KEEPING THE NEWS LOCAL & THE COMMUNITY CONNECTED.
VOLUME 3 EDITION 6
JUNE 2022
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Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel Now Under Construction
Groundbreaking Ceremony Set for July 14, 2022, 4-6 pm Avalon Park Group/sitEX announced today that they have entered into an agreement with Lema Construction to start construction on the first phase of Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. PAGE 2
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“We have been working with Pasco County over the past several years to develop a program that will be a win-win for the entire Wesley Chapel community,” Kahli says. “Community partnerships are vital to our mission to change the way the world lives, learns, works and plays, by creating a place where everyone can feel like they belong.”
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theater is in permitting and will begin construction later this summer. The park will host community events such as Avalon Aglow and Fourth of July celebrations, as well as community partners like Jazz Under the Starz and The Wesley Chapel Theater Group, who are already hosting events and activities in the community. Construction of both the park and mixed-use building are scheduled for completion in late 2023.
According to the agreement, the 3-story, 73,067 SF mixed-use building starts construction June 2022 and plans to include 40 multi-family apartments and 23,720 SF of commercial/retail space on the ground floor. Initial plans for the commercial/retail space include an approximately 12,000 SF food hall called the Marketplace at Avalon Park and the 4th location of the globally connected co-working space, The 5th Floor. Both concepts have been successful since their opening in 2021 in the flagship Avalon Park Orlando.
Upon completion, Avalon Park Wesley Chapel will encompass more than 1,800 acres and will host approximately 400,000 square feet of retail and 100,000 square feet of office space in its downtown. The initial construction in Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel began in 2018 with the addition of the Pinecrest Academy K-7 Charter School. Pinecrest is also now under construction of its second phase which includes the addition of approximately 600 6th-8th grade student stations.
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COMMUNITY UPDATES
“This phase of construction really helps us move even closer to that vision of building a place where families can build memories and traditions together in a town they can call their own,” says Beat Kahli, CEO, Avalon Park Group/sitEX. “And while this may not be the most cost-effective time to begin construction, we feel like it is important to continue on to the next step in developing our vision for Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.” Additionally, a 2-acre community park with an amphi-
The community is invited to attend the groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, July 14th, 4-6 pm at the construction site, 33613 SR 54, Wesley Chapel, FL 33543. Refreshments will be provided, and guests will enjoy performances and entertainment by community partners, Jazz Under the Starz, The Wesley Chapel Theater Group and the Pasco County Fine Arts Council. For more information on Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, please visit online at www.AvalonParkWesleyChapel. com or email Info@AvalonParkWesleyChapel.com.
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Coffee Hour with BEAT
As I sit here writing this article on Memorial Day, I reflect on the meaning and importance of this day. Today we celebrate and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the armed forces. May we never forget our fallen friends. Freedom is not free. America is the home of the free because of the brave. Memorial Day has also come to serve as an unofficial start to summer with camps for the kids, family vacations, going to the beach and cookouts. And as summer begins, I can’t help but think that at Avalon Park Group I sometimes wish we could just take off for a month, enjoy the summer, not look at e-mails, and have no meetings or deadlines. Then I reminded of something that one of my closest business partners and friends said. He said that at APG we are often more concerned about planning for what could go wrong, than celebrating our many victories, and I had to agree. So, as we move
into the summer, we will be cautious, but we will also be focusing on celebrating victories of all sizes.
then they did at the end of 2019. It looks as though consumers are likely able to continue spending for a while.
for a downturn, at APG we are cautiously continuing to move ahead with our longterm plans.
As many are making plans for the summer by filling up the car with gas or buying a plane ticket, they are feeling it in their wallets. And as a result the question that I keep hearing asked to myself and others is, “Are we headed for a recession?”
Sometimes I play to our management team the song “The Gambler” from Kenny Rogers: “You got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away, and know when to run.”
As we did in 2007, we never stopped building, and we will not do so now. We just signed a contract to build a 3-story mixed-use building, which will have a Marketplace food hall and The 5th Floor co-working space in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. Additionally, lot development continues in Avalon Park Tavares and our Texas operations. These are all victories we will kick this summer off celebrating! While we will be mindful of a likely downturn, we will proceed, but proceed with caution.
The last severe recession was back in 2008, and it was catastrophic for the real estate industry and millions of homeowners lost their houses to foreclosure. Countless companies went under, household brands in finance and banking like Washington Mutual, Colonial Bank and ING closed their doors for good. And in the real estate industry homebuilders like Levitt Homes, Mercedes Homes and many others went bankrupt. Right now, in many places people sound as though a recession is already here. Yet, so far, what people say and what people do seem to be two different things. On OpenTable restaurant bookings are still above the pre-pandemic norm, America’s retail sales are still increasing, and hotel occupancy continues to improve. Additionally, 65% of low-income families’ bank accounts have higher balances
Do I believe that we are back in 2005, when I wrote in this paper the column “Homebuyer Beware” and found it “was time to run” from the housing market? Is this the reason we sold our homebuilding company 6 months ago? And are otherwise selling some of our real estate assets? I admit in that in part the economic climate feels like this, however I also believe that 2022 is different than the great recession which started in 2007. While worries are certainly mounting, and I advise you to prepare
So, while we continue to keep a close eye on the economy, we are also encouraging you to enjoy the summer and celebrate the victories. Have a great summer!
GET IN TOUCH - Have an inclusion for the Avalon Park Sun? Email: info@AvalonParkSun.com - Editorial Staff: Publisher: Beat Kahli Content Editor: Marielle Fernandez and Stephanie Lerret Graphic & Layout Editor: Kenzie Farrish 407.658.6565 3801 Avalon Park East Blvd. #400 Orlando, FL 32828
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Update from Pasco County Commissioner munity.
I hope you and your family had a wonderful month of May! It is the start of summer and please make sure you get out this summer and enjoy all the beautiful activities we have to offer in Pasco County.
Wilton Simpson with the TDC Chairman’s Choice Award. President Simpson has been a great leader for tourism, both across the state of Florida and in Pasco County. Congratulations to all the other award winners: Lisa Moore of Hampton Inn, The Shops at Wiregrass, AdventHealth Center Ice, and Captain Wendy Longman.
The Florida’s Sports Coast annual awards were held on May 5th in front of a sold out crowd. As the Tourist Development Council Chairman, I had the honor of presenting Florida Senate President
Thaddeus Bullard, a.k.a. WWE Global Ambassador Titus O’Neil was the keynote speaker at the Florida’s Sports Coast annual awards. He has a powerful life story and does an incredible job giving back to our com-
May also brings the end of the school year and graduation season! I had the privilege of being the keynote speaker for Pepin Academies Pasco commencement ceremony. It was moving ceremony and I was
As summer is starting, please make sure you check out all the resources Pasco County has to offer! New River Library near Avalon Park Wesley Chapel is newly renovated, Wesley Chapel District Park has the new gymnasium and the inclusive playground, and much more.
thrilled to meet share thoughts and hear from the graduating seniors. Please check out Pasco County’s website at MyPasco.net for all the latest information. I hope you and your family have a great June! About: Commissioner Mike Moore represents District 2 on the Pasco County Commission. He lives in Wesley Chapel with his wife and three children.
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Pinecrest Academy Updates Middle school end of year Hawaiian Luau!
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Check out our june events. there is something for everyone, and We can’t wait to see you soon! virtual options available online!
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Is There a Difference Between a Meeting Room and a Conference Room?
While both meetings and conferences are gatherings where professionals discuss a specific subject, they require two very different types of rooms. To best serve your guests and accomplish your professional goals, you should know the difference between a meeting room and a conference room and which to reserve for your scheduled business event.
each other’s ideas.
Facts About Conference Rooms Conference rooms are best for large, formal meetings. Many businesses require conference rooms for presentations, company training, video conference calls, and large meetings with existing or potential clients and team members. Some conference rooms can seat a Qualities of a Meeting Rooms dozen or more people. These Meeting rooms are typically rooms are often equipped small rooms that fit around with a long table with many four to eight people. Meetchairs as well as high-tech ings are generally informal capabilities such as a projecproceedings where select tor, TV, conference phone, and team members meet up to computer to aid with presenand brainstorm over a specif- tations or lectures. ic work-related event or plan their approach for a new proj- Businesses without a ect. Meeting rooms often inconference room that is clude a small table surround- decked out with the right ed by chairs but may also equipment will have difficulty include a dry-erase board for conducting formal meetings notes. with clients or presenting to potential business partners. Businesses that lack a dedicated meeting room will need a space where their employees Professional Meeting Rooms can meet to ignite their collab- Available in Orlando orative creativity and build on If you are a business owner in
need of either a meeting room or a conference room, then contact The 5th Floor Orlando to reserve one of our modern, high-tech spaces. At The 5th Floor Orlando, we offer fully furnished meeting rooms and conference rooms to help you host professional presentations or private meetings. Located above Marketplace at Avalon Park, we also provide virtual offices, lockable cubicles, hot desks, flexible coworking spaces, and private offices for ambitious individuals to collaborate and foster a productive work environment. COMING SOON to Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. Please email info@the5thfloor. com for more information.
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Coming together to create a healthy community
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COMMUNITY CORNER
