I love a good surprise as much as the next guy, but I was absolutely stunned by the turn of events when I attended the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) annual meeting, which was held Dec. 6 at Pasco Hernando State College (PHSC)’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, and which was the program for the Chamber’s monthly business breakfast.
Outgoing Board chair Tracy Clouser of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel thanked this year’s deserving “Volunteer of the Year” and Ambassador Troy Stevenson of Wesley Chapel Nissan, who not only actively participates in every Chamber and Wesley Chapel Rotary Club event, but also supports the community with his awesome Acme Outdoor Movies truck.
But then, between the introduction of the Chamber’s ambassadors (below) and new Board chair Jennifer Cofini of the Parks Auto Group and her Board of Directors for the 2017 Fiscal Year, Clouser made an announcement I truly was not expecting — that WCNT-tv, the five-month-old partnership between yours truly and outgoing WCCC Ambassador/new Board member Craig Miller of Full Throttle Intermedia, had won the 2016 Chairman’s Award.
Clouser, the marketing director at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC), has spent quite a bit of money on behalf of our in-the-process-of-being-expanded, state-of-the-art hospital in these pages, and she bought into the project created by myself, Craig and WCCC president and CEO Hope Allen by agreeing for FHWC to be the Studio Sponsor of WCNT-tv for the first 16 episodes of the show, 13 of which have already aired since our launch on June 23.
In other words, I should be giving Tracy and Hope an award, not the other way around. The cheers from the crowd of more than 100 people when the surprise announcement was made was proof positive that we’re doing something right with the show, but neither Craig nor I had any idea or we would’ve prepared speeches, instead of the dumfounded looks and silly muttering we mustered.
Wiregrass Ranch high grad Du Dang is overcome with emotion after winning the Capcom Cup in Anaheim, CA, earlier this month. The championships were televised on ESPN 2.
Du Dang says he wasn’t the most popular or well-known kid when he lived in Wesley Chapel and went to Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH). But right now, he might just be the most famous graduate of WRH’s 2014 class.
The 20-year-old professional video gamer, who now lives in Tampa and is better known by his gamer tag “NuckleDu,” has won the 2016 Street Fighter V Capcom Cup championship.
In the world of professional video gaming, that’s a big deal. Dang flew out to Anaheim, CA, for the big tournament, and came home $230,000 richer after winning every best-of-5 match by either a 3-1 or 3-0 score. His purse was the largest in the history of fighting games, and his winning performance on Dec. 3 was televised live by ESPN 2.
Not bad for a kid who just five years ago was a reluctant player getting beat on a routine basis by his uncle. Today, he’s one of the top eSports players in the world.
“I was never really a gamer,’’ Dang said. “I hated the concept of fighting games. It was just up-down-left-right. But, I was playing my uncle and he kept beating me, so I started practicing and finally beat him.”
Du Dang
The son of Vietnamese parents, it was expected that Dang would study hard in school and become a doctor or an engineer, he says. His older brother and sister are both nursing students.
“I just wanted to keep getting good and kept playing,’’ Dang says. “It’s hard to convince your mom at age 17 to let you fly to a tournament.”
So hard, in fact, that Dang didn’t tell her he was flying to a tournament in Chicago. When he returned with prize money to help pay the bills, she changed her mind.
Dang has lived in tough places in Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi and Jacksonville, FL, and he grew up poor. That is changing now, and he wants to be careful with his newfound wealth.
“The win took away a lot of problems,’’ he says.
He also says that he wanted to invest his Capcom Cup winnings, but not before splurging on an SUV, which would help him get his dogs around town.
The Canada Cup won by Du Dang.
Onyx (a mastiff), Tieu Bach (a chihuahua) and Tofu (a pit bull) are Dang’s escape from the world of eSports. “They are family,’’ he says.
He has to be away from them more than he likes, due to the travel required to stay at the top of his game.
Playing mainly the Mike and Guile characters in Street Fighter V, Dang has no plans for letting up in what is left of the year. He has delivered a diagonal jump heavy kick to 2016, winning almost everything in sight during his breakout year.
After winning roughly $11,500 in prize money from 2012-15, according to esportsearnings.com, Dang has now pocketed more than a quarter of a million dollars in 2016 alone, thanks largely, but not only, to his big Capcom Cup haul.
He was the first American to win a big tournament like that in more than two years, he says. The tournament featured players from Japan, China, Singapore, France, Brazil, the United Kingdom and the U.S., as well as other countries.
That win was his third straight in a big tournament this year, and eighth overall, including a Canada Cup win in October that netted him another $6,900. All told, he has won 13 championships.
It’s definitely not as easy as he has been making it look, he says.
“There are definitely a lot of obstacles,’’ Dang says. “I missed my niece’s first steps. I have missed a lot of birthdays. You have to be willing to make sacrifices, and you have to have a strong head. I thought about quitting many times.”
The eSports genre – which is comprised of quickly growing competitive gaming leagues and tournaments – isentering the mainstream at a dizzying pace. In 2016, eSports are expected to become a $500-million business, and tournaments and championships are now being broadcast live on channels like ESPN. Your kids are as likely to watch their favorite players compete on Twitch.tv as you were to watch your favorite baseball players growing up.
Dang plays for a team called Team Liquid, which is sponsored by a number of companies, and was recently bought out by the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. Dang has met all of the Warriors players, and Golden State has been joined by other NBA teams, like the Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards, in investing in video gaming teams in an effort to reach younger audiences.
“It’s pretty amazing how it has grown,’’ Dang says. “It’s very overwhelming to play video games for a living. It’s pretty awesome.”
Dang hopes to grow along with the eSports industry. He continues to hone his craft on the Street Fighter platform (played on the Sony PlayStation 4), and is looking to continue his winning ways into 2017.
“I didn’t know until last year when I started winning everything that this is what I would be doing,’’ Dang says. “That’s when I started seeing real money. And this year, it’s just blown up.”
The Connected City, located at the north end of Wesley Chapel, still has a few hurdles to jump through before it brings thousands of new homes and businesses to the area in purple.
The Connected City project, approved last month by the Pasco County Development Review Committee (DRC), which was comprised of four county administrators and representatives from the Pasco School District’s Economic Development Council (EDC), is now looking towards getting the same support from the Board of County Commissioners (BCC), which will have the ultimate say.
At the first of two scheduled BCC workshops, on Dec. 6, at the Dade City Courthouse, attorney Joel Tew, who is representing the Metro Development Group, and Ernie Monaco, the county’s assistant planning and development administrator, took turns explaining the benefits of the Connected City in an effort to persuade the commissioners to eventually vote for it.
“Let’s capture the opportunity at hand,’’ Monaco pleaded.
That opportunity is to build a Connected City, essentially a new city in eastern Pasco County, even though it won’t have city limits. The project is part of a 10-year pilot program created by a new statute (SB 1216). Adopted in 2015, it allows for an expedited planning and approval process for creating city-connected corridors. For the length of the pilot program, there will be no state oversight, although there will be two-year reviews.
The Connected City — a 7,800-acre area running north from Overpass Rd. in Wesley Chapel to S.R. 52 in San Antonio, and west from I-75 to Curley Rd. — is touted by developers and planners as being the first-ever gigabit community built from the ground up. A first-of-its-kind high-tech community, developers say the Connected City will promote major job creation, alternative transportation along integrated roadways, two first-in-the-country, man-made crystal lagoons and a detailed 50-year plan.
Metro has taken the lead in the project.
“The county has zero risk,’’ Tew said. “The risk of failure is truly on the private partner.” Metro owns 35 percent of the property within the Connected City area and has been the primary developer in the process. It is looking to build communities at Epperson Ranch South, EpcoRanch North, Ashley Groves and Mirada (formerly Cannon Ranch).
One of the sticking points in the process revolves around Metro receiving transportation mobility fee credits from the county for building the primary roads in exchange for setting aside 72 acres of site-ready employment centers with necessary infrastructure in place and government permits in hand.
Tew argued that Metro deserves the credits. While many areas of the country that have tried similar projects have had to rely on a big company coming in, like Google, to foot the bill, or money from a local governmental entity, Metro has assumed all of the financial responsibility for the project so far.
“We decided to put our money where our mouth is,’’ Tew said. “The hope is that one day we can use ‘paper’ credits, and not have to wallpaper the office with them.”
Tew said that the Villages of Pasadena Hills, the county’s largest development land-wise (22,000 acres) which is located immediately west of the Connected City site, received similar credits for building roads and had to do a lot less.
“We don’t get credit for the roadways if we don’t do about 6-8 more things that are very specific, very onerous,’’ Tew said, citing the requirement that Metro provide 7.2 million sq.-ft. of employment-use property, meaning commercial/residential uses.
Tew estimates there could be another $318-million investment in infrastructure improvements by Metro, including roadways to accommodate the employment uses.
“It’s simple math,’’ he said. “For the county (giving) $92-million worth of credits, the county is getting (almost a) 4-to-1 return on infrastructure provided, when compared with the credits given.”
“With all respect,” Tew added, “we are going to get credit for building those additional roads that you are requiring us to build for these employment uses. The deal has to make economic sense.”
The additional credits, however, could leave Pasco with a $43-million shortfall for its other road projects.
That concerned new BCC chairman MIke Moore, since three of the road projects suggested for potential postponement are in his district.
“There are going to be impacts of giving credits,’’ Monaco said. “That’s the reality here.” But, he added, another reality is the thousands of jobs that the Connected City will attract to the area, as well as the millions of additional tax dollars from new residents. A University of Florida Bureau of Business & Economic Research study says Pasco County could have 250,000 new residents by 2040.
Monaco says that the Connected City’s liberal home occupation development code, surcharges being imposed to fund start-ups and having service-ready business sites ready will attract companies to the area.
Tew said he already has met with various school officials about building new schools in the Connected City, including a high school with a special high-tech program. He said in order to attract the best businesses, the area needs the best schools for workers to send their kids to, “Or else we’re dead in the water.”
Pat Gassaway of Heidt Design said that if you include the five-mile radius around the Connected City, the development plans could consist of 12 new schools — six elementary, three combined K-8 schools and three additional high schools. He said a surcharge of $579 per unit would be imposed to fund that part of the project.
There are two more hearings scheduled for Tuesday, January 17 & Tuesday, January 24. The official vote is expected to take place sometime in March of 2017.
Monaco said that if the Connected City fails, land reserved to produce a state-of-the-art community that provides jobs and additional lustre to the county — and the growing Wesley Chapel area — will instead become just another series of typical developments.
“We want a premier county,’’ Monaco said. “This is what has motivated us to work really hard on this deal.”
“We have an amazing comprehensive plan,’’ Monaco added. “There are measurements every two years. There is land development code (in the Connected City plan) other counties will copy, I am sure of it. This has never been done before.”
As pieces of the building were put together on S.R. 56 just east of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., the anticipation built.
The gas pumps went in, the convenience store took shape. The signs were put up, and turned on.
When it will open? How will it open?
Answer: Quietly.
Just like that, on Nov. 28, Wesley Chapel’s first-ever Wawa was open.
No pomp. No circumstance. Just cheap gas, free coffee and deals on the chain’s famous tasty sandwiches.
“Man, I just went to the bank this morning, and the teller asked me if I knew Wawa was open today,’’ said Juan De La Torres, a retired first responder who lives in Seven Oaks. “I was like, ‘What?’” I had just driven by, I didn’t even notice. So, I rushed right over here.”
Juan De La Torres holds up his free Wawa shirt that he snagged after hearing the store on S.R. 56 had finally opened on Nov. 28.
For many like De La Torres, the opening of the Wesley Chapel Wawa was a surprise, albeit a pleasant one. While certainly one of those places with a cultish following like Chick-Fil-A and Costco, this Wawa location eschewed the normal fan-friendly grand opening and chose instead to let local residents be surprised.
“I’m just glad they are finally open,’’ said De La Torres, who snagged himself a free blue Wawa tee-shirt, and then stuck around for the opening ceremonies and a few free samples of things like a ham sub sandwich, peppermint iced coffee and cinnamon oatmeal. “I feel like I’ve been waiting forever.”
Wawa was open for business at 8 a.m., but at 10 a.m., area manager Rich Morton and Wally Goose, the Wawa mascot, welcomed a quickly growing crowd to Wesley Chapel’s newest hot spot.
Two firefighters from Pasco Fire Station 13 in Meadow Pointe, Frank Torres and Bobby LaBella, took on someof the store’s staffers in a sandwich-making contest — when they weren’t throwing handfuls of shredded lettuce at each other and into the crowd. Torres and LaBella won the contest, earning a big trophy and a couple of $1,000 checks from Wawa to benefit the Firefighters Charities of Pasco.
Everyone posed for pictures. Then, they cut a ribbon. That made it official.
For Morton, it was a big moment. Though he manages a number of Wawas from northern Hillsborough County throughout all of Pasco and Hernando counties, the idea of a new store right across the street from where he lives was exciting.
Firefighters Frank Torres (left) & Bobby LaBella pose with checks for the Firefighters Charities of Pasco & Wally Goose.
“Very cool,” Morton said. “I’ve been waiting since I first moved down here four-and-a-half years ago. We bought a home right in (Seven Oaks) right away, and I’ve been waiting for a store close to home.”
Morton had nothing to do with the site selection, but he jokes that he hasn’t been shy about making suggestions as he’s been driving around Wesley Chapel.
“The real estate guys are real frustrated with me, because I’m like ‘Look at this site, look at this site, look at this site,’’’ he said, chuckling.
Morton thinks the current location is perfect, catching a lot of the eastbound traffic between the Tampa Premium Outlets and the Shops at Wiregrass malls. He says this won’t be the last Wawa we see here locally. “We’re definitely opening here again,’’ he said.
A Little History…
Formerly a dairy company, Wawa opened its first food market in Folsom, PA, in 1964. It has expanded to many areas in the mid-Atlantic region, but didn’t come to Florida until one opened in Orlando in 2012. The Wesley Chapel location is the 102nd Wawa store to open in the state since then.
Wawa has succeeded by taking the convenience store concept to another level with competitively-priced gas, fresh drinks and expertly-prepared sandwiches and other quality food items that can be ordered right off an in-store computer touch screen.
“Ninety percent of the time, I just come for the food,’’ said De La Torres.
Wawa’s employees start at $10 per hour, above the minimum wage, and because of the friendly benefits, often stick around for years, if not decades, which has helped the company develop. “You don’t see a lot of companies doing health benefits for part-time employees,’’ Morton said. Taking care of his employees, he adds, trickles down to the customer service, which is often lauded in surveys.
Denise Bee, who lives in Meadow Pointe III, said she was just driving by Monday morning on her way home from a doctor’s appointment when she noticed people walking in and out. Like everyone else, she was surprised that Wawa had finally opened.
And pleased, too.
“It’s about time,’’ said Bee. “I’ve been driving by and watching it go up little by little, wondering if it was close. Now I don’t have to drive all the way to Bearss Ave. to get gas…and hot chocolate.”
Wawa is located at 27866 S.R. 56, across from Sam’s Club, just west of BBD. For more information, visit Wawa.com, or call (302) 758-6873.
Above is a rendering of a Diverging Diamond Interchange, like the one planned for the S.R. 56 exit off I-75, which has been moved up to a Fiscal Year 2018 start date. Source: FDOT.
Relief is coming to the congested, frustrating and oftentimes maddening S.R. 56 interchange of I-75 sooner than expected, as the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) announced it was moving up its plans to build a diverging diamond interchange (DDI).
That project is now slated to begin in fiscal year 2018, the beginning of which is July 1 of 2017.
“That is great news,” says Mike Moore, the new Pasco County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) chair who represents District 2, which includes most of Wesley Chapel. “I thought the diverging diamond was a great idea from the start, and the other commissioners did too. I’m glad we can start it sooner.”
Moore and District 38 State Rep. Danny Burgess (R-San Antonio) played key roles in getting the project, which will cost around $18.5-million, fast-tracked. FDOT officials presented their new proposal to the Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization Dec. 8 at the Dade City Courthouse.
Construction of the DDI was originally scheduled to begin in 2024, but last November was moved up to 2020. The additional shortening of the timeframe will be good news to many travelers, especially around the holiday season, who have seen the lines of traffic to get off or on I-75 or through the interchange at S.R. 56 increasing.
DDIs, according to the website DivergingDiamond.com, are designed to create fewer conflict points when traveling through them, have better sight distance at turns, shorter pedestrian crossings and wrong-way ramps that are extremely difficult to access.
Despite looking like a confusing, diamond-shaped jumble of roads in pictures, the diverging diamond is said to cause virtually no driver confusion. A Springfield, MO, study showed a 60-percent reduction in collisions in a five-month period compared to a traditional exchange, and the website claims that in a five-year span of a DDI in Versailles, France, only 11 crashes have been reported.
Florida is building its first DDI at the University Pkwy. exit (No. 213) off I-75 in Sarasota. The Wesley Chapel location would be the state’s second DDI interchange.
The I-75/S.R. 56 junction continues to be one to avoid if at all possible for those in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area, and the 2.3-mile-long northbound exit routinely experiences back-ups of a mile or longer, sometimes even reaching the I-275 apex at the Pasco County line. The opening of the Tampa Premium Outlets on S.R. 56 west of I-75 last year hasn’t helped.
The S.R. 56/75 interchange was opened over a decade ago, and in 2011 a new ramp was constructed to ease congestion, to the delight of many in the community.
Roughly 100,000 drivers (combined heading east or west) pass through the I-75/S.R. 56 interchange, according to FDOT.
Steve Domonkos, the specialty leasing manager for the Shops at Wiregrass mall and a member of a Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) transportation task force, is happy to see the DDI construction moved up. But, Domonkos worries that even by 2018, with the rapid rate of development happening in both Wesley Chapel and Lutz, it still may be too late.
The sooner the better, he says, “but sooner than sooner would have been even better. It’s great to hear they are finally moving it up because traffic is already horrendous,’’ Domonkos says. “It’s a shame that the state and county didn’t get together before the Outlets opened, though. That intersection is already maxed.”
Moore, who drives through the intersection almost daily, says he has heard the same complaints from his constituents. But he thinks they will be happy to see progress considering the project was initially slated to begin in 2024.
“This shows what can happen when everyone works together to get something done,’’ he says.
Public hearings on the DDI project were scheduled around the region on Dec. 14, which was after we went to press with this issue. The Florida DOT will accept written comments until Tuesday, December 27, through D7wpph.com, by U.S. Mail (Attn: Ed McKinney, Florida Department of Transportation, 11201 N. McKinley Drive, MS 7-500, Tampa, FL 33612) or by email to D7wpph@dot.state.fl.us.
I love a good surprise as much as the next guy, but I was absolutely stunned by the turn of events when I attended the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) annual meeting, which was held Dec. 6 at Pasco Hernando State College (PHSC)’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, and which was the program for the Chamber’s monthly business breakfast.
Clouser, the marketing director at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC), has spent quite a bit of money on behalf of our in-the-process-of-being-expanded, state-of-the-art hospital in these pages, and she bought into the project created by myself, Craig and WCCC president and CEO Hope Allen by agreeing for FHWC to be the Studio Sponsor of WCNT-tv for the first 16 episodes of the show, 13 of which have already aired since our launch on June 23.
