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Good Morning From Lutz,

School is back, traffic is back, and I think we’re all getting used to the routine again. Hopefully everyone survived that first week of earlier alarms, packed lunches and a whole lot more cars on the road!

-Mike

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Each newsletter includes the latest event information available at the time of publication.

New Fire Station Opens in Wesley Chapel

Pasco County Fire Rescue has opened its new Station 2 along Wesley Chapel Boulevard, bringing an engine company and rescue unit closer to neighborhoods including Meadow Pointe, Avalon Park and New River. The station has actually been responding to calls since July 14, but celebrated its opening with the community last week.

The new 13,840-square-foot station has three bays with room to add more units in the future. The biggest benefit for nearby neighbors could be response times, which are expected to be cut roughly in half for some of the closest communities. More fire stations are also planned for Land O' Lakes and Odessa.

Big Changes Coming to The Florida Aquarium

The Florida Aquarium is heading into the final stage of its $45 million expansion, with some pretty fun additions on the way. A new two-level Pacific puffin habitat is expected to welcome its first birds in 2027, followed by a new outdoor habitat featuring California sea lions and an expanded home for the aquarium’s African penguins.

Groundbreaking on the puffin habitat is planned for this fall, while the final phase of the expansion is expected to open in 2028.

Rays Take Another Step Toward New Tampa Stadium

The Rays have taken another step toward their proposed $2.3 billion stadium and entertainment district in Tampa, selecting AECOM Hunt Turner as the construction team for the project. The group has some Rays history too, having worked on repairs to Tropicana Field after Hurricane Helene.

There are still some pretty big pieces to work out, including final agreements and funding with Tampa and Hillsborough County. The Rays are also working through the permitting process for the Hillsborough College site, with a Planning Commission hearing expected in November. If everything comes together, the team is hoping to open the new stadium for the 2029 season.

Abbey Crossings Is Starting to Take Shape

There’s more movement at the Abbey Crossings development near I-75 and SR 52 in San Antonio. Lowe’s recently filed plans for a roughly 107,000-square-foot store, adding another major retailer to a development that already has a Walmart planned.

Abbey Crossings is expected to eventually include a huge mix of retail, restaurants, apartments and commercial space. Several familiar names have also been tied to the project, including Wawa, Chipotle, Panera, Panda Express, Dunkin’ and McDonald’s. This stretch of SR 52 is going to look a whole lot different over the next few years.

Smalls Sliders Is Now Open in Lutz

Smalls Sliders is officially open at 19081 Wingshooter Way in Lutz after celebrating its grand opening over the weekend. The Drew Brees-backed chain is known for its cheeseburger sliders, waffle fries and shakes, and the group behind the new Lutz location has plans for at least nine locations across Florida.

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