water and even wash stations.
Subsequent phases will include other things on the resident wish list, like a more robust playground and a splash pad. There is a possibility, according to the survey, that the splash pad could make its way into Phase 1.
Hagan says count on it.
“There will be a splash pad, I can promise you,” Hagan says. “And it will be in Phase 1. I’m not going to let that (not) happen.”
Final decisions on what may be added in subsequent phases will be made after Phase 1 has been completed.
According to the conceptual site plan, the new park also will include a park office, concessions, event pavilion, open area and 70 parking spaces. There also are plans further down the road for a public-private partnership (PPP) on a zip line or “challenge” course for the park.
Hagan says he may also push for a Hillsborough Sheriff’s substation in the Branchton area as well.
In 2017, the county acquired four parcels of land totaling 10 acres just south of the current Branchton Park. The newly acquired land will be home to the new park.
Hagan hopes to get the process moving in the next few months, with the start of construction sometime in early 2022.
“I’m pretty excited about it,” Hagan says. “I think this is a great opportunity to build a really nice community asset.”
