Zach’s Corner
Zach’s Commercial Realestate Corner. Features news, thoughts on Florida’s Commercial Real Estate and more.
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Selmon Expressway Expansion Proposal Advances in Hillsborough County
A major transportation project under consideration could significantly improve connectivity between Tampa and the rapidly growing communities of southern Hillsborough County. The Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) is advancing its study of a potential extension of the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway along the U.S. 301 corridor, responding to continued population growth and increasing congestion in Riverview and surrounding communities. The concept would connect the existing Selmon Expressway with the Big Bend Road area, creating roughly 10 miles of additional toll-road capacity. THEA is studying the possibility of constructing elevated toll lanes within the U.S. 301 corridor, similar in concept to the elevated Selmon Extension above Gandy Boulevard. The agency says the study will evaluate alternatives designed to relieve congestion along U.S. 301, I-75 and surrounding arterial roads. The project remains in the planning and environmental-study process, meaning a final design, construction schedule and cost have not yet been established. THEA’s current planning documents identify congestion relief, improved mobility, safety, evacuation capacity and access to employment as potential benefits that will be evaluated. What It Could Mean for Commercial Real Estate Southern Hillsborough County has experienced substantial residential and commercial growth, particularly around Riverview, Gibsonton, Big Bend Road and U.S. 301.…
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Safety Harbor Restaurant Named One of America’s Best by The New York Times
Safety Harbor’s growing dining scene has earned national attention, with The Tides Market being named to The New York Times’ 2026 Restaurant List, featuring 50 standout restaurants across the United States. The Tides was the only Tampa Bay restaurant selected and one of just two Florida restaurants included. Located at 305 Main Street in downtown Safety Harbor, The Tides Market opened in late 2021 under owners Jon and Mary Kate Walker. The concept combines a seafood market with a restaurant, offering fresh seafood alongside dishes influenced in part by Jon Walker’s previous culinary experience in New Orleans. The national recognition adds to the restaurant’s growing reputation. The Tides was also included among the Michelin Guide’s recommended Florida restaurants in both 2025 and 2026. Another Win for Tampa Bay’s Growing Food Scene Recognition from national publications continues to highlight the evolution of Tampa Bay’s restaurant and hospitality market. Communities throughout the region have attracted new restaurants, entertainment concepts and investment as population growth and tourism continue to reshape Tampa Bay’s commercial corridors. For Safety Harbor specifically, nationally recognized businesses such as The Tides can further strengthen the appeal of its walkable Main Street district. Successful independent restaurants help generate foot traffic,…
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Pura Vida Miami Makes Tampa Debut at Water Street
Miami’s growing health-focused café brand Pura Vida Miami has officially expanded into Tampa, opening its first Tampa Bay location at 1038 Water Street in the heart of downtown. The new café opened September 10 and occupies more than 3,400 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, bringing another established South Florida restaurant concept to Water Street Tampa’s expanding retail and dining lineup. A second Tampa location is already planned for Midtown Tampa. (Biz Journals) From Miami Café to Growing Lifestyle Brand Founded in Miami in 2012, Pura Vida has evolved from a neighborhood café into a rapidly expanding restaurant and lifestyle concept. The brand focuses on health-conscious, all-day dining, including breakfast, salads, bowls, sandwiches, wraps, smoothies, juices, coffee and other offerings. Its Tampa location is designed as more than a traditional quick-service restaurant, with indoor and outdoor seating intended to encourage customers to dine, meet or work throughout the day. (PURA VIDA MIAMI) That model is particularly well suited for dense mixed-use developments where restaurants can draw customers across multiple dayparts. Water Street Continues Building Its Retail Base Pura Vida’s decision to enter Tampa through Water Street is significant from a commercial real estate perspective. Water Street has developed into…
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Walmart and Sam’s Club Plan First Davenport Stores as U.S. 27 Retail Corridor Surges
Davenport’s rapid transformation from a smaller Central Florida community into a major residential and commercial growth market is attracting two of the country’s largest retail concepts. Walmart and Sam’s Club are planning their first locations within Davenport, with a nearly 198,000-square-foot Walmart Supercenter and approximately 171,000-square-foot Sam’s Club expected to open next year, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal. (Biz Journals) Together, the two anchors represent nearly 370,000 square feet of new retail space, adding another major development to the rapidly growing U.S. 27 corridor. Major Retail Investment Along U.S. 27 The project is located near U.S. Highway 27 and Holly Hill Grove Road, south of Interstate 4 and near several expanding residential communities. Plans call for Walmart and Sam’s Club to anchor a much larger commercial development that also includes fuel stations and opportunities for additional restaurants and retailers. Local project information has identified the development as spanning roughly 56 acres, with more than 1,500 parking spaces and multiple potential outparcels. (Haines and Haven) The scale of the project reflects how dramatically this portion of Polk County has changed. U.S. 27 has historically served as a major north-south transportation corridor, but residential development between Davenport, Haines City and…
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$55 Million Trails Crossing Could Transform Space Beneath I-275 in St. Petersburg
A long-overlooked stretch beneath Interstate 275 in St. Petersburg could eventually become a major new public space connecting some of the city’s fastest-growing neighborhoods and commercial districts. Plans for Trails Crossing envision transforming approximately 12 acres beneath I-275 into a linear park centered around the Pinellas Trail. Consultants estimate the full project could cost roughly $55 million and take approximately 12 years to complete, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal. (Biz Journals) Turning an Interstate Barrier Into an Amenity The concept would transform land beneath I-275 that currently acts as a physical divide between neighborhoods into a pedestrian- and bicycle-oriented destination. The broader vision extends from around 5th Avenue South to 5th Avenue North, with amenities proposed across eight underutilized blocks. Concepts include illuminated walking and biking paths, public art, interactive sculptures, children’s play areas, pet areas, murals and a green amphitheater. (Friends of Trails Crossing) The initial phase is expected to focus on the area between 1st Avenue North and 3rd Avenue South, creating connections with the existing Pinellas Trail and surrounding urban districts. (St Pete Rising) Connecting Some of St. Pete’s Most Active Districts Trails Crossing’s location could make the project particularly significant for downtown St. Petersburg’s…
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USF Breaks Ground on $500 Million Uptown Landing Mixed-Use District
The University of South Florida is moving forward with one of the most significant redevelopment projects in the university’s history, breaking ground on a nearly $500 million mixed-use district along Fletcher Avenue in Tampa. Previously known during planning as the Fletcher District, USF officially unveiled the development’s new name, Uptown Landing, at its September 8 groundbreaking. The first phase will transform approximately 30 acres of USF’s former golf course north of Fletcher Avenue and east of North 46th Street. (Bay News 9) A New Mixed-Use Destination for North Tampa Uptown Landing is designed to create a walkable district combining housing, restaurants, retail, hospitality and research facilities immediately adjacent to USF’s Tampa campus. Phase One is expected to include approximately 700 student housing beds, 150 additional apartments, 60,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, a 150-room full-service hotel and conference center, and a 350,000-square-foot academic and research facility. USF expects between four and six restaurants within the initial retail component. (University of South Florida) The research facility, known as the Translational Research Institute, is expected to accommodate roughly 100 NIH-funded investigators and approximately 1,000 additional researchers, further strengthening the university area’s employment base. (University of South Florida) New USF Stadium…
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Florida’s Data Center Boom Raises Questions About Energy, Infrastructure and Growth
Florida is quickly emerging as a potential destination for large-scale data centers, bringing with it billions of dollars in potential investment—but also significant questions about electricity generation, infrastructure, water consumption and land use. A recent Tampa Bay Times letters discussion argues that, regardless of the debate surrounding them, data centers are likely coming to Florida. The larger question is how the state prepares for the extraordinary infrastructure requirements associated with artificial intelligence and cloud computing facilities. (Tampa Bay Times) AI Is Changing the Electricity Equation Data centers are fundamentally different from many traditional commercial and industrial developments because of the enormous amount of electricity required to operate servers and cooling equipment around the clock. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that electricity demand nationwide has been increasing since 2020 after more than a decade of relatively flat consumption, with data centers helping drive that growth. (U.S. Energy Information Administration) The scale could become substantial. A 2026 Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory analysis estimates data centers could account for roughly 9.5% to 15.3% of total U.S. electricity consumption by 2030, depending on the pace of development. (LBL ETA Publications) Florida could experience particularly strong demand. Florida Power & Light’s parent company, NextEra…
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Potbelly Enters Georgia as RaceTrac Accelerates Brand Expansion
Potbelly Sandwich Works has officially entered the Georgia market, opening its first restaurant in the state and beginning what could become a much larger expansion throughout metro Atlanta. The sandwich chain opened its first Georgia location on September 1 at Peachtree Station Shopping Center in Chamblee, just outside Atlanta. The company-owned restaurant represents the first step in a broader strategy combining corporate and franchised locations across the region. (Restaurant Dive) RaceTrac Brings Potbelly to Its Home Market The Georgia expansion is particularly notable because Atlanta is the home market of RaceTrac, which acquired Potbelly in 2025. Potbelly says the acquisition positions the sandwich concept for accelerated growth while maintaining its neighborhood-oriented format. (Potbelly) RaceTrac’s ownership could also create new opportunities for Potbelly outside traditional restaurant locations. A Potbelly inside a RaceTrac location in Atlanta is expected to open in the near future, although the company has indicated that convenience-store locations will be selective rather than the primary focus of its expansion strategy. (Restaurant Dive) At Least 15 Atlanta-Area Restaurants Planned The Chamblee opening is only the beginning. Potbelly previously entered into an agreement with Royal Restaurant Group to develop 15 restaurants throughout the greater Atlanta market over seven years. Confirmed…
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Ave Maria’s Rapid Growth Is Creating a New Economic Hub in Eastern Collier County
Ave Maria, Florida, is evolving from a master-planned community centered around faith and education into one of the most significant growth areas in eastern Collier County. Founded through a partnership involving Domino’s Pizza founder Tom Monaghan and Barron Collier Companies, Ave Maria was developed around Ave Maria University and the community’s prominent Catholic church and town center. Today, residential development, new businesses, schools and employment opportunities are rapidly expanding the community’s economic footprint. (Ave Maria University) Residential Growth Continues Housing has been one of the biggest drivers of Ave Maria’s expansion. The community recorded 515 new-home sales in 2025, ranking No. 20 among the nation’s top-selling master-planned communities according to John Burns Research and Consulting. Approximately 5,700 homes had been sold by the beginning of 2026. (Ave Maria) Builders including Lennar, Pulte Homes, Del Webb and CC Homes offer everything from condominiums and villas to single-family homes. The growth has helped transform what was once a relatively isolated development into an increasingly self-contained community. (Ave Maria) Collier County estimated Ave Maria’s population at 7,369 residents in 2024, with a median household income of approximately $95,179. (Collier Clerk) Retail and Employment Follow the Rooftops The growing population is also creating greater…
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Sarasota County Advances Massive 5,702-Home Palmer Ranch East Development
One of the largest proposed developments in Sarasota County is moving forward after county commissioners backed plans for Palmer Ranch East, a massive mixed-use community planned east of Interstate 75 near Nokomis. The Sarasota County Commission voted 4-0 on September 8 to advance the project, which encompasses approximately 2,351 acres near the I-75 and State Road 681 interchange. Palmer Ranch Holdings, led by Hugh Culverhouse Jr., plans to develop the community over roughly 20 years. (Business Observer) More Than 5,700 New Homes Palmer Ranch East is planned for up to 5,702 residential units. Of those, 4,702 units are tied to the property’s base density, while another 1,000 units are proposed within a new town center. Despite the project’s overall size, only about 1,075 acres are designated for development. Plans identify approximately 200.7 acres within a conservation easement and roughly 651 acres as an alternative greenway buffer. (Scgov) The development is envisioned as more than another large residential subdivision. Plans incorporate trails, green space and a mixed-use town center intended to establish a new commercial and employment hub for eastern Sarasota County. Nearly 1.5 Million Square Feet of Commercial Development The commercial component makes Palmer Ranch East particularly significant for the…
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