Osprey Observer » Newland

Mosaic Commits $100,000 to FishHawk Sports Complex

Carisa Biesecker — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:27:58 +0000

It’s not everyday that a company just gives away money, but that is exactly the concept behind world-wide corporation Mosaic’s recent $100,000 donation to the FishHawk Youth Sports Complex (FYSC) in Lithia.
Recently, the FYSC, located at 16120 FishHawk Blvd. in Lithia, held its season kickoff, giving recognition to local sponsors: Mosaic, Newland Communities, Trish and Randy Waller of Signature Realty, Bella Garden Boutique, Cardel Homes, CCC Group, Inc., Michael A. Hess, D.M.D., of Hess Orthodontics, Riverview’s Buffalo Wild Wings, Osprey Observer, Pepsico and Dick’s Sporting Goods. During the celebration, a check was presented to FYSC by Mosaic representatives for $100,000, to be dispersed over a number of years at the complex.
According to President of the FishHawk Youth Sports Association (FYSA) Scott Powers, the monies will go towards existing programs at the FYSC, improvements throughout the 65-acre complex and the development of the remaining 20 acres allocated for use by the FYSC.
“It’s great to have a company like Mosaic make that large of a commitment to the park and kids out here,” Powers stated. “We really appreciate them stepping up and helping us in our community.”
Having broken ground in early March in the vicinity of the planned 1,800-unit Circa FishHawk development on eight acres near crossroads Mosaic Dr. and FishHawk Blvd., Mosaic, a company that prides itself on giving back to the community in which it is situated, will anchor Newland Communities’ planned 113,589-sq.-ft. Circa FishHawk Village Center with its Mosaic Florida Headquarters office building. When completed in spring of 2010, the company, one of the foremost distributors of phosphate, potash and nitrogen, will hold 400 administrative positions in the Lithia area, adding to its already established 7,400-employee workforce.
“Mosaic really does support the community near which it operates, and FishHawk is right where we are going to be, right where people live, work and play,” mentioned Mosaic Public Affairs Manager Christine Smith. “There are many families involved in many different activities in that park, so really, it is a good community fit as there are so many people, not just from the immediate area, but from other surrounding areas as well who participate in this complex.” She cites that the youth in these communities, such as FishHawk, are not only communities’ futures but are also perceived as the company’s future workforce.
Having originated last year, FishHawk Youth Sports Complex offers a wide variety of sports to those ages 5-16 upon its eight baseball and softball fields and its two multi-purpose fields, comprising of soccer, football, lacrosse, softball, baseball and T-ball. Registration varies anywhere from $50 to $200, depending on the sport selected. With over 2,000 children being a part of the FYSC, Powers concluded, “It has become an identity for the community.”
For more information on FYSC, visit http://fishhawksports.org. To learn more about Mosaic, visit www.mosaicco.com.

Newland Communities Renames Lake Hutto To Circa FishHawk

Marie Gilmore — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 13:16:16 +0000

By Michelle Caceres
It’s not a part of FishHawk Ranch, but the 700-acre site formerly known as Lake Hutto has been renamed Circa FishHawk to reflect its close proximity to the master-planned behemoth.
FishHawk and Circa developer Newland Communities and its advertising agency worked closely to settle on the new name.
“We felt that it was important to position this community as its own special place while still acknowledging the strong FishHawk Ranch brand that has come to define the ‘FishHawk’ area,” said Newland Communities Regional Marketing Director Pam Parisi.
Located south of FishHawk Blvd., between Boyette Rd. and FishHawk Ranch, the steady pace of construction in Circa is currently underway. Roadways to two new schools, Stowers Elementary and Barrington Middle, are being laid with the schools slated to open in August. Attendance boundary lines for the schools are in the process of being drawn and approved. A public meeting to discuss boundaries has been scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, at 6:30 p.m. in the multi-media room at Randall Middle School.
Parisi expects the community to attract families for the same reasons they’re attracted to FishHawk Ranch. The community will feature onsite schools, a convenient town center and a variety of amenities all connected by a trail system.
In addition to families, Circa is also expected to attract singles, pre-family couples, empty nesters and retirees with its variety of housing options, including many maintenance-free options that appeal to these buyer groups.
While the land plan is still being designed, product offerings will include apartments as well as a variety of single-family and multi-family options.
Circa is the continuation and evolution of the FishHawk area, bringing a vibrant Village Center and fresh, new lifestyle choices-both residential and commercial-to the area, said Parisi.
Newland officials say the community is still in the envisioning process, as they are attempting to nail down the land plan and product offerings. Builders are showing interest in the community but specific discussions with builders have not occurred.
“It’s still way too soon,” said Parisi.
For more information about Circa FishHawk, visit www.newlandcommunities.com.

No Increase in CDD Fees for FH

Renee Hobbs — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:56:33 +0000

When is zero a good number? When it is the amount of dollars your Community Development District (CDD) fees are going up the next fiscal year, if you live in FishHawk Ranch. Originally, it was thought that the charge could go up as much as $67 per household with the proposed district’s combined multimillion dollar budget. Right now each resident pays $1,242 in CDD fees and that will stay the same when it shows up on your Hillsborough County tax bill. CDD District Manager Debby Bayne with Rizzetta and Company, an agent for FishHawk Ranch Developer Newland Communities, says, “Both boards have worked hard to decrease costs and it has paid off.” Bayne sent letters to each homeowner in FishHawk explaining the originally proposed increase and inviting them to the workshop and public hearing. Only a handful of people showed up at the workshop which Bayne took as a good sign, saying, “I guess people are happy with the way things are.” It was at the workshop that Bayne explained the numbers and how she was able to whittle the increase down to zero, even keeping in resident’s requests for aquatic plants to be installed in ponds, to include pond bank repairs because of low water levels this year and maintain some small capital improvements. Bayne also says, “These workshops allow me to get feedback from the residents and present it to the board before the final decision on the budget is made.” Each CDD board went over its own budget, line by line, before it was finally adopted by both Districts l and ll at the public hearings. Although there are two different districts in FishHawk Ranch, there is an interlocal agreement between the two where operations and maintenance costs are shared at a flat rate, meaning all residents in FishHawk Ranch pay the same assessment and it lets them use all the facilities in each district. Each CDD meets the third Monday of each month beginning at 2 p.m. at the Palmetto Club in FishHawk Ranch and both are open to all residents. For more information about what is going on in the community, you can go to www.fishhawkconnect.com and to learn more about the Community Development District, click on “CDD”.