ENCORE! Project Blog

Since our February and March, 2010 job fairs, we have received a tremendous amount of media coverage related to employment opportunities. A combined 5,200 individuals turned out for our job fairs, serving as an overwhelming reminder of the enormous economic and employment challenges our area faces.

The most common misconception regarding construction employment opportunities at Encore is that the entire project is getting ready to come out of the ground or that vertical development is starting. We recognize the critical need to spread accurate information related to the development of Encore to help applicants gain perspective into how and when jobs will be created.

Prior to obtaining the first permit, 40 to 50 jobs were created for the predevelopment work.  With receipt of the first permit for Site Clearing and Grading, 25 construction jobs were created and have been filled. The next anticipated permit for Site Improvement will create an additional 80 to 90 jobs in variable capacities over the next year.

The vast majority of construction jobs will be created when buildings are permitted and start coming out of the ground. The Development Team’s goal is to begin the first building before the end of 2010 with a second building to follow at the beginning of 2011.

It is worth noting that the employment and economic impact of Encore extends outside of Tampa area. In addition to traditional, on-site construction jobs, Encore helps create U.S. jobs for manufacturers, suppliers, truck drivers, hospitality/food service workers, architects, engineers, and many other disciplines.

After years of planning and coordination, we are proud to announce that horizontal development at Encore has officially commenced. To help Encore followers better understand the progress being made every day, we have outlined the initial horizontal development steps that will be underway at the site over the next 12 months.

The City of Tampa issued Encore’s first permit on June 25^th for Site Clearing and Grading. This allows the development site to be cleared of all trees and debris in preparation for upcoming infrastructure utility work and placement of fill dirt. The dirt placement, or grading, allows for proper drainage of the property in times of heavy rain. Accumulated rainfall will be diverted to a temporary pond. Building lots are filled with dirt to a level that will allow future rain fall accumulation to flow into the new streets once they are in place. We anticipate completion of the grading work within approximately 90 days. Site Clearing and Grading has resulted in the creation of 25 construction jobs at Encore.

The next consecutive permit to be issued for Encore’s horizontal development will be for the Site Improvements. These improvements include all underground utilities such as water, sewer, storm drainage, electric, phone, cable TV, and irrigation.  In addition, this permit includes the construction of roadways, sidewalks, landscaping, street lighting, signage, trash receptacles, bike racks and benches.  In all, twelve lots will be created for future buildings and all of the improvements needed to sustain them will be in place.  We anticipate this permit to be issued within the next 30 days and for all of the work to be completed within 12 months. Site Improvements will generate an estimated 80 to 90 jobs at Encore.

Following the Site Improvement permit, we will seek a permit to install Chilled Water Pipes. This is a main distribution system for chilled water, which will be used to cool the air and equipment within all of the future buildings at Encore. This distribution system will be connected to a future Chiller Plant. The Chiller Plant will be designed and permitted over the next several months with completion expected in 2011. The chilled water pipes will be installed in conjunction with other underground utilities.

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