Tuesday I told you about NAIOP Florida president Steve Tombrink being dismissed at Equity Inc. in Tampa and expressed a thought about how that affects its massive mixed-use development in south Hillsborough County. I got my answer Wednesday morning, straight from the company chief in Ohio.
Equity CEO Steve Wathen tells me that Southshore Commons, a long-term project eventually covering 128 acres near Interstate 75, is still a go despite a postponement of its original groundbreaking planned this past summer. He says the $280-million project has financing and “will be the shining star of that region” when it’s finished over the coming decade, adding that Tombrink was not involved with it.
Wathen also says minor changes within Equity’s 20-employee regional office, involving a few other folks besides Tombrink, do not reflect badly on the company’s plans down here: “Florida is a fine place to be and the market is still relatively vibrant compared to a lot of other places.”
I should also point out that even though Equity touted Tombrink when he was hired in June 2007, he was not the company’s top exec down here. Kevin Connolly is Equity’s managing director of the Southeast region and says he looks to break ground on Southshore Commons in late 2009. More details are coming soon.
One can only hope that this mall fails. This is a nice peaceful area that doesn’t need yet another shopping mall. It makes me sick that people can’t drive 20 miles either to Ellenton or to Brandon to do their shopping!