Florida’s first hyperscale data center could be thwarted by new water rule
A real estate developer’s plan to build Florida’s first hyperscale data center — taking up more than 1,300 acres of land in Polk County — is humming along despite misgivings by some locals. On Tuesday, the city council for the small town of Fort Meade, about 40 minutes southeast of Lakeland, voted to approve a 20-year agreement with the developer on the project, a Maryland company called Stonebridge. But there could be an unexpected snag related to the project’s water use. Data centers, which are warehouses that contain thousands of computers used to power programs like AI, consume huge amounts of water to keep the machines cool. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Florida Trend Exclusive
‘Time is money’
Israeli immigrant and Florida-based entrepreneur Ben Sharfi's diverse holdings include restaurants, a company that makes battlefield computers for the military, a private jet charter and the Buccaneer Marina & Resort in West Palm Beach. A particular holding, his organic Nesha Farms in Martin County, drew the ire of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Property owners in Florida are required to get state permits and often local government ones. The extra federal permit takes a lot of time and money even when the project isn't controversial, says Sharfi's attorney, Neal McAliley of Carlton Fields in Miami. [Source: Florida Trend]
Opinion: Florida has a cargo theft problem. Congress must step in.
Across the state, organized cargo theft is rising in scale and sophistication, turning Florida’s highways, rail yards, and warehouses into prime targets for criminal networks. These are not opportunistic smash‑and‑grabs. They are coordinated, tech-savvy operations that track shipments, impersonate legitimate carriers, and strip loads of high‑value goods within hours. [Source: Palm Beach Post]
Developer-backed Florida law continues to hamstring local planning
After striking out with the Legislature and having legal challenges scaled back by a court, opponents of a developer-backed law freezing local planning decisions are facing a grim reality. The restrictive measure has derailed everything from major planning changes to small-scale moves like neighborhood limits on roosters and tree protection ordinances. And it’s likely to stay on the books for a while. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]
Lawmakers to consider World Cup security funding requests
State budget leaders are being asked to let a pair of agencies distribute federal dollars for security around the seven FIFA World Cup matches that will be held in South Florida this summer. Proposals from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Division of Emergency Management are among 21 requests to shift money before the Joint Legislative Budget Commission on Friday. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Building financial strength across Florida: The VyStar story
Florida's economy continues to grow and evolve, driven by population growth, workforce expansion, and a dynamic mix of small businesses, entrepreneurs, and families. But alongside that growth, many Floridians are navigating rising costs, debt, and financial uncertainty. In this environment, strong, community-based financial institutions play a critical role in keeping the state's economic engine moving forward. Founded 74 years ago at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, VyStar Credit Union was built on the belief that people deserve fair, reliable financial services, and that belief continues to guide its impact across Florida today. [Sponsored report]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Southwest Florida employee-owned wealth management firm hits $1B in assets
A boutique Naples wealth management and financial planning firm has surpassed a major milestone: $1 billion in assets under management. The firm, Aviance Capital Partners, was founded in 2008. It manages assets for clients across Florida and beyond, including high-net-worth individuals, business owners, C-level executives and special needs families. The firm also operates in Winter Park, in addition to its Naples headquarters.
› ‘You have to make sacrifices’: Central Floridians struggle with high costs
Across Central Florida, where the median wage is among the lowest in the country for large metro areas, higher prices for groceries, housing and now gas have left many working-class residents straining to cover the basics. Food banks report a surge in demand, and those with jobs are among those seeking help. Inflation spiked during the 2020 pandemic, driving up the cost of food, housing and other essential goods and services. Though inflation has since slowed, prices have not gone down.
› Panther habitat lawsuit targets eastern Collier megaproject
Three conservation groups have sued federal agencies over approval of a 10,264-acre residential and commercial project in eastern Collier County, arguing it will destroy key Florida panther habitat. The Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club and South Florida Wildlands Association filed the lawsuit April 8 in U.S. District Court in Fort Myers against employees of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior and Army Corps of Engineers.
› JEA paid nonrefundable deposit on plant that still needs state's OK
JEA is on the hook for a hefty deposit for a planned natural gas plant that the board approved last August even though the state Public Service Commission had not approved construction of the plant and might not greenlight it, according to testimony during a meeting of a special City Council investigative committee. JEA is in the process of seeking permission from the commission to build the natural gas plant on the Nothside.
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› Redesigned Holocaust museum hopes to break ground this year in Orlando
A year after pulling the plug on the proposed $106 million Holocaust Museum for Hope & Humanity, leaders of the memorial effort have unveiled a new scaled-down design that repurposes the former chamber of commerce building in Orlando’s Ivanhoe district. Holocaust Center Board Chair Ronald Schirtzer told GrowthSpotter that if the new design wins city approval, the center could break ground before the end of the year.
› New York real estate firm moves headquarters to Miami
Gaia Real Estate relocated its headquarters from New York to Miami's Little River neighborhood. The firm maintains 25 employees in Manhattan while building a 10-person Miami team. Gaia partnered with Moderno Development Group to develop luxury and workforce housing across South Florida.
› Five-star hotel gets approval for downtown St. Augustine
Downtown St. Augustine’s tallest building is set to become a five-star hotel after unanimous approval by the City Commission on Monday night. The Exchange bank building, or Treasury on the Plaza, first opened in 1927 as a bank and has operated for several years with event and commercial space. Once construction is complete, the new hotel will provide some 120 rooms and a parking garage with more than 150 spaces. The hotel will still include an area for events as well as around 30,000 square feet of commercial space.
› Country Thunder moving to Clearwater from St. Pete Beach after controversy
The Country Thunder music festival will move to Coachman Park in Clearwater after controversy erupted over its previous location on the sands of St. Pete Beach. Clearwater city officials said in a news release Tuesday morning that “all approvals (have been) secured and the path (is) fully clear for the three-day festival,” which will be May 8-10.