The Gate Arty Blog - April 2009 Archive

Hollywood in Lakeland Florida

Thursday, April 30, 2009 - By Gate Arty

If you have tried to drop by the Polk Museum of Art, Mister Fish restaurant, Lakeland Public Library, or anywhere near that spot around Lake Morton lately, you would have noticed a lot of hustle & bustle. Well it seems like Hollywood has got its eyes firmly fixated on Lakeland & its many picturesque backdrops. The movie, tentatively titled, “Endure,” is scheduled to be shooting in Lakeland through May 8th. The movie is based on a fictitious town named “Lakeridge, Florida.” Stars of the movie include Judd Nelson & Devon Sawa. Many of you will remember Nelson from the many movies he acted in during the mid 1980’s. Such 80’s classics like St. Elmo’s Fire, The Breakfast Club, & Making the Grade. The director, Joe O’Brien is a Lakeland native.

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Building Permits Down Locally & Nationally

Thursday, April 30, 2009 - By Gate Arty

It was a case of good news  . . . bad news for local builders in Polk County when we review their March 2009 numbers. The good news? Well, the month of March marked their peak for the entire year. The total permits were 102 which was up from 89 in February and 80 in January. The 102 permits represent a 35% decrease from the previous year and marked the lowest March total since 1995. When you compare these numbers on a nationwide scale, they look quite healthy, though. Nationally, housing starts fell almost 50% in March year-on-year. They slid approximately 11% from February 2009. Builders across the nation are fighting to compete with the falling prices of distressed properties & foreclosures & tightening of available credit from the banking industry.

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First Friday - May 2009

Thursday, April 30, 2009 - By Gate Arty

Friday, May 1st mark’s the First Friday celebration in Downtown Lakeland. This month’s theme is Public Works. This week is National Public Works Week. Munn Park will be filled with displays from the various public works divisions:

· Fleet Management

· Engineering

· Solid Waste

· Parking

· Traffic

· Construction & Maintenance

· Facilities Management

· Lake & Storm Water

There will be displays throughout Munn Park from the various divisions of the Public Works Department.

Now to the fun part . . . on Kentucky Avenue you might feel like you stepped back in a time machine because it will be Retro Night! There will be music courtesy of J. Derb & the 4 Barrel Holleys (6:00-7:00) and The Wedding Party (7:30-8:30). There will be a retro-style fashion show beginning at 7:30.

Look for collection sites throughout the streets of Downtown Lakeland for “Operation Drop Zone.” Think about our troops when you're shopping and buy a few extra things to make their deployment a little less stressful. Items collected will be donated to our troops deployed overseas.

As usual, the streets will be lined with artists, musicians, vendors, & entertainers of all sorts. During First Friday, shops and restaurants stay open late. A classic car show is featured along Tennessee Avenue.

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Sun 'n Fun Fly-In 2009

Friday, April 24, 2009 - By Gate Arty

Lakeland’s  35th annual Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In wraps up this weekend on Sunday the 26th at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport. Sun 'n Fun brings people together from all over the world for a unique interactive aviation experience. Last year, it was reported that Sun 'n Fun hosted more than 1,300 international visitors from 73 countries!

There are more than 450 educational forums, seminars and "hands-on" workshops that cover “all things aviation” . . . . from construction to maintenance. Additional topics are offered through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) FastTeam Production Center that is headquartered on the Sun 'n Fun campus at Linder Airport in South Lakeland. In 2008, over 8,000 visitors attended the Sun 'n Fun and FAA sponsored forums. Over 9,000 people participated in Sun 'n Fun's hands-on workshops, and a record-setting 520 commercial exhibitors showcased the latest in aviation products and technology. Sun 'n Fun's annual attendance during the six-day event averages approximately 160,000. The University of South Florida has estimated the economic impact to Lakeland and Polk County is estimated at more than $27 million annually.

There will be daily airshows beginning at 2 p.m. thru the conclusion of the event. Sun 'n Fun's airshow is one of the event's major highlights and features the world's top aerobatic performers. The Golden Knights, the U.S. Army Parachute Team will also perform Friday thru Sunday. The Golden Knights will celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2009. Over the past 50 years, the Golden Knights have competed in parachute competitions around the globe, winning an unrivaled 425 national championships, 21 national championships and 8 world team titles. Each performance will include one or more maneuvers performed from an altitude of 12,500 feet above the ground and are designed to demonstrate the amount of control a jumper has while falling at speeds in excess of 120 miles per hour.

Another popular Sun 'n Fun mainstay is the Friday night air show. This event begins at dusk on Friday, April 24th. The Fly-In also includes a hot air balloon launch on Saturday April 25.

See you there!

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March 2009 Sales Figures are Mixed

Thursday, April 23, 2009 - By Gate Arty

The sales reports for March offered up a mixed bag . . . . some negative & a little positive.The National Association of Realtors announced that real estate sales fell 3 percent in March, to 4.57 million from 4.71 million in February. In an extraordinary turn of events that contradict the other numbers, the median sales price experienced a nice positive bump, increasing to $175,200 from $168,200 in February. Although this is an increase of 4%, it’s still down over 12% from this time last year. Rather unusual that prices would rise at a time when the demand drops, huh? These are unusual time, however.

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Mayfaire by-the-Lake 2009

Thursday, April 23, 2009 - By Gate Arty

Mayfaire by-the-Lake, Polk County’s largest cultural event, kicks off Friday May 8th, 2009. Mayfaire is an event where artists exhibit their original works of art along the shores of Lake Morton and on the streets opposite the lake which creates an open-air "art market." This year’s event will feature over 180 artists. From painters, to jewelers, to clay artists, . . . . there is something for all artistic tastes. There will also be live entertainment by local musicians, dance troops, & VSA arts of Florida will perform on the stage on the shady front lawn in front of the Lakeland Public Library. As usual, there will be something especially for the kids. Several “hands-on” art activities will be available for the children. Parking will be FREE at Florida Southern College & a FREE shuttle will transport attendees to & from the event. If you get there early enough, some of the locals may be neighborly & allow you to park along the side streets. The Lake Morton Historic district is quite beautiful. Enjoy the great homes along the tree-lined streets set against the backdrop of the beautiful lake. “MayFerrys” will shuttle you around Lake Morton & up to the library. Food vendors will be on site with refreshments including smoothies & lemonade, shaved ice, ice cream, & my personal favorite . . . funnel cakes! MMMMMM

The art festival actually takes place on the 9th & 10th and the hours are from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. with FREE admission. However, the Mayfaire Kick-Off Party takes place the Friday evening prior. The festivities will begin at 5:30 on The Lakeland Public Library front lawn (which is right on Lake Morton, by the way – it’s a great view!) Tickets to this Friday event start at $25 & you will have an all-evening access to the open bar & delectable hors d’oeuvres. You’ll also get a sneak peak at many artists’ works. On Saturday evening, you can enjoy the Mayfaire Festival of Arts & Athletes from 5 p.m. to 11p.m. This event includes festivities, fireworks, and the Mayfaire 5K Race. Pack a lawn chair and maybe a blanket and have a picnic! There will also be food vendors on site.

See you there!

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Lakeland Derby - 2009

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 - By Gate Arty

The Kentucky Derby is right around the corner, so that means the swans are ready to race as well! Watch these “birds” race a week before the horses gallop out of the gates. This Friday April 24th marks the 2nd annual Lakeland Derby. The event is staged on the shores of Lake Mirror. The “Derby-style” race features hand-crafted swan paddleboats manned by “jockeys” that will compete for the prestigious Lakeland Derby trophy. At 5:00 pm the festivities will begin with open concessions & a VIP reception. Other opening events include the Call to Post, the Maiden Race, & the hotly-anticipated Derby Hat Contest.

The Running of the Ducks will begin at 5:45 pm

The Parade to Post will begin at 6:15 pm

The Main Event – Lakeland Derby Race is scheduled for 6:40 pm

Music entertainment, MillHopper will perform at 7:30 pm

The spectacular conclusion of the event will be the fireworks at 9:15 pm. A great place to view the fireworks is Overlook Park. Proceeds of the event support Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine, a local charity.

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March 2009 Real Estate Sales Statistics

Thursday, April 16, 2009 - By Gate Arty

Well not all real estate news has to be bad. The good thing about hitting bottom is there is only one way to go . . . & that is UP! And for Polk County at east, things are beginning to trend positive. Robust recovery anyone?

In Lakeland for the month of March 2009, there were 188 homes that sold. Compare this to the 146 units that sold in February 2009, & the paltry 126 that sold the month prior. Folks, those figures represent a whopping 22% spike in month over month sales! Looking into the numbers even further, Keller Williams Realty -  Lakeland office, accounted for nearly half of those sales by leading the way with 97 sales units. Keller Williams Realty continued its market share dominance with a 44% jump in sales month over month. Not only is activity picking up, but values were also promising. The average sales price was $130,059 which was up from $124,550 the previous month. The current months inventory is now at 13.89, & we have not been that low since May 2007. The most active price range is still the lower price points. The $120,000 - $139,999 accounted for nearly 13% of the sales activity. Take this into consideration, only 2 homes sold for more than $300,000.  Ouch! The average days on the market was 122 days.

In East Polk County, March 2009 was the best month since December 2006 with 149 homes sold. Compare that to 114 in February & 104 in January. Average sales price was slightly up to $102,886. Current months of inventory are now at 12.79 . . . again this figure has not been this positive since 2006!  The average days on the market is 120 days. The most active price range was also the $120,000 - $139,999 representing 9.4% of the market. Only one home sold for over $300,000 in all of East Polk.

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Housing Vacancy

Monday, April 13, 2009 - By Gate Arty

The United States Cencus Bureau has reported that one in every 9 homes in the nation is sitting vacant . Leading economists are predicting that this won't change for at least several more years. Take this math into consideration  . . . . between the years 2002 until 2007, the number of housing units increased by a whopping 8.65 million. By comparison, the number of households only increased by 6.7 million. Even if you factor in an estimate of 500,000 homes being torn down or lost, that still leaves over 1.3 million homes! Now those are scary numbers.

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Pets on Parade (2009) at Lake Hollingsworth

Friday, April 03, 2009 - By Gate Arty

Another of Lakeland’s annual events returns in the form of the SPCA’s 30th anniversary walk for animals, “Pets on Parade,” at scenic Lake Hollingsworth on Saturday, April 18th. Come enjoy a stroll to benefit Polk County’s local SPCA. There will be prizes, contests, demonstrations, exhibits, vendors, & free refreshments for people & their pets. The event begins at 8 a.m. & will run until noon. Meet at the water fountain near Patten Heights & Lake Hollingsworth Drive . . . . just a hop, skip, & a jump away from Florida Southern College. Among the many activities & entertainment are:

For additional information go to the SPCA website.

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First Friday - April 2009

Thursday, April 02, 2009 - By Gate Arty

This week marks the monthly First Friday event in historic Downtown Lakeland. This month’s theme is “Bicycle Night.” Enjoy a beautiful bike ride thru the streets of Downtown Lakeland. Many bike clubs & organizations are expected to be present. For the kids, there will be a fun bike parade around picturesque Munn Park beginning at 7 pm. All participants will win a ribbon! Go by Explorations V Children’s Museum first as they will provide decorating stations so the bikes may be properly detailed. FREE bike lights installed & bike helmets fitted while supplies last on the corner of Bay Street & Kentucky Avenue.  As usual, the shops will be open late. Don’t forget to bring your appetite, because there are a multitude of fine restaurants & eateries within walking distance.  Music, arts, & entertainment will fill the street-sides. The popular Classic Car Show can always be found on Tennessee Avenue.  This month’s event is sponsored by the Florida Department of Transportation & Polk County Community Traffic Safety Team.

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Farmers Curb Market Open Wednesday

Thursday, April 02, 2009 - By Gate Arty

The Farmers Curb Market alongside the corner of Pine Street & Kentucky Avenue has decided to DOUBLE your fun! Not only will the market be open on Saturday mornings, but now you can visit the local marketplace on Wednesdays. Giving local patrons that work in the area the opportunity to visit during the workday. The Wednesday hours will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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Walk for Autism - 2009

Thursday, April 02, 2009 - By Gate Arty

Put your walking shoes on the morning of Saturday April 11th, 2009 for a worthy cause. Picturesque Lake Hollingsworth will be the scenic backdrop of the sixth annual 5K “Walk for Autism.”  Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. on site. You may also register today at www.cfaii.org. See you there!

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