And I can't see them changing that any time in the future. The NIMBY's will complain about the projects being too high and then complain about them being too bulky and developing a wall on the beach.
Sounds like the typical Clearwater attitude, either way you can't win.

Too bad the NIMBY morons are too f***ing stupid to figure out that tall and slender allows for lots of greenspace and open air, while also allowing for the necessary density to make the neighborhood work as a functioning tourist destination and economic engine for the people of the city.

Too bad the NIMBY morons are too f***ing stupid to figure out that tall and slender allows for lots of greenspace and open air, while also allowing for the necessary density to make the neighborhood work as a functioning tourist destination and economic engine for the people of the city.
And that's what the people understand but don't want to happen. They want to keep it a small beach town which it hasn't been for the past 40 years.

Bye bye, something better and taller can go there now....

Patel's undeveloped Clearwater Beach site goes on sale for $30 million
By Drew Harwell, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Wednesday, February 24, 2010

CLEARWATER — Six years ago, Tampa businessman and philanthropist Kiran Patel paid $40 million for prime land just south of Pier 60, envisioning a two-towered megaresort to adorn what was one of the county's most expensive land buys.

Yet the newest structure at the site — a for-sale sign — could mean an end to the project before building began.

City leaders estimated the site's price — paired with about $10 million in taxes, interest and carrying costs — has rocketed to about $50 million.

Yet Coldwell Banker Commercial, which has listed the 2.9 acres at clearwaterbeachforsale.com, appears to have little hope of earning Patel a profit. The land, which agents wrote is "entitled and ready to turn dirt," has an asking price of $30 million.

The project's dismal outlook didn't surprise Vice Mayor Paul Gibson, who has publicly chastised Patel, a cardiologist with a history in health care management, for his lack of experience in real estate.

"The sale of the property was inevitable," Gibson said. "Dr. Patel knows as much about development as I know about medicine."

Mayor Frank Hibbard called the sale "surprising but maybe not a bad thing," adding that a buyer could still turn the land into a profitable project given a better set of plans.

Any new developer, though, would need to build with "a sense of urgency," Hibbard said. The council extended the site's development deadline last year to 2011; another extension, he said, might be out of the question.

"The clock's ticking," Hibbard said. "You've got a council that has lost their patience."

Messages left for Patel and his assistant by St. Petersburg Times reporters Tuesday were not immediately returned.

The site holds 200 parking spaces for beachgoers, built with $150,000 from Patel as part of an "extension fee" the city levied at the end of 2008. At that time, the council asked for reassurance that the Miami-based Related Group, which Patel called a 30 percent partner in the project, was still involved.

Reached Tuesday, Related's vice president Eric Fordin said he had not yet heard the property was on the market. The firm had done little work for Patel in recent years, he said, as they waited for him to secure financing.

Patel originally planned to build 15-story towers of condos and hotel suites that would fill the 900,000-square-foot resort, at an estimated cost of $250 million. To do so, he had to raze several standing hotels near S Gulfview Boulevard and Coronado Drive, all the while looking to capitalize on an investment that officials and developers said was staggeringly risky.

"Maybe I overpaid," Patel told a Times reporter in 2004. "But all my life I have done things by gut, how I feel. And like most people, I have had some failures and had some good ones. I don't know if what I'm getting into is good or bad. Time will tell."

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/realestate/patels-undeveloped-clearwater-beach-site-goes-on-sale-for-30-million/1075351

Why couldn't this have happened to that big ugly pink concrete mass next door at least this design was okay. Either way I hope a better designed building gets built there.

The city planners/council have messed up badly here. It seems like they didn't learn from the 880 Mandalay disaster at all.

Years ago, they should have talked to the owners of the Hyatt and the Patel lots to find the best solution possible for Clearwater: Two tall but slender resorts and a separate parking garage between the two.

It was the biggest mistake to put public parking into the Hyatt. Now the building mass is totally wrong. The base is way to big and the whole thing is out of proportion in itself and with the neighbourhood.

The Hyatt has 250 rooms, same number as the Sandpearl. Interesting to see how one adds to the neighbourhood and one just dominates in an ugly way.

^The Sandpearl is hardly any better though I see your point. The Hyatt is a disastrously hideous building.

If anyone who approved these recent hotels is still in office, or is still working for the city, they should be IMMEDIATELY Impeached or fired. The redevelopment of Clearwater Beach is painful proof of their absolutely breathtaking incompetence. (and I don't mean just the horrifically conceived highrises, but also planning disasters like Brightwater Drive and the fountain in a traffic circle)

Despite concerns, Clearwater plan for apartments, restaurants and shops moves forward
By Lorri Helfand, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Saturday, March 20, 2010

CLEARWATER — Clogged intersections, gridlock, more accidents. Despite an array of concerns, city leaders this week unanimously backed a project that would replace a vacant 30-acre lot with apartments, restaurants and shops.

The site at the southwest corner of Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard and Belcher Road was the home of Lakeside Mobile Home Park, which closed in 2007.

A chain-link fence now surrounds the lot, which is basically barren except for a scattering of trees and a network of streets that once led to nearly 300 mobile homes.

"Driving that intersection for years, it has been an eyesore," said City Council member George Cretekos at Thursday's council meeting.

Replacing the blight will increase traffic, but there's really no better alternative, officials said.

"People have property rights," Vice Mayor Paul Gibson said. "We either buy it or allow development."

The commercial part of the project proposed by Nickel Plate Properties and Lakeside Enterprises would have two entrances, one on Gulf-to-Bay and one on Belcher.

The residential portion would have three driveways on Druid Road. All would be gated. Residents would be able to access the commercial part of the development, but other motorists couldn't cut through the residential portion to exit on Druid.

A traffic study commissioned by the owners says the project would add 236 new peak-hour vehicle trips.

A few nearby residents who spoke at the meeting questioned the owners' findings. But most council members said they generally trusted the owners' research and their plans to ease traffic as much as possible.

The owners have agreed to spend nearly $1 million to incorporate various elements, including:

• An eastbound right-turn-only lane on Gulf-to-Bay.

• A driveway on Gulf-to-Bay at S Main Street. It would allow right turns in and out of the commercial section. A median would also be installed on Gulf-to-Bay to allow left turns into the development.

• A southbound right-turn-only lane on Belcher Road approaching the project entrance across from the Publix entrance. New traffic signals would also be installed.

Before approving the development agreement and land use changes, several council members asked how the development would affect already problematic portions of Gulf-to-Bay and Belcher.

Cretekos expressed concern about the westbound left turn lane the developer plans to install on Gulf-to-Bay at Main Street, just west of the Albertsons store. He asked when officials would step in if traffic jammed up there.

"Are we going to have to wait for X-number of accidents? Are we going to have to wait for a catastrophic accident or just a few fender benders?" Cretekos asked.

Traffic operations manager Paul Bertels said the area would be monitored closely by the city, the county and the state Department of Transportation, and the median would be closed if there were any major problems.

Resident Mark Quinzi, who lives in the Druid Park neighborhood west of the project, questioned how adding more than 240 apartments and a retail center could have a minimal effect on the area.

"We don't like their math," said Quinzi, who told officials he represented about 70 homeowners in his subdivision and the nearby Canterbury neighborhood.

Residents of the former mobile home park were mostly seniors and didn't drive during rush hour, he said. New residents would probably be working families with more than one car. Plus, he said, no one at the meeting was discussing the intersection at Hercules Avenue and Druid, which backs up now because of nearby Clearwater High School.

"We're worried about being blocked into our neighborhood," Quinzi, 45, said.

Ed Armstrong, land use attorney for Nickel Plate Properties, said the property owners spent hours with city staffers and other agencies, and traffic experts did not disagree with the owners' conclusions.

There may have been anecdotal evidence to the contrary, he said.

"But it simply doesn't pass the test of scientific scrutiny that every unbiased agency has come to when reviewing this project," Armstrong said.

A few city leaders pointed out that the project is much less intense than it could be.

Council member John Doran said the owners' proposal limits commercial development to less than half of what the code would allow and limits residential development to less than 90 percent of what the code would permit.

City leaders also discounted a letter from a lawyer for the owner of the Publix shopping center. He urged city leaders to oppose Nickel Plate's plan to align its entrance with the shopping center's, saying the development would make the intersection unsafe.

Because the project involves large scale land use amendments, it requires the okay of the Pinellas County Commission and the Florida Department of Community Affairs. If the amendments are approved by those bodies, they probably will come back to the council by May or June, said Gina Clayton, the city's assistant planning and development director.

Despite the lagging economy, Andrew Ingersoll, president of Nickel Plate Properties, said he's optimistic about the project.

"We consider it an A location and, in any economy, good locations do thrive," Ingersoll said.

If the approval process goes smoothly, Nickel Plate plans to break ground later this year.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/despite-concerns-clearwater-plan-for-apartments-restaurants-and-shops/1081329

People need to get over it and accept the fact the city will grow. That intersection is horrible but there is nothing you can do.

Seriously... The landowner is replacing a 300+ unit trailer park, which is as ghetto as development can legally get, with residential apartments that will have fewer units, and then some commercial space on the road frontage. In net, traffic will barely go up from what it was when the trashy trailer park was there... Oh, and the landowner is only building to a density that is about 60% of what is already zoned and legal to build, and they're is doing it in a historically urban area...

Exactly WHAT is the problem here? The only issue I sense here is serial stupidity on the part of a handful of residents.


Resident Mark Quinzi, who lives in the Druid Park neighborhood west of the project, questioned how adding more than 240 apartments and a retail center could have a minimal effect on the area.
Wake up dude. 240 units is less than the 300 that were already there. That means traffic will go down.. The commercial space added is fairly small, and will increase net traffic over what it was before by a whopping total of like 1 trip a minute.

Why are such clueless people even quoted in the newspaper? Who cares what someone's opinion is, when that opinion is based on their lack of knowledge? Why don't we get quotes from people who know what they are talking about, rather than highlighting ignorance?...

Why are they quoted? Because likely if the ones that actually knew what they were talking about were the only ones quoted, the ones like Mr. Quinzi would through a fit and probably lead to protesting. Might just leave them alone with their 30 seconds of fame.

I would rather they protest and make fools of themselves on a bigger, more public stage.

Only problem with that is it will be public to the other idiots and they'll just jump in, while many of them problem can't read the newspaper.

Keystone Road widening is clipping along
By Demorris A. Lee, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Sunday, August 8, 2010

The orange and white construction barrels along Keystone Road are signs of growth in northern Pinellas County.

Housing units in the suburban area jumped to more than 17,000 in 2007 from about 4,100 in 1980, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

And Tarpon Springs, for which a portion of Keystone Road snakes through, has seen its population rise from 21,000 in 2003 to 23,370 in 2008.

In an effort to keep up with the growth and the increasing number of vehicles traveling on the two-lane thoroughfare, Pinellas County has embarked on a road expansion project for Keystone Road from East Lake Road to U.S. 19.

The project also will connect the Pinellas Trail from Melon Street to East Lake Road.

Here's a closer look at specifics of the project:

What's the timeline?

Construction began July 12 and is expected to be completed in summer 2013.

What will this project accomplish?

A 3-mile stretch of Keystone Road will be widened from two to four lanes between U.S. 19 and East Lake Road South. The new divided highway will preserve space in the median for an ultimate six-lane road for future expansion.

There will be paved sidewalks and connections to the Pinellas Trail. Eleven stormwater retention ponds, more than 6 1/2 miles of drainage pipe and more than 30 retaining walls also will be constructed.

The cost

About $32 million.

Who's paying?

The Penny for Pinellas fund provides $25 million. The remaining balance comes from Pinellas County Utilities, the city of Tarpon Springs, Verizon and Clearwater Gas System, all of which are making infrastructure improvements as part of the roadway project.

How will traffic be managed during construction?

Lane shifts and closures will take place. Advance notification will be made available on the county's website and on message boards along Keystone Road.


When will the road be worked on?

Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; some night work also may be required.

How many vehicles travel on the road?

A 2007 study indicates that 34,000 cars per day were traveling between U.S. 19 and East Lake Road on Keystone Road. By 2027, it is expected that 42,000 cars per day will use the road.

What's happening now?

Utility crews have begun trimming trees and moving power poles in advance of relocating power lines along Keystone Road.

Right-of-way agreements and easements have been obtained to move existing utilities such as water, electric and telephone lines. The relocation of utility lines is the first step in the process of widening the road.

Information provided by Pinellas County government. Compiled by Demorris A. Lee, Times staff writer.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/growth/keystone-road-widening-is-clipping-along/1113870

About time! I thankfully don't go through there much but at rush hour East Lake Rd and Keystone is a pain in the ass.

About time! I thankfully don't go through there much but at rush hour East Lake Rd and Keystone is a pain in the ass.
And thats what I commented on there, it takes me about three tries to turn a left onto East Lake Rd to go north. It's a hell waiting at that intersection.

I din't think the widening was possible, espicially on top of the hill there. I really want to see how they'll fit 4 lanes on the top of that hill while keeping it safe to get onto Highlands Ave. and Richard Ervin Pkwy.

Eh widening is possible I thought the idiot residents there fought the widening because they wanted to keep it "rural". When trying to turn south on east lake road from keystone it always backs up big time, I always drive on the shoulder which is terrible for my car to get past the line of cars turning north.

The intersection we are talking about

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=east+lake+florida&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=East+Lake,+Pinellas,+Florida&ll=28.148903,-82.695905&spn=0.002128,0.003406&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=28.148864,-82.695806&panoid=ePhFpJoAHCiQca02ca2Y0A&cbp=12,304.69,,0,8.97

4 lanes I guess is possible, but 6 lanes? Including the median and turn lanes? I can see it working from US 19 to Melon St. and from the eastern end of Richard Ervin. Pkwy to East Lake Rd., but I'm having trouble seeing 6 lanes, turn lanes, median, and the Pinellas Trail fitting on that hill. Maybe it's possible and I just can't see it.

I'm happy it's getting down though. That whole stretch is a mess during rush hour and at least I know to avoid it until 2013 during rush hour. haha

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/4540/dsc0233s0.jpg

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/2363/dsc0232f.jpg

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/2519/dsc0230da.jpg

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/9390/dsc0226d0.jpg

Took a quick trip down to Clearwater between my two classes. Not much happening, but here it goes.

-The new parking garage that is right next to the Hyatt Hotel is almost completed. All the construction portion and it only seems like the interior is the only thing left.
-The new Holiday Inn is at the 2nd story at the moment.


That's it. lol

I don't even bother going to Clearwater anymore. Clearwater's 'leaders' have successfully achieved their goal of making Clearwater Beach as unattractive as possible to beach goers, and with the loony scientologists downtown, I just avoid the whole city all together.

I hate Clearwater. Don't care if I ever go there again.

I like Clearwater. Did the city make mistakes? Yes indeed. But it still is a nice destination. I like CWB much better than Treasure Island, Madeira Beach or St. Pete beach or many other beaches on the Gulf or Atlantic. Why? Because the beach has still some "small town feeling". You can walk around and have restaurants, shops, the pier, the marina and Beach Walk all closely together. All the other beach towns are more organized along a large main street and are not as walkable. I just wish downtown would be developed better and that without the cult. I come back for a vacation each year, but i stay in a small motel in North Beach. Walking up from there to Caladesi is one of my favorite things.

Clearwater sucks what a terrible city to live in, I guess visiting is nice but when you have to live here and deal with the idiots, terrible roads, nothingness and poor planning. Its such a boring place including clearwater beach.

I like Clearwater. Did the city make mistakes? Yes indeed. But it still is a nice destination. I like CWB much better than Treasure Island, Madeira Beach or St. Pete beach or many other beaches on the Gulf or Atlantic. Why? Because the beach has still some "small town feeling". You can walk around and have restaurants, shops, the pier, the marina and Beach Walk all closely together. All the other beach towns are more organized along a large main street and are not as walkable. I just wish downtown would be developed better and that without the cult. I come back for a vacation each year, but i stay in a small motel in North Beach. Walking up from there to Caladesi is one of my favorite things.

Maybe it's just me but when I'm craving the small beach town feel, I don't yearn for a large beach city that fucked itself up so bad that it now feels like a cheaped out 'small town'. Clearwater is not a small town, so if it feels small town, that's a fundamental failure in my opinion. Clearwater has the geography, money and good luck with storms to be a GREAT beach community, but it isn't great at all. That's a FAILURE of lthe community to care about itself and it's a big one in my opinion.

I will grant you that Clearwater is nicer than every other city along the Pinellas coast, but thats' only because Pinellas' other beach towns are pretty much the most ill managed beach towns I've ever been to (St Pete Beach is so bad it can carry the torch for the whole county). The Tampa Bay area has such attractive geography, but the people who live here have ruined it. Not that they are ruining it, but that they have already ruined it. It would take billions to fix what has been fucked up and the money just isn't there to fix anything. Tampa's chance at greatness has come and gone and will not ever come back. Worst of all, locals know they blew it and they're damn proud of it.

Clearwater sucks what a terrible city to live in, I guess visiting is nice but when you have to live here and deal with the idiots, terrible roads, nothingness and poor planning. Its such a boring place including clearwater beach.

I used to live in Clearwater for 3 years and I enjoyed it despite the shortcomings of the city. I agree that there were made mistakes but show me a place where none were made.
The beach towns on the Atlantic have made worse mistakes in my opinion.

Some of the mistakes are result of not only poor planning but also because the laws allow investors to pretty much do what they want. And if the city opposes them, they sue and still win. Add a little too much direct democracy to that, where nimbys decide what's happening, and you end up with what you see in Clearwater.

Maybe it's just me but when I'm craving the small beach town feel, I don't yearn for a large beach city that fucked itself up so bad that it now feels like a cheaped out 'small town'. Clearwater is not a small town, so if it feels small town, that's a fundamental failure in my opinion. Clearwater has the geography, money and good luck with storms to be a GREAT beach community, but it isn't great at all. That's a FAILURE of lthe community to care about itself and it's a big one in my opinion.


Maybe I did use the wrong word. Small town feeling is not the correct definition. What I meant was the compact layout of the island that allows you to walk around and have restaurants and shops on the sidewalk, then walk over to the marina or the pier etc. In CWB you don't have to use your car to get around.

I agree for example that the Hyatt's design is aweful. It should not have includes the public parking. The base of the building is just out of proportion and makes it look ugly. Also it should have had more height and be slimmer on the top.

But I also see some positives like Beach Walk.

The problem is, that Clearwater used to be a small town and then grew pretty fast, but the pace of redevelopment on the beach was much slower than the city's growth. So, when the beach finally was hit with waves of developments, exploding real estate prices, greedy developers on one side and a city in desperate need of improvement, it ends up with projects blown out of proportion compared to the sourrounding areas. Take the real estate crash in middle of that and it's getting even worse.

I like Clearwater. Did the city make mistakes? Yes indeed. But it still is a nice destination. I like CWB much better than Treasure Island, Madeira Beach or St. Pete beach or many other beaches on the Gulf or Atlantic. Why? Because the beach has still some "small town feeling". You can walk around and have restaurants, shops, the pier, the marina and Beach Walk all closely together. All the other beach towns are more organized along a large main street and are not as walkable. I just wish downtown would be developed better and that without the cult. I come back for a vacation each year, but i stay in a small motel in North Beach. Walking up from there to Caladesi is one of my favorite things.

I've seen bigger waves in my bathtub.

New Development!!!!!!!! :lol:

Hooters, Starbucks coming to Clearwater Beach
By Katie Park, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Thursday, July 14, 2011

CLEARWATER —Two international chains are headed to the heart of Clearwater Beach next spring.

A local developer plans to put up a new three-story building to house a Hooters restaurant and Starbucks coffee shop. An existing retail building at 385 Mandalay Ave., just north of the beach roundabout, will be torn down to make way for the project.

The two businesses will join the locally owned restaurants and small shops in the Mandalay business district near Pier 60.

"The beach is full of wonderful dining choices, and it just adds another opportunity for the thousands of visitors that come to our beach," said Darlene Kole, president of the Clearwater Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Joseph Kokolakis, who owns 385 Mandalay Ave., will develop the project. His plans call for a three-story building with a balcony and rooftop bar. The first floor would be occupied by a Starbucks and a retail store which has yet to be identified. The Hooters restaurant would occupy the second floor, with the third floor serving as the restaurant's open-air bar.

The project site plan is under review by the city and will be considered by the Clearwater Community Development Board in August, said City Planning And Development Director Michael Delk.

Many visitors to Clearwater Beach are surprised to find out there are so few chain restaurants there, Kole said.

She expects that bringing recognizable brands to the beach will have a positive effect on the area.

"The more people that come out here to dine, they park, they walk, they shop, they enjoy all the other amenities out here," Kole said.

Kokolakis said both businesses approached him to build locations on Clearwater Beach. With so many hotels nearby, Starbucks should attract plenty of business from tourists, he said.

"When I travel somewhere, I wake up in the morning and walk to the nearest Starbucks," he said.

While both businesses are chains, Hooters has roots in Clearwater. The original Hooters restaurant is located on Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard, and Kokolakis said several of Hooters' owners live on Clearwater Beach.

"I think they're looking at this as a location almost in their home," he said.

Kokolakis said Hooters suits the atmosphere of Clearwater Beach. The restaurant, which specializes in chicken wings, sells bar cuisine as well as beer and wine. One of the restaurant's iconic features is its wait staff: young women in revealing white tank tops and orange shorts. Kokolakis said Hooters can be considered a family restaurant; he has taken his three children there.

But longtime Clearwater Beach resident and activist Anne Garris disagrees. She said she has never been to Hooters but knows of its reputation, and that the restaurant does not fit with the beach's "wholesome atmosphere."

"I don't see Hooters as family friendly," Garris said. "I don't think it caters to our highest instincts."

Although Garris said she is not opposed to Starbucks, the arrival of chain restaurants has "chipped away" at Clearwater Beach's unique qualities, she said.

"When we get the chain places here, we become just like everyone else," Garris said. "People will say, 'Why come here? You've got it everywhere else.' "
http://www.tampabay.com/news/hooters-starbucks-coming-to-clearwater-beach/1180378

*Render at the link

Sweet, even though it's a chain, it'll be nice for the area.

Hooters perfectly suits Clearwater.

I like how some idiot resident still complains, no surprise..

^The complaining isn't a problem. At least some number of people have always complained about everything built. The problem is that these morons get published. That's where we have a fundamental breakdown, because the person picking what gets published isn't doing so based on merit, but rather which comments he thinks will generate the most profit for himself.

To be fair, it's standard journalism practice to provide opposing viewpoints. The article did not tilt in a negative direction.

To be fair, it's standard journalism practice to provide opposing viewpoints. The article did not tilt in a negative direction.
Agreed. Even if it's just one loony out there, still have to interview him or her. And all honesty, I think putting her in the paper even helped more in favor for the Hooters with her comments of never going to one but somehow knowing of its reputation (boobs?) and how Clearwater Beach somehow somewhere has a "wholesome atmosphere".

Ann Garris has been a vocal in Clearwater for over 50 years. She comments on every project and attends council meetings etc. She is over 80 yrs old and viewed with respect by many people. Sometimes here suggestions aren't so bad but sometimes they are way off.......

Not big development news, but the structure for the cinemas at Countryside looked complete last week. 4 more months until complete, if they finish on timeline.

Yea I live by it, its going up quick, never hurts to have more movies in the area.

^Especially Pinellas. I recently went to the Parkside 16 during a week night and it was packed... Couldn't figure out why (nothing opened that night), then I remembered that almost every other theater in Pinellas is an outdated dump.

^Especially Pinellas. I recently went to the Parkside 16 during a week night and it was packed... Couldn't figure out why (nothing opened that night), then I remembered that almost every other theater in Pinellas is an outdated dump.

Besides Baywalk, that's like the only movie theater in South Pinellas.

I think? I know Baywalk is the only one in the St. Pete city limits.

Oldsmar - Woodlands 20
Palm Harbor - Muvico 10
Clearwater- Cobb Countryside 12 with IMAX
Pinellas Park- 16 Screens
Saint Petersburg - Muvico 20

thats it for a county this large...most of the small theaters have shuttered.

^^That also might be a reflection on the demographics of the county as a whole. Going out to the movies has transitioned into the mid-priced night out category. If you have a lot of people with low levels of disposable income (low end service workers and retirees), there won't be a market for theaters. Its just the opposite out here in LA. We have lots of young people, making pretty decent money so there are theaters everywhere. Many have gone to assigned seating (which is great so we can always try to get those first row behind the rail/foot rest seats) because of demand. A typical movie night for the three of us is $10 per adult ticket, $8 for the kid, if we drive parking will be around $4 with validation, $20 for two drinks and a popcorn. So $52 for just the movie (non-3D, add $2-4 per ticket for 3D), not huge but when you start throwing in dinner, desert, etc., it can easily run $200 just for a night out. We generally hit the movies about once or twice a month.

^^ Explains the reason why West Pasco has only one true movie theater for everyone that lives in this area. Although I do think one in Trinity would work decently well, but that's because that area has more families and more $$$ compared to the rest of West Pasco.

Oldsmar - Woodlands 20
Palm Harbor - Muvico 10
Clearwater- Cobb Countryside 12 with IMAX
Pinellas Park- 16 Screens
Saint Petersburg - Muvico 20

thats it for a county this large...most of the small theaters have shuttered.

There is also still Largo Mall 8 and Seminole Mall 8, but we certainly do not have a comparable number of screens compared to what Hillsborough has.

Simon had plans to (re)build the movie theater at Tyrone, but those plans apprently fell through or were postponed indefintely.

I do agree that going to the movies is no longer a cheap family outing. And we still have a large senior population, and they just do not go out to the movies like younger people do (or want to), regardless of income. I suspect at some point we will see a new theater or two in Pinellas as a result of redevelopment and population growth in certain areas. St. Pete is quietly increasing in appeal to a younger demographic. But a new theater is many years down the road.

There is also still Largo Mall 8 and Seminole Mall 8, but we certainly do not have a comparable number of screens compared to what Hillsborough has.

Simon had plans to (re)build the movie theater at Tyrone, but those plans apprently fell through or were postponed indefintely.

I do agree that going to the movies is no longer a cheap family outing. And we still have a large senior population, and they just do not go out to the movies like younger people do (or want to), regardless of income. I suspect at some point we will see a new theater or two in Pinellas as a result of redevelopment and population growth in certain areas. St. Pete is quietly increasing in appeal to a younger demographic. But a new theater is many years down the road.
And yet, Baywalk pretty much tried to drive off the youth from the plaza and Muvico. :nuts:

And yet, Baywalk pretty much tried to drive off the youth from the plaza and Muvico.

Rather, the youth drove Baywalk to drive off the youth.

Cobbs Theater opens at Countryside tomorrow
http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/retail/new-movie-theater-opens-in-clearwater/1206509

About time! I live like 2 miles from it, I rarely go to the movies but when I will at least its close and better than going to Oldsmar, I hope.

Historic Belleview Biltmore's owners seek to demolish it

By Lorri Helfand, Times Staff Writer
Posted: Jan 09, 2012 01:09 PM

BELLEAIR — Owners of the Belleview Biltmore hotel have applied for a permit to raze most of the historic hotel.

The application filed Friday afternoon also includes the demolition of the resort's cottages.

"The building cannot be restored as a hotel according to hotel developers we have talked to across the country," the owners said in their application to remove the historic designation of the property.

The owners are still formalizing plans for what they plan to build on the property. Last month, a rep for the owners said they may build as many as 180 townhomes or more there.

On Monday the representative, Matthew Cummings, said they're still not sure how many homes they'll build or whether their plans will include condominiums.

They hope to be able to save a small part of the Biltmore, including the hotel's original lobby and the floor above it, to build a museum to honor its history.

"As you're trying to preserve it, you may find there's parts you can't preserve," Cummings said.

The owner of the hotel is BB Hotel LLC, a group of Miami investors who bought the hotel and its assets for about $8 million about a year ago. Cummings has 3 percent interest in the company, according to documents filed at Town Hall.

Town officials have not had a chance to review the application and are not sure if it's complete.

The onus will be on the owners to prove they have little choice but to demolish it. In 2005, when the Biltmore was at risk of being destroyed, the town adopted a historic preservation ordinance to protect the hotel, which was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/article1209820.ece

We should demolish the idiot owners, not the historic structure.

They probably are seeing they can't make that much profit off of it or something. They better not demolish such a rare gem of the bay area.

^Exactly. They bought for the site, not the structure.

For those paying attention to the Belleview Biltmore saga, the Times spins a story today trying to make it sound like a local savior is on the horizon. (http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/realestate/tampa-businessman-is-exploring-purchase-of-belleview-biltmore/1222377)

The problem is, for those who want the hotel saved, the guy's a vulture (http://insiderealestate.heraldtribune.com/2011/02/23/vulture-investor-picks-off-46-condo-units-in-riviera-dunes-for-5-5-million/). He's not in it to do something, he's in it to make a profit. This isn't based off one example, it's based on doing some research on the guy.

The Times seems to be on the down slide a bit lately.

It's also the fact both papers are lazy / have local pride to a degree. Local means everything is kosher.

The regional news desk that handled this story isn't going to do the research required to find out this guy is known for vulture tactics. I sure hope someone in power in Bellair has.

I'd love for them to save the property. We all know that landmarks around the area are almost always razed instead of restored.

My wish is granted (http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/article1223093.ece)

Great news!

^Maybe.

wrong thread