Housing Slowdown? Tampa Bay Contractors Aren't Worried
A rapid proliferation of high-rise condominium projects has been one of the most notable recent changes to the greater Tampa Bay area, reshaping skylines from downtown to the white sandy shores of Pinellas County and keeping contractors busy.
Athough the multifamily and broader residential markets are slowing while current projects build out, no one’s worrying because there’s plenty of other work for the next few years in commercial construction and other categories. The “market continues to be strong, almost as strong as it was last year at this time,” says Steve Cona, president of the Gulf Coast chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors of Tampa. Page McKee, senior vice president with Hardin Construction Co.’s Tampa office, also is optimistic. Hardin, in fact, is busy building the Ventana and Grand Central at Kennedy condo projects in Channelside, The Plaza on Harbour Island condo and the Bartels Middle School in New Tampa. The company is also just starting The Westin Airport Hotel Tampa Bay.