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'07 Builds On Infrastructure

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 31, 2007

Updated: 12/30/2007 11:56 pm

The Major Road Projects

IN 2007: Work began on a new lane for Interstate 275 between Himes Avenue and the Hillsborough River.

The stretch of roads leading to and from the airport resembled a plate of spaghetti. A massive flyover bridge opened recently to funnel drivers from the airport to Kennedy Boulevard and I-275. Also new: an exit ramp to carry motorists to the northbound lanes of the Veterans Expressway.

IN 2008: Construction will continue on the south side of I-275. Motorists will see pilings driven into the ground and paneled walls going up. The northbound exit to Ashley Drive will close this summer for about 100 days so the exit can be reconstructed. Drivers will be detoured to the nearby Scott Street exit.

The jumble of roads outside Tampa International Airport should start making sense. Work will continue throughout the year on a third ramp, to take drivers to State Road 60 and the Courtney Campbell Parkway. That one likely will not open until 2009.

The Riverwalk In Downtown

IN 2007: The city started construction on a segment at the Platt Street Bridge in March. That piece connects the Tampa Convention Center with USF Park.

IN 2008: The city expects to start construction on the Tampa Bay History Center segment as well as the piece at Curtis Hixon Park. Fundraising for the $40 million project will continue.

The Pasco County Shopping Scene

IN 2007: Pasco County moved into the retail big leagues with the opening of the first mall in central Pasco, The Grove at Wesley Chapel. The outdoor center opened in November with Best Buy, Toys R Us, Dick's Sporting Goods and Bed Bath & Beyond, among others.

IN 2008: In the spring, The Grove will add retailers Michaels, Ross, TJ Maxx and PetSmart, as well as a 16-screen movie theater.

Two more malls are expected to open: The Shops at Wiregrass, at State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, and Cypress Creek Town Center, at Interstate 75 and S. R. 56.

The Hard Rock Update

IN 2007: Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminoles announced a deal in November allowing the tribe to offer expanded gaming, giving the state a cut of the proceeds. The deal affects the tribe's seven casinos, including the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino at Interstate 4 and Orient Road. The Tampa casino recently expanded, adding gaming space and new restaurants.

IN 2008: The Hard Rock is gearing up for Las Vegas-style gaming, including upgraded slots and blackjack. However, House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, has challenged the governor's authority to negotiate the deal without the Legislature. The state Supreme Court is expected to rule on the matter soon. Meanwhile, Attorney General Bill McCollum has sued to keep the feds from implementing Crist's deal until the high court rules.

The Changes At Clearwater Beach

IN 2007: The shift from small, cozy motels to megaresorts and condominiums continued, with backers saying economics dictated more and pricier rooms and opponents fearing concrete canyons walling off the beach. In Pinellas County, more than 4,000 hotel rooms were converted to condos. A softened real estate market halted condo development, making hotels the only viable development option.

IN 2008: A greater interest is expected in midrange hotels.

UPDATES FOR '08

TAMPA MUSEUM OF ART: The museum closed its old building in December and will move to its interim home at the Centro Espanol building. The old building will be torn down in February. A new museum at Curtis Hixon Park should be completed by summer 2009.

RAYS STADIUM: The Tampa Bay Rays have proposed building a $450 million, open-air ballpark on the waterfront in downtown St. Petersburg. The ballpark wouldn't open until 2012, but the coming year may determine its fate. The Rays are counting on the sale of the Tropicana Field site for a hefty chunk of the funding, and St. Petersburg voters will take up a referendum in November on whether it can be built on the water.

DOWNTOWN TAMPA SKYLINE: Seven condo buildings were completed in 2007, but several developers canceled projects. The project to get the most attention was Trump Tower Tampa. In 2008, its developer hopes to persuade buyers to sign new contracts. Financing is lined up, and mogul Donald Trump may drop a lawsuit he filed over it.

CSX: In 2007, several Florida lawmakers lambasted a $491 million state deal with CSX Transportation to buy track for commuter rail in the Orlando area and expand CSX's freight operations into Polk County. In 2008, lawmakers skeptical of the deal will make it an issue when asked to give their final approval.

GOODBYES AND HELLOS

Goodbye Steve Stanton. Hello Susan.

News leaked that Largo City Manager Steve Stanton intended to become a woman, and it cost him his job. Stanton officially has become Susan Ashley Stanton and, as Susan, made it to the finalist list for the city manager of Sarasota post. Ahead will be the sex reassignment surgery and a CNN documentary on her transition.

Goodbye grouper. Hello substitutes.

With Florida-caught grouper in short supply last summer, some eateries - including the iconic Columbia Restaurant - took the fish off the menu entirely. Although grouper appears to be more plentiful now, high prices and strong demand could mess with menus and sandwiches in 2008.

Goodbye Tampa greyhound races.

Hello rubber duck race.

An era of big names and big money ended in August when the Tampa Greyhound Track stopped holding live races. Perhaps not as popular, but still entertaining, America's Second Harvest held a rubber duck race in November during which about 20,000 toy ducks were sold for $5 each and then dumped into the Hillsborough River. The first to float past the finish line scored its sponsor $25,000.

Goodbye 'Swanee' song. Hello new

tune.

"Way Down Upon the Swanee River" may be out if efforts to retire the current state song and find a replacement are successful. Online voting has opened for three nominees, and the winner will go before lawmakers for consideration in 2008.

A staff report

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