The facility, with 38,000 square feet on the first floor and a 22,000 square foot mezzanine, would be developed in association with former Tampa architect Marica McKeel and her firm Studio MM, pllc. McKeel (http://maricamckeel.com/
The letter of intent was negotiated by real estate attorney Clarke Hobby of Hobby & Hobby and Prospera Realty CEO Teresa Williams on behalf of HWN, while Trey Carswell, Clay Witherspoon and Paul Royak from Lane, Witherspoon & Carswell represented GCAK Tampa LLC and Mercury Advisors LLC.
Principal Drew Nederpelt gives credit to Stoltenberg and his partner Frank Bombeeck for their state-of-the-
“The opportunity to build-out a facility to the specs of the different departments was beyond critical. We are in the process of building the most progressive and cutting edge television and health and wellness advocacy facility in the country. We have no legacy systems to bog us down, and with cloud technology we’re redefining how lean and efficient a company, not just a television network, can be. Each department head has been given input into the development of the schematic that will allow the network, with all its disparate parts, to run efficiently and cost-effectively, something that is critical in today’s environment,”
Nederpelt says that the Channel District was the perfect place for establishing the only television network of its kind as it also offers room for expansion. “The beauty about this area is that it’s literally next door to the commercial center of Tampa in downtown, and at the same time has unlimited growth potential all around,” says Nederpelt, who points out that another Channel District tenant, Jeff Vinik, owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning, is very bullish on the area, as was outlined in a Tampa Tribune article (http://www2.tbo.com/
“We’re delighted to be an anchor to the north side of the Channel District while the Tampa Bay Times Forum and Channelside Plaza are great attractions to the south,” says Nederpelt, pointing out that HWN’s Studio B is located at street level and fronted by glass, allowing visitors and tourists (the Channel District is home to the Port of Tampa which hosts the world’s largest cruise ships on a daily basis) a ‘TODAY Show’ experience of watching productions being taped live. Randy Gruber, HWN’s Vice President of Television Operations (who spent 19 years at another Bay area network, Home Shopping Network), was the person responsible for suggesting that Studio Control and Master Control also be located along the street level behind glass for passersby to see. “There’s nothing like the frenetic energy of a television control room to hold your attention. We’re delighted to have the opportunity to build something that will allow the network to be transparent to the public and really bring in the locals to appreciate and adopt HWN as their own,” says Gruber.
That home-grown mentality is something that Nederpelt says is key to achieving his network’s goals. Nederpelt and his team met with Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn’s office and with State of Florida Economic Development Council officials who suggested ways in which the network might capitalize on tax breaks that were available as inducements to locate in Florida and the Tampa Bay area.
“From the beginning I’ve always said the Tampa Bay area is where we want to be. We want to make this area the new home of health and wellness in the country. We’ve got the weather, we have the people, we’ve got the business climate, and we have the health and wellness mentality in hundreds of businesses and institutions across the region all focused on life, love and longevity. We want Tampa Bay to be to wellness what Sonoma is to wine,” says Nederpelt, pointing out that his company will not take tax dollars from the State. “Our goal is to put money into the local and state economies, not take it out.”
For more information:
GCAK & Mercury Advisors: Trey Carswell, Lane, Witherspoon & Carswell
HWN: Danielle Callaway, d.callaway@hwchannel.com
