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- Issue #303: Bearss Groves Reopens 🍊 | FL Housing Prices Drop | Tampa Skimmer Bust
Issue #303: Bearss Groves Reopens 🍊 | FL Housing Prices Drop | Tampa Skimmer Bust
2/3/2025
Ted Grellner
03 Feb
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In this issue of NewTampa | WesleyChapel
Local Pulse
Our Event Calendar
Local News
— Bearss Groves Fruit Market Reopens After Hurricane Setbacks
Of Interest
— Blackstone Takes a Hit as Florida Housing Prices Dip
Medical News
— Early Adult Deaths Surge in U.S.: Study Points to COVID-19, Overdoses
Crime
— Tampa Men Caught with Skimming Devices in Highway Stop
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Bearss Groves Fruit Market Reopens After Hurricane Setbacks
After months of closure due to hurricane damage, the Bearss Groves Fruit Market has officially reopened under new management, bringing fresh produce back to the community.
The market, a Tampa staple for decades, was forced to close in October after storms destroyed trees, damaged coolers, and ruined all their produce. Owner Barry Lawrance, who has worked there since age 13 and bought it in 2012, also suffered flooded strawberry fields, causing thousands in losses.
Overwhelmed, Lawrance stepped back, allowing new management to take over and restore operations. Hundreds of customers celebrated its reopening, including longtime shopper Chrissy Hymiak, who called the market a “community staple.”
Starting in March, Bearss Groves will be open every 1st and 3rd Saturday, offering affordable fresh fruits and vegetables once again.
Blackstone Takes a Hit as Florida Housing Prices Dip
A Wesley Chapel, Florida home sold at a $130,000 loss, highlighting shifts in the state’s housing market. Blackstone, which bought the property for $490,000 in 2022, sold it for $360,000, a 27% drop.
The area’s home values average $410,206, down 1.6% year-over-year, with rising inventory pressuring prices. The home at 31850 Barrel Wave Way sat on the market for 250 days, well above the 53-day average.
Nick Gerli, CEO of Reventure App, noted Blackstone’s rent-to-own model struggled, forcing liquidations in Florida. Broker Robert Washington sees the slowdown as a natural correction after price surges from 2021-2023.
Representative Ro Khanna criticized corporate landlords, arguing they reduce homeownership opportunities. With more homes hitting the market, buyers may soon find better deals—but concerns remain about affordability.
One astonishing but lesser-known fact about the housing market is that big investors and hedge funds now own nearly one in every seven single-family homes in the U.S. In some major cities, that number is even higher.
These institutional investors, like Blackstone and Invitation Homes, use algorithms to analyze and buy properties in bulk, often outbidding individual buyers with all-cash offers. This trend has contributed to higher home prices and lower inventory, making it harder for first-time buyers to compete.
Even more surprising? Some of these companies coordinate purchases to avoid competing with each other, allowing them to quietly dominate local markets while keeping rents high. This strategy has transformed once-affordable neighborhoods into areas where renting is the only option for many middle-class families.
Early Adult Deaths Surge in U.S.: Study Points to COVID-19, Overdoses
A University of Minnesota study found that death rates for adults aged 25-44 surged during the COVID-19 pandemic and remain higher than expected in 2023.
By the Numbers:
Death rates for early adults rose sharply during 2019-2021 and remained 20% higher in 2023 compared to 2019.
Researchers estimate deaths in this age group are 70% higher than they would have been if pre-2010 trends had continued.
Top Causes:
Drug-related deaths were the leading cause of excess mortality in 2023.
Cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, and car accidents also played major roles.
Expert Insights:
Lead researcher Elizabeth Wrigley-Field noted that the crisis is multifaceted, involving substance abuse, health issues, and transportation deaths. Andrew Stokes of Boston University emphasized the need for policy changes, including better healthcare access, nutrition programs, and industry regulations to improve public health.
Tampa Men Caught with Skimming Devices in Highway Stop
A routine traffic stop on I-75 led Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) troopers to uncover a credit card fraud operation involving two Tampa men.
Troopers stopped a black 2019 Range Rover in Sumter County for multiple violations. FHP K9 Flip alerted to the vehicle, prompting a search that revealed four credit card skimming devices and 20 fraudulent credit cards hidden inside.
The driver, Carlos E. Del Pino, 34, and passenger Yandi Valdes Rodriguez, 35, were identified as Cuban Nationals. Del Pino was found to have a prior federal conviction for possessing a skimming device and had an active deportation order since 2019.
Both suspects face multiple felony charges, including fraudulent credit card possession, identity theft, and credit card skimming. Border Patrol placed a detainer on Del Pino, and both men were booked into Sumter County Jail.
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25 Biggest Music & Comedy Acts Coming to Tampa Bay
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