Development SOG

I stumbled on some surprising info on the www.southtownpark.com website today. According to the site plan, the developer of this gated community thinks there is future retail development slated for Tanker Way south of Interbay. For those familiar, or unfamiliar, with the gates at MacDill AFB, Tanker Way is where they relocated the old Manhattan gate. Then they promptly closed it to all but commercial truck traffic. Despite the husband's attempts to get this changed to allow cyclist and pedestrian traffic, it looks like the powers that be are going to stick by their position that it would be too hard to manage checking the hordes of cyclists and runners who would be mingling with the truck traffic. So, I'm wondering who would be interested in developing a retail strip on Tanker Way when it is essentially a dead end except for trucks, which primarily haul jet fuel.

Not that a little retail could hurt. Port Tampans are pretty united in their desire for some commerical development in the old city. A rumor that Publix might build on Westshore across from Casa Bella is persistent, but probably just wishful thinking. Can't say I'd mind being able to walk to a grocery store, but a couple restaurants and a coffee shop would be nice too.

Took a detour after my last trip to the post office and discovered that LIST group has sold its property on Prescott to Keystone. Looks like instead of townhouses there will be single family homes. Keystone has done a nice job on Sparkman near Interbay with two bungalow style homes that make a nice buffer between an ugly apartment building and the homes for which some Port Tampans are seeking historic designation. Gaspar Properties has cleared and filled its lots on Prescott but unless you count having the porta potty delivered "progress," there isn't much going on. Castillo homes has 3 of its 4 houses in South Tampa Square under roof but Inland, which sold the lots to Castillo, took the floorplans and prices off their website. When I called Sara, the sales person, she claimed they would begin selling this month and prices would start around $529,000. I guess that would seem like a bargain to anyone who has looked at Westshore Yacht Club but when I first started looking at Inland this time last year they were priced from $335,000.