5A - Identifying Local Opportunities

1. Brink: St. Petersburg controversial 50-story condo tower? 'That's what downtowns are for.'

• This news article is about a potential 50-story skyscraper that will be built in the downtown St. Pete area. 
• Those living in this area are against a skyscraper of this height being built, as they think it is absurd. They feel it will ruin the small, homey feel that exists in the area by turning into a big city with skyscrapers. Although these speculations still stand, the exact height of the probable building has yet to be determined.
• The problem lies within the views of the downtown St. Pete area being obstructed by a skyscraper which, if approved, will most likely lead additional ones being built. 
• That being said, the developers and the citizens of downtown St. Pete have the problem.

2. Tampa Electric's Big Bend changes face increased opposition

• This news article is about the increased resistance Tampa Electric Co. is facing regarding its plan to convert a coal-powered unit to natural gas.
• At a Hillsborough County Commission meeting, members of the public and various environmental groups expressed their concerns with the plan's cost as well as its health and environmental impacts.
• The problem is that many advocates of the environment strongly believe that renewable resources, like solar energy, would be a better alternative.
• Tampa Electric Co. and Hillsborough County have the problem.

3. Internet buying is killing the malls, reminding some shoppers that malls killed the downtown

• With a spike in internet shopping in recent years, many malls and shopping districts in the Tampa Bay have been forced to be shut down.
• Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater each had a plethora of retail stores, movie theaters and restaurants in its downtown areas that brought it masses of people from the early through the mid-1990s. It was a place where locals would see familiar faces and employees knew regular visitors by their name. 
• The problem is that many of these household name spots have had no choice but to shutdown because they were not making a profit due to the lack of customers; customers have transitioned to online shopping. 
• Owners of these stores and restaurants have the problem.

4. Sales of Tampa Bay homes in December

• Prices of single-family home skyrocketed in the month of December causing sales to plunge - something that is partially due to higher interest rates seen throughout 2018.
• Statewide sales of single-family homes saw a 10 percent decrease and nationwide sales also saw a 10.3 percent. The housing market in the Tampa Bay area reflects these statistics as prices for a basic three-bedroom, three-bathroom home were up anywhere from 4 to 6 percent. 
• The problem is that people cannot afford suitable homes because of the increased price. The supply of available homes has inched up, but that does no good if no one will purchase one.
• Realtors and potential home buyers have the problem.

5. Holland America drops Tampa as cruise ship port, but maybe not forever

• Following the month of April, Holland America is dropping Port Tampa Bay as a cruise ship launch point though it might not be permanent.
• Several of Holland America's cruise ships are moving to new itineraries. The cruise ship line only carries about 50,000 of the one-million plus passengers traveling out of Port Tampa Bay, so the company has decided to list no sailings from the port. However, the port remains in contact with Holland America to potentially come back in the future.
• The problem is that Holland America was one of four cruise ship lines that traveled out the port. This could decrease the port's business rapidly if it does not do well with the cruise lines it continues to dock.
• Port Tampa Bay has the problem.