Seaport Channelside is a rental project in the Channel District that is currently undergoing the final stages of prep work, with a groundbreaking ceremony planned for January 8th. The project is a significant addition to the district, providing 422 apartment units and over 7000sf of retail. 706 parking spaces will be included in the mid rise project that is bordered by Channelside Drive and the Crosstown Expressway. This project is widely recognized as a premier Brownfields site rehabilitation success in Florida.

This will be updated periodically with whatever construction photos, future renderings or news comes in about the project...

Rendering

http://www.seaportchannelside.com/index_files/image003.jpg

Construction Progress 1/1/07

http://i13.tinypic.com/40f6po7.jpg

An old rendering....

http://www.synergyproperties.com/images/SeaportRendering.jpg

And a small one

http://www.synergyproperties.com/images/l_seaport.jpg

Synergy Properties is the developer here is the website

http://www.synergyproperties.com/index.htm

And a blurb about the projct from the website....

Seaport Channelside is currently in the pre-development phase and totals approximately 426 high-density multi-family units. The project will help transform the northern boundary of the Channel District into an extension of Tampa's Channelside urban renaissance and become a cornerstone in the redevelopment of the area. The development plan embraces an urban, high-density, mixed-use development that includes 426 residential units and neighborhood retail. The plan provides for a small downtown commercial feel with high-density residential units supporting the retail uses and allowing for open space. The site plan concept establishes a true downtown urban feel within the central core of the development. The Architectural style of the building and streetscape is envisioned to have an intimate personal downtown feel with ornamental streetlights, wrought iron tree wells, awnings and decorative ornamentation to the building featuring brick, stone and stucco.

Sounds like a better version of Post Harbour Island.

Sounds like a better version of Post Harbour Island.

Yup, a cheaper, higher densified, Post Harbor Island.

The only real detractor being the pink gov subsidized housing just on the other side of the cross town. Having driven through that area while down in Ybor I can attest to it being a little bit on the scary end of the spectrum.

^^ Isn't that part of Central Park Village that is being bulldozed mid-2007 or am I totally off?

Someone please correct me if I am wrong

The only real detractor being the pink gov subsidized housing just on the other side of the cross town. Having driven through that area while down in Ybor I can attest to it being a little bit on the scary end of the spectrum.

That area isn't so awful. Nebraska can be rough but I never, ever felt unsafe there as a child when I went to school at B.T. Washington (which is smack in the middle of those pink apartments, near Nebraska). Actually, those were some of the best years of my life. I never felt scared, even going there after night when I was much younger than I am now with friends. It's sad to see the neighborhood change in a way, but it's for the best. I can't wait to see what comes of it.

If thats the case displacement concerns come to mind. All of this redevelopment of down town, Channelside and Ybor are drastically changing low income housing assignments and homeless refuges. It will be interesting to see where every one is eventually dispersed to.

On a personal note, having grown up and lived in Carrollwood for almost 26 years I saw my first homeless person, camped out under an oak tree at what used to be North Dale Court. It will be interesting to see how things progress across the county.

The only real detractor being the pink gov subsidized housing just on the other side of the cross town. Having driven through that area while down in Ybor I can attest to it being a little bit on the scary end of the spectrum.

Yeah thats the scrub. The blue ones are the actual projects that are being razed for central park village or whatever it is called. The owners of the pink ones are still holding out, but there is no way they stay. I betcha they get taken by Immenient Domain or some other tricks. That was were civitas was supposed to be.

That area isn't so awful. Nebraska can be rough but I never, ever felt unsafe there as a child when I went to school at B.T. Washington (which is smack in the middle of those pink apartments, near Nebraska). Actually, those were some of the best years of my life. I never felt scared, even going there after night when I was much younger than I am now with friends. It's sad to see the neighborhood change in a way, but it's for the best. I can't wait to see what comes of it.

Interesting. My casual observations were only drawn from one evening and there appeared to be some sort of domestic dispute going down in the street which had the crowd energized.

On a side note, I've traveled 22nd Street many times in my Z and never fealt threatened in any way, despite this being one of the most notorious stretches of road in town. The basic realization you arrive at, is no matter at what income level for the most part people are just trying to make an honest living and better their lives. A few bad apples create the greater fear complexes.

Yeah thats the scrub. The blue ones are the actual projects that are being razed for central park village or whatever it is called. The owners of the pink ones are still holding out, but there is no way they stay. I betcha they get taken by Immenient Domain or some other tricks. That was were civitas was supposed to be.

What is civitas?

Interesting article on Seaport Channelside. Too bad they're ditching much of the retail component of the project. :ohno:
I had no idea that Twiggs is being widened to six lanes.

http://centraltampa.tbo.com/centraltampa/MGB0DVV8SWE.html

Ground Broken For Channel District Apartments
By JANIS D. FROELICH The Tampa Tribune
Published: Jan 11, 2007

CHANNEL DISTRICT - Minutes after this week's groundbreaking ceremony for the Seaport Channelside complex, developer Michael DeMarcay was asked when construction would begin.

He looked at his watch.

"Ten minutes ago."

That's how eager DeMarcay is to offer 422 rental units close to downtown. The first building should be completed by the end of 2007.

"Look around you," DeMarcay said Monday, "it's all condominiums. So for us to build apartments is very special."

Mark Huey, the city's economic development administrator, called DeMarcay "a warrior."

Synergy Properties Inc. won the right to develop the former city land more than four years ago. The 7½-acre property was used for storage and transportation needs and required a cleanup by federal Environmental Protection Agency standards.

"We picked the right developer," Huey said. "I don't know that the others would have stuck around so long."

DeMarcay, vice president of Synergy, said the project recently dropped plans for 12,000 square feet of retail. The complex faces Twiggs Street, which will be widened to six lanes.

"This takes up our retail space," DeMarcay said.

He said plans now are for a small amount of neighborhood retail and professional offices.

The complex will have one- to three-bedroom apartments, with rent estimated at $1,590 for a two-bedroom unit. DeMarcay said the plan is to keep rent competitive with rates on Harbour Island.

Reporter Janis D. Froelich can be reached at (813) 835-2104 or jfroelich@tampatrib.com.

I can't imagine these will stay rental for very long. Seeing that the housing market is cooling off a bit, why not continue to build it as rentals until the market gets hot again?

It will be just like the quarter.

The only real detractor being the pink gov subsidized housing just on the other side of the cross town. Having driven through that area while down in Ybor I can attest to it being a little bit on the scary end of the spectrum.
Its a detractor to some people but its not that bad really. Its not scary at all they are just low income housing that or its just because i used to live very close to downtown St.Pete in the 90's. Sure there could be some idiots doing something illegal but hell even in the suburbs they have it. I feel more comfortable driving through there then Palm Harbor! I wonder where the low income people will go from all these projects maybe some low income hi-rises are needed? :colgate:

The pink buildings are nothing. From Downtown head north on Nebraska and hang a left towards the end of the pink buildings


That is a scary neighborhood.

It's a shame that Seaport lost the majority of its retail. I feel that takes awya from its urbaness and now, despite their being 400+ apartments they won't have their own retail. I guess at the same time that means they need to widen the road but it's still a shame and bad planning.

As far as scary neighborhoods, I really can't name on that I don't feel safe in. i feel very secure almost wherever I go. I think a low-income high-rise projects could be smart but no one would want to pay for it, or be proactive enough, so I doubt one would be built.

Hmm. . . go north of I-4 on 18th or so street. Drive a little ways. Get out and walk. Most probably nothing wil happen to you . . . but not sure you will feel comfortable.


Indeed, most people are just trying to get by - but more people who are having a harder time getting by legally end up in lower income areas. always has been, always will be.

I can't imagine these will stay rental for very long. Seeing that the housing market is cooling off a bit, why not continue to build it as rentals until the market gets hot again?

It will be just like the quarter.

I contacted the developers a while back on behalf of one of my clients who was interested in buying them out at the time. They e-mailed me back and said they would be built as apartments and would likely be converted to condos later.

Almost $1600.00 for a two bedroom apt. So where will the avg. working class rent in Tampa?

i'd love to live there but id need a roomy. when will it finish

i'd love to live there but id need a roomy. when will it finish

First buildings should be completed by year's end.

I saw today that the SE corner of the project has several tall support beams and caissons in the ground. So you can call it going vertcal now if you'd like.

There is a rendering from Seaport's website that Mobster posted in the Channelside thread, I thought it should go here.

Edit-For for some reason when I post it all I see is a red x. Anyway here is the website Mobster found.

http://www.seaportchannelside.com

Here you go:

http://www.seaportchannelside.com/index_files/image003.jpg

Wow, I am not impressed at all with this new design. What happened to the urban village concept that they sold the City of Tampa on (in the bid to purchase the property)?

While I applause their efforts in taking on a contaminated site and cleaning it up, this complex looks extremely unordinary. If I was a prospective renter, I'd choose Post Harbour Place on Harbour Island in a heartbeat over this, especially since their last news release had its projected rents in the same ballpark as Post.

Oh well, welcome to the neighborhood Seaport, but I sure wish you looked more upscale and creative...

I guess I'm the only one that isn't always disappointed by this stuff - I'm a realist, hehe. I mean, it could be more inspired, but I think it's very solid.

I'll update the first page. I need to get some new construction photos - there are definitely things sticking out of the ground at this point.

Well there is only but so much of a village you can make with 5 story appartments and when you're cornered on 2 blocks against the Crosstown. It's ok, it could've been better, but it is a fine project that will bring rentals to the area and square off the district. I find the added glass interesting, we'll see how it comes out.

If I read their website correctly, the apartment buildings will not have elevators in them. If this is true, I think people will balk at having to walk up anything more than 2 flights of stairs and will not want apartments on the fourth or fifth floors.

The website seemed to justify this action by stating that the tenants will be able to drive up to the floor they live on via the parking garage. That's OK if you ALWAYS enter and exit the apartment building using your car. BUT, doesn't that defeat the concept of the Channel District being a place that encourages people to walk rather than drive, when possible?

I doubt they will not have elevators. There are regulations baout such htings, and the ADA . . . in any event, I think that is quite ugly regardless of the crosstown, especially without any retail.

I have long been astonished that this project was initially proposed this short, and remains this short (actually, what really astonishes me is that a residential project was both proposed and approved for the site. This is when it becamse pretty clear that the City Council has little expertise in urban planning).... I sincerely hope that no units face the Selmon... And if they do, they better have a serious discount.

It looks OK, nothing major, but ive seen worst...The elevator would def have to be in there to actually draw ppl to the higher floors. As was mentioned isnt the point of all the DT/ CHNLSD living to encourage walking around as opposed to diving around. Does anyone have any pictures of the current site before all the construction?

Ugh, looks like government-assisted housing, only with nicer colors.

IMO, it looks pretty much on-par with most everything else that is going in around Channelside. It'll fit right in...

I like the looks of it but its too similar to other projects in channelside

Here's some construction photos form the urban homes tour I took 2 months ago:

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/JordanA_015/Buildings299.jpg

Anyone else have any more recent updates on this project?

It's generally on the 5th, getting into the 6th.

Ugh, looks like government-assisted housing, only with nicer colors.
Actually this is a very popular modern movement in architecture, Moscow is having a few towers being built in the same fashion.

Here are some construction pics I took today. The building is up to 5 floors. I was wondering if it was going to be topped out at 5 floors or if it is going to be 6 floors, as shown in the rendering.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tampaguy75/SeaportRendering.jpg


http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tampaguy75/SeaportFront.jpg


http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tampaguy75/SeaportAngle.jpg


http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tampaguy75/SeaportSide.jpg

I'm thinking some buildings will top out at 5 and some will top out at 6 stories.

Thanks for the picture update, BTW.

I'm thinking some buildings will top out at 5 and some will top out at 6 stories.

Thanks for the picture update, BTW.
I believe your right, because looking at the render, looking in the back of it, the building looks like it has 5 floors unlike the ones infront of it.

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/JordanA_015/Buildings9-23-07073.jpg

Apartment Complex In Final Stages

By JANIS D. FROELICH, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 15, 2007

CHANNEL DISTRICT - It has been four years since Synergy Properties won the right to build an apartment complex on more than 7 acres owned by the city.

In a few months, the first residents will move into the one-, two- and three-bedroom units as a pivotal piece falls into place in this emerging urban neighborhood.

The year of construction for Seaport Channelside was miraculously trouble-free, said Michael DeMarcay, Synergy's vice president.

Little rain. No hurricanes. Cooperation from the city for permits and inspections. In other words, nothing to impede a large apartment complex from rising in a spot surrounded by condominium projects as the former warehouse district becomes a place people call home.

"It's the singular apartment complex in the Channel District," said Dave Parkinson, the city's development services director. "The developer has been very diligent and responsible.

"And it was a piece of land not without its complexities," Parkinson said, referring to the cleanup required by the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

DeMarcay hopes the move-in process also goes without a hitch.

He said he's comfortable with about 35 of the 422 units being filled a month. That will begin at the end of February, and everything should be set, including the courtyard swimming pool, by late 2008. Deposits of $250 are being taken at the leasing office, 1120 E. Twiggs St.

Rents are comparable to those on Harbour Island, said Trish Carney, Seaport's community director. They range from $1,275 for a one-bedroom unit to $3,400 for a two-story penthouse.

Every unit faces a courtyard and has a balcony, DeMarcay said.

Residents will have dry cleaning pickup service, a spa for massages and manicures, a fitness center and air-conditioned storage units. The lobby area will reflect a nautical theme with portholes, blue glass and teak. Six-foot-tall ships ordered from Boston will be on display.

Residents also will have access to a pool table, poker table and plasma TVs.

DeMarcay hopes a deli and other businesses lease the 3,000 to 4,000 square feet of retail space. He originally planned enough space for a grocery store, but the city decided to widen Twiggs to five lanes, taking up Seaport's customer parking.

The five-story parking garage will allow residents to drive to their floor.

"I don't see much elevator usage," DeMarcay said.

Seaport Channelside occupies 6.6 acres, with a 1.3-acre chunk earmarked for a building of about 300 efficiency apartments. The properties are bordered by Twiggs and 12th streets, and Meridian and Raymond avenues.

The complex's rust, blue and yellow buildings are a welcome sight to the city, which used the lot for storage.

"This had zero tax value," Parkinson said. "Now we will soon collect upwards of $1 million a year in revenue. So it's not just a great project for that corner of the Channel District, but it's also a huge economic turnaround."

For information about Seaport Channelside, call (813) 301-0000 or go to www.seaport channelside.com.

Reporter Janis D. Froelich can be reached at (813) 835-2104 or jfroelich@tampatrib.com.

http://southtampa2.tbo.com/content/2007/dec/15/st-apartment-complex-in-final-stages/?news

He said he's comfortable with about 35 of the 422 units being filled a month. That will begin at the end of February, and everything should be set, including the courtyard swimming pool, by late 2008.



Here is a pic of Seaport that I snapped, today, where they have started painting the exterior. This project still has a long way to go... It's hard to believe that they are going to start move-ins in late February.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tampaguy75/Photo_121607_002.jpg

Thanks for the pic tampaguy. Yeah, I agree with you, I would be surprise if they had move-ins start by February. They still need to finish painting and are they even done with the units? I say they should be done by Late March/Early April

That's still a couple months off. The units themselves should finish quickly since they are all the same. No customizations from pesky condo buyers.

So the Garage is already finish, right?

So the Garage is already finish, right?

I think the parking garage is "finished" in that it is topped out.. The apartments on the east side of the parking garage are "topped out" as well.. However, they are still constructing the floors on the west side of the parking garage.

Eww, they look cheap. Here's hoping the finishing touches make up for the dull/textureless facade with the frugal aluminum railings.

^I would be glad to have spartan exterior detailing if it paid off in better sound mitigation, and something better than the cheapest possible detailing within the units. However, I seriously doubt that's the plan.

They aren't all that bad...you have to remember they are apartments. It brings welcome density to that area, and I wish we could get a rental tower downtown...not sure if that will ever happen in the near future. I wouldn't mind seeing more similar projects in the area, especially where we currently have empty lots.

I drove down Channelside today, and noticed the old white building next to the city parking garage has been torn down...any idea what is going on there?

^White building next to which garage?

That's where Mercury is planning to build their 3rd tower.

They aren't all that bad...you have to remember they are apartments. It brings welcome density to that area, and I wish we could get a rental tower downtown...not sure if that will ever happen in the near future. I wouldn't mind seeing more similar projects in the area, especially where we currently have empty lots.

I drove down Channelside today, and noticed the old white building next to the city parking garage has been torn down...any idea what is going on there?
As TPAMAN said, that's were Mercury Advisors is planning to build Del Villar.

^ Which may be their second tower. It depends on what The Martin does.

^ Which may be their second tower. It depends on what The Martin does.
Yeah, it was planned to be their 3rd, but some reason The Martin hasn't started yet, you know why? Although i do like Del Villar than the Martin!

^White building next to which garage?

Well it looks like I was answered. There was a very small white building between the Place and the city owned garage at Channelside... The lot was very small, so it would have to be a small building or point tower.

^yeah, the Del Villar, which from what was discussed in another thread has been bumped ahead of The Martin by the folks at Mercury... I thought that I read something about them having budgetary troubles with the automated garage they were hoping to utilize.

^I would be glad to have spartan exterior detailing if it paid off in better sound mitigation, and something better than the cheapest possible detailing within the units.

I wouldn't - it's important that (at the very least!) sustainable and attractive materials be used. Creativity has never been Tampa's strong point though...

Yea, they might be apartments. But the target price range puts it in league with Harbor Island. The quality of the exterior aesthetic doesn't even come close to even the drab HI stuff.

I can name half a dozen recent midrise projects in Berkeley of all places that offer comparable rent with resilient, attractive aesthetics.

I wouldn't - it's important that (at the very least!) sustainable and attractive materials be used. Creativity has never been Tampa's strong point though...

Yea, they might be apartments. But the target price range puts it in league with Harbor Island. The quality of the exterior aesthetic doesn't even come close to even the drab HI stuff.

I can name half a dozen recent midrise projects in Berkeley of all places that offer comparable rent with resilient, attractive aesthetics.

You have seen one photo (taken with a Palm Treo) months before completion. It could look great when it's done.

Unless they completely redesign the exterior in the next couple of months, nothing is going to change the fact that it looks like an Econo Lodge that was hit up by a Sherwin-Williams sampler.

You have seen one photo (taken with a Palm Treo) months before completion. It could look great when it's done.


How did you know it was a Palm Treo? (It was actually a Palm Centro, lol)

How did you know it was a Palm Treo? (It was actually a Palm Centro, lol)

EXIF (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exif) data. Palm only provides manufacturer data (no model), so I had to guess that it was a Treo. Close enough :P.

Unless they completely redesign the exterior in the next couple of months, nothing is going to change the fact that it looks like an Econo Lodge that was hit up by a Sherwin-Williams sampler.

Never going to look at the place w/o crackin' up
:ohno:

Here are some more photos of Seaport Channelside as it is continuing to be painted. From the Crosstown, the color scheme of Seaport matches Grand Central quite well. I wonder if that was planned.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tampaguy75/100_0087.jpg


http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/tampaguy75/100_0091.jpg

Damn that end of Channelside is going to be nasty when it's built out. It's a shame the city has already approved several projects whose bulk and uninspiring designs seem to take their massing cues from Eastern European 'commie blocks'. I would much rather have a downtown comprised of towers whose mass resembles those found in San Diego or Vancouver, not the squatty slabs we're going to wind up with. Thankfully, it seems like most new projects coming up for downtown will be more along the lines of Place Phase 2&3, not Seaport Channelside or Grand Central. Furthermore, since the market has stalled, it increases the likelihood that some of the unbuilt projects will be redesigned before they're built.

And trust me Jason, the city will not stop approving massive projects. They deny anything and everything that will add height and great architecture and approve projects that look like they were originated from children playing with building blocks. The city has no idea what they are doing, we have seen that before, present, and most likely in the future. If we could only get some knowledgable residents on city council that knew what they were doing.

Well, Grand Central from the front (south) side looks pretty cool and I think it has some good street interaction laid out. Sure, it's shorter then I'd like but it still looks good. I especially like the glass corners of Grand Central both the boxed off and curved ones. The back just looks awkward due to the horrid parking structure on the bottom half.

As I've said in the past, Seaport just looks too cookie cutter. I'm just so glad it's at a rather isolated (for now) corner of the district against the Crosstown and not smack dab in the center of the district, like 212 lofts, Meridian, and Victory which are just a notch better then this only because of being more original. IMO

Well, Grand Central form the front (south) side looks pretty cool and I think it has some good street interaction laid out. Sure, it's shorter then I'd like but it still looks good. The back just looks awkward due to the horrid parking structure on the bottom half.

Not from I-4, the Crosstown, Nuccio Pky or I-275 it doesn't. From most any vantage point to the north it looks like a 150ft tall, 800ft wide concrete slab that some kids randomly colored with markers. And as you said, the garage on that side looks like complete SHIT.

I like Grand Central's Exterior better than I do The Place (although the interiors of The Place blow Grand Central out of the water). I agree that Grand Central looks much better when viewing it from the south than when viewing it from the north, but for buildings of this height (mid-rise), I consider them bold and interesting.

However, I do hope that future condos in Channelside are taller and not as blocky in appearance. I would like to see architecture resembling the Place Phases 2 and 3 (not The Martin).

Let's not forget the air conditioning "box" on top of the building. LOOKS HORRIBLE!

^ I thought they were supposed to box that in or something to hide it... Yeah that's tacky.

Let's not forget the air conditioning "box" on top of the building. LOOKS HORRIBLE!
hahaha, I was going to say something about that afternoon, but didn't want to look like a spammer... Like, where is the shroud for it?

^^ Spammer? You mean post flooder or something? Cuz I don't think you would be advertising for them or something in your post, Jason (Spam = advertisement)

yeah, yeah, same difference.

^^ big difference, though both are annoying. One has no intention of taking part in the discussion and the other... well, the other is making their own discussion :p

But I digress...

Seaport Channelside is now listing on Monster and CareerBuilder for leasing agents. They want you to have experience, though, or else I'd have myself a job right now...

The exterior of this place is absolutely horrendous. The color, rooftop, and just about everything else with the buildings. :ohno:

Well it's about the same color scheme as Grand Central. At least it matches.

Minus the horrendous teal color. YUCKIEZ!!!

... Which matches the glass on GC almost exactly.

The difference to me is the general lack of substantive architectural detailing and depth on the facade of Seaport. The tiny balconies, the small, cheap looking windows, the sheer blank walls... It's just bland and not attractive... At least grand Central is an interesting design, and is attractive along Kennedy. Seaport isn't attractive from any angle that I've seen thus far.

Oh for sure, no argument there. But I was just noting that the colors are quite similar. Neither are going to win a design award.

They aren't meant to be attractive - they're rentals.

^that's a really, really good excuse.

... not.

On their website they say that there will be "Verizon Fios TV/Internet/Phone" in the apartments, that is a good development. Looks like a nice place to live overall; I know I would not mind it! Frankly, I will reserve my judgement until it is done, the artist renditions that I have seen look pretty good, so we shall see.

Steve

the final product looks spot on with the renderings - cheap then, cheap now.

i mean, yea, it's a rental, but it isn't low income. for the price they're commanding (or hoping to), one would expect a wee bit more. it's not a very sustainable design - looks like they (along with the majority of regional developers) are only in this for the very short term and don't mind the thought of it looking like shit in all of ten years.

febuary 1st photo
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v467/blazertke/IMG_1153.jpg

It doesn't look horrible from that angle, but that's probably because any good architectual detailing on the building is squished together, due to the angle itself. Probably looks plainer from a straight on view.

Thanks for the photo updates. :)

I went on a tour the last Saturday and absolutely loved it. I really liked the granite counter tops in the kitchen and the bathroom. Plus it had some really cool stained polished concrete floors. As soon as my lease is up at GC I am thinking about moving into one of the 2/1's. I can see from my window they are about to start landscaping. Good to see more people moving down here.

They look great!
Modern and minimal.

I went on a tour the last Saturday and absolutely loved it. I really liked the granite counter tops in the kitchen and the bathroom. Plus it had some really cool stained polished concrete floors. As soon as my lease is up at GC I am thinking about moving into one of the 2/1's. I can see from my window they are about to start landscaping. Good to see more people moving down here.

Good to hear, and welocme ot the forums. :)

I'm hoping they're on the next Urban Homes Tour so I can get a look at them.

Seaport Channelside's irrigation is being installed as well as the landscaping. Looks like multiple 25 foot tall oak trees on Twiggs and palms around the pool. The leasing consultant told me that they will be moving in their office next week. Can't wait to see it finished.

Seaport Channelside's irrigation is being installed as well as the landscaping. Looks like multiple 25 foot tall oak trees on Twiggs and palms around the pool. The leasing consultant told me that they will be moving in their office next week. Can't wait to see it finished.

Sounds nice, it is about time someone put in some real trees for DT, that should make for a nice area to walk in a year or two when the planting mature a little.

Steve

The website has been substantially updated. There is now pricing for the units and the square footage.

http://seaportchannelside.com/

Looks like apartments start at $1165 a month for a 1/1, 814 square foot apartment. There are some 2 story penthouse apartments that are $2950 a month for 3/3, 2418 square foot apartment.

Those high end units are well out of my range, but they sound like quite a bargain from a pricing perspective... Not so sure that there will much competition in that particular segment. (large, penthouse-like rentals)

I have a PH unit in Channelside (The Meridian) listing for $2200.00. It is about 1410 SF and includes a private two car garage.

They're very nice but a little bit too expensive imo...

Photo Updates:

http://seaportchannelside.com/Apartments/module/website_documents/website_document[id]/6876

They Rent That-A-Way?

By JANIS D. FROELICH
The Tampa Tribune
Published: June 18, 2008

CHANNEL DISTRICT - Developer Michael DeMarcay never considered putting condominiums on the 7.9 acres that Synergy Properties bought from the city five years ago.

Apartments always were the plan, said DeMarcay, Synergy's vice president. So when the 422-unit Seaport Channelside, bordered by Twiggs and 12th streets and Meridian and Raymond avenues, is completed by October, Synergy will use the rest of its land to build more apartments.

The 300-unit second phase will be designed for smaller apartments and lower rents, DeMarcay said. The project should break ground in 2009.

"Apartments really fill a hole that we have here in the downtown area," he said.

Plus, trying to fill apartments is a whole lot easier than selling condominiums in a sluggish housing market.

Since September, the Grand Central on Kennedy condominium complex, across from Seaport Channelside, has been leasing 200 of its 392 units as apartments. About 35 units remain available for rent.

"At least when you're leasing the units you have a better chance to look to the future," Grand Central spokesman Don Scalf said.

He said about half of the potential condo buyers pulled out of their deals at Grand Central, 1208 E. Kennedy Blvd. Some investors were renting out their units so it made sense for Grand Central to follow suit.

Scalf said some renters expressed an interest in buying, but he's not seeing that trend now.

"I haven't written a contract in a long time," he said.

Other Channel District condo projects, including The Towers of Channelside and The Place at Channelside, have filed for bankruptcy protection.

Even with the community's limited rental options, Seaport Channelside, like Grand Central, is offering move-in incentives such as one month's free rent.

Developers say a host of amenities are needed to attract renters willing to pay upward of $1,400 monthly for a one-bedroom unit at Grand Central and $1,250 at Seaport Channelside.

Channel District rents are comparable to those on Harbour Island.

At Seaport Channelside, 50 tenants have moved in, with 174 units completed since March. Community director Trish Carney said tenants expect such things as the courtyard swimming pool and large recreational room.

"Of course, our appeal is our location," she said. "But people also want services at their apartments, so we offer dry-cleaner pickup, massage and workout rooms and downstairs computers."

There also are bicycles to use for free, fax machines, a gourmet coffee counter and a resident activity calendar.

"We have to offer a resort-style living," Carney said.

DeMarcay said he will take comments from renters before deciding what to include in the second phase.

"Certainly, there won't be as many amenities," he said. "We went overboard here."

Scalf said mixing renters and owners is working at Grand Central, which has a rooftop lap pool and running track.

"They have dinners and go to the pool and make friends," he said.

At Channelside Bay Plaza, merchants hope warm bodies - renters or owners - continue coming to the Channel District.

"We desperately need people to live nearby," said Cher Tournade, who has owned the Surf Down Under clothing store for three years.

"We depend on locals," she said. "We are only going to get so many cruise- and conventiongoers. If more and more people could walk here, that would be great."

Robert Bousquet, co-manager of the plaza's 2-year-old NYPD Pizza Delicatessen, said his favorite phrase is, "Nice to see you again."

"To get these repeat customers, especially in the summer when it's always slow, we need to have a full neighborhood nearby," he said.

Reporter Janis D. Froelich can be reached at (813) 259-7657 or jfroelich@tampatrib.com.

http://southtampa2.tbo.com/content/2008/jun/18/st-they-rent-that-a-way/?news

They Rent That-A-Way?

By JANIS D. FROELICH
The Tampa Tribune
Published: June 18, 2008

CHANNEL DISTRICT - Developer Michael DeMarcay never considered putting condominiums on the 7.9 acres that Synergy Properties bought from the city five years ago.

Apartments always were the plan, said DeMarcay, Synergy's vice president. So when the 422-unit Seaport Channelside, bordered by Twiggs and 12th streets and Meridian and Raymond avenues, is completed by October, Synergy will use the rest of its land to build more apartments.

The 300-unit second phase will be designed for smaller apartments and lower rents, DeMarcay said. The project should break ground in 2009.

"Apartments really fill a hole that we have here in the downtown area," he said.

Plus, trying to fill apartments is a whole lot easier than selling condominiums in a sluggish housing market.

Since September, the Grand Central on Kennedy condominium complex, across from Seaport Channelside, has been leasing 200 of its 392 units as apartments. About 35 units remain available for rent.

"At least when you're leasing the units you have a better chance to look to the future," Grand Central spokesman Don Scalf said.

He said about half of the potential condo buyers pulled out of their deals at Grand Central, 1208 E. Kennedy Blvd. Some investors were renting out their units so it made sense for Grand Central to follow suit.

Scalf said some renters expressed an interest in buying, but he's not seeing that trend now.

"I haven't written a contract in a long time," he said.

Other Channel District condo projects, including The Towers of Channelside and The Place at Channelside, have filed for bankruptcy protection.

Even with the community's limited rental options, Seaport Channelside, like Grand Central, is offering move-in incentives such as one month's free rent.

Developers say a host of amenities are needed to attract renters willing to pay upward of $1,400 monthly for a one-bedroom unit at Grand Central and $1,250 at Seaport Channelside.

Channel District rents are comparable to those on Harbour Island.

At Seaport Channelside, 50 tenants have moved in, with 174 units completed since March. Community director Trish Carney said tenants expect such things as the courtyard swimming pool and large recreational room.

"Of course, our appeal is our location," she said. "But people also want services at their apartments, so we offer dry-cleaner pickup, massage and workout rooms and downstairs computers."

There also are bicycles to use for free, fax machines, a gourmet coffee counter and a resident activity calendar.

"We have to offer a resort-style living," Carney said.

DeMarcay said he will take comments from renters before deciding what to include in the second phase.

"Certainly, there won't be as many amenities," he said. "We went overboard here."

Scalf said mixing renters and owners is working at Grand Central, which has a rooftop lap pool and running track.

"They have dinners and go to the pool and make friends," he said.

At Channelside Bay Plaza, merchants hope warm bodies - renters or owners - continue coming to the Channel District.

"We desperately need people to live nearby," said Cher Tournade, who has owned the Surf Down Under clothing store for three years.

"We depend on locals," she said. "We are only going to get so many cruise- and conventiongoers. If more and more people could walk here, that would be great."

Robert Bousquet, co-manager of the plaza's 2-year-old NYPD Pizza Delicatessen, said his favorite phrase is, "Nice to see you again."

"To get these repeat customers, especially in the summer when it's always slow, we need to have a full neighborhood nearby," he said.

Reporter Janis D. Froelich can be reached at (813) 259-7657 or jfroelich@tampatrib.com.

http://southtampa2.tbo.com/content/2008/jun/18/st-they-rent-that-a-way/?news



^^From the article:

http://snap.tbo.com/images/photos/100038/2008/06/18/gallery/1981478.jpg
The lobby for Seaport Channelside, a new 422-unit rental complex opening in the Channel District, reflects a nautical theme. Photo courtesy of Seaport Channelside

http://snap.tbo.com/images/photos/100038/2008/06/18/gallery/1981475.jpg

http://snap.tbo.com/images/photos/100038/2008/06/18/gallery/1981477.jpg
Seaport Channelside, a 422-unit apartment complex in the Channel District, is projected to open in October. News Channel 8 photo by PAUL LAMISON

http://snap.tbo.com/images/photos/100038/2008/06/18/gallery/1981479.jpg
Rental units at Seaport Channelside feature polished concrete floors. Photo courtesy of Seaport Channelside

http://snap.tbo.com/images/photos/100038/2008/06/18/gallery/1981476.jpg

Can someone tell me where the 2nd phase is to be?

One more photo.
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm187/geoant888/1981495.jpgO

They own a 59,000sqft (about 1.35 acres) parcel on the block directly east, fronting Twiggs.

It is supposed to be significantly taller than this project was.

Hey, it's not inspired, but overall I think it's a solid project and meets most requirements I would personally have in mind for the spot. Thumbs up! A bit more street intimacy would be nice, but projects like this sorrrrta get a partial pass.

Looking at the pool it reinforced something I learned a long time ago about scaling of the pool versus the pool deck. Its always better to have more deck than pool. It makes the whole area seem bigger. Generally you need maximum deck area so all the ladies have a place to lay out. People are generally vertical in the pool (standing around or hanging off the wall) and hoizontal on the deck so you always need more space on the deck. They might want to plant a massive hedge along that fence too so that they have some privacy from the wandering homeless.

They own a 59,000sqft (about 1.35 acres) parcel on the block directly east, fronting Twiggs.

It is supposed to be significantly taller than this project was.Would that be this project?



http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/JordanA_015/theplace3gq5.jpg

^^
No, thats the place phase 3

^^Ground breaking coming soon in ........2018.

Seaport has updated it's site with pictures:

http://www.seaportchannelside.com/Common/images/thumbNailer.php?src=/media_library/1466/4811e81ca4fdb955.jpg&w=640&h=500&c=100

http://www.seaportchannelside.com/Common/images/thumbNailer.php?src=/media_library/1466/4811e942392a8205.jpg&w=640&h=500&c=100

http://www.seaportchannelside.com/Common/images/thumbNailer.php?src=/media_library/1466/4946d0729a0ee577.jpg&w=640&h=500&c=100

http://www.seaportchannelside.com/Common/images/thumbNailer.php?src=/media_library/1466/49480b2675a9d445.jpg&w=640&h=500&c=100

Judging by the stuff on the balconines, there seems to be a good number of people living here:
http://www.seaportchannelside.com/Common/images/thumbNailer.php?src=/media_library/1466/49480beba1aff698.jpg&w=640&h=500&c=100

http://www.seaportchannelside.com/Common/images/thumbNailer.php?src=/media_library/1466/49480c3841358240.jpg&w=640&h=500&c=100

http://www.seaportchannelside.com/Common/images/thumbNailer.php?src=/media_library/1466/49480fe9d952e175.jpg&w=640&h=500&c=100

http://www.seaportchannelside.com/Common/images/thumbNailer.php?src=/media_library/1466/49481f7d9b1ee569.jpg&w=640&h=500&c=100

http://www.seaportchannelside.com/Common/images/thumbNailer.php?src=/media_library/1466/49481fc27039c765.jpg&w=640&h=500&c=100

http://www.seaportchannelside.com/Common/images/thumbNailer.php?src=/media_library/1466/49482037a1ddb460.jpg&w=640&h=500&c=100

http://www.seaportchannelside.com/Common/images/thumbNailer.php?src=/media_library/1466/4948207957ac2233.jpg&w=640&h=500&c=100

http://www.seaportchannelside.com/Common/images/thumbNailer.php?src=/media_library/1466/494820baabad7812.jpg&w=640&h=500&c=100

http://www.seaportchannelside.com/

That's all well and good, but a little more street interaction would have been nice.

^^
yeah, does anyone know how much retail/commercial space there is?

Agreed, that's my major comaplaint with the project. Hopefully the Martin and the other lot for this project will have retail space, or this end of the district will be dead on the sidewalks.

Was Seaport originally planned as apartments or were they condo before switching?

Yeah, more street interaction would had been great. I'm surprise they didn't do the whole first floor retail, but thats the developers decision and not mine.

Looks like Deck the Walls had a sale:

http://www.seaportchannelside.com/Common/images/thumbNailer.php?src=/media_library/1466/4811e942392a8205.jpg&w=640&h=500&c=100

Really, everything is is pretty current and they nail this thing up. Sorry, its little details like that that worry me about a company. I get reamed if I'm a mm off on something, and they can't be bothered to hang current artwork, hell I'd be happy with a Melrose Place promo poster at least that would only be 15 years out of date and not 25.

The rest of the place looks pretty standard for a typical new build apartment complex though. Good to see they have tenants.

So no warhol, dali or picasso prints for you.

That's all well and good, but a little more street interaction would have been nice.

It doesn't need a lot... There is 125,000sqft of it that sits largely vacant at Grand Central alone... and when they build out their property, there will be a good amount of it along Channelside.

Pretty nice, I would not mind living there if I were looking for an apartment - of course with my decorations and not theirs....

I understand that these were always planned as apartments and not condos.

Steve

I'm sure I'm dating myself, but having a Patrick Nagel print on your apartment wall was de rigeur in the 80s, along with a black leather sofa and these great new devices called CD players. Oh yah, MTV used to actually play music videos all day long as well.

Ahhh, memories...

Have any of you people bothered to go see the place on foot? It's not bad at all...

My only real disappointments were that guest parking was confined to the lot up next to the leasing office, forcing your friends to walk a considerable distance to your unit... and that there is just one pool area, which isn't particularly large. I was pretty surprised to see that the top of the garage was just parking, not another pool area, or park, or something. That seemed especially myopic, given that's the only place with a view in the whole complex, since it's so short.

^^I noticed the pool area sucking too on an pic awhile back. Maybe George Hamilton is my long lost father, but I have issues with sticking pools on the north sides of buildings, especially if said building is 5 stories tall. Can't shade the pool man. I think it backs up to a rather unpleasant area too.

^I was saying on top of the garage, like most other DT residential projects have already done... The garage is as tall as the rest of the place, but is just an exposed roof deck of parking.

Somehow I don't think they had the budget for an elevated amenities deck. A typical residential inground pool in 2006 was about $21-28K + the decking. Now triple the size (ala Element) and engineer the thing for being on top of the garage, you are looking at about $120K+ for just the pool and then whatever you want to spend to make the deck nice.

Even if it cost $300k to build a 2nd rooftop pool, that's less than $12 a month per unit over a 5yr period. Recurring maintenance would probably be about 1/2 of that per month... I'm just saying, my guess is that if the prices were let's say $20-25 a month higher and now tenants have two pools, including a rooftop pool/patio area with a great view and steady sun, I think that would be an easy sell.

But you are assuming the developer thinks they'll own it in 5 years. Never underestimate the cheapness of a developer. I worked for a place that wouldn't buy pool furniture for the townhome project it built. We made the residents do it. I thought is was very cheap, but it was above my paygrade. This is Florida afterall, be cheap and flip it quick is the rule.

True... very true. I chose the townhouse I have over another one, because the developer had cheaped out so much on the unit I initially preferred, that I couldn't justify their price. I would have had to spend a good $15-20k to refinish the place with what I would consider a minimally acceptable finish quality. I'm sure that they had no trouble selling the place because of location (was on North B, west of Lois), and because of the fact that so many people buy on impulse.

One good thing to come out of the downturn and housing overcapacity is that developers with inventory will basically give away the store just to breakeven. Novare is offering $75K worth of upgrades on their projects up here. So basically you can get 1200-1400sf, 2/2 and get the whole thing with hardwood flooring, custom closet systems, etc, for about $250ish.

Channelside developer seeks condo tax rebate for apartments
By Michael Van Sickler, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Friday, April 10, 2009

CHANNELSIDE — The banner draped across the top ledge of Seaport Channelside reads: "Apartment Homes."

Leasing specialists who work at this five-story, 422-unit complex tell visitors that if they're looking to buy a condominium here, they're out of luck. Apartments only.

So why are the developers of Seaport Channelside Apartment Homes applying for tax rebates as just that — a condo building?

Look no further than a lucrative tax refund that developers say they need to make the $70 million project feasible.

"We feel wholeheartedly that we did everything we were supposed to do, so we are due these credits," said Doug Weber, owner of Synergy Properties, which built Seaport Channelside.

But whether Seaport will qualify, potentially saving more than $1 million, depends on a complex process involving county and state officials.

At the heart of the matter is a Florida law that was created to encourage development in blighted areas such as Channelside and which in the last few years has become an ever larger drain on state coffers.

• • •

In 2003, Tampa officials searched for developers willing to build on 7.5 acres of city land that had been used for years as a fueling station for city vehicles. Synergy, a family-owned development company that specializes in assisted living facilities, won the bid and began cleaning up the site along E Twiggs Street.

The cleanup lasted four years — three years longer than expected — because of the additional waste, including old railroad tracks and a 19th century stormwater system, said Michael DeMarcay, Synergy's vice president.

The plan, DeMarcay and Weber say, is to lease their project's units as apartments, but convert them to condos as the market improves.

They always counted on getting a tax subsidy that was created for industrial zones like this one, the developers say. It gives them a refund on taxes spent on building materials — a rebate that developers are tapping with greater frequency.

In 2001, the tax refund cost the state about $456,000. By last year, the refund cost $25.6 million, according to Robert Babin, legislative services director for the Florida Department of Revenue.

Condo projects represent about 95 percent of the rebates. That's because the law refunds the sales tax per property identification number.

Property appraisers issue identification numbers for each condo unit because they are owned by different entities. If a project has 100 condos, then 100 identification numbers are assigned. Even though an apartment building has 100 units, however, it will only be assigned one identification number because the units typically belong to one owner.

So while condos multiply the tax rebate by each unit, an apartment building only gets up to $5,000 for the entire project.

In Seaport's case, an apartment project designation would mean $5,000 back tax refunds. A condo designation would mean $1.5 million.

That's a big difference, and yet, the tax rebate law never mentions apartments or condos specifically, only the property identification numbers.

DeMarcay and Weber think it should be up to Florida's Department of Revenue to decide whether they get the tax refund, as well as the intent of the law.

But first, the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser's Office must decide if each of Seaport's apartments gets its own identification number.

"We don't think these are condo units in reality," said Will Shepherd, the legal counsel for the Property Appraiser's Office. "The problem is, we realize that. We didn't want to appear to go along with this deception."

• • •

Last June, DeMarcay told a tax consultant his plan to apply for the rebate. An attorney told him to put the "bare minimum" condo documents in place to create the separate identification numbers, while making sure only one tax bill would be sent to the owner of the building, DeMarcay wrote in a June 19 e-mail. The Property Appraiser's Office later obtained this e-mail.

"(That e-mail) made it seem pretty obvious to us that the only reason they were setting up these condos was to get a larger sales tax rebate than they were entitled to," Shepherd said.

Shepherd contacted an official with the Department of Revenue and alerted him of his suspicion, including his belief that Synergy would dissolve the condos once they received the tax rebate.

Babin, of the Department of Revenue, said his agency needs Synergy's tax rebate application before it can decide.

"I can certainly see how the local authority has a question there," Babin said. "But I also don't think the rebate specifies apartments or condos."

DeMarcay said that Shepherd misinterpreted his e-mail. "Bare-minimum" only referred to preliminary condo documents that had to be filed, he said, adding that there are no plans to dissolve the condos.

The company always intended to convert the apartments to condos when the market improved. Synergy's February 2003 report to Tampa officials confirms that its strategy was to convert to condos later.

Still, condos aren't practical now. Even if Synergy wanted to sell its units, it would need permission from its lender, which could take time.

But just because condos may not happen for years, that doesn't mean they should forfeit the rebate, DeMarcay said.

Meanwhile, with the condo documents in place, property appraiser Rob Turner said there isn't much choice for his office.

"We are charged with following the law, and if we don't, the court can find us at fault," Turner said. "I just hope this gets attention in Tallahassee."

http://www.tampabay.com/news/growth/article990656.ece

[QUOTE=TampaMike;34975252]Channelside developer seeks condo tax rebate for apartments

Oh sure, and I should be able to get a mortgage based on "how much I think my income will be in the future".

My wife, two daughters (3 and 1) and I just signed our lease for a 2/2.5 townhome at Seaport and look forward to moving-in in January. We had to give 60 days notice where we currently are (Circle at Crosstown) so we decided to get a head start looking around. After looking at four different places we settled on Seaport. Ultimately, the 1770 sq ft and high build quality tipped in Seaport's favor.

The negatives were the lack of valet trash (we're kinda spoiled on that now). Another negative for us was the lack of an on-site playground. Thankfully, after I had mentioned it would be a great selling point for other potential families, the leasing agent spoke to "corporate" and told me they're looking at potentially adding a playset and making one of the six courtyards off limits to pets.

It will be an experiment for us and our young family to live in a urban environment. But, my wife and I have always wanted to live in an urban setting. Besides, the family pass to the children's museum will get a lot of use. We looked at the Seaport and the unit three times before deciding.

After driving through the area several times as well, we look forward to more walk-up retail on that end of Channelside. However, the streetcar stop 100 yards away opens up all of Channelside and Ybor and a lot of downtown too.

In any case, we're excited about moving and think it'll be fun. Anybody live at Seaport and care to give their take on it?

Good luck! :) Welcome to the board, let us know how you like Seaport and the surrounding area. There are some great people on this board that work in that area that should be able to give some insights. If I am still in Tampa in the next 5 years I would also very much like to live in that area and have access to the street car, but we shall see.

Steve

MODS: Can we change the title from U/C to completed?

The title of this thread needs to change. Seaport isn't u/c

The guy who sits next to me at work lives in Seaport in one of the one bedroom apartments. He loves it, though like everyone else, he wishes there was a grocery store closer than Publix on Bayshore.


btw... I think we lost our mods? I might have to re-mod myself, so that someone can take care of things...lol

^I'm still here just been very busy.