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Town Center Land Available But Not For Sale

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By KEVIN WIATROWSKI

kwiatrowski@tampatrib.com

Published: March 27, 2009

WESLEY CHAPEL - The man charged with handling the northern portion of Cypress Creek Town Center said Thursday the property is not for sale.

The 150-acre site north of State Road 56 is available for lease, said Henry Hillsman, vice president of Brightwork Real Estate, which posted a sign on the property Wednesday declaring it "available." The company is looking for tenants, and developers envision a mix of retail, commercial and office spaces and apartments.

"We're staying in touch with people," Hillsman said.

Tampa-based developer John R. "Hi" Sierra owns the land, part of 510 acres straddling S.R. 56 just west of the junction with Interstate 75. The south side of the property is divided between Sierra's company and Cleveland-based Richard E. Jacobs Group, which intends to put more than 1 million square feet of retail space on the property.

Work on both sides of the property has been suspended since early 2008 when heavy rain caused muddy runoff to pollute Cypress Creek, which borders the property on the west and south. That pollution prompted the Army Corps of Engineers to suspend the developers' permit to work on crucial parts of the site.

Brightwork Real Estate is working to secure a gas station for part of the property in the northwest corner of State Road 54 and Wesley Chapel Boulevard. Sierra and Walgreens have agreed on a land lease for the same corner, according to documents filed this month with Pasco County. Construction on that store is under way.

Reporter Kevin Wiatrowski can be reached at (813) 948-4201.

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