NEWS

Construction begins on final retail component

by Tiffany Razzano

Tuesday February 19, 2015

Kitson executives who came out for the Feb. 19 groundbreaking include Tom Hoban, Al Dougherty, Gary Nelson, Tim Johnson, Matt Buehler and Ginny Feiner. Robert Bandes and Mike Hoovey from Bandes Construction Co., Inc. also attended.

SEMINOLE – Kitson & Partners broke ground on the final retail component of its 60-acre mixed-use development at Bay Pines Feb. 19.

Two leases have already been executed for the 9,100-square-foot building. Starbucks and Jimmy John’s will move into the retail space once construction is completed in the third quarter of this year.

Matt Buehler, the development’s property manager, said Super Cuts is about to sign a lease as well and negotiations are underway with AT&T.

This brings the development’s total retail space to 216,000 square feet. A Super Walmart opened at the site, which is located at 10005 Bay Pines Blvd., in July of last year after relocating from a shopping center at Tyrone Boulevard and Park Street. A Texas Roadhouse restaurant is set to open on March 2, and a Village Inn is planned for the development as well.

“We have been fortunate to be able to work with the city of Seminole and Pinellas County on this unique opportunity to pursue large-scale mixed-use development in an urban development,” said Tom Hoban, president and chief investment officer of Kitson, in a press release. “This building gives us, as the master developer, a stake in the project going forward and demonstrates our great confidence in long-term success.”

Kitson, which is based out of Palm Beach Gardens, purchased the property in 2010 and entered a development agreement with the city of Seminole in 2013.

In addition to the retail component, the residential portion of the project is under development by KB Homes and is more than 70 percent sold out.

The only commercial opportunity that is approved for the site and not currently under construction is a 130-bed hotel. Buehler said the hotel has been taken off the market until the remaining retail construction is done.

“We’re very excited,” Hoban said. “There’s a lot going on.”

Article published on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015

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