Florida Trend articles from October 2005

Florida Trend archives from October 2005

Hot Downtowns?(readers)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2005... Your Hot Downtowns feature [August, FloridaTrend.com] noted that the delay in the Shipyards project, which breaks ground later this year by the way, was the sole purpose for Jacksonville's lack of inclusion, yet you even point out the deal with...

Vouchers.(readers)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2005... The Florida Supreme Court will soon decide whether giving poor parents the same ability to choose good schools for their children that wealthy parents enjoy violates state constitutional provisions against funding religion and requiring the...

Water.(readers)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2005... I need to compliment Cynthia Barnett on an incredibly excellent article on Florida water! ["The Truth About Water in Florida," August, FloridaTrend.com] I am a full-time college student at Polk Community College in Lakeland (where I also live)...

Designing a better kitchen.(executive lifestyles: Bosses Who Cook)
October 1, 2005... GARY PAUL Architect / Interior Designer FORT LAUDERDALE SECRET TO A GREAT KITCHEN: Think about how you walk through a kitchen, cook a meal, read the paper and drink your coffee--that's how you should design it. Architect...

Boyhood passion.(Matt Mathia's exposure to fine wines and cuisine)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... MATT MATHIAS Division President / U.S. Trust Co. NAPLES BEST COOKING RESOURCE: The Naples Winter Wine Festival. Vendors are ready to answer questions and share new cooking tips, and the vintners' dinners are delicious, he...

Kitchen chemistry.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... SANDY SHUGART President / CEO Valencia Community College ORLANDO FAVORITE PLACES TO SHOP: Fresh Market and the Haitian and Latino markets in his neighborhood near Ocoee, especially a Mexican market called Mi Ranchito. ...

The three-kitchen condos.(executive lifestyles: Bosses Who Cook)
October 1, 2005... Apogee, a residential high-rise soon to grace Miami's skyline, is raising the bar on top-of-the-line kitchens. Construction began this summer on the 67-residence South Beach tower, which is offering three kitchen prototypes for the discerning...

New options: increased funding is fueling new developments for diagnosis, treatment and prevention.(executive health: Breast Cancer)
October 1, 2005... Breast cancer cases nationwide have tripled in the past 30 years, and the disease is now stoking patients in their 20s and 30s instead of late 50s or olden That might be because women are more diligent about looking for it, says Jane Torres,...

Seeing the light.(trendsetters[TM]: University Research & Tech Transfer)
October 1, 2005... PETER DELFYETT Trustee chair professor, optics / University of Central Florida ORLANDO PH.D.: City University of New York RECREATION: Swimming, biking, some chess and the drums DRUMMING HEROES: Elvin Jones, Billy Cobham...

An early jump.(trendsetters[TM]: University Research & Tech Transfer)
October 1, 2005... DR. ELIZABETH FRANZNANN Assistant professor, otolaryngology / University of Miami EDUCATION: Bachelor's, 1990, and M.D., 1995, UCLA; residency, University of Miami, completed in 2000; fellowship, head and neck oncology, completed in...

Joint project.
October 1, 2005... SCOTT BANKS Assistant professor / UF Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering / Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation GAINESWLLE EDUCATION: Bachelor's and master's, biomedical engineering, Case Western Reserve...

A fight on his hands: Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez's plan to reform county government isn't coming easy.
October 1, 2005... Since he took office in November, county Mayor Carlos Alvarez has seen his relationship with the county commission go from frosty to downright combative. Alvarez continues to barrel ahead with the take-it-or-leave-it reform agenda that got him...

Taking the first blow.(HURRICANE KATRINA)
October 1, 2005... MIAMI-DADE -- Before heading up the Gulf Coast, Hurricane Katrina swept through south Florida as a Category 1 storm, leaving more than a half-million homes without power, some for as long as a week, and killing four people. Miami-Dade officials...

Aventura Mall.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... AVENTURA -- The upscale Aventura Mall has announced plans to add 200,000 square feet by mid-2007. The plan also includes a long-term deal for a Nordstrom department store--which would make it the sixth to open in south Florida since 2000.

Kellogg School of Management.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... CORAL GABLES -- Northwestern University's prestigious Kellogg School of Management will open a Coral Gables campus with classes beginning in January for its executive MBA program.

University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... The University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies will launch a fast-track program to prepare nursing instructors starting in January. The program, aided by a $1.28-million state grant, is designed to help the school expand...

Armando Codina.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... Commercial real estate developer Armando Codina, chairman and CEO of Coral Gables-based Codina Group and a one-time business partner of Gov. Jeb Bush, has been named to Merrill Lynch's board of directors.

Hialeah Speedway.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... HIALEAH -- After more than 50 years in operation, the Hialeah Speedway has ceased operations, giving way to a 300,000-sq.-ft. retail development.

Raul Martinez.(mayor at a glance)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Raul Martinez, the first Cuban-born mayor of a major Florida city, has announced he will not seek re-election, ending a 24-year tenure as chief executive of Miami-Dade's second-largest city. Martinez enjoys enormous popularity in this...

Key West beaches.(beaches )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... KEY WEST -- Two Key West beaches made the state's list of the 10 most frequently closed due to high levels of bacteria, according to a report from The Natural Resources Defense Council. On average, Higgs Beach and South Beach were closed more...

Terremark.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... MIAMI -- Terremark (AMEX-TWW), a Miami internet infrastructure company, bought Dedigate, a privately held European-managed dedicated hosting provider, in exchange for 1.6 million shares of Terremark's common stock, which trades for about $7 a...

Health insurance.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... Miami ranks as the third most expensive city in the U.S. for individual health insurance, according to a new study by eHealthinsurance Services. Only New York and Boston--where laws guarantee access to health insurance--have higher costs. Miami...

LNR Capital Corp.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... LNR Capital Corp., the financing and investment spinoff of homebuilder Lennar, has announced plans for a $750-million IPO, returning the company to the New York Stock Exchange just six months after being taken private in a $3.8-billion deal.

Miami Tech Line Maintenance.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... Aircraft maintenance provider Miami Tech Line Maintenance plans to expand its operations at Miami International Airport, adding more than 200 to its existing workforce of about 50 over the next three years.

WSG Development Co.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... MIAMI BEACH -- In what may be the largest single residential construction loan in south Florida, WSG Development Co. has closed on a $386-million loan deal for its Canyon Ranch Living, a six-acre oceanfront high-rise project due for completion...

Property tax roll.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... MIAMI-DADE -- County officials say MiamiDade's total property tax roll increased 16.5% last year to about $170 billion, the highest jump in nearly 30 years.

Metrorail.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... The county's plan for the much-anticipated east-west and north spurs of the elevated Metrorail public transportation system received a boost when federal lawmakers included funding for the $2.2-billion project in the recent highway and transit...

Holiday Inn Express.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... Construction is under way on the first-ever hotel adjacent to Kendall-Tamiami Airport. County officials say the Holiday Inn Express signals the airport's growing importance as a link to Miami-Dade's fast-growing southern fringes.

Promises, promises: a hedge fund scam takes Palm Beach's wealthy for millions.(INVESTING)
October 1, 2005... From their nearly 11,000 square feet of luxury office space in downtown West Palm Beach, the principals of the KL Group hedge fund had a panoramic view of the mansion-studded island from which they could draw well-heeled clients. ...

Mizner Trail golf course.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... BOCA RATON -- A proposal to build 236 single-family homes and town houses on part of the Mizner Trail golf course has generated hundreds of negative responses from nearby residents worried about traffic and school crowding.

Single-family homes.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... BROWARD COUNTY -- The median price of existing single-family homes in Broward County shows signs of leveling but is still 28% higher than it was a year ago. As of July, the median price in Broward had reached $385,600, according to the Florida...

Prescription drug websites.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... DAVIE -- A Broward man was sentenced to 33 months in prison and will pay a $16-million fine as part of a plea agreement reached on charges of operating prescription drug websites that allowed customers to purchase controlled substances without...

Kaplan University.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... FORT LAUDERDALE -- Kaplan University is expanding its online student support center, creating 660 jobs in Fort Lauderdale. The university plans to invest $41.7 million in its new facilities, business equipment and networking services.

Core urban services area.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... MARTIN COUNTY -- Commissioners have put the brakes on a proposal to extend water and sewer lines beyond the core urban services area, heeding the concerns of environmentalists and others who dubbed the idea the "Browardization amendment."

Applica.(violation company policy)
October 1, 2005... MIRAMAR -- Applica (NYSE-APN), a maker of small appliances, has sued a group of employees and former employees, alleging that the group has violated company policy by posting anonymous comments about the company on an internet message board....

Convention and Visitors Bureau Chief Executive Warren McLaughlin.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... PALM BEACH COUNTY -- Plans to give Convention and Visitors Bureau Chief Executive Warren McLaughlin a $26,000 bonus hit a snag after the Palm Beach Post reported that a pay study showing McLaughlin earns less than peers in big cities failed to...

Charter schools Delray Boynton Academy and Riviera Beach Academy have sued the school district, seeking an injunction to prevent the district from closing them.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... Charter schools Delray Boynton Academy and Riviera Beach Academy have sued the school district, seeking an injunction to prevent the district from closing them. The schools received "F" grades in 2004 and 2005.

Palm Beach County Research Park.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... County commissioners have voted to seek proposals from qualified master builders for the Palm Beach County Research Park adjoining the Scripps Research Institute's new Florida campus. The decision follows two years of frustration for the county...

Florida Power and Light Co.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... Florida Power and Light Co. is soliciting proposals from power plant developers for two new plants in western Palm Beach County. The natural-gas powered plants are expected to be on line in 2009 and 2010.

Palm Beach Gardens--Cross Match Technologies, the maker of a digital fingerprinting device.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... PALM BEACH GARDENS -- Cross Match Technologies, the maker of a digital fingerprinting device, has named former Immigration and Naturalization Service Commissioner James Ziglar chief executive officer, replacing Ted Johnson, who will stay on as...

Community redevelopment agency.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... RIVER BEACH -- Three state legislators and two Palm Beach County commissioners are calling for a state financial audit of the city and its community redevelopment agency. Questions about internal financial controls could hamper the city's...

South Florida--Samples of a bright green algae bloom covering a large section of the St. Lucie River and a West Palm Beach canal.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... SOUTH FLORIDA -- Samples of a bright green algae bloom covering a large section of the St. Lucie River and a West Palm Beach canal show that some of it is toxic, health officials say.

Tropicana Products.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... ST. LUCIE COUNTY -- Tropicana Products will pay the county about $400,000 to buy methane produced by a local landfill. The company will use the gas to power boilers.

Helen Wilkes Hotel.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... WEST PALM BEACH -- WCI Communities demolished the 1920s-era Helen Wilkes Hotel to make room for luxury condominiums with prices starting at more than $1 million. City officials, however, have declared a temporary moratorium on developing the...

Jacuzzi Brands (NYSE-JJZ) has named Alex Marini COO.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... Jacuzzi Brands (NYSE-JJZ) has named Alex Marini COO. Marini, formerly president of the plumbing division, replaces Donald Devine. Jacuzzi cited a cold housing market in the United Kingdom for recent earnings losses.

Fueling an interest: a Tampa businessman aims to boost Florida's use of ethanol as an alternative fuel.(ENERGY SOURCES)
October 1, 2005... While Florida ranks third in the nation in gasoline consumption, it's one of only 14 states where drivers can't choose a cleaner-burning and cheaper mix of gasoline and ethanol, a grain alcohol. For Bradley Krohn, a businessman who's a...

Katherine Harris' net worth.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... SARASOTA--U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris cashed in between $5.1 million and $25.25 million worth of BHG Inc. stock last year, according to her most recent financial disclosure report. Disclosures were due in May, but Harris, a Republican who is...

First Home Builders of Florida.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... CAPE CORAL -- National homebuilder Hovanian Enterprises recently bought out First Home Builders of Florida, based in Cape Coral and Fort Myers, for an undisclosed amount.

Clearwater--JMC Communities has broken ground on the Sandpearl Resort & Residences.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... CLEARWATER -- JMC Communities has broken ground on the Sandpearl Resort & Residences, which will feature a 253-room luxury hotel, 117 condos and retail space along Mandalay Avenue.

Tourism campaign.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... COLLIER COUNTY -- The county is kicking off a tourism campaign aimed at attracting more visitors from Chicago, New York, Orlando and Tampa Bay. It is financing the marketing campaign by increasing the county's bed tax.

Kohl's Department Stores.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... LAKELAND -- Kohl's Department Stores is opening a store in Lakeland this month and will hire 150 employees. The Wisconsin-based discount retail chain will hire a total of 1,500 for 10 new store openings around the state, including three in...

GeoPharma.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... LARGO -- Through a new subsidiary, GeoPharma has acquired all the assets of Consolidated Pharmaceutical Group, an antibiotic manufacturer based in Baltimore.

Summit Home Respiratory Services.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... NAPLES -- Michigan-based Arcadia Resources acquired Summit Home Respiratory Services, a medical and respiratory equipment provider that serves Naples, Bonita Springs and Fort Myers. Arcadia also recently acquired United Health Care Services,...

Oldsmar--Mercedes Walton was named chief executive officer of Cryo-Cell International, a family cord blood bank service.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... OLDSMAR -- Mercedes Walton was named chief executive officer of Cryo-Cell International, a family cord blood bank service. She has served as the company's interim CEO since April 2003.

AirTran Airways.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... SARASOTA -- AirTran Airways (NYSE-AAI) has added daily non-stop, round-trip flights between Sarasota Bradenton International Airport and New York's LaGuardia Airport and Boston's Logan International Airport.

Boars Head.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... The meat and cheese delicatessen giant Boars Head is relocating its headquarters from the Sarasota Quay to the Sarasota City Center, where it will lease 40,400 square feet of office space.

Glass artist Dale Chihuly.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... ST. PETERSBURG -- The works of glass artist Dale Chihuly will be showcased at the new Arts Center, which is going up in the historic Landmark Union Trust Bank building. The Chihuly Collection and the Arts Center are centerpieces of a new...

Gov. Jeb Bush tapped St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker to head the new Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... Gov. Jeb Bush tapped St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker to head the new Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida, which will work on growth management issues.

Industrial construction.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... TAMPA -- Industrial construction in the Tampa Bay area totaled 2.05 million square feet in the second quarter--the highest quarterly total since March 2001, according to real estate services company Colliers Arnold. There were 12 buildings...

Developer Grady Pridgen acquired the former Nielsen Media Co. complex in Dunedin and the former Bright House property adjacent to it.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... Developer Grady Pridgen acquired the former Nielsen Media Co. complex in Dunedin and the former Bright House property adjacent to it, bringing his total holdings to 2.5 million square feet.

The University of South Florida and the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute renewed their affiliation with a 10-year agreement that calls for the creation of a board to support interdisciplinary oncology.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... The University of South Florida and the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute renewed their affiliation with a 10-year agreement that calls for the creation of a board to support interdisciplinary oncology. The agreement "sets up...

Street smart: several measures aim to make a dent in the number of traffic problems plaguing Orlando.(TRANSPORTATION)
October 1, 2005... Hoping to ease Orlando's notorious traffic woes, central Florida leaders are developing plans for a commuter train that eventually will run through Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola counties from 5 a.m. to midnight. In the meantime,...

Altamonte Springs--informally known as the Altamonte Town Center, a $250-million, 1.5 million-sq.-ft. mixed-use project planned at Cranes Roost Park off Interstate 4 and State Road 436 now has an official name: Uptown Altamonte.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... ALTAMONTE SPRINGS -- Informally known as the Altamonte Town Center, a $250-million, 1.5 million-sq.-ft. mixed-use project planned at Cranes Roost Park off Interstate 4 and State Road 436 now has an official name: Uptown Altamonte. The largest...

MyRegion.org.(perservation of historic parts)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... CENTRAL FLORIDA -- The seven counties of MyRegion.org--Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole and Volusia--have announced their commitment to preserve seven natural and historic parts of the state: The St. Johns Mosaic and...

Workforce Development Board of Flagler and Volusia Counties.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... DAYTONA BEACH -- The Workforce Development Board of Flagler and Volusia Counties has changed its name and moved to 329 Bill France Blvd., where it's now called the Center for Business Excellence, led by Rick Fraser. Its new web address is...

Marina Grande on the Halifax.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... HOLLY HILL -- Boca Developers of Deerfield Beach has broken ground on the first of four 25-story towers at Marina Grande on the Halifax, a 972-unit condominium project on the Halifax River.

1001 Colonial Center Heathrow.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... LAKE MARY -- Alabama-based Colonial Properties Trust has purchased a 192,000-sq.-ft. office building at 1001 Colonial Center Heathrow from Pizzuti Realty of Columbus, Ohio, for an undisclosed price.

Electronic Arts.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... MAITLAND -- Electronic Arts has acquired competitor Hypnotix, the maker of Outlaw Golf and Outlaw Tennis video games. The California-based company's Maitland office, EA Tiburon, now employs 540 workers. Meanwhile, the company has received...

Financing your business's growth.(Special Advertising Section)(Advertisement)
October 1, 2005... Business owners are always looking for ways to grow their business. At SunTrust, we've found that a lack of capital at a critical time is one of the most common obstacles to business success. Financing purchases for equipment, office space or...

OCOEE--Developers of TimeShareWare and CondotelWare, software for the timeshare and hotel/condo industries, have opened a central Florida office as a satellite to TimeShareWare's headquarters in Salt Lake City.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... OCOEE -- Developers of TimeShareWare and CondotelWare, software for the timeshare and hotel/condo industries, have opened a central Florida office as a satellite to TimeShareWare's headquarters in Salt Lake City. It's expected to employ up to...

Lockheed Martin Corp.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... ORLANDO -- The military has placed several multimillion-dollar contracts lately with two Orlando divisions of Lockheed Martin Corp. The Simulation, Training & Support division is supplying virtual combat convoy trainers and gunnery training...

The Crossroads at Lake Buena Vista shopping center.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... ITW Mortgage Investment IV has sold The Crossroads at Lake Buena Vista shopping center for $57 million to New York-based financial company TIAA-CREE The property is off State Road 535 at the Interstate 4 Lake Buena Vista exit.

CNL Financial Group.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... CNL Financial Group is expanding its development arm and doubling the staff to about two dozen. Former St. Joe/Arvida executive Timothy Edmond is now heading up CNL Realty & Development.

Park Central apartment complex.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... New York-based investment group RAK Acquisitions is converting the 1,081-unit Park Central apartment complex in southwest Orlando into condos. RAK paid $151 million for the complex.

Ormond Beach--along Interstate 95 at U.S. Highway 1, a new Harley-Davidson dealership that will double as an official visitors center for the Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is the centerpiece of a $40-million, mixed-use complex dubbed Destination Daytona expected to open in time for the Oct. 20-23 Biketoberfest.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... ORMOND BEACH -- Along Interstate 95 at U.S. Highway 1, a new Harley-Davidson dealership that will double as an official visitors center for the Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is the centerpiece of a $40-million, mixed-use...

Sonesta Orlando Resort at Tierra Del Sol.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... OSCEOLA COUNTY -- American Leisure Holdings has obtained financing for the Sonesta Orlando Resort at Tierra Del Sol, a 972-unit timeshare property with a water park to be located on 122 acres on U.S. Highway 27 just north of Interstate 4 at...

Helicopter Adventures.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... TITUSVILLE -- Helicopter Adventures, an internationally recognized flight training school, has added four classrooms at its Space Coast Regional Airport facility. The school employs more than 50 pilots who train about 250 students a year from...

Grosse Point Development.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... WINDERMERE -- Fort Myers-based Grosse Point Development has purchased 549 acres on Lake Hancock at Horizon West to begin construction early next year on Summerlake, which will include 1,576 homesites.

A huge waste: growth is outstripping Columbia County's wastewater system.(INFRASTRUCTURE)
October 1, 2005... Columbia County is finally experiencing the kind of building boom business leaders have been anticipating for years. But all the growth may grind to a halt unless county leaders either build a new wastewater system or greatly expand the...

Sysco.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... ALACHUA -- Sysco, North America's largest food distributor, will build a 500,000-sq.-ft. warehouse on 300 acres on the northwest corner of CR 235A and CR 235. The facility, which will be across the street from a future Wal-Mart distribution...

Clay County--three hospital chains will ask state regulators for permission to build hospitals in the fast-growing county.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... CLAY COUNTY -- Three hospital chains will ask state regulators for permission to build hospitals in the fast-growing county. Baptist Health was the first to announce plans to build a $95-million facility on 32 acres near Fleming Island...

Illegal dumping.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... A grand jury looking into an illegal dumping scandal and other allegations of malfeasance declined to indict any members of the Clay County Commission. Instead, the grand jury simply instructed board members to "do their job."

St. Johns River Water Management District.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... The St. Johns River Water Management District will buy 3,303 acres in western Clay County for $18.4 million. The land is part of the 114,000-acre, three-county Northeast Florida Timberland and Watershed Reserve.

First Coast Service Options.(IN THE NEWS)
October 1, 2005... First Coast Service Options will hire an additional 320 employees at its Fleming Island call center to service a new Medicare contract. The contract is expected to generate more than 10,000 calls daily, most related to the new Medicare...