Ybor landowner Daryl Shaw has filed plans to create a 33-acre, mixed-use waterfront development dubbed Ybor Harbor, which would surround the Ybor Channel. “Ybor Harbor is a transformative new addition to the fabric stitching together our urban neighborhoods from Ybor City to the Channel District, Water Street, Gas Worx, and our downtown core. Our focus is on creating a vibrant neighborhood, enhancing connectivity, and bringing the public to our city's cherished waterfront,” Shaw said in a news release. Ybor Harbor could include up to 6 million square feet of residential, office, hotel and retail space. It also includes opening a section of waterfront to the public that is currently restricted with a boardwalk, piers, boat slips, floating docks, green space and retail/restaurant uses, according to the release.
According to a recently released study from Instacart, regional shoppers are now paying an average of $6.23 for a dozen eggs, the third highest in the nation. The online grocery delivery platform reported the cost represents an 18% increase over the past year. Miami and San Francisco, with $6.67 and $6.27 averages, respectively, are the only cities with more expensive eggs.
The National Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) named Dr. Kristie Jo Redfering, a special education teacher at Nina Harris Exceptional Student Education Center in Pinellas Park, its 2023 Teacher of the Year. According to a Pinellas County Schools release, the award recognizes excellence among teachers who provide direct services to children with exceptionalities and who best support students with disabilities. Redfering will receive a $2,000 cash prize, a $1,000 classroom grant and accommodations to the CEC annual convention in Louisville, where officials will recognize her achievements.
Officials with Pinellas County Animal Services announced they are resuming operations after all dogs recovered from an outbreak of canine pneumovirus. According to Wednesday’s release, workers sanitized all dog shelter areas and have resumed intakes and adoptions. Animal services staff members isolated the shelter’s dog population after detecting the virus last month and provided testing and care until it “ran its course.”
Byron Leftwich will no longer serve as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offensive coordinator following an 8-9 season and a 31-14 opening-round playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Team officials also fired five other assistant coaches, and three chose to retire. Leftwich, 43, served as the offensive play caller for the previous four seasons and was recently considered a top head-coaching candidate.
Monday night’s game between Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium set a new ESPN viewership record. The opening-round playoff matchup also drew the largest audience to ABC since the 2006 Super Bowl. While the Cowboys handily beat the Bucs 31-14, the broadcast also showcased the Tampa Bay region to 31.2 million people. The game peaked at nearly 36.5 million viewers in the first half, and ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said, “This exceptional number proves once again that live sports are unequaled in amassing large audiences.”
St. Petersburg-based Duke Energy Florida is giving away 1,200 trees to customers in honor of Arbor Day as part of a collaboration with the Arbor Day Foundation’s Energy-Saving Trees program. The giveaway begins Jan. 20, and the company will ship the one-gallon trees to homes with planting and care instructions. Available tree species include the dahoon holly, sweet bay magnolia, bald cypress and pink and red crape myrtles. To request a free tree, visit the website here.
Rossman Media, a social media agency headquartered in Portland, Oregon, recently acquired local marketing firm Hook & Blade. The merger creates a company with 43 employees and a $6 million run rate. Hook & Blade launched in Tampa before moving to St. Petersburg and specializes in outsourcing marketing professionals to fit a business’s needs. According to a press release, the two companies will operate under the Rossman Media moniker, and officials did not disclose the terms of the acquisition.
Tampa-based Florida Funders, a venture capital firm, has promoted Saxon Baum, a previous VP of investor relations; Ryan Whittemore, the previous chief investment officer; and Michael Kadow, a previous VP of finance and operations, as partners in the firm. Baum will continue to oversee investor relations and scouting startups, while Whittemore will continue to oversee the investment strategy and Kadow will primarily focus on developing the firm's financial management strategy and goals, according to Florida Funders' Wednesday announcement.
The HCA Florida Largo Hospital is one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals for 2023, according to a ranking by Healthgrades. This achievement puts HCA Florida Largo Hospital in the top 5% of hospitals nationwide for overall clinical performance across the most common conditions and procedures, according to HCA. The Largo hospital was the only local hospital to be included in the top 250 list this year.
A new Florida Atlantic University study shows that Florida is home to nine of the most overpriced rental markets in the U.S., with Tampa Bay coming in seventh. Cape Coral, Miami and North Port took the top three spots. The report states that local rents are nearly 11% higher than they should be, which is well above the national average rental premium of 7.4%. Read the full study here.
During a Pinellas County Commission meeting on Tuesday, the commissioners approved providing $4 million through the county's Employment Sites Program (ESP) to help fund the Tampa Bay Innovation Center. The TBIC is a 45,000-square-foot center currently under construction on donated city land at the southwest corner of 4th Street South and 11th Avenue. Pinellas County is spearheading the after it was awarded a Federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to construct a business incubator, which will be completed this year. The commissioners also approved providing separate funds for a new affordable housing redevelopment project.
