Paula Clair Smith, CCIM Licensed Commercial Real Estate Broker

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) took home the 2013 Good ‘Burger Award after close to 6,000 people voted for the best in Community Service and Non-Profits.  The awards program was launched this year by the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce®, designed to honor Chamber members who make a positive impact in the community.  SPCA Tampa Bay is the community leader in animal advocacy and is committed to keeping families together.

Good intentions brought Tropicana field to St. Petersburg in 1986 and now nearly 30 years later, good intentions may be pointing to a different use!  The home of MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays could be designed to become a new home for hundreds of residents, as well as businesses and retail.  As the Rays work through the process for a new stadium, enthusiasts and developers discuss the pros and cons of using the Trop to revitalize this portion of the city through reurbanization.  High-rises, shops, restaurants, parking garages, office buildings, and public transit could potentially rejuvenate the Tropicana’s 85 acres of asphalt and remaining debt. Tropicana field could become the new one-stop Trop!  

CAUTION, Woman with power tool!

Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED) has introduced a wonderful new tool: the Pinellas Commercial Real Estate Database.  This site is so much more than just a property search and beneficial for both agents and clients. Categorized and easy to navigate, the site offers information broken down by Data Center, Entrepreneurs, Expansion & Relocation, Site Selectors and Redevelopment.  Within these tabs are a wealth of information and additional tools that even the most seasoned Investor or Real Estate Agent will appreciate.  Find buildings, sites, businesses and community information with filters that cut down on search time. There are also heat maps in which you can select demographic data, consumer expenses and labor force information.

Crises averted? For now. Last minute wheeling and dealing on Capitol Hill resulted in a bill that no one really knows the contents of and a lot of mixed feelings. Investors however, can take a brief sigh of relief; “brief” being the key word. With more budget instability on the way, investors need to keep a close eye on the upcoming months as decisions in February and March will reveal spending cuts and the federal borrowing limit.

Team Edwards anyone? Sometimes when business and politics collide, good things happen for the City of St. Petersburg. Entrepreneur and philanthropist, Bill Edwards, announced today an important addition to his company’s team. Targeted for his success in the growth of the City of St. Pete, Former Mayor Rick Baker will be adding yet another label to his repertoire, President…of the Edwards Group that is. He will be resigning as Vice President of Economic Development at USF on December 31^st.  As part of Baker’s new position, he will oversee The Shops at St. Pete, formerly known as Baywalk and the Mahaffey Theater.

The over 5,000 member Pinellas Realtor Organization has publicly endorsed current Sheriff Bob Gualtieri this week for Pinellas County Sheriff.

With its impressive doorways, arches, columns and overall architecture, the historic Tramor Cafeteria has always fascinated its visitors.

The ever growing downtown St. Pete has prompted a Miami based development company to purchase vacant land downtown. However, it was the activity that Tropicana brings that persuaded American Land Ventures to move forward with the purchase of 2.8 acres south of the Publix on 3rd Street S.

eMason, a web development and outsourcing company has just signed a lease to occupy 40,647 square feet of space at 11399 16th Court N in St. Petersburg, part of the Roosevelt Technology Center.  

At one time The Palladium Theater's arches welcomed thousands upon thousands of people past its door, through its lobby and into an auditorium with the beckoning music of a pipe organ.

This Thursday and Friday, June 7-8, 2012 I will be attending the 2012 ULI Florida Summit.  The summit rallies around what the State of Florida can do to make the most out of its future  and current economic position.

A block located in downtown St. Pete is about to come back to life if the rumors are true.

Finding your perfect office space isn’t always easy. These are my top 5 tips to finding your perfect office space quickly and efficiently!

The ever rapidly growing C1 Bank headquarters (formerly Community Bank & Co.) located in Lakewood Ranch and the largest bank currently in Manatee county, has just signed a lease to move its corporate headquarters to St. Petersburg.

An expert in the commercial real estate market stated recently that he believes the commercial real estate market will heat up in this upcoming third quarter of 2012.

Sweet! by The Cake Factory has taken the gourmet cupcake trend to a new level by adding a cupcake bar where patrons can create their own gourmet treats.  The cupcake bar is housed in Sweet!’s new location -- a 1,010-square-foot space at 1100 4^th St. N in St. Petersburg.

As the transactional broker for the lease, I am excited for the continued revitalization of this area of downtown St. Pete. The first to lease a space in the newly acquired Smith & Associates real estate brokerage building, Sweet! now has enhanced visibility and more parking for its customers.

Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg is not only home to the Tampa Bay Rays, but to a host of events that bring visitors to the downtown area.  The latest Tropicana event, the Pinellas County Fair, will host its annual fair for the first time in the Tropicana Field parking lot this year.
  
The Pinellas County Fair will attract residents from the Tampa Bay area and neighboring counties, giving downtown St. Pete the opportunity to showcase its businesses to people who don’t typically travel to the city. The fair opens March 28 and will run through April 1.

The Pinellas Alternatives Analysis Project Advisory Committee has recommended construction of 24 miles of light rail transit in Pinellas County. The newly proposed light rail would offer connections between St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Pinellas Park and Gateway.

In Minneapolis during a recent visit I experienced firsthand the efficiency of light rail. It does not compromise retail or business as some suggest. In fact, it eliminates traffic congestion and encourages walking.

Light rail in Tampa Bay is long overdue and the lack of it is one of the area’s biggest stumbling blocks. If we can connect the corridors in our cities and then connect our cities, it would be a great collaborative effort.

On February 23, take advantage of the opportunity to learn real-time information to take your business to the next level. Our “Business Strategies: Poised for Growth” seminar will take place from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at 4100 4th St. N, St. Petersburg in the Wells Fargo building, with a Q&A session following the presentations.

As you grow your company, it’s important that you know now how to successfully manage the various aspects of the business structure, financial picture and facility needs. With this in mind, I’ve assembled a team of presenters who have extensive knowledge in the specialties of real estate, credit, insurance and investing.