Westshore E-News: News from the Westshore Alliance
IN THIS ISSUE: AUGUST 2018
ALLIANCE NEWS + EVENTSWSANewsEvents
Westshore Alliance Celebrates 35 Years
On August 25, 1983, founding members of the Westshore Development Association, known today as the Westshore Alliance, incorporated the organization to strategically plan for Westshore's future growth and ensure the District's economic prosperity. This video shares a snapshot of why the Westshore Alliance was founded and how we remain dedicated to ensuring the continued economic success of Tampa's vibrant Westshore District. View the video here
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
Daniels Education Corporation
E. M. Phillips Construction Company LLC
Go Mobile Flooring
Protiviti
Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund, P.A.
Small Group Team Building
Do you know someone who could benefit from Alliance membership? Refer a new member and receive a certificate for FREE admission to an upcoming Westshore Alliance luncheon. Learn more about membership benefits.
MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES
Thank you to the following companies that have recently renewed their Alliance membership.

20+ Years
MetWest International

15 - 19 Years
The Bromley Companies

10 - 14 Years
Cousins Properties

5 - 9 Years
ARCO Murray Construction Company
Bashor and Legendre, LLP, CPAs
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay & Adventure Island
Centennial Bank
Clark Construction Group, LLC
Grow Financial Federal Credit Union
HCI Group, Inc.
Maser Consulting, PA
OneBlood
Schwabe Benefits Group
1 - 4 Years
AppleOne
Florida Hospital Centra Care
Hampton Inn & Suites Tampa Airport 
   Avion Park Westshore
Hancock Whitney Bank
Jackson Lewis P.C.
Smith & Associates Real Estate
Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine

Please support these businesses who support 
the vital work of the Westshore Alliance.
Westshore Special Assessment Public Meetings
On August 23 at 9:30 a.m., or as soon thereafter as practicable, Tampa City Council will conduct a public hearing to consider the adoption of a special assessment to provide funding for transportation, security and marketing initiatives in the Westshore Business District. This will be the 17th year of the assessment, which provides vital services for all commercial property owners in the District. The Westshore Alliance will hold an informal workshop on Wed., August 15 at 5 p.m. at the SpringHill Suites, 4835 West Cypress Street to address comments and questions about the special assessment. For more information, please email Shawn Fogarty or call 813-289-5488.
The Westshore Alliance is seeking a qualified creative services firm to develop the visual identity for marketing Tampa's Westshore District. The Request for Qualifications includes pertinent details, and responses are due August 14. Email Heather Mackin or call 813-289-5488 with questions.
UPCOMING WESTSHORE ALLIANCE EVENTS
Alliance After-Hours Networking
Wed. Aug. 1, from 5 - 7 pm
Seasons 52
204 N. West Shore Blvd.
Members: Free, Prospective Members: $15
REGISTER by noon Aug. 1

WESTSHORE 101
Wed. Aug. 8, from 8:30 - 9:30 am
Tampa Bay Business Journal
4890 W. Kennedy, Suite 850
FREE Event
REGISTER

Alliance Lunch with Tampa Bay Sports Commission Executive Director Rob Higgins
Wed., Aug. 15
11:30 am: Registration & Networking, Noon: Lunch & Program
George M. Steinbrenner Field
1 Steinbrenner Drive
Members: $40, Prospective Members: $55

Ron Rotella Golf Classic
Fri. Oct. 26
9:30 am: Registration & Networking, 11 am: Shotgun Start
Rocky Point Golf Course
4151 Dana Shores Drive
Sponsorships Available! Becoming a sponsor is a great opportunity to promote your business. Contact Jamie Farrell to learn more. 

Committee Meetings (Westshore Alliance Members Only)
Ambassador Committee
Aug. 15 at 11 am
George M. Steinbrenner Field
REGISTER
Transportation Committee
Sept. 12 from 10 - 11:30 am
AECOM
REGISTER

View a complete list of Westshore Alliance events  HERE .
BUSINESS + DEVELOPMENTBusinessDevelopment
Westshore DRI Amendment Scheduled for Public Hearings
Tampa City Council will hold public hearings to consider an amendment to the Westshore Areawide Development of Regional Impact (DRI) on August 9 at 6 pm and August 23 at 10:30 am. The amendment will provide additional development entitlements for multi-family residential and hotel development in Westshore and extend the DRI buildout date to August 24, 2023. The DRI, which is sponsored by the Westshore Alliance, is an important tool that streamlines the process for large-scale commercial real estate development in Westshore by establishing mitigation for transportation impacts. Please contact Ann Kulig for more information.
Cushman & Wakefield recently published its Q2 2018 Tampa Office MarketBeat Report. Westshore's overall vacancy rates are reported at 10.9%, and the District continues to lead Hillsborough County with the highest asking rent rates. View the report.
The City of Tampa gave preliminary approval for redevelopment of the Jerry Ulm Dodge site at 2966 N. Dale Mabry Highway. Plans include redeveloping the existing dealership and adding a 52,191-square-foot Rooms To Go furniture center on the property's corner facing Columbus Dr. and Dale Mabry Highway. The final rezoning hearing is scheduled this month. 
Also scheduled this month is the final hearing for a proposed 6-story, 5-unit apartment complex with ground-level parking at 4523 W. Chestnut St. The site is located across from International Plaza and Bay Street near Lantower Westshore Apartments. 
La Segunda Central Bakery, the family-owned Ybor City institution and the largest producer of Cuban bread in the world, has opened a second location in Westshore. The 3,000-square-foot bakery and cafe at the redeveloped 4001 W. Kennedy Blvd. shopping plaza offers indoor/outdoor seating, cafĂ© menu, a barista coffee bar, to-go window and more. 
Westshore Village by ICON Residential celebrated its grand opening last month. Located at 2511 N. Grady Ave., the community offers 92 luxury three- and four-bedroom townhomes with unique layouts such as multi-level units, some with as many as four floors and some with an elevator, balcony, or rooftop living views with an outdoor kitchen. Other community amenities include a pool, dog parks and bocce ball courts. MORE
TRANSPORTATIONTransportation
City Budget Bigger, But Less for Transportation Projects
Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn presented the City's 2019 budget to City Council on July 19. The budget is $1.03 billion, $59 million more than the 2018 budget. The increase in the budget is largely due to an increase in operating and personnel expenses. The Capital Improvement Budget increased from $134.7 million, to $144 million. But within that figure, transportation capital spending dropped from $14.4 million to $10.8 million.

The budget's five-year plan includes many of the Alliance's transportation priorities, including:
  • Extending Reo, Occident, and Trask streets under Interstate 275 for new north/south connections following the reconstruction of the I-275/SR 60 interchange.
  • Improvements to Spruce St. between Manhattan Ave. and Himes Ave.
  • New sidewalks and pedestrian safety features on Lois Ave.
  • Widening Cypress St. between Dale Mabry Hwy. and Himes Ave.
  • Widening O'Brien St. between Cypress St. and Spruce St.

Non-ad valorem hearings will be held in August, and the City Council's public hearings will be held on September 6 and 17. The City Council must approve the 2019 budget by October 1. For more information, visit the City of Tampa's Budget webpage.

"It's Time Tampa Bay" to Plan the Region's Future
The Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas Metropolitan Planning Organizations are planning the future, and asking people what direction we might go as a region. You can be part of the process by completing the survey at It's Time Tampa Bay.

Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas will jointly put forward a 2045 transportation plan to take advantage of federal and state funding. They are sharing the decision-making process because connections to jobs, universities, healthcare, airports and activities are important to everyone. Take the survey to say how the region should grow and what Tampa Bay should be like for our children and grandchildren. Survey respondents can enter to win Bucs, Lightning or Florida Orchestra tickets. For information and to do the survey, visit ItsTimeTampaBay.org.
Transit Drives the Discussion at Forum
About 300 people attended the Tampa Bay Transit Forum that was held July 20 at Tampa International Airport. The event included elected officials speaking about the need for the community to rally around transit, business leaders considering the impact of transit on the economy, and a real estate expert on the value of transit oriented development.
Here's what's happening at Tampa International Airport:
COMMUNITY + MEMBER NEWSComm.MemberNews
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are offering special discounts on individual tickets for Westshore Alliance members and friends. View details here. Go Bucs!
The coffeehouse that employs only autistic adults has moved out of its static locale and into a food truck named the "Bean Mobile," which offers drinks such as fruit smoothies and its Artistas Cafe coffee plus snacks like all-natural energy balls. MORE
Tampa made WalletHub's Top 20 list for Best Big Cities to Live, coming in at No. 16. MORE
COMMUNITY + MEMBER EVENTSComm.MemberEvents