TAMPA, FL-Some real estate professionals are questioning whether rising interest rates in Florida will cool what has otherwise been a hot commercial real estate development environment. One Tampa-based broker has already seen a slowdown in the condo conversion market.

ORLANDO-The Florida Association of Realtors reports that statewide condominium sales in April dropped 37% when compared with a year ago. FAR, which has been tracking single-family home sales since 1994, began tracking condominium sales in January.

LAS VEGAS-Citing development costs and related issues, retailers and developers call for flexibility, reasonableness and consistency on policy from communities. "Smart growth isn't easy to define," says Sue Murphy, president of P&M Consulting Group of Tampa. "People are using it to encompass a myriad of issues, and there are a lot of different definitions. The definition, in its most simplistic form, is the efficient use of infrastructure." She was setting the table for what was to be a lively discussion on the topic of "smart growth" as it applies to retail development Tuesday at the ICSC convention here.