I think that there is enough activity on Clearwater and the Pinellas Beaches that they could go into their own thread under the Tampa / St Petersburg thread. I believe that the Clearwater projects don't get enough attention in the Pinellas County Thread. Perhaps we should rename that one for St. Petersburg..

Here is a start of the list for Clearwater Condo Projects:

DOWNTOWN CLEARWATER

The Acqua: http://www.theacqua.com/renderings.html
Status: Proposed
Height: 32 Stories/377 Ft.

http://www.theacqua.com/images/renderings/dtaerial_new.jpg
http://www.theacqua.com/images/renderings/nwpers_new.jpg

Water's Edge: http://www.yourwatersedge.com/
Status: Completed
Height: 25 Stories/264 Ft.

http://www.yourwatersedge.com/images/homepage_img_btm.jpg
http://www.yourwatersedge.com/images/devteam_img.jpg

Island View: http://www.triangledevelopment.com/island.htm
Status: Antilles Tower Under Construction
Height: 3 Towers, Antilles Tower is 18 Stories, Other two are 15

http://www.triangledevelopment.com/images/islandview.jpg

Clearwater Center:
Status: Renovation - Under Construction
Height: 16 Stories/150 Ft.

http://www.clearwaterdreaming.com/images/clearwatercenter.jpg

Station Square: http://www.stationsquareclearwater.com/
Status: Completed
Height: 15 Stories/158 ft.

http://www.clearwaterpostulate.com/stationsquareclearwaterfront.jpg

Antiqua Bay Yacht Club:
http://www.antiguabayyachtclub.com/
Status: Approved
Height: 2 Towers 11 Stories

http://www.antiguabayyachtclub.com/graphics/sandovalContent01.jpg
http://www.antiguabayyachtclub.com/graphics/santiago2.jpg

Clearwater Bay Club: http://www.clearwaterbayclub.com

http://www.clearwaterbayclub.com/Images/homepage_mid.jpg


ISLAND ESTATES:

Harbour Watch

http://www.opuscorp.com/assets/img/projects/c_mul_ext_harwat_l_01.jpg


CLEARWATER BEACH:

Marquesas: http://marquesasjmc.com/
Status: Sales
Height: Two Towers, 15 Stories/150 Ft.

http://marquesasjmc.com/images/communityImages02_Lg.jpg

Aqualea: http://www.hyattclearwater.com/
Status: Completed
Height: 14 Stories

http://www.livesouth.com/pics/20070123170551aqualea_south.jpg

Indigo Beach: http://www.indigobeach.com/
Status: Approved
Height: 14 Stories

http://www.taylorwoodrowna.com/images/division/IndigoMain1.jpg

Kiran Grand Resort & Spa: http://www.kirangrand.com
Status: Sales
Height: 14 Stories

http://www.kirangrand.com/Assets/Images/Pictures/KiranRendering_home.jpg

Echantment: http://www.enchantmentcondos.com/
Status: Sales
Height: 16 Stories/148 Ft.

http://www.livesouth.com/pics/20070104131231Enchantment_Front_resize.jpg

Sandpearl: http://www.sandpearl.com/vision/index.php
Status: Completed
Height: Two Towers, 15 Stories, 10 Stories

http://www.sandpearl.com/images/gallery/sandpearl.jpg

Beachwalk: http://www.clearwater-fl.com/gov/depts/pwa/engin/projects/beachwalk
Status: Public Project - Under Construction

http://sptimes.com/2004/12/05/clearwater-beach/images/overhead-beach.jpg

Bayfront Marina Project: http://www.clearwater-fl.com/gov/depts/econ_devel/projects/boatslips/index.asp
Status: Public Project - Proposed

http://www.clearwater-fl.com/gov/depts/econ_devel/projects/boatslips/Web%20Images/Rendering_Aerial.jpg

This graphic is kind of old: http://sptimes.com/2005/07/25/clearwater/index.shtml

And the Beach: http://sptimes.com/2005/03/27/clearwaterbeach/index.shtml

... AND these are only a few... I think there are many others. I will add more to this post as I have time and will add heights, status and I will reorganize these by location.

Newer rendering of the Triangle Development Project-

http://www.triangledevelopment.com/images/islandview.jpg

Water Edge is currently U/C and I believe will become downtown's tallest. There are construction photos at its websites.

Thanks FF - I updated the old one

Shame about Enchantment - it's the only inspired design in the lot going up on the Gulf, to be honest.

Acqua is a very solid project. Nice scale.

Impressive list. Like Maxim said, Enchantment is the only beach project I really like. However Acqua, WaterEdge, and Island View are all solid projects for Downtown.

Source: http://www.hotelmotel.com/hotelmotel/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=399888

Hyatt breaks ground on luxury resort condominium in Clearwater Beach, Fla.


Jan 24, 2007
H&MM Week In Review



CHICAGO - January 22, 2007 - NJR Development and Hyatt Corporation today announced that construction of Clearwater Beach's newest resort condominium, Aqualea Resort Condominium Hotel and Residences, is officially underway. Once completed, the 250 suite luxury resort condominium will be part of a full-service, beachfront resort managed by Hyatt Corporation and offer not only the simplicity of virtually carefree ownership, but also the elegant amenities and services of Hyatt Resorts. The units will be available for fee simple purchase from NJR Development by individual owners who are free to use them at their leisure or, alternatively, place them into an organized resort management and rental program.
"This is an innovative project for Hyatt and we are looking forward to expanding our management presence in Florida," said Nick Pritzker, Vice-Chairman, Global Hyatt Corporation. "The property has a great location on Clearwater Beach and will be a great addition to our collection of Hyatt Resorts."

"We have already seen a tremendously positive response in the market," said Neil Rauenhorst, president of NJR Development, the developer of Aqualea. "And in two short years we look forward to delivering a project with vacation home suites that will allow our owners and their families to live a luxurious and hassle-free lifestyle on one of the most beautiful beaches in America. We know, too, from the numerous buyers who have already made their selections during the initial pre-sales period, that they understand and appreciate the sophistication, reach and power of Hyatt's international marketing program, for those who wish to avail themselves of that enormous feature and benefit."

With its expansive white sand beaches, sparkling Gulf waters and gorgeous year-round weather, Clearwater Beach has emerged as one of the most attractive and hottest beach scenes on Florida's west coast. Aqualea property owners will be surrounded by luxury in their very own elegantly appointed suite in the heart of the community's new BeachWalk re-development project -a visionary plan featuring a festive beachfront village of pedestrian-friendly shops, boutiques, restaurants, water sports and public attractions. Additionally, owners will also have access to many amenities typical of a Hyatt resort including:

Two resort-style pools- A signature Hyatt restaurant- Poolside bar and grill- A StayFit@Hyatt fitness center featuring state-of-the-art Life Fitness cardiovascular and weight equipment- Beach concession area with towel and beverage service- An authentic, culturally-rich Hyatt Pure professional spa with treatment rooms & massage services- Exclusive membership in the White Orchid Beach Club- Meeting rooms, ballroom and business center- Secured parking area for unit owners- Private poolside cabanas with A/C, cable television, lounge chairs and bathrooms

Upon the opening of the resort, all units will be completely furnished with full kitchens and be "live-in" ready. Inspired by tropical island design, each individual floor plan, the furnishings will include seating arrangements in the living area with a couch and/or chairs, a full kitchen with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances, granite bath countertops, tile floors and carpet, dining table with chairs, granite bar countertops with bar stools, balcony furniture, artwork, silverware, linens, plates, towels and similar items. In addition, each unit will tout data, telecommunication and entertainment technology, including flat screen televisions, high speed internet access, WIFI access, cable television, in-room pay-per-view movie systems, door access control systems and fully integrated telephone system.

To learn more about Aqualea Resort and Residences, visit www.AqualeaResort.com, call 1-866-500-2363 to schedule an appointment with a sales representative or visit the sales center located at 301 South Gulfview Boulevard, Clearwater Beach, Florida. NJR Development is the developer of the condominium residences. The residences are not owned, developed or sold by Hyatt Corporation or any of its affiliates. Hyatt Corporation, or any of its affiliates, does not participate in the marketing or sale of the residences, or the preparation of any marketing materials for such sale, and is not responsible for the content presented in any such advertisements, marketing materials, including, but not limited to, any advertising claims, marketing practices and data collection, use and privacy practices.

About NJR Development Company

NJR Development Company, LLC is headed by Neil Rauenhorst, former president and chief executive officer of Opus South Corporation, a leading developer in the Tampa Bay area, throughout Florida and across the southeast US. The subsequent formation of NJR Development Company, LLC has afforded Rauenhorst the opportunity to capitalize on his 23 years of successful development experience and to develop and or invest in the most attractive residential and hotel real estate opportunities in Florida.

In creating Aqualea, NJR has carefully selected a team of experts to design and manage what will become one of the area's top beach resorts.

About Global Hyatt Corporation

There are 214 Hyatt branded hotels and resorts (over 90,000 rooms) in 43 countries around the world, operating under the Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Grand Hyatt and Park Hyatt brands. Currently, there are an additional 43 Hyatt hotels and resorts under development, including 15 new hotels in China. Global Hyatt Corporation is also the owner of Hyatt Vacation Ownership, Inc. operator of the 12 Hyatt Vacation Club timeshare and fractional residential properties, Hyatt Equities, L.L.C. (hotel ownership), Select Hotels Group L.L.C. (which owns, manages and franchises 163 AmeriSuites hotels, Hyatt Place and Summerfield Suites hotels) and U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. (which franchises 95 Hawthorn Suites, and 272 Microtel Inns and Suites).

From the U.S. and Canada, reservations for any Hyatt hotel worldwide may be obtained by calling 1-800-233-1234 or logging onto www.hyatt.com .

Lauren Cohen/ Hyatt Hotels Corporation/ Director of Hotel Public Relations/ lauren.cohen@corphq.hyatt.com/ 312-780-5706

^ A new Hotel on the beach, and a major chain. Glad to see this move forward

I thought that Station Square broke ground months ago ??? Has it been delayed again ?

I find the Hyatt a very squat project. I thought it would've been taller, unless it had local resistance.

I thought that Station Square broke ground months ago ??? Has it been delayed again ?

I originally had it as Under Construction as I also thought they broke ground, but the St. Pete times had it with a different status. Now that I reread the article that prompted me to remove it from UC status, it just says that

"and a long-expected condo-retail project at Station Square still is not built"

But I suppose that doen't mean that it is not under construction. Does anyone know for sure?

Source: http://www.tbnweekly.com/content_images/012507_cit-01_popup.jpg

Residents get a sneak peek at proposed downtown marina

Photo courtesy of CITY OF CLEARWATER
An aerial shot of what a proposed downtown 129-slip marina might look like is shown for voters who will consider the marina in a March 13 referendum.

http://www.tbnweekly.com/content_images/012507_cit-01_popup.jpg

By LESTER R. DAILEY

CLEARWATER – It was standing room only at the Harborview Center on Jan. 17 as city officials and hired consultants informed residents and answered their questions about the 129-slip marina that will be built downtown, if the voters approve it in the March 13 referendum.

“We’ve seen other boat slip projects, but we’ve never seen a stand-alone boat slip project,” Mayor Frank Hibbard said, adding that the boat slip projects defeated in two previous referendums were part of larger downtown redevelopment plans.

“Our desire is to have an active waterfront 365 days a year. We believe that having boat slips will create daily activity,” he said.

Hibbard listed fishing, dolphin watching and walking on the promenade as some of the activities that will draw people to the area.

The referendum would authorize 140 slips, ranging from 30-to 55-feet in length, but the state Department of Transportation has requested an easement that would eliminate 11 of those slips. Water depth in the slips would range from 4.5 feet to 16 feet at mean low tide. A wave attenuation system is designed to protect the marina in winds up to 110 mph.

The floating docks would be made of concrete, which is quieter and more durable than aluminum. Each slip would have electric and water hookups, but sewage would have to be discharged at a central pump-out location or be collected by the city’s pump-out boat.

There would be more than 1,700 feet of “side-tie” mooring for overnight visitors, and another 800 feet of free side-tie mooring for daytime visitors and special events.

Grants, a $500,000 contribution from the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency and a $10,000 annual stipend for 10 years from the Downtown Development Board, would cover part of the $11 million cost of the project. The rest would be financed by a 20-year bond issue that would be repaid by slip rental fees.

“This not only cash flows; it creates revenue for the city,” Hibbard said.

Margie Simmons, the city’s finance director, estimates that, over its first 40 years, the marina would generate $12.7 million for its own maintenance and earn a $4.8 million profit for the city.

“We wanted to be sure that the cost of the project would be borne by the users of the slips and will not come back on the taxpayers of Clearwater,” Simmons said.

Initial rental fees have been pegged at $2 a day, or $15.50 a month, for each foot of the boat’s length. The statewide average is $1.86 a day or $20.84 a month. Permanent slip rentals would be awarded by lottery system, with Clearwater residents given preference.

“The market conditions we found were alarming,” said Kirby Marshall, a consultant with Applied Technology Management. “There has been a drastic reduction in the number of publicly available boat slips.”

He estimated that in the past five years, while boat registrations have increased by 15 percent in Pinellas County, the number of boat slips has dropped by 23 percent.

The project would include a more ambitious rehabilitation of the Drew Street Pier building than the one already scheduled, possibly including showers, restrooms, a laundry facility and a dockmaster’s office.

It would also include parking improvements, landscaping, and a place where excursion boats and a beach ferry could pick up and drop off passengers. It would not include permanent fencing, a fuel dock, commercial boats or storage lockers for boating gear.
Article published on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2007
Copyright © Tampa Bay Newspapers: All rights reserved.

Yes! A downtown marina is a huge step for the area. I'm a boater with my dad and currently we're in Tierra Verde but we're moving it up to Tarpon Springs soon. A marina in Downtown Clearwater would allow us to get out of the boat and walk around some. It should bring increased foot traffic to the area. Especially since Clearwater is very water oriented and is a big industry. This will help bring some of that right to downtown.

Excellent idea.

I thought that Station Square broke ground months ago ??? Has it been delayed again ?


You are right Dale. According to a press release on the City of Clearwaters web site. I updated the status accordingly.

http://www.clearwater-fl.com/gov/depts/econ_devel/projects/station_square.asp

Clearwater center supposedly broke ground/began renovations a few months ago to - see the st.pete development thread that has clearwater stuff too

I find the Hyatt a very squat project. I thought it would've been taller, unless it had local resistance.
Clearwater dumbly has a 150ft height restriction.

It's inevitably going to kill off much of the beach economy, because the hotels cannot compete with such zoning. and when the hotels go, there goes a whole shitload of the money driving the existence of many local jobs.

Clearwater is wise to restrict density along the beaches, but the height restriction is just asinine. Not only is it hurting the economy, but their height restriction is also creating exactly the kind of "wall effect" that leadership myopically thought they were precluding with the height restriction. For a lesson in just how aestetically destructive height restrictions are, Clearwater officials should take a drive on down to Sarasota, and check out the mile wide stucco wall going up.

Clearwater center supposedly broke ground/began renovations a few months ago to - see the st.pete development thread that has clearwater stuff too


Smiley, I updated the status for Clearwater Center to Under Construction.

Also, I know there are still a few more projects that I am missing. Serveral in Island Estates, still a few on the beach. Clearwater Cay Club on the bay.. and a few others. I will add them to the front page as I get time just to keep them organized.

Then after that there is still Oldsmar, Gateway has some activity, and even Safety Harbor is redoing their waterfront... One of the things I will definately do is re-read the whole Pinellas thread... but there is a lot of info in there.. it will take time to have a real comprehesive list of everything in North Pinellas

Smiley, I updated the status for Clearwater Center to Under Construction.

Also, I know there are still a few more projects that I am missing. Serveral in Island Estates, still a few on the beach. Clearwater Cay Club on the bay.. and a few others. I will add them to the front page as I get time just to keep them organized.

Then after that there is still Oldsmar, Gateway has some activity, and even Safety Harbor is redoing their waterfront... One of the things I will definately do is re-read the whole Pinellas thread... but there is a lot of info in there.. it will take time to have a real comprehesive list of everything in North Pinellas
I know that Dunedin has a huge project, but can't remember the name of it.

wow multifamilyinvestor... that's great work man.

thank you muy mucho.

jason, you don't need the muy before mucho. they are like... the same thing. sort of.

or you could be slick and go all the way... muchas gracias.... :-O hehe

lol...

Source: http://www.sptimes.com/2007/01/29/Northpinellas/Developers_trying_to_.shtml

Developers trying to lure customers into soft market
By MIKE DONILA
Published January 29, 2007


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADVERTISEMENT

CLEARWATER - Bulldozers and cranes are again making noise along Clearwater Beach, as builders work to complete major condominium projects they started years ago when the market was booming.

The sales centers, too, are coming online, and some developers are trying new things to lure customers and secure funding a little quicker.

They're discounting prices for early bird buyers, offering upgrades at cheaper rates and throwing in other incentives such as extra parking spaces.

Some developers say this is common. But others in the real estate world say the extras reflect a soft market that's oversaturated with condos.

"Before, developers didn't have to cooperate with brokers because there was such a plentiful supply of buyers," said David Little, a real estate agent and redevelopment chairman for the Clearwater Beach Chamber of Commerce. "But when the buyers are few and far between, the developers have to attract them to the market."

Some developers, however, have their own reasons for the incentives.

From his newly remodeled sales center, businessman-turned-developer Uday Lele said he's cutting 20 percent off the price for the first 50 buyers in his massive Enchantment beach development. That's a hefty discount, he said, for a condo that can cost up to $2-million.

Also, Lele said, he'll throw in an extra parking space, another $50,000 to $70,000 savings.

The Enchantment, a 90-unit complex shaped like an open butterfly, was supposed to break ground this summer. But Lele reduced the size of some rooms, a move that saved him about $9-million in construction costs.

"I wanted to pass the savings along to my customers," Lele said.

Other condo projects - some in downtown St. Petersburg - are also offering specials. Among them:

- Steve McAuliffe, with JMC Communities, said his company is offering preconstruction costs for condos at the Marquesas on Clearwater Beach and Ovation in St. Petersburg. The vice president of sales and marketing said the first 74 units at Marquesas will cost buyers $70,000 to $200,000 less if they buy now. He said the sales office, which opened in November, has made about 20 sales for condos that start in the mid-$700,000s and go up to $1.7-million.

- JMC is also offering preconstruction rates and "decorator allowances upwards of $100,000" for condos at Ovation.

- Kirit Shah, president and CEO of Kiran Grand Resort & Spa on Clearwater Beach, said the development has preconstruction rates, and the savings will fluctuate depending on the market. He said more incentives could be offered later. Shah said so far, "we're doing okay," selling beach condos from $350,000 to $1.9-million.

- NJR Development president Neil Rauenhorst said his Aqualea Resort and Residences on Clearwater Beach will have pre-construction prices "for a certain portion of this year." The rooms, 250 condo-hotels and 18 condominiums, cost between $500,000 and $5.5-million.

Condo sales throughout Pinellas County have struggled, especially along Clearwater Beach, which lost thousands of hotel rooms to make way for a number of high-end developments.

Developers say they've had trouble getting customers because of high taxes and rising insurance rates, and that increasing construction costs also delayed many of these projects.

This is a far cry from two years ago, when sales were so hot that buyers were flipping units, sometimes a day after buying them.

"At this point, it's a function of the market," said Shah, who is partnering with entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr. Kiran Patel. "When the market is soft, some developers discount it further."

McAuliffe said JMC has always offered the preconstruction pricing incentive because it sells units faster. He said prices are later raised "accordingly throughout the life of the sales process."

"We have to typically meet a percentage of presales before the bank will release any funds (in order to build)," he said. "You always want to try and meet pre-sales as quickly as you can to begin construction."

[Last modified January 29, 2007, 01:16:47]

Also - I updated the front page to have the link to "The Enchantment" Web site

Maybe a portent for Daytona Beach, which similarly has block after block of delayed projects.

Sounds like things are finally percolating a bit on Clearwater Beach.

It's good to hear that there is some quantity of sales, not total deadness (which of course it isn't)... That means it is inevitable that some number of projects will get built, since the market for them is already established. At worst, it is a matter of who can afford to wait out the other developer, and then capture the lost sales of the one who drops out.

And on the good side, if a bunch of these projects die, then that gives the city of Clearwater a chance to make some zoning tweaks, and get things done right, before even more of their tourist economy gets levelled for snowbird hideaways.

It's funny how public perception is that the market is nearly dead, and the article implies that with its reference to "years ago when the market was booming." In actuality, the market boomed for a couple of years when investors got heavily involved in real estate, and has now corrected back 2003 levels plus a modest increase. The demand is till there, it's just back to normal, not booming. Starting now and in the future, demand will be driven by the retiring baby-boomer population bulge, and that demographic will get larger in the years to come. My expectation is that demand for housing in Florida will grow with it. The wild cards are insurance rates and tax inequities and their impact on demand. For the most part, many of these projects will come to fruition if the developers have the staying power to wait out the demand correction. My two cents worth...

^^ I agree.. We see eye to eye on this issue

East gateway to be discussed at local meeting
By TIMES WIRES
Published March 8, 2007


CLEARWATER

The city will host a community meeting to discuss the East Gateway community at 6 tonight at Achieva Credit Union, 1499 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd. City leaders, residents and businesses will discuss the city's progress in developing an action plan for the neighborhood, the overall vision for East Gateway and the proposal for transitional and affordable housing by the Clearwater Homeless Intervention Project. East Gateway is bordered by Court Street, Cleveland Street, Missouri Avenue and Highland Avenue and is part of the Community Redevelopment Area District. Call (727) 562-4056.


http://www.sptimes.com/2007/03/08/Northpinellas/East_gateway_to_be_di.shtml

Marina Dunedin
rendering soon
www.marinadunedin.com

Sterling Dunedin
rendering soon
www.stirlingdunedin.com

Man, too bad we don't have a Clearwater res to take pics...

Man, too bad we don't have a Clearwater res to take pics...
Yeah........

Hey. anyone know what the tower next to the new bridge in Clearwater is? I went to Opus Development to see, since it had a big sign saying "OPUS" on it, but found nada!

^It's Wateredge, the rendering and site are on the first post.

^It's Wateredge, the rendering and site are on the first post.
Yeah, that is what I thought it was, seeing the Library in the rendering, but just felt like asking.

I must say, I like what they did by making Myrtle St. (not sure if I'm saying that right) into Alt. 19 so we can have more lanes coming from the North. 2 thumbs up

Man, too bad we don't have a Clearwater res to take pics...
I am a clearwater resident unfortunately :ohno: but i just posted a whole load of pics of dt clearwater from my camera phone. Really the only two highrises going up are station square and wateredge, also its kind of intresting how they are tearing up Cleavland St and making the sidewalks wider and adding plants. As far as the two dunedin projects i could probably get pics of that since i drive to Dunedin every school day, i would just need to find out where those projects are.

I am a clearwater resident unfortunately :ohno: but i just posted a whole load of pics of dt clearwater from my camera phone. Really the only two highrises going up are station square and wateredge, also its kind of intresting how they are tearing up Cleavland St and making the sidewalks wider and adding plants. As far as the two dunedin projects i could probably get pics of that since i drive to Dunedin every school day, i would just need to find out where those projects are.
One is by the marina and the other is right behind the buildings when you are coming from ALT. 19 and heading to Clearwater

It's solid to see a public downtown dock project get a federal grant.

Boat slip plan gets $1M grant
By MIKE DONILA
Published April 11, 2007

Clearwater has won a $1.2-million federal grant that will save the city more than $2-million as it builds the downtown boat slips voters recently approved.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved the grant - one of nine totaling $9.4-million awarded for "boating infrastructure." Clearwater, of the 32 cities that applied, was the only Florida city to receive a grant.

"It's a huge shot in the arm," Mayor Frank Hibbard said, "and it says a lot about the quality of the project."

The city plans to build 129 floating concrete boat slips, a promenade, boardwalk and fishing pier near Coachman Park. Rentals fees are expected to pay for much of the project and its operations. The slips also will offer some free mooring. Voters last month signed off on the project.

The grant will be used to reduce the amount of money the city will borrow to finance the project. The city had planned to borrow $10.95-million, a debt that is expected to cost $18.9-million to repay over 20 years. Because of the grant, the city now plans to borrow just $9.64-million, with a total payback estimated at $16.6-million.

The city will still use $1-million in property tax money earmarked for downtown improvements to fund the project. The money comes from taxes generated within the city's redevelopment district, which includes the area where the slips are proposed.

The city didn't figure the grant into the overall plan because "we didn't want any finger pointing if it didn't go through, said Finance Director Margie Simmons.

City leaders say the grant sends a message to the naysayers who argued that the project will cost too much and siphon from the general fund.

Still, some are not backing the project.

"I'm pleased for the sake of the people of Clearwater that the city has gotten the grant. That means we don't have to subsidize the boat slips as much as we thought," said Anne Garris, spokeswoman for Save the Bayfront, which opposed the plan.

To secure the grant, Clearwater had to prove at least $4-million of the project would benefit transient boaters, "the folks who travel from marina to marina, or access the downtown by water," said Bill Morris, the city's marine and aviation department director. Such examples include side ties, restrooms and laundry facilities.

"This grant goes to show that there really is a lot of federal support for the boating industry and the importance of boating," Morris said.

[Last modified April 10, 2007, 21:02:42]

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/04/11/Northpinellas/Boat_slip_plan_gets_1.shtml

Source: http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGB1G2C7N0F.html


Clearwater Hopes Projects Will Boost Downtown
Skip directly to the full story.
By STEVE KORNACKI The Tampa Tribune

Published: Apr 18, 2007

CLEARWATER - Mayor Frank Hibbard stood along the harbor beneath the new Memorial Causeway Bridge, staring at the waterway dotted with sailboats and power boats.

"Right now, there is nobody down here. Not one person," he said, shaking his head. "It is one of the most beautiful spots in Tampa Bay. That has got to change."

Hibbard thinks that it will, through several developments that are under way or scheduled in the listless downtown that is the gateway to Clearwater Beach. He also is pondering the possibility of a restaurant-retail complex on the land now occupied by Harborview Center overlooking the waterway.

"There is no silver bullet to shoot," Hibbard said. "If there was a silver bullet, we'd have shot it by now. It's a matter of a lot of different things coming together."

Beth Coleman, president and CEO of the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce, calls the 26-floor Water's Edge condominiums under construction on the bluff above the harbor "the cornerstone" to downtown's revitalization.

In addition, a referendum passed in March will allow the city to put 129 boat slips in the harbor, and a $9 million streetscape project is scheduled for completion in December.

The streetscape will bring wider sidewalks with pavers suitable for outdoor cafes, storm drainage, lampposts, artwork, palm trees, shrubs and flowers to four blocks of Cleveland Street near the harbor.

Just to the east, the Station Square and Clearwater Centre residential-retail projects are under way on Cleveland Street. And a Residence Inn by Marriott is set to open on Court Street by this time next year.

"The stars are finally coming into alignment downtown," said David Allbritton, chairman of the Clearwater Downtown Development Board. "I am proud of how everyone is working together. In the past, it was a lot of separate groups wanting it their way."

Downturn Began In 1970s
Allbritton, 56, a lifelong Clearwater resident, said downtown began deteriorating in the 1970s and has stumbled to regain momentum ever since.

The lack of an effective revitalization plan has led to an area where the only crowds come from Church of Scientology members scurrying from one building to the other. The Starbucks at Cleveland and Fort Harrison Avenue is one of the few draws in a downtown sorely lacking in destination restaurants, shopping and entertainment.

"We do not want a downtown where the streets roll up at 5," Allbritton said, "and I think by 2010 you will see a much more active area."

George Kelly, co-owner of the Downtown News Stand on Cleveland Street across from Station Square, has serious doubts. He says the city continues to overlook the problem with traffic flow to the population base in the Countryside area of this city of 110,000 residents and fails to address parking placement.

Kelly points out the many empty storefronts along his street and the high-rise around the corner with a sign advertising 45,000 square feet of space for lease.

"We have a desolate town. That is an appalling shame," said Kelly, 59, who has lived here for nearly 30 years. "And the spirit of the community is gone."

He says moving the entrance to the new causeway bridge a quarter mile south to Court Street made Cleveland Street, the approach for the old bridge, "a dead zone."

"To call what they are doing now a development is debatable," Kelly said. "It could be called a destruction. When this is all over, you will see what you see at Sand Key - a bunch of condos empty at least nine months of the year."

The downtown turnaround could hinge on the three large condo towers, which will have nearly 400 residential units total, with a high percentage of permanent residents.

Hibbard said the condos have been zoned to allow rentals only for 30 days or longer to encourage buyers who are interested in living there.

"But there is a difference between owning a condo on the beach and owning one downtown," said Hibbard, 39. "It's more affordable downtown.

"We are not arrogant enough to think we can control the market. All we can do is create the right environment where people want to stay."

Boat Slip May Be A Lure
More than 80 percent of the Water's Edge condos, ranging from $400,000 to $1.9 million penthouses, are sold, said sales associate Niel Allen. He said buyers are encouraged by the coming of nearby boat slips.

Hibbard said the $11 million boat slips will be paid for by rental fees, a recently obtained $1.2 million U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant, and $500,000 over 10 years from both the Clearwater Downtown Development Agency and the city's Community Redevelopment Agency.

There also will be 1,800 feet of mooring space for daily docking to attract affluent boaters to the restaurants, shopping and entertainment Hibbard hopes to see.

The slips are scheduled to be ready by the first quarter of 2009, and a promenade will be created amid the slips.

"The boat slips are important to creating the feeling that the downtown direction is changing," said Dwight Matheny, chairman of the Clearwater Downtown Partnership, a group of eight local businesspeople working independent of the city.

He sees the Residence Inn as another positive sign.

"They are losing hotel space on the beach, and in 10 years there won't be any mom-and-pop hotels there," Matheny said. "That drives people back downtown for hotels and evening entertainment."

Hibbard noted that 1.6 million tourists visit Clearwater Beach annually.

Matheny doubts that a much-coveted movie theater will be realized downtown, but Hibbard said adding one is essential, and he is optimistic one will come. He would like to see one across from Station Square on Cleveland, just west of Myrtle Avenue.

"This town has been as dead as a dodo," said Ann Gill, who spends half the year in Clearwater. "The streetscaping has been messy, but it will be lovely and really help.

"You will have a place people want to be around. You get those high-rises and the yuppies in here. They are influenced by that 'Sex and the City' show, you know."

"You definitely want that group of the young and the restless," Hibbard said. "But studies show us that retiring baby boomers who want a more vibrant area to retire are coming here."

He added that people across the Tampa Bay area will visit if the right destination restaurants and stores put down stakes. Getting something such as the popular Island Way Grill, just off of the causeway, or a Chico's women's apparel store will be critical.

"Our aim is to make downtown a place to work, live, play and be less dependent on your auto," Hibbard said.

He said efforts will begin in two months to fill empty storefronts with the streetscaping winding down.

Hibbard says the Publix grocery store and shopping plaza added south of the Court Street intersection on Fort Harrison contributes to the downtown neighborhood feel.

"We hope we are creating the right atmosphere in which the investor will invest," said Hibbard, a vice president at Morgan Stanley financial advisers in downtown Clearwater.

He would like more residential development between the library on the bluff and Cleveland Street, and also has an eye on the city-owned Harborview Center anchored by Stein Mart.

"The Harborview lease expires in 2009," Hibbard said. "It could be demolished to put in a three-tiered restaurant-retail complex."

Reporter Steve Kornacki can be reached at (813) 731-8170 or skornacki@tampatrib.com.

Chico's is, without a doubt, essential to Clearwater becoming a vital destination.

... Seriously.

Like the pics from my camera phone in dt clearwater show they are putting in some streetscaping on Cleavland.

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/03-30-07_1744.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/03-30-07_1848.jpg

But i agree that a movie theater is vital to nightlife in downtown id go the movies there a lot if they had one.

By Mark Schantz of The Suncoast News

Published: April 28, 2007

DUNEDIN, Fla. - The developer of Marina 200 Main Street, across from Edgewater Park, has completed restoration of a 105-year-old house that will be used as the condominium complex's clubhouse.

The three-bedroom, two-story, house was first home to a Dr. Bedeau. Later the Webb family owned it, said Bill Francisco, spokesman for Prime Dunedin.

Prime Dunedin is the developer of the 46-unit Marina 200 Main Street waterfront condo project.

In recent years the house has had a series of owners. It eventually fell into disrepair and was being used by transients. As a result, when Prime Dunedin acquired the house it was little more than a run-down shell.

The Prime Dunedin principals – Richard Gehring, the former mayor and city manager, and partners Bill Kimpton and Jim Egnew – decided the old house, an example of the city's early architecture, should be saved. All three are longtime city residents.

A shabby apartment complex and two small motels on an adjacent parcel were demolished to make room for the six-story condominium project.

Not only did Prime Dunedin preserve the old house, dubbed Victoria Lodge, it also provided a stylish buffer between residential neighborhoods and the condo project, Francisco said.

"Coming out of the ground with a completely new building would have taken less time," said Dave Melrose, building superintendent. "Victoria Lodge took longer because of all the retrofitting that we had to do and the time it takes to actually research vintage materials."

To start, the wood-frame house was lifted 14 inches off the ground and given a new foundation.

The house was then completely remodeled and brought into compliance with modern building codes. The house, for example, now has a fire suppression system, Melrose said.

In an effort to re-create the original look of the building, wood from logs salvaged from the bottom of rivers in Central Florida was used to match the house's original floors and walls, Melrose said.

"It's something the community can be proud of," Francisco said of the restored former residence.

Victoria Lodge will first serve as the sales office for the condominium project. Then it will be used as its clubhouse.

Units in the clubhouse will be reserved for the guests of condominium who want to stay in separate quarters, Francisco said.

It is traditional in condominium projects, Francisco said, for construction to begin after more than half of the units have been sold. Because of the sluggish condominium market, sales are going slower than originally expected, he acknowledged.

Prime Dunedin, however, has the resources to wait for the market to turn around, he added.

"It may take a year – or even two – but it will be constructed and be a project the city can be proud of," he Francisco said of Marina 200 Main Street.

The development company's principals have more than a financial stake in how the condo complex turns out because they will have to pass by it every day, he noted.

Prime Dunedin will market the units in Marina 200 Main Street as upscale "suites." They will range in floor space from 2,000 to 4,700 square feet. The development will have a pool, fitness center and spa.

http://suncoastpinellas.tbo.com/content/2007/apr/28/dunedin-condo-developer-restores-105-year-old-hous/?news

^Here's the only rendering I could find of that condo project:

http://marinadunedin.com/images/main-st-view-illustration-m.jpg

From- http://marinadunedin.com/dunedin-fl-condo-residences.htm

I'm also a CLW resident. Maybe I'll drive downtown and take some pics today for the heck of it. I know there's apparently a Marriott Residence Inn(?) going up on Court St. just after where it and Chestnut split.

^Sounds great. We've been in need of someone over that way for a long while now.

Indeed - pictures would be nice - there are a number of things going on in and around DT Clearwater that should be reported upon

First off, I apologize if some of these pictures aren't from the best angle or have certain objects in front of them. As anyone who lives here knows, streetside parking is but a fantasy and - though still relatively catatonic - it was busy enough today that every time I pulled to the side of the road to snap a pic, someone was always behind me. That said, I'm going to try to get some standing sidewalk shots of Cleveland's Streetscape that'll give you a better perspective of how it looks.

Anyway, let's start off with the projects we already know of...


Water's Edge
http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/7104/watersedge1ze5.jpg
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/8836/watersedge2fb0.jpg
http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/9034/watersedge3gf3.jpg

Island View
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/9046/islandview1ah0.jpg
http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/461/islandview2kg0.jpg
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/1474/islandview3hf5.jpg
So much progress!

Clearwater Centre
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/3863/clearwatercentre1em3.jpg
http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/7628/clearwatercentre2yg0.jpg
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/7540/clearwatercentre3ce2.jpg
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/9902/clearwatercentre5wy2.jpg
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/1539/clearwatercentre4xi2.jpg
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/667/clearwatercentre6jh9.jpg
Last picture is the sales office trailer diagonal from the site. I'm actually very interested in this particular one. My father used to have an office on the 11th floor and I remember being there with him some evenings when he worked late. Asthetically, its an eyesore with no windows, etc. and even at the tender age of 7 I wondered why someone would build a tower with no windows...

Station Square
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/7396/clevelandandlaura1np6.jpg
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/3464/clevelandandlaura2ie4.jpg
Taken from Laura St. Cleveland is closed completely in front.

Cleveland Streetscape
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/7660/streetscape1jt2.jpg
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/913/streetscape3vc4.jpg
http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/1518/streetscape4fq3.jpg
I'm anxious to see what the final landscaping product will be. I don't quite understand the large stone spheres, but...whatever.

Bayview 700 N Osceola
http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/6439/bayview1fo1.jpg
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/3319/bayview2xc0.jpg
First pic is from Osceola Ave. Second is from the Marina parking lot. This complex is located just southeast of the Marina's parking lot. It may be old hat, but it looks fairly new and I never remembered it before, so enjoy regardless. Unfortunately, I realize only now that the new complex is just north of the Marina. Whoops. I'll take pics of that next time!

Downtown
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/4353/downtown1lf0.jpg
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/1448/downtown2wf9.jpg
Taken from that new park on the western edge of downtown. Good to see tower cranes around.

Okay, now for the new things - or at least things I don't think have been mentioned here...

Clearwater Gardens
http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/5246/clearwatergardens1zu0.jpg
http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/669/clearwatergardens2ih5.jpg
http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/2579/clearwatergardens3bv2.jpg
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/7913/clearwatergardens4em2.jpg
http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/6648/clearwatergardens5ia7.jpg
Mark this one up. The sign went up I'd say about three months ago if I remember correctly. 'Luxury Condominiums with water views of Clearwater Harbor | Live, work and play where the sun sets and the dolphins swim!' As you can see, 4-stories with some garden on top. This will occupy the approximate area I boxed in red in the last pic.

Marriott Residence Inn
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/7212/marriott1au8.jpg
http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/9235/marriott2hs4.jpg
http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/4814/marriott3nf5.jpg
http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/3921/marriott4xq6.jpg
It was fun parking here to take these pics! Anyway, as shown, this takes up a good portion of the now-vacant property along Court Street. Hopefully this investment by Marriott is indicative of anticipated business growth in the area. It also provides a nice, likely-cheaper alternative to staying on the beach.

Cleveland & S. Prospect
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/3673/acrossfrommarriottfm6.jpg
Not sure if this is representative of who is doing work on the Marriott across the street (if so, why not put thier signs there?), but this is a smallish vacant lot next to the Mexico Lindo store on Cleveland. Maybe a small townhome plot like so many that have filled in the spaces around the eastern gateway to downtown?

Stone Buick
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/2388/stonebuick1xs4.jpg
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/3324/stonebuick2as4.jpg
This is the former Stone/Dick Norris Buick satellite dealership on Cleveland and Madison. Note that this is directly across from the Clearwater Centre development. Not sure if this is just cleanup of the old paint booth in the back or the beginnings of a new project, though The Tower Group are the same folks doing the Clearwater Centre.

Pink-Colored Tower
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/8649/pinkbldg1bi2.jpg
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/1006/pinkbldg2wk4.jpg
If someone knows the name of this builidng, please tell me, for I do not know. Its been here quite a long time, but its getting a complete renovation now. This building is between Court, Osceola, Pierce, and the Causeway ramp behind the city parking garage downtown.


Crest Lake Park Doggie Days Parking
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/7893/dogparkparkinghn0.jpg
No, that's seriously the name of the project - Crest Lake Park Doggie Days Parking Lot. This was a vacant dirt lot on G2B and Glenwood that people used for parking to visit the dog park in Crest Lake Park. Now, the city is finally making it decent. About time! :)

-----------

Okay, that's about it for now! On my next photo drive, I'll take some shots of the Beachwalk project, which is actually shaping up to be quite nice. I was a big detractor of it among my friends simply because it became a royal pain in the butt to park at the beach (and they STILL need MORE parking that slated, IMO), but its actually an improvement over the old, heavily-congested roads. Again, I'll take pictures of that as well as the new developments rising on North Beach later this week.

If anyone has any special requests for pictures of any projects, let me know and point me in the right general direction and I'll do the best I can. I live a half mile from G2B, so this is literally a drive down the street for me.

Oh, and love the site. Great to get a real finger on the pulse of development in our area! :okay:

Yay!... Our first real Clearwater update in... Like forever!

Nice pics ive been through Dt Clearwater a few times there is progress going on, but unfortunately the times i could have taken pics i dont have my own camera but have to borrow my parents camera when i do take pics. I had a bunch of pics though from my camera phone. Waters Edge is turning out to be visible from all angles facing Downtown Clearwater and when Station Square gets up clearwater will begin to look like a city. I cant wait for more progress to show i might actually have some pride saying i live in clearwater. By the way do you drive and Oldsmobile Aurora??

Nice pics ive been through Dt Clearwater a few times there is progress going on, but unfortunately the times i could have taken pics i dont have my own camera but have to borrow my parents camera when i do take pics. I had a bunch of pics though from my camera phone. Waters Edge is turning out to be visible from all angles facing Downtown Clearwater and when Station Square gets up clearwater will begin to look like a city. I cant wait for more progress to show i might actually have some pride saying i live in clearwater. By the way do you drive and Oldsmobile Aurora??

I've kept a digital in my car ever since I got a reasonably-sized one (try shoving a Mavica in your glovebox!) for accidents or simply funny things you see on the road.

Yup, that's my Aurora!

Clearwater's looking improved. If you ever want to see a good view of the Clearwater and Clearwater Beach skyline, go up to the nature center on Honeymoon Island. Its on supports a couple floors high so its high enough.

Also, driving to and from downtown on the Memorial Causeway gives you a good view while driving.

I've kept a digital in my car ever since I got a reasonably-sized one (try shoving a Mavica in your glovebox!) for accidents or simply funny things you see on the road.

Yup, that's my Aurora!
Yea im gonna do the same when i get my digital camera for accidents and all that my camera phone is good enough. Im a car nut lol i just wanted to know though i would never have parked on court street where the Marriott Residence Inn will be people speed thru there and not to mention the curve.

Well, they keep saying Clearwater Center has broken ground but I don't see any action. THat is a harsh building (though oddly not the only one in that part of town with few windows). I can't wait for it to be changed - though it has lost its title to the tallest.

Clearwater has so much potential - too bad that three or four factors has inhibited it for so long.

And that streetscaping really is quite nice - though not European - European roads tend to actually go somewhere in both directions through the center of town.

Flybrian, thanks for the great pix. If you go take any more photos, I would love to see some of all the recent developments on South Fort Harrison Area, close to publix. I also would like to see pix of the projects on the beach, like Sandpearl, beachwalk, Coronado.....Thanks alot!!!

So far alot of the work on clearwater beach is a construction mess nothing special really.

Flybrian, thanks for the great pix. If you go take any more photos, I would love to see some of all the recent developments on South Fort Harrison Area, close to publix. I also would like to see pix of the projects on the beach, like Sandpearl, beachwalk, Coronado.....Thanks alot!!!

You're welcome and...I got the latter portion of what you requested. Let's go to the beach - and it was an awful day for the beach when I was out there. Let's start off with the drive over...

Skyline
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/4679/beachskylinelabelma2.jpg
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/4625/beachskyline2qg5.jpg
Second pic is a better view of the Sandpearl buildings.

Sandpearl - Residences
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/2865/sandpearl1dx9.jpg
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/7286/sandpearl2sc7.jpg
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/5718/sandpearl3ad0.jpg
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/9856/sandpearl4vf0.jpg
http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/4877/sandpearl5nn9.jpg
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/12/sandpearl6iz2.jpg

Sandpearl - Resort/Spa
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/5813/sandpearl7sh2.jpg
http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/6396/sandpearl8bl9.jpg
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/3521/sandpearl9em5.jpg

Belle Harbor
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/8617/belleharbor1cq3.jpg
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/5184/belleharbor3fa6.jpg
http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/8332/belleharbor2le4.jpg
These have been completed for some time now, but I was here, so, enjoy anyway. Now, to South Beach...

Aqualea
http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/6094/aqualea2kd4.jpg
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/8302/aqualea3db3.jpg
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/1523/aqualea4db2.jpg

Enchantment
http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/8996/enchantment1jv5.jpg
Right now, this is just the Best Western hotel on Gulfview Blvd. Marquesas is the empty lot next door.

Marquesas
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/8860/marquesas1zx4.jpg
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/696/marquesas2lb7.jpg
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/8562/marquesas3us3.jpg
A few months ago, this was barren after the hotel here (Holiday Inn) was demolished. More recently, the boom and gantry of a tower crane and some other miscellaneous equipment has appeared as well as the chain link fence. Get a good look at the Sand Key Bridge; it'll be the last time you're going to see it like that.

Former Adam's Mark
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/3990/formeradamsmarkfk9.jpg
I don't remember what was supposed to be built here, but it apparently isn't going to be built anymore. Sales office is closed as well as the parking lot.

Bayway Blvd.
http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/4572/baywayblvdwestbound1zz8.jpg
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/6811/baywayblvdwestbound2pd6.jpg
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/4677/baywayblvdwestbound3ur0.jpg
These are the numerous condos and townhomes that have popped up along Bayway Blvd (Parallel to Gulfview, behind Pirate's Cove minigolf) over the past few years. All the older homes, apartments, and motels are gone now.

Gulfview & Bayway
http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/157/condosongulfviewbayway1vd7.jpg
http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/4249/condosongulfviewbayway2wj8.jpg
http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/2782/condosongulfviewbayway3hj3.jpg
These are two different condominum complexes around the intersection of Gulfview and Bayway Blvds around the Hess station.

Coronado Blvd.
http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/3968/coronadonorthbound1dz7.jpg
http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/4601/coronadonorthbound2ja8.jpg
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/1576/coronadonorthbound3wu5.jpg
http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/35/coronadonorthbound4oz1.jpg
http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/3121/coronadonorthbound5rb9.jpg
A series of pictures taken while heading north from Gulfview and Hamden, then north along Coronado to the Marina.

Beach Walk - Northern Parking Entrance
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/1628/beachwalkphasei1dn1.jpg
http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/7664/beachwalkphasei2wh0.jpg
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/2976/beachwalkphasei3jp5.jpg
http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/916/beachwalkphaseipano1of2.jpg
The first phase of Clearwater's Beach Walk renovation, which involves redesigning the entrance to the Pier 60 parking lot (completed) as well as the beginnings of the new northern entrance to S Gulfview Blvd. Last photo is my crappy attempt at a panorama of the entrance with now-blank sign.

Happy 4th of July!
http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/7227/dsc06421wa2.jpg
Hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable Fourth! Clearwater put on another nice display this year. Taken from the city parking garage downtown.

--------------

That's it for now. Next time, I'll go ahead and fill you all in on the Ft. Harrison and 'east gateway' districts. Lots of townhomes, some retail, and a handful of condos off of Myrtle. Again, any requests, let me know!

Awesome! You made my day!
I really miss Clearwater and the rest of Tampa Bay. I love to see the pix and I can hardly wait to come back and see all the new developments in reality.

HEy, maybe they should replace the Adam's Mark with a . . . hotel.

This is off of Ft. Harrison between Turner and Jeffords.

Terra
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/2747/terra1bx9.jpg
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/4835/terra2qu2.jpg
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/4992/terra3al9.jpg
http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/9302/terra4jb6.jpg

Ft. Harrison
http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/3392/regionsbank2rl6.jpg
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/4792/townhomesftharrisonox8.jpg
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/4268/officelotftharrisonmp9.jpg
First is the Regions Bank building on the corner of Ft. Harrison and Druid. Second are recent townhomes south of Druid. Last is a yet-to-be-built office complex that matches the rest of the local new architecture.

700 S. Myrtle Ave.
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/1914/700smyrtleave4tx2.jpg
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/2451/700smyrtleave2ua1.jpg
http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/4431/700smyrtleave3hj4.jpg
Apartment complex/condo of unknown name going up on Myrtle, around the 700 Block.

Once again nice pics!! Shows some nice development in Clearwater.

Nice Pix. It is amazing how quickly Clearwater is changing. In a few years it ill become again the "Queen of the Gulf". In my opinion Clearwater has the most beautiful geographical setting of all the towns on the gulf coast.

I used to live at the western end of Pine St. near the big church, on the edge of the old harbour oaks neighbourhood. I loved it there, being able to walk to Publix and downtown. I also loved to go to the docks on the intracoastal.

more pics of clearwater taken 7/7/7

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1218/753476947_b1736397fb_m.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1191/753476857_9214a9ac9d_m.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1221/753476843_d3fed392b7_m.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1373/753476885_9713da731b_m.jpg

Nice pictures FlaNatv and Flybrian. When it rains pictures it pours them I guess. :)

Downtown Clearwater's first true highrise is looking good.

But I tell you what, every day that the city puts off developing alternate r/w transit between DT and the city's keys, the longer Clearwater's success will continue to remain in doubt. Even with the two major bridges now being rebuilt, access is still a major problem during peak times, and makes everything pretty much a misery. (same when there is a wreck anywhere along the line... the whole damn beach comes to a grinding halt)

^^I think construction is a big problem with traffic and clearwater beach but an alternative would be good. Only problem is convincing people that building something like a monrail from DT to the beach is worth it. I think a first step would be an assigned beach parking area where people can park for about half the price of parking on clearwater beach and then hop on a shuttle bus, hell even the trolley busses. If that proved successful then maybe we could get some talks of an alternative that and retail in DT could get a boost either way so its worth a try.

Everytime I drive down there and go to Clearwater Beach, the more and more I hate that round-about. Espicially when leaving from the North side, major headaches.

Would a proposal of having a ferry service from the proposed/approved? marina near DT to Clearwater work? Or even up more near where the ferry leaves for Caladisi(sp?) Island? If Bus transit, then that would make it worse, because only few will use that, because many of coolers, chairs, etc and that would be a disaster putting all that on a bus, except if they are like Charter buses.

I think the roundabout works just fine. I used it several times a day when I lived in Clearwater between 2000 and 2003.

As for shuttles or ferry between downtown and the beach, the city has tried it a few years ago. They offered free downtown parking and a free ferry to the beach...NOBODY used it......

^ I think its time to try again. Many of the parking spots on the beach no longer exist.

I think the roundabout works just fine. I used it several times a day when I lived in Clearwater between 2000 and 2003.

As for shuttles or ferry between downtown and the beach, the city has tried it a few years ago. They offered free downtown parking and a free ferry to the beach...NOBODY used it......
Did they advertise it because i never heard of such a thing.

Parking is the problem, not the roundabout.

If the cars arriving at the beach had a place to go, the congestion at the round-about and along the causeway would lift.

A couple of garages, problem solved.

^No, a couple of garages definitely won't solve the problem. It would actually make the problem worse.

^^It would if only there was a way to add a long ass turn lane to enter the garage. Either way unless they make some kind of big avenue or something i dont see clearwater beach clearing up traffic wise ever!

^No, it won't clear up ever. And the most space efficient means of increasing capacity in the future to at least keep traffic from getting down right unlivable is some form of mass transit connecting the beach to the mainland, logically downtown (probably starting on the east end of dt). Either that, or spend a few hundred million adding another 4 lane bridge out there and sacrifice acre upon acre of taxable land to road widening.

Clearwater developer to cut prices, provide the same amenities
Tampa Bay Business Journal - July 6, 2007by Michael HinmanStaff Writer

http://cll.bizjournals.com/story_image/89022-400-0.jpg?rev=2
Kathleen Cabble
Uday Lele, president and CEO of Enchantment Beachfront Residences on Clearwater Beach, reconfigured the complex to reflect the market.

CLEARWATER BEACH -- Not even the once resilient luxury condominium market appears to be immune to the housing sales slowdown. But a candy maker-turned developer is trying a new approach to get his Clearwater Beach tower off the ground.

Uday Lele will now sell the first 40 units of his project at roughly $675 a square foot with a 20 percent deposit, after cutting the price of an average unit to just under $1 million.


When Lele first announced his Gulfview Boulevard project last year, he was asking nearly $3.1 million a unit on average, or roughly $990 a square foot. Using a design that resembled a butterfly, Enchantment Beachfront Residences initially offered more than 90 units with what the developer described a 240-degree view of the shoreline from each.

The 40 sales he's after now are needed to jumpstart Lele's financing for the $180 million project. After those units are sold, the remaining 50 will be sold for prices at least 20 percent higher.

With sales and interest almost slowed to a halt, Lele isn't giving up. The tower's design has been reconfigured to help deliver the same amenities at a lower cost, he said.

No market immunity
"Most people don't realize that God isn't making any more beachfront property," Lele said. "I don't care how the economy is going, beachfront always is in short supply."

Limited land options or not, many condominium projects not already going vertical are being forced to rethink sales strategies or cease operations altogether.

While it might be an interesting incentive to bring buyers to the project, it still could be quite difficult for Lele to find the buyers that he needs in today's market, said T. Sean Lance, managing director for NAI Tampa Bay.

"They are not completely immune to the market or what's going on in the market," Lance said. "That project in particular is one with a first-time developer with an overly ambitious design. He's still going to face absorption issues based on the amount of inventory that's still out there. A lot of buyers are reluctant to go pre-construction right now when there is a lot of other product out there, and many with better deals that have already been built and are available now."

Beachfront property has taken a considerable hit from the housing declines, and even some high-profile projects that neighbored Enchantment's property are now a part of history, Lance said. That includes Indigo Beach Residences & Suites, a 15-story, 112-unit condo project that Taylor Woodrow pulled the plug on in May.

"I'm sure for a lot of these people [building condos], if they can just get away with breaking even, they would be very happy," Lance said. "Enchantment looks fantastic, absolutely incredible -- on paper. When you apply the finances and other issues, it becomes a completely different story."

Many high-priced units second homes
Lele manages a hotel that currently sits on land where he wants to build Enchantment, and he remains confident that he can have the hotel closed and razed by early 2008 and begin construction soon after.

His philosophy has been one of amazing potential buyers with design and amenities, and then dazzling them even more with various incentives. He's even offering a $50,000 discount to buyers or the option to get a second parking space reserved for their unit for free -- an incentive Lele says has an $80,000 value to it.


"We will make a little less profit, but I believe in this," Lele said.

But it will take more than belief to still come out ahead on new condo projects, NAI's Lance said.

"A year ago, I was talking to a new developer every week about them trying to unload their entire project," he said. "Unfortunately, a lot of them were just too pregnant with their deal. They were upside down on their project or upside down on their property, and a lot of them faced foreclosure or being forced to sell at a significant loss."

When property taxes and insurance suddenly added to the crashing market, there was little left, Lance said. However, that doesn't mean Enchantment couldn't spend some more time on the drawing board, patiently waiting for the market to rebound.

"It all depends on where his capital is coming from, how patient his capital investors are, and how much he leveraged to get the land," Lance said. "It's certainly a different dynamic and different metrics for developers of each project, and if these are things he has to his advantage, then he might be able to pull through."

Changing landscape
In 2005, nearly $1.5 billion in condos were planned for Clearwater Beach's waterfront. Even as analysts warned of market over-saturation when it came to condominium building, there seemed to be little concern from those who were able to grab property on the beach.

While upscale condos might be more immune to market conditions such as higher taxes and costlier insurance, many beachfront condos valued in the seven-digit range tend to be more second homes than primary homes, said Caroline Kling, chairwoman of the Pinellas Realtor Organization and the president of Tierra Verde Realty, which specializes in beachfront properties.

"The Legislature looked to provide some [tax and insurance] relief, but it doesn't do much for people who are purchasing second homes," Kling said. "What the Legislature did was a great first step, but there is still so much that needs to be done."

mhinman@bizjournals.com | 813.342.2477

http://tampabay.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2007/07/09/story6.html?page=2&b=1183953600^1486700

And you thought Tampa was messed up...

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/07/12/Northpinellas/Condo_may_be_on_city_.shtml

Condo may be on city property

By MIKE DONILA
Published July 12, 2007

CLEARWATER - Developers have spent more than a year constructing a $100-million high-rise condominium and retail complex in downtown Clearwater.

But they may be building on some city-owned property.

And that isn't good, it seems, for anyone - the developer, the city, a local church, a title insurance company, Clearwater voters and, possibly, the condo unit owners who are waiting to move in.

At issue? A roughly 20-foot strip of land and who owns it.

Developers of the Water's Edge project say they do.

But city officials aren't so sure.

Now attorneys for all sides want to hear what a judge says.

In the meantime, construction crews will continue to build the 25-story project's 153 luxury condos.

- - -

On Wednesday, Water's Edge sued the city of Clearwater in Pinellas County Circuit Court, asking a judge to affirm that its developer and affiliate, Opus South of Tampa, is owner of a disputed strip of land on the building's western side.

If the judge doesn't see it that way, Opus then wants the court to find a solution that doesn't involve tearing down the building.

Water's Edge also is suing Calvary Baptist Church, which sold the land to Opus in the fall of 2004 for $15-million. Water's Edge wants the church to reimburse it for any damages.

It's cut and dry if Opus wins. Developers finish the project in a year and new residents move in to what will be downtown Clearwater's first major residential development in decades.

It gets murky if they lose.

If a judge gives the property to the city, Clearwater would own at least a piece of the Water's Edge project. And if Opus offered to buy back that strip, voters would have to approve the sale, according to the city's charter.

If voters nix the sale? All parties just shook their heads Wednesday, saying they haven't thought that far ahead.

- - -

So, how did this all happen?

Attorneys trace the problem - everyone called it "a mess" Wednesday - to the 1950s when the city and church often swapped land.

In 1955, the church traded to the city the 32-foot-wide, 174-foot-long strip, a portion of which now is under the western edge of the condo tower. In return, the church got city property on nearby Pierce Street.

In April 1959, the church asked the city to give it back 3 feet of that strip in easement. The city agreed.

Also that year, city officials drew up a quit claim deed, the purpose of which was "to release forever any easement (the city) may have or claim" on the strip. But, the easement's size wasn't clearly defined and it appears that the city handed over not just 3 feet but the entire strip of land.

That would appear to sink the city. But wait.

City officials now contend that a City Commission resolution passed just prior to the issuance of the quit claim deed stated that the city's intent was to give back only the 3 feet of easement - not the entire strip. In other words, the city was to keep 29 feet.

"What happened was the deed created an inconsistent document to what the commission approved," said City Attorney Pam Akin.

But Clearwater attorney Ed Armstrong, who represents Opus, says the "resolution is inferior to the recorded document."

And if that's not enough, there is this:

A series of additional city resolutions and deeds in 1959 appear to have the affect of reducing the city's possible claim on the land to a strip 19 feet wide.

Still following along?

Maps, it turns out, aren't much help, either.

Up until the early 1960s, city zoning maps showed Clearwater - not the church - owned the now-disputed strip. A few years later, updated maps showed the church as owner.

"At some point, everyone seemed to have forgotten what happened," Akin said "And it went back to the church. But there were no documents, no council acts."

However, county property appraisal records show the city owns the land. But current city maps show Opus owns it.

As for Calvary Baptist?

Attorney and spokesman Joseph Park said the church stands behind the sale, but if a judge decides otherwise, the church could go after First American Title Insurance, which did the title search prior to Calvary's sale to Opus.

Attempts to reach officials with First American Title were unsuccessful Wednesday.

Times researcher Angie Holan contributed to this story.

^^haha thats ridiculous but welcome to clearwater!

Yes. Only in Clearwater.

It is indeed hilarious. Especially because the city will lose, which is thankfully what needs to occur... But this will serve to remind developers what kind of incompetence they are dealing with when they deal with local government around here.

(We know ALL about this in our office at work, as we do a lot of work for First American, but didn't have anything to do with the screw up in question)

This is a shot of a portion of Clearwater Beach awhile back.

http://www.condoleaf.com/users/up/clearwater_beach.jpg

Love it. Nice shot. Thanks for sharing.

Alright I've been out of town the past few days. I took a boat trip down to Ft. Myers, styed a couple nights and came back. Here are some of the pics I took. These are from Cleawater Harbor, today. As you can tell the whether was crappy.

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/JordanA_015/Buildings371.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/JordanA_015/Buildings370.jpg

Riverfront park/ ampitheatre
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/JordanA_015/Buildings369.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/JordanA_015/Buildings368.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/JordanA_015/Buildings367.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/JordanA_015/Buildings366.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/JordanA_015/Buildings365.jpg

Looking at Sand Key Skyline
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/JordanA_015/Buildings364.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/JordanA_015/Buildings358.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/JordanA_015/Buildings357.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/JordanA_015/Buildings356.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/JordanA_015/Buildings355.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/JordanA_015/Buildings353.jpg

Downtown Skyline
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/JordanA_015/Buildings363.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/JordanA_015/Buildings362.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/JordanA_015/Buildings361.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/JordanA_015/Buildings360.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/JordanA_015/Buildings359.jpg

Nice house!
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/JordanA_015/Buildings354.jpg

Hope yall enjoyed. :banana:

Hello All!! "used to be" Pinellas County Resident here. Anyone heard anything new about Cleveland St. in Clearwater? Clearwater Center looks interesting.

Hello All!! "used to be" Pinellas County Resident here. Anyone heard anything new about Cleveland St. in Clearwater? Clearwater Center looks interesting.
Road work is still going on, but the street is looking great so far. It should be finished by Nov the least

Makes a nice backdrop for my new old car!
http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/5513/dsc06615nh5.jpg

And in the evening...
http://img471.imageshack.us/img471/6546/dsc06623tk3.jpg
http://img471.imageshack.us/img471/9538/dsc06630hz3.jpg
http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/7870/dsc06632lr4.jpg

Oh, and the Sandpearl on North Beach is done, for all intents and purposes. Photos to come!

Makes a nice backdrop for my new old car!
http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/5513/dsc06615nh5.jpg


Copier!!!! :bash: I did the same with mine lol


http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/P7220015.jpg

Clearwater Cay Clubs is officially dead, at least all of the new stuff they were proposing facing US 19. About a month ago, they fired all sales and support staff, cut off all interaction with the other half of the complex (Grand Bellagio), and appear to be stopping sponsorship of all activities that were occuring for visitors and owners.

Apparently, now that the "two-year lease buyback" has also ended, many owners are going belly up and lots of lawsuits are happening. I used to live at the Grand Bellagio and will try to find out more details, but don't count on anything soon at 19 and Belleair.

^ouch... That sucks, as it seemed to be an interesting project.

Construction to begin on Aqualea, financing secured
Tampa Bay Business Journal - 2:39 PM EDT Friday, August 24, 2007

The Aqualea Resort Condominium Hotel and Residences will now be a reality on Clearwater Beach.

The 268-unit complex on South Gulfview Boulevard will be financed by Dougherty Funding LLC along with a mezzanine loan from Heitman Financial. Total financing is just over $100 million.


As part of NJR Development's announcement made Friday at Clearwater's City Hall, Bovis Lend Lease -- the company currently building Signature Place in St. Petersburg -- will be the general contractor.

NJR had already partnered with the Hyatt Corp. to develop the complex, which will feature a four-star resort that NJR says will be the centerpiece of Clearwater Beach's Beach Walk.

"At a time when the capital markets are so challenging and the real estate market has been so depressed, it's terrific to see a project of this magnitude and importance to Clearwater Beach continuing to move full speed ahead," said Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard in a release. "We said when Aqualea was announced that, as the centerpiece of Beach Walk and a destination resort hotel and condominium, it would be the catalyst for positive growth and an important economic generator for tourism dollars and tax revenues on which the city depends."

Foundation work had already begun on the 400-foot expanse of Gulfview Boulevard where the 900,000-square-foot Aqualea will rise. It's expected to be completed by the end of 2009.

The resort will include two swimming pools, a beach concession area with towel and beverage service, a spa and private air-conditioned poolside cabanas.

Aqualea will be the latest addition to the more than 200 Hyatt-branded hotels and resorts in 43 countries that currently exist. Owners will be able to live or vacation in their units and make them available for rental through Hyatt's resort management program. Units range in price from $485,000 to $1.3 million, according to previous reports.

Aqualea was one of nine projects announced for Clearwater Beach since early 2005. Most of the other projects have been delayed, including Clearwater Grande from Clearwater Grande Development, Entrada from Decade Properties, Kiran Grand Resort & Spa from K&P Clearwater Estate, Marbella Condominiums from Lucca Development and Sienna Sands.

Lele Development's Enchantment Beachfront Residences is still offering units in a pre-sales capacity down the street from Aqualea where units were available for between $900,000 and $2.7 million, while JMC Communities has begun construction of Marquesas, where units were reportedly being offered for between $700,000 and $6 million.

Taylor Woodrow's Indigo Beach Residence & Suites, which offered 190 units between $1 million and $2.5 million, was cancelled earlier this year.

http://tampabay.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2007/08/20/daily52.html?jst=b_ln_hl

It's disturbing to see Clearwater's 'leaders' and beachgoing residents collectively continue to think that a building 150 feet wide and 400 feet tall "walls off the beach and obstructs views", yet a 400 wide and 150 tall slab is desirable... Uhh no, it's far worse you idiots.

^^ Right?!?! Seriously! What's frickin' wrong with this picture?

Took some random pics while I was in downtown Clearwater.

Station Square

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/P9300168.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/P9300171.jpg

Clearwater Center

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/P9300169.jpg

This building is almost done being re-done.

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/P93001942.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/P9300172.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/P9300173.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/P9300181.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/P9300190.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/P9300201.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/P9300207.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/P9300208.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/P9300213.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/P9300214.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/P9300215.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/P9300218.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/P9300230.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/P9300231.jpg

My soul is elevated . . .

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/P9300169.jpg

^Nice. What project is the one with the 3 cranes in the 10th and last picture?

^Nice. What project is the one with the 3 cranes in the 10th and last picture?
I know when I went down there, they had the cranes working on something w/ the BayWalk Project. I know that the brown building near the cranes is suppose to be demolished for an Condo Project( Enchantment?), but it flies pass my head at this movement.

^Nice. What project is the one with the 3 cranes in the 10th and last picture?

I think it is the Hyatt Aqualea Project.

Wateredge update:

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/JordanA_015/Pictures11-4-07006.jpg

Exterior detailing is up about half way on the east side. The other sides still are like the pic above.

Station Square is up to floor 2-3.

Also, here is a shot of the baywalk that stretches along the bay near Dunedin:

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/JordanA_015/Pictures11-4-07005.jpg

Station Square is only 3 floors above ground?

^^That can't be look at my pics from Sept 30

Hi everybody, Thanks for all the updates: I'm particularly interested in Downtown Clearwater :great things are happening there: Streestscape going up to Missouri and then to Gulf to Bay, and several Condos residences going up: truly exciting :it'll be a wonderful place to live.
Price wise, Clearwater Centre on Cleveland is the least expensive of all: they'll have city homes (on top of the retail, with rooftop decks) starting under $300K, and Condos w/ 1Bed., den and 1.5 baths, and 2 terraces overlooking pool and amenity deck starting in the low $300's!!!! Concierge, Covered garges, 24H security,Pool,Spa, Fitness, Sauna... And a Gas Generator System in case of power outage!!! Now that's great!....
I hear it'll all be ready within 24 months, just when the streetscape will be all finished (great for all the retail and shops at their first level on Cleveland and MLK)
Here are some pix for you to enjoy the recently started construction.

http://webmail.aol.com/31361/aol/en-us/Mail/get-attachment.aspx?uid=1.17641432&folder=New+Mail&partId=4


http://webmail.aol.com/31361/aol/en-us/Mail/get-attachment.aspx?uid=1.17641432&folder=New+Mail&partId=5

Take a look at some of the views from Clearwater centre!!!

http://webmail.aol.com/31361/aol/en-us/Mail/get-attachment.aspx?uid=1.17646624&folder=Old+Mail&partId=2

http://webmail.aol.com/31361/aol/en-us/Mail/get-attachment.aspx?uid=1.17646624&folder=Old+Mail&partId=3


http://webmail.aol.com/31361/aol/en-us/Mail/get-attachment.aspx?uid=1.17646624&folder=Old+Mail&partId=4


http://webmail.aol.com/31361/aol/en-us/Mail/get-attachment.aspx?uid=1.17646624&folder=Old+Mail&partId=5

More pictures of Clearwater Centre panoranic views...



http://webmail.aol.com/31361/aol/en-us/Mail/get-attachment.aspx?uid=1.17654576&folder=Saved+Mail&partId=2[/IMG]


http://webmail.aol.com/31361/aol/en-us/Mail/get-attachment.aspx?uid=1.17654576&folder=Saved+Mail&partId=3


http://webmail.aol.com/31361/aol/en-us/Mail/get-attachment.aspx?uid=1.17654576&folder=Saved+Mail&partId=4[/IMG]

http://webmail.aol.com/31361/aol/en-us/Mail/get-attachment.aspx?uid=1.17654576&folder=Saved+Mail&partId=5[/IMG]

^^ I'm sure the pictures are great, but unless you are going to share your AOL user name and password with us so that we can login to your email account - we won't be able to see them.

:)

lol


How to post a picture (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=339254)

<center>
<a href="http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/building_pics_Oct_10_013.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/th_building_pics_Oct_10_013.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/building_pics_Oct_10_008.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/th_building_pics_Oct_10_008.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/building_pics_oct_10_0061.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/th_building_pics_oct_10_0061.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/building_pics_Oct_10_006.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/th_building_pics_Oct_10_006.jpg"></a>
<br><br>
<a href="http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/TownLake.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/th_TownLake.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/SWView.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/th_SWView.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/rendering8-22-07.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/th_rendering8-22-07.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/poolrendering.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/th_poolrendering.jpg"></a>
<br><br>
<a href="http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/NWView.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/th_NWView.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/GulfView.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/th_GulfView.jpg"></a>
</center>

that did not work. Go to "Post reply" click on the icon with the mountains in it, paste in the url for the picture itself - that should do it - and do a preview

these forums don't use HTML code for security reasons, I posted the fix here for blackjetta1100



http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/building_pics_Oct_10_013.jpg
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/building_pics_Oct_10_008.jpg
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/building_pics_oct_10_0061.jpg
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/building_pics_Oct_10_006.jpg

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/TownLake.jpg
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/SWView.jpg
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/rendering8-22-07.jpg
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/poolrendering.jpg


http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/NWView.jpg
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee137/kenzab_2007/GulfView.jpg

Hi Clearwater. :)

In the past few days I have been coming back to this section of skyscrapercity for news, updates, photos, whatever. There is nothing. So what's up? Everybody dead at that end of the ocean? Florida is kaput? Or the last real eswtate agent has sold the last property and paradise has kicked in? Anybody out there?:)

Who knows. This is the deadest the Tampa community has been on SSC in at least 2-3 years. No idea why, but I would guess that either a lot of folks have lost interest now that development is floundering, or some other new local forum started that people are going to.

With the holidays and lack of new projects coming forward, I think people have chosen to focus on other things.

Thanks for posting the pictures! What do you all think? Those views are beautiful!!
By the way, I hear that the new name of this project is "The strand, at Clearwater Centre"...
Our Downtown will look sooo good with this new project!!

Yes, it will certainly add to DT Clearwater, especially a bit further inland, where it's especially dead... The problem is, with the credit crunch and collapsed housing market, there probably isn't going to be anything complimentary built near it for quite some time.


I like that the changes are so thorough as to make it seem like an all new building on the skyline... And being a few feet taller because of that little cupola won't hurt either... haha

^^ Great photos. :) Keep up the great work and thank you, guys for taking the time to take the pictures and share it with all of us here at Skyscraper community. Your work is truly appreciated. Again, thanks for updating the pictures. :)

^^Nice logo, Prince. Missed those Karib colors.:):nuts::applause:

County looking at proposal for Toytown landfill

By Times Staff Writer
Published December 9, 2007

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/12/09/Neighborhoodtimes/County_looking_at_pro.shtml
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Pinellas County

While Pinellas County evaluates proposals to redevelop the Toytown landfill east of Interstate 275 at Roosevelt Boulevard, one submittal has risen to the top of the stack. County purchasing officials are looking at a proposal from Industrial Realty Group/Bear Creek Capital, and if it stands up, the concept could go to the County Commission this spring. The proposal would have the 300-acre site become the Parks at Pinellas County, which would include more than 800,000 square feet of retail space, 250,000 square feet of hotel and convention center space, 1.5-million square feet of corporate office space, 2,100 residential units, almost 15,000 parking spaces, a 50,000-square-foot community center, softball and soccer fields, tennis and volleyball courts, and skate, dog and water parks.

You can find copies of the 3 proposals submitted here:

http://www.pced.org/stats_forms/list_documents.asp?id=65328

Sounds like suburban densities are proposed for a site in the heart of the metro... I'm sorry, but you don't build roughly 5 mil sqft of development on a 13mil sqft plot of land located where this land is located. It's a gross underuse of the land, which will inevitably result in another square mile or two of land getting paved over on the fringes. Hell, any of the village-like 'town centers' sprouting up around the area probably have a higher FAR number.

This may be the heart of the metro, but it's still rather suburban. I think the leading proposal is decent (minus the surface parking) and appears as though additional density could fairly easily be added in the future based on the grid pattern of the streets. I don't know if that's intentional, or just the way it happens to be laid out.

^Hey all I'm saying is that the project's FAR is less than the ratio of the 2 story townhouse development I live in... That's a problem imo.

This looks really nice. Has anyone heard of this development?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiQQ_rBpys0

It does look like a nice project for Downtown, but I haven't heard anyhting on this before and can't find a website for it. It is at least 3 months old because it says the video was added on Sept. 5, 2007.

Does look nice but never heard of it either, would be cool to have a building like that in the Skyline.

Awesome. So, according to one of the renders in the vid, retail will be inside the overall tower and not just street shops? Pretty Cool!

^Hey all I'm saying is that the project's FAR is less than the ratio of the 2 story townhouse development I live in... That's a problem imo.

:lol:

OK. A third of site is recreation space, too. So, that may contribute to the overall lower-than-expected density, too.

I drove through downtown Clearwater yesterday and snapped a few pictures.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f344/danielpwilliams/100_1195sm.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f344/danielpwilliams/100_1198sm.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f344/danielpwilliams/100_1204sm.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f344/danielpwilliams/100_1210sm.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f344/danielpwilliams/100_1211sm.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f344/danielpwilliams/100_1212sm.jpg

Nice Pics. Thanks for sharing. I can hardly wait to visit Clearwater again. I will arrive on April 17th and I am very excited to see all the changes since my last trip in Nov. 2005.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f344/danielpwilliams/100_1204sm.jpg
That pic actually makes downtown look like its an urban city.

What you're looking at is the Streetscape: it'll stretch from Fort Harrisson to Gulf to Bay on Clevelans street. The 1st phase is now finished. The 2nd phase, from Myrthle to Missouri, will start in March, with all the walkways, pavers, palms and pedestrian freindly streets. There's another new project that will be built in the vacant City lot where the park and the water fountain is off of Cleveland, but it'll be luxury rentals and shopping center. Also, the Buick dealership across the Street from Clearwater Centre (now called The Strand), will host a major development that will completely change Downtown Clearwater.
In other words, major projects are in the pipeline for the east side of DT Clearwater, and in 2 years, it'll look drastically different.

What you're looking at is the Streetscape: it'll stretch from Fort Harrisson to Gulf to Bay on Clevelans street. The 1st phase is now finished. The 2nd phase, from Myrthle to Missouri, will start in March, with all the walkways, pavers, palms and pedestrian freindly streets. There's another new project that will be built in the vacant City lot where the park and the water fountain is off of Cleveland, but it'll be luxury rentals and shopping center. Also, the Buick dealership across the Street from Clearwater Centre (now called The Strand), will host a major development that will completely change Downtown Clearwater.
In other words, major projects are in the pipeline for the east side of DT Clearwater, and in 2 years, it'll look drastically different.
Cool Thanks. I can't wait until Clearwater, well downtown, has a fantastic skyline. It;s well needy for a great city. I still wonder why they don't repaint or redevelop the shops on that street though.

Anyone know what the project on the Buick dealership is?

Beach Walk Construction Ahead of Schedule


CLEARWATER, Fla. – Work on South Gulfview Boulevard should be completed in May, at which time the road and new promenades will be opened for the public. There will be one northbound lane and one southbound lane, which is the final configuration of South Gulfview Boulevard. The only portion of the east side walkway that will remain closed is in front of the Hyatt Aqualea construction site.


When South Gulfview Boulevard opens, workers will move to Coronado Drive, where on-street parking, final asphalt and more lighting will be added. This is expected to take two or three months.


New sand volleyball courts are available south of Pier 60, and showers along the beachside promenade are working.


The targeted date for substantial completion of the Beach Walk project is before Super Bowl 2009, but all work should be done in July, well ahead of schedule. For more information, visit www.myclearwater.com/beachwalk.

http://www.clearwater-fl.com/news/news_detail.asp?item={7CD0D0D2-759B-47C1-8366-A2DDA8651CB8}

^^^ I guess the link isn't working, I copied the whole thing!

Anyone know about the developements in Dunedin. I haven't been down in that area forever (I think August was the last). There's Marina Dundin and I know there is another development on Scotland St.

^The project on the water (or at least acroos the street form the water) in downtown Dunedin has its site cleared but that's all I know. If that helps. :crazy:

^The project on the water (or at least acroos the street form the water) in downtown Dunedin has its site cleared but that's all I know. If that helps. :crazy:
lol, yeah, that site has been cleared for ages. Guessing now, the project will be on hold until the housing market gets it's groove back.

I sent a email to them to see what is going on. God, I wish I was a developer, I have so many dreams for that city.

I didn't know this, but I guess Clearwater has web cams of BeachWalk. Pretty Cool!

http://www.clearwater-fl.com/gov/depts/pwa/engin/projects/beachwalk/beachwalkcam/index.asp

Gosh, I'm going crazy today in this thread!!!!

I just recieved a email from Kiran Grand on Clearwater Beach telling me they are all sold out of rental units. Sounds like this is a big hit.

Hey guys! Just a couple things I would like to post.

Got a email from the sales person for Marina Dunedin. As I expected, they're "under construction" is a lie, or I guess a fib to make it sound nice. They plan to start construction in the Fall, I guess they think the market will be better by then. So it's a wild guess on whatever happens on this.

Judging from the cams I posted earlier, the Hyatt Aqualea is 3 or 4 stories already. I like the view from the second cam. The tower near the Memorial Bridge in Downtown always escapes me, but I must say, it packs a punch in the horizon.

Appeal denied in city's rejection of condo plan
By Times Staff Writer
Published February 27, 2008

DUNEDIN

The 2nd District Court of Appeal denied a developer's request to force the city to reconsider its decision to reject the final site plan of his project, a condominium complex planned at 715 Edgewater Drive. The developer, Kelly Prior, is also pursuing a claim seeking $1-million to $6-million in damages to make up for revenue he claims he lost when his plan was rejected.

http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/27/Northpinellas/Appeal_denied_in_city.shtml

Primed for development

Clearwater leaders want a mixed-use project to replace the Harborview Center.

By Mike Donila, Times Staff Writer
Published March 4, 2008

http://www.sptimes.com/2008/03/04/images/xlarge/Clearwa_Primed_2615014.jpg
Clearwater city commissioners are discussing the future of Clearwater's Harborview Center, which opened January 15, 1996. In addition to 30,000 square feet of exhibition space and 35,000 square feet of meeting, ballroom and public space, the Harborview building is home to the Pickles Plus Too! deli and to the upscale Stein Mart specialty store chain. The center has placed Clearwater on the map as a venue for trade shows, conventions, and conferences from international, national, regional and state markets.

Once again, Clearwater leaders are preparing to ask voters to sign off on a major downtown waterfront development.

City officials would like to see the Harborview Center, a former department store with a view of the Memorial Causeway, torn down and replaced with a mixed-use development that includes shops, restaurants and, possibly, a movie theater.

Work on such a project, however, is still years away. And under the city's charter it would need voter approval, which wouldn't happen before March 2010.

The City Council, sitting as the Community Redevelopment Agency, said Monday that officials first must meet with potential developers and devise a plan. The city also will hold several public meetings before selecting a developer.

The biggest obstacle could come from residents, who haven't exactly been friendly to waterfront development in the past decade, turning down a number of major mixed-use proposals, such as the $300-million array of public and private amenities, including a library, a botanical garden, apartments, a movie theater, a pier and three downtown parking garages proposed in 2000.

But voters last March did sign off on an $11-million proposal to build 129 boat slips, a fishing pier, a boardwalk and a promenade near Coachman Park.

Still, the site in question - 3.18 acres that includes Harborview Center, which features a Stein Mart department store. the Pickles Plus Too Deli and a 107-space parking lot - is a touchy issue for many residents.

In the past, some have said they'd like to turn the area into green space. Others feel the city should build a cultural center or a museum on the property.

Whatever happens, city leaders say they have to do something with the building. Although Stein Mart and Pickles have done well since the city bought the building in the early 1990s, the convention center has not. And at this point, money is tight and the convention center is a losing operation. In 2006, the city spent $342,000 to subsidize the center.

City leaders said Monday the development community will be interested in the site, mostly because of its location on the bluff.

Council members stressed that residential development is not allowed under current land use plans and they have no intention of changing that.

Mayor Frank Hibbard said he hoped developers could create a project to act as a catalyst to continued downtown revitalization.

He added that he'd like to see something "low-rise and attractive and kept for public use."

Whatever is built there, though, must be incorporated into nearby Coachman Park, the Main Library and the downtown core, Hibbard said.

Assistant City Manager Rod Irwin said he's "got five or six firms in mind" that he's planning to meet, but declined to name them because they haven't all been contacted. He said that several of the firms were local.

He added that other plans for the building, on the corner of N Osceola Avenue and Cleveland Street, could include a hotel with some convention space, so the city could keep some of the events typically hosted there.

City leaders said they would rather lease the land than sell it. They also acknowledged that any development could lead to a future parking problem, because the boat slips will be ready by then and more people may visit the Main Library as city leaders consider closing more branches as a cost-cutting measure.

Clearwater officials also said they want to work with Stein Mart and Pickles to keep them in the downtown.

They said they still have time to iron out those details.
Fast facts:

During the next few years, city leaders want to revitalize the Harborview Center and some of the land around it. Here's a look at the planned schedule:

April-May: Meet with potential developers

July: Council discusses what direction to move based on interviews

September: City leaders hold two or three resident focus groups to talk about the project

October: More details to the plan ironed out based on residents' suggestions

February 2009: City issues a request for proposals for developers

April 2009: Developer selected

August 2009: City and developer negotiate the details

March 2010: City lets residents vote on whether to approve the plan

December 2010: Work on the project starts if residents approve the plan

It's a destination

City leaders are looking at turning the Harborview Center over to a developer, a move they say could boost tourism with shops, restaurants and, possibly, a hotel or movie theater. Although the center held 193 events in 2007, bringing in almost 86,000 guests, it typically doesn't make money for the city. Some recent major events include the Tampa Bay Motorcycle Expo; the Southeast Barista Championship, in which baristas competed in coffee, cappuccino and espresso-making competition; the Taste of Clearwater and the Festival of Trees.

[Last modified March 3, 2008, 21:15:22]

http://www.sptimes.com/2008/03/04/Northpinellas/Primed_for_developmen.shtml

Harborview Center does need to be redone. The density of it now is not what it should be for Downtown. Not to mention I find it rather plain and ugly.

Isn't the Downtown Marine planned on the waterfront of that site? Whatever happens on that site, it must be mixed use. Hotel?Condo, Hotel/Office, etc, we need something good on that site.

BTW, has Clearwater ever though of a trolley system like Tampa's?

I am afraid that the voters will vote down any new project there again, like they did several times. They shout "save the bayfront" but what is there to save? A parking lot? I hope the city and developers are smart enough to get the OK from the citizens for the redevelopment. I just wish it was quicker than 2010.

The city tried to work with the county to build the first step of a monorail from downtown to he beach, as part of a countywide system, but I think the project was stopped.

^^
That is interesting.

Maybe they can finally tie in LRT :hahano:

Clearwater has too many senior citizens who oppose development to get anything done.

What are your ideas for waterfront land?
By Diane Steinle, Editor of Editorials
Published March 9, 2008

The city of Clearwater is putting out a call to developers interested in redeveloping the site on the downtown waterfront where the Harborview Center sits now.

But I'd like to know what those of you reading this column want to see there.

A movie theater? A museum? A hotel or shops or restaurants? Green space? Some of all of that?

There is no disputing that the best property downtown is this city-owned 3.18 acres on the northwest corner of Cleveland Street and Osceola Avenue. It's big. It's visible. It has a spectacular view of Clearwater Harbor and the barrier islands.

And its value is only going to increase after the city builds 129 boat slips, a fishing pier and a promenade where the Harborview property meets the water.

Recognizing the property's value as well as the age of the Harborview structure, City Council members have begun talking about how the property should be used in the future. Some city officials have said they would like to see a new commercial mixed-use project there to attract people to downtown. They don't want to sell the property, just lease it. So they are inviting developers interested in that kind of deal to share their ideas.

Any project built there would have to clear a lot of hurdles first. The biggest would be a public referendum, tentatively scheduled for March 2010. But before that, the city plans to meet with developers who respond to the call, decide which ideas appeal to them most, put together some focus groups to vet those ideas, hold public meetings and select a developer.

The Harborview Center has inspired controversy from the beginning. It used to be a Maas Brothers department store with a leaky roof and other structural problems. When the department store closed, the city decided to buy the 33-year-old building. At first, the city planned to tear it down. Then in 1994, a majority of the then-City Commission led by Fred Thomas decided to convert it to a trade center. Thomas promised it would become a "giant cash register" for the city.

That, it never was. The building just didn't work well as a trade center, but two businesses that lease space in the structure, Stein Mart and Pickles Plus Too Deli, have done well. The center's big meeting rooms and trade center floor have been more regularly utilized for community activities and meetings than for conventions. The city has kept the building open with regular infusions of cash.

With the Stein Mart lease scheduled to expire next year, city officials see an opportunity to eventually divest themselves of a white elephant and get rid of the expansive Harborview parking lot that mars the otherwise green look of the waterfront.

They would like to see something built there that fits more appropriately with the architecturally significant Main Library next door and Coachman Park, where outdoor events like the Clearwater Jazz Holiday are held.

However, some residents have grown to like having what amounts to a community center downtown. They don't want to lose it. Others have suggested that the property should be turned into an extension of Coachman Park.

What's your big idea for the Harborview property?

If you'd like to share your ideas with other readers, please put them in a letter to the editor by going to our Web site at www.tampabay.com/letters, or mail them to Letters, St. Petersburg Times, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756.

Diane Steinle can be reached at steinle@sptimes.com.

[Last modified March 8, 2008, 22:21:15]

http://www.sptimes.com/2008/03/09/Northpinellas/What_are_your_ideas_f.shtml

I wasted some of my time writing to the Editorial. I told them it is pretty simple, we need parking, entertainment, and a hotel.

Hopefully it gets printed!

Waterfront parking is not an ideal use of that land. Put a monorail system inland somewhere and use this as a public gathering spot - entertainment and a hotel are OK.

The city should work together with the county and developers to invest in a long range, wholsome downtown plan to build a high density urban "village" between Drew, Court, Osceola and Myrtle.
Shops, department stores, restaurants, movie theater, hotel, should be concentrated in an area between Osceola, Drew, Garden, and Pierce Streets.
The site of Harbourview should be reserved for a future museum with underground parking and a larger park.
The county should consolidate all its offices in a new location and build a nice county office tower on the eastern side of downtown. It is ridiculous that some of their offices are located in former old motels and residences. That would open up these areas for new urban infill development. The city also should build a new city hall and annex in teh eastern part of downtown. Apartments, condos and office develoment would be scattrerd around.
Clearwaters setting is so beautiful and unique..if all is done right, it could be the most beautiful downtown on the gulf coast.

Waterfront parking is not an ideal use of that land. Put a monorail system inland somewhere and use this as a public gathering spot - entertainment and a hotel are OK.
Well, the main reason for the parking was for the hotel and entertainment area. But a couple other reasons was for the park and the approved Marina there aswell. I also included that retail should be incorporated on the first floor instead of a plain concrete box.

I don't know if this got printed last week. I din't read the newspaper on Tuesday or Wednesday of last week and never saw it on the other days. Anyway I can check and see?

Clearwater City Council rejects Sand Key zoning proposal
By Mike Donila, Times staff writer
Published Friday, March 21, 2008 8:51 AM

CLEARWATER -- About 350 residents jammed City Hall tonight, urging local leaders to reject a zoning request that could potentially lead to the replacement of a small Sand Key strip mall with a 100-foot-tall hotel.

In a 4-1 vote, the City Council sided with opponents, but hinted to the cheering crowd that the vote was potentially taking away the land owner's property rights and acknowledging that a lawsuit against the city is possible. At issue was a request to assign a zoning designation to the Shoppes on Sand Key, a popular 3-acre shopping center about a half-mile south of the Clearwater Pass Bridge.

Attorneys for the Shoppes say the owner has no plans to redevelop the property now, but for months rumors have flown that the stores would be torn down and replaced with a hotel.

In February, the land owner, a Clearwater real estate group called D.A. Bennett Co. wanted the zoning changed to "tourist," which would allow at least a 100-foot-tall hotel. The land was previously zoned "business," but the designation expired last year.

Throughout the more than three-hour-meeting, residents pleaded with the council, saying the “tourist” zoning would destroy their quality of life, increase traffic and take away the one place on the barrier island where they can shop and grab a bite to eat.

They said they live in a residential area -– not a tourist district -– and the council should keep the island’s character the way it is.

Council members said they struggled over the decision because the tourist designation is the only applicable zoning designation that can be assigned to the property under current city development code. In the end, though, most agreed with the residents that the tourist zoning conflicted with the area’s character. “They came in with an open mind and were able to apply common sense to the situation and we’re very pleased,” said Jo Ellen Farnham, a Sand Key resident who helped lead and coordinate the opposition.

After the meeting, the two attorneys for D.A. Bennett Co said they’d know more in the next day or so about whether they would pursue legal action.

The city violated its own statues and every council member admitted it,” Clearwater attorney Paul Raymond said. “Right now we’re not sure what we’ll do about it.”

Carlen Petersen, the lone dissenting vote on the council, said she was "uncomfortable with knowingly voting against something not supported by current code."

[Last modified Friday, March 21, 2008 10:23 AM]

http://www.tampabay.com/news/pinellas/article426616.ece?token=695569401

For Harborview I think some kind of mixed-use project with Dining and Small Retail and a 10-15 story hotel. Facing the Harbor should be tiered promenades running the length of the building from N to S, with outside dining. What ever is decided, it needs to be something to take full advantage of the view.

Clearwater council decision on Shoppes of Sand Key could bring lawsuit
By Mike Donila, Staff Writer
Published Friday, March 21, 2008 7:57 PM

Clearwater — For more than three hours, City Council members listened to the impassioned pleas of Sand Key residents who asked them not to assign a zoning designation to a tiny strip mall where they like to shop and enjoy a bite to eat.

But the City Council struggled with its decision, questioning whether denying the land owner's request would violate his property rights and set the city up for a lawsuit.

At the end of the meeting, they agreed with the 350 residents who packed City Hall, saying the zoning designation didn't fit the character of the community.

But on Friday, council members said they expect their decision will prompt a lawsuit.

"I wouldn't be shocked, but the city is often sued," Mayor Frank Hibbard said. "But we'll defend ourselves and I feel like we're in a strong position."

Councilman George Cretekos said he was expecting a lawsuit no matter which side prevailed.

"We get sued every week. What's one more lawsuit?" added council member Paul Gibson.

Clearwater attorney Michael Foley, who represents the land owner, Clearwater-based real estate group D.A. Bennett Co., said: "At this point, every option is on the table. We're not ruling out any reasonable options and if we feel the rights were violated, then we'll pursue all viable means to seek redress."

At issue was a request to assign a zoning designation to the Shoppes on Sand Key, a popular, 3-acre shopping center about a half-mile south of the Clearwater Pass Bridge.

The land was previously zoned "business," but the designation expired last year. The land owner wanted the zoning changed to "tourist," which would allow a 100-foot-tall hotel. His attorney argued the property was surrounded by several 100-foot-tall hotels and 200-foot-tall condo towers.

The city's development code and future land use plan says "tourist" is the only allowable designation. But residents wanted it zoned "commercial," a designation similar to the now-defunct "business" designation.

For example, a commercial zoning would restrict the height of a hotel to 50 feet.

Council members struggled with the decision and agreed that, at the moment, "tourist" is the proper designation. But they ultimately sided with residents, agreeing that the tourist designation conflicted with the area's character. That means the land remains unzoned for now.

Attorneys for the Shoppes say the owner has no plans to redevelop the property. But rumors have flown for months that the mall would be razed to make way for a hotel.

Council members said their decision was partially based on a plan the city is crafting that would change the area's future land use plan and allow for commercial development. That probably won't be in place for another three months.

"We are not inhibiting any existing plans they have," Hibbard said, noting that no development plans have been submitted to the city.

The lone dissenting council member, attorney Carlen Petersen, said she was "uncomfortable with knowingly voting against something not supported by the current code."

City Manager Bill Horne, who does not vote, said the council's decision puts the city in "an unusual situation."

"According to our rules and process, there was absolutely no reason for us to deny the applicant," he said, adding that the application was "submitted properly, followed all the rules … and was in compliance with all the goals."

Paul Raymond, who also represents D.A. Bennett Co., said Friday he would know more early next week about whether to pursue legal action.

"The city violated its own statues and every council member admitted it," Raymond said. "Right now we're not sure what we'll do about it."

Meanwhile, Sand Key residents said they hoped the city won't be sued. They said they want to meet with city leaders and the land owner to work on a plan to please all sides.

Mike Donila can be reached at

mdonila@sptimes.com or (727) 445-4160.

[Last modified Friday, March 21, 2008 8:32 PM]

http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/article427457.ece

Council members said their decision was partially based on a plan the city is crafting that would change the area's future land use plan and allow for commercial development. That probably won't be in place for another three months.

"We are not inhibiting any existing plans they have," Hibbard said, noting that no development plans have been submitted to the city

It sounds to me like it isn't really a big deal... Just make these folks come back in 120 days, and take their rezoning application for free, since they have already paid... Then, they can get their commercial zoning, the clueless NIMBYs will be pacified, and the hotel will be built anyways. If the landowner is smart, he won't throw good money away, and will build the mixed-use project the neighborhood is clearly demanding.

Clearwater compromises on divisive hotel issue
By Mike Donila, Times Staff Writer
Published Friday, April 18, 2008 10:33 PM

CLEARWATER — In the end — after four hours, five intermissions, 40 or so speakers, about 50 rounds of thunderous applause, a touch of rudeness (some say passion), and one loud expletive — the City Council reached a unanimous decision regarding beach density Friday morning.

It compromised.

But the agreement, reached about 12:30 a.m., left many residents struggling to figure out just what council members had approved.

More than 300 of them packed three floors of City Hall, most arguing that their communities would be jeopardized if council members agreed to let builders add more rooms to their hotel developments.

They were joined by a score of business owners, their attorneys and members of the local chamber of commerce who argued more hotels meant more jobs, more tourism and bigger bucks for the city's struggling coffers.

After their initial confusion over the council's decision, the residents were briefed by attorneys and figured they had at least secured some victory, although they wanted more.

"They made it very unattractive for hotels to build (in some areas), but in our opinion they didn't find the balance we were hoping for," said JoEllen Farnham, a Sand Key resident who helped spearhead a grass roots movement to energize residents into opposing bigger hotels.

• • •

Last year, the county approved a plan that cities could use to let builders add 50 to 150 percent more hotel rooms per acre, depending on the site's size.

Their argument — and one most Clearwater leaders share — is that the plan makes it more economical for builders to develop mid-range, mid-priced hotels rather than condos. And it replaces the hotel rooms lost during the condo boom.

Further, they say, more hotel rooms bring more tourists, which means more money.

The City Council, bombarded by phone calls, letters and sometimes insulting e-mails from concerned and upset Sand Key and Island Estates residents, opted to reduce the number of rooms allowed by the county by 10 percent. And the members decided not to apply the rules to any land zoned for commercial use, which effectively eliminates the chances a developer would build a hotel on such property.

This point is crucial to the barrier island residents. They have a few parcels of land zoned or proposed to be zoned commercial — like the Shoppes of Sand Key— that residents feared would be turned into hotels. That won't happen now.

The council did, however, sign off on a plan that would let land zoned "tourist" receive higher hotel room density.

Instead of 50 rooms per acre, developers can now build 70 units on parcels of less than an acre; 90 units an acre on 1- to 3-acre parcels and 110 units an acre on parcels larger than 3 acres.

(Clearwater Beach is the only area exempt because it has an even higher density allowance.)

The council's decision won't affect Island Estates, because the area doesn't have land zoned tourist. But it could mean big changes on Sand Key, residents say, because they have two large hotels — the Sheraton and the Marriott, which could now double, even triple, in size.

"It's very fortunate that the city values tourism enough to grant density on our land and others," said Russ Kimball, the general manager of the Sheraton Sand Key. "The good part about this is, at some point, the owners of the hotels have the choice to either expand, or rebuild if it's obsolete, or sell to a condominium developer. Today, there's a choice."

• • •

It was an emotional meeting. Residents wore orange "no hotel" stickers, mumbled under their breath, snickered at comments they didn't like and munched on crackers to stay awake and feed rumbling bellies.

One resident joked it was so crowded he thought the pope was visiting.

Another, co-organizer Mary Reinhardt, dropped off a foot-and-a-half-tall stack of petitions against the proposal that included 2,400 names.

Residents of the two barrier islands said they didn't mind the council's plan as long as it applied to the rest of the city and not them.

In fact, they said it wouldn't make sense to apply it to the islands.

Alan Zimmet even took the council members' reason for approving the plan and threw it back at them. He said no hotel rooms were lost on Sand Key during the condo craze and the two there now — the Sheraton and the Marriott — are not mid-price hotels, nor would they ever be.

"Therefore, the whole argument doesn't work," said Zimmet, a Clearwater attorney representing most of the audience.

Others argued the plan would drastically change their quality of life. They said when people looked for a place to live, they didn't expect the city to change the zoning rules so bigger hotels could interfere with their lifestyle.

Sand Key resident Jim Strenski said the plan would create noise and trash, open the door to crime, increase traffic and complicate hurricane evacuation procedures.

Ironically, council member John Doran pointed out, crime is dramatically lower on Sand Key, which has hotels, than on Island Estates, which has none. Sand Key residents said that's because they live in gated communities and the mostly senior citizen population doesn't break the law.

But the general manager of the Sheraton said the hotel needed the extra rooms to lure tourists and hold down costs to "keep it a level playing field" with other cities, such as Fort Lauderdale.

Clearwater attorney Ed Armstrong, speaking for the Marriott, noted that any new work would need a development agreement, something the City Council would have to endorse.

"You control this," he said, a touch of emotion in his voice.

• • •

At times, the residents had to be calmed.

Mayor Frank Hibbard must have banged the gavel 10 times, trying to quiet folks, adding "I know you can control yourself, you're adults."

Even council member Carlen Petersen, normally reserved, took some of the crowd to task.

"Tourism is critically important to the community … and tonight I've heard tourists called 'criminals' and 'invaders' and, frankly, if I heard that I wouldn't want to come here, … and we welcome tourists," she said. "Our beaches are public. They don't belong to you, they don't belong to me. To try to segregate them is wrong."

She also pointed out that the Sand Key hotels "have been there long before you have been there and have done a lot for the community."

In the end, Vice Mayor George Cretekos, a Sand Key resident since 1976, made the recommendation to cut the county's proposal by 10 percent. He said the number was based on discussions he had with residents and city leaders beforehand.

The mayor added that just because developers are allowed a density doesn't mean "they'll get anything close to the maximum allowed." He said review boards have to take into account several issues, including height and setbacks, before signing off.

At the maximum level, the Sheraton could possibly add 732 rooms to its existing 390 and the Marriott could add 308 to its 220.

However, other council members said, any developer who asked for the maximum probably wouldn't get it.

Whether that really appeased the heated crowd still at City Hall in the early morning is debatable.

"It was a clear victory for Island Estates because they won't see any hotels," Reinhardt said. "But whether 10 percent is enough, well, I wish it could be more, but we'll have to think about it."



>>fast facts

County vs. city: hotel density

The county last year upped the ante on just how many rooms hotel builders could add to their developments. They were previously allowed only 50 rooms per acre. Cities then could adopt the county proposal. The Clearwater City Council on Thursday decided to approve the plan, but slimmed it down. Here's a look at the two plans.

The county would allow:

75 units per acre for lots less than one acre.

100 units per acre for parcels of 1 to 3 acres.

125 units per acre for land greater than 3 acres.

The city approved:

70 units per acre for lots less than one acre.

90 units per acre for parcels of 1 to 3 acres.

110 units per acre for land greater than 3 acres.

This density formula does not apply to Clearwater Beach, which allows developers more hotel rooms.

[Last modified Friday, April 18, 2008 10:33 PM]

http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/article463791.ece

Wow those Sand Key residents crack me up, they really seem like idiots, who want to hog that beach.

Rundown Clearwater area to get townhomes
By Mike Donila, Times Staff Writer
In print: Thursday, June 19, 2008

Clearwater leaders hope to turn a $700,000 loan into a $7-million affordable housing development inside one of the city's most drug-ridden, prostitution-filled areas.

The move, they say, should help revitalize the East Gateway, a main passage to the downtown. But the outcome won't be immediate.

"To fix that area, you basically have to go block by block and make incremental improvements," Mayor Frank Hibbard said. "Once other property owners and developers see what's happening, they'll be more willing to stick their toe in the water."

The 175-acre East Gateway has been a blight on Clearwater for more than a decade, city officials say. It's depressing and dilapidated and 77 percent of the housing are rentals.

City leaders have created a five-year plan to rehabilitate the area, which is bordered by Court and Cleveland streets and Missouri and Highland avenues. A main component to success is affordable housing.

That's where South Port Financial Services comes in.

"We're very concerned that Pinellas County is overlooking a lot of itself by not looking at doing these projects that are close to employment areas, especially with the gas and transportation problems," said Peter Leach, senior vice president of the company, which has done similar projects in New Jersey and New York.

South Port Financial Services several years ago built 10 townhouses on Ewing Street, but those sold at market value.

The Clearwater-based company now plans to buy Verizon's vacant 2-acre parking lot on Drew Street between N Betty Lane and Fredrica Drive. The city has agreed to put up $700,000 in federal funding it received for such projects.

If the development goes as planned, the city's loan becomes a grant. If not, the city gets the land.

The developer plans to build 36 townhomes, a pool, Jacuzzi, clubhouse and exercise room. The homes, which include three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and two-car garages, are expected to sell for about $165,000.

The total project, called Country Club Homes, will cost about $7-million to build.

"We think home ownership will help stabilize the area," said Geri Lopez, the city's economic development director.

Plus, she said, it's necessary to clean up the area before some of the problems spill into other parts of Clearwater, which some nearby residents say is already happening.

The developer expects to close on the land in the next few weeks. Then site plans are due by the end of October, and development must start by Dec. 31, 2009.

Leach said that because the market is in a slump, his company decided on developing something more affordable to lure buyers.

Since fall 2006, the city has engaged residents and businesses, seeking input to find out just what they need to clean up the East Gateway and make it safer. The city's economic and development department's five-year plan pinpointed these key issues: safety, appearance, business environment, economic growth and housing and integrating the Hispanic community.



East Gateway by the numbers

175

acres

3,000



area population

49

percent of the population that is white

38

percent of the population that is Hispanic

10

percent of the population that is black

77

percent of the houses that are rentals

Revitalization efforts

In 2005, the East Gateway area generated more calls to police than any other part of the city. It's not the city's most troublesome spot anymore, but close to it. Police still routinely investigate burglaries, muggings, rapes and assaults. But the area has pockets of stability. Here's a snapshot:

• Police calls: Most occur in the heart of the East Gateway, and where much of the activity occurs is near where Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard and Cleveland Street are split by Evergreen Avenue.

• Hotels: The area is dotted with rundown motels where visitors mostly pay by the week.

• Businesses: Although the area is distressed, many businesses here are thriving, including an exotic auto dealer, a Mexican restaurant, an ice cream shop, a saloon and organic health food store and restaurant.

>>If you go

Meeting Tuesday

Clearwater officials will host a community meeting about the East Gateway neighborhood for residents, business owners and others at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Clearwater Main Library, 100 N Osceola Ave. The meeting will focus on the East Gateway revitalization effort, efforts to address neighborhood issues and ways for residents and businesses to get involved. Part of the meeting also will concern safety, security and summer recreational opportunities. Call (727) 562-4047.


[Last modified: Jun 19, 2008 09:47 AM]

http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/article631849.ece

It's just like any other neighborhood, people will come and see and hear how bad the neighborhood is and they'll look somwhere else. Planting a nice looking block of townhomes in a run down, crime-infested area will not make people flock to move there, they'll look at the neighborhood. I don't think a mother wants to let their child play outside in such a condition.

Ofcourse there will be bad areas in a city, check any other city. Clearwater should leave the area alone from development and use the money somewhere else. I don't know why people speculate that putting in a condo or townhome project will help fix the problem, because it won't.

I agree, and for $165,000 you could get a house for about that much in a better area. Pure stupidity.

Downtown Partnership gathers panel for creating a destination
Thursday, August 21, 2008 - 1:58 PM EDT
Tampa Bay Business Journal

Members of the Clearwater Downtown Partnership are most interested in retail recruitment and education, based on a recent poll. In response to this feedback, the Clearwater Downtown Partnership has planned an educational panel discussion called Four Views: The Making of Great Urban Places.

Featuring developers with expertise in destination places, the discussion will provide data to the private sector in an effort to involve more people in the development of downtown, a release said. Panelists include Richard Heapes of Street-Works, Jeffrey Kaplan of Stanley M. Seligson Properties, Bill West of Cantor Development and Grant Wood of Opus South.

The discussion is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 27 at Water’s Edge, 311 Cleveland St. Laura St. Claire, a senior consultant at Colliers Arnold, will moderate.

The Clearwater Downtown Partnership is a group of citizens, business and property owners and developers who are concerned with economic redevelopment.

http://tampabay.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2008/08/18/daily44.html?surround=lfn

This may be old to some folks, but I have missed the story. Interesting news about the Kiran Grand Project. New Design that I like much better than the old concept.

http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2008/7/31/369997.html

This may be old to some folks, but I have missed the story. Interesting news about the Kiran Grand Project. New Design that I like much better than the old concept.

http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2008/7/31/369997.html
Never saw that render before. Looks waay better than the original plan for it. That area of Clearwater Beach is gonna look superb after everything is done, but when will that be is my only question.

http://www.baynews9.com/images/news/2008/7/31/hotelfromgulf.jpg

City OKs two Clearwater Beach construction projects
Wednesday, October 22, 2008

CLEARWATER BEACH (Bay News 9) -- Work on two Clearwater Beach construction projects has been approved, but one is expected to start much earlier than the other.

The Adam's Mark Hotel and the Spyglass Resort were both knocked down to make way for new construction, and according to Bay News 9's partner paper, the St. Petersburg Times, both projects won approval from a city development board Tuesday.

An international company plans to build a new hotel at the site of the old Adam's Mark Hotel, a project which should start soon.

However, the Clearwater Beach Resort and Hotel, which is planned for the location of the former Spyglass Resort, is facing delays because of the economy. Developers plan to ask the Clearwater City Council for an extension to the deadline to start construction.

http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2008/10/22/394607.html

Identity Key For Downtown Clearwater Redevelopment

By STEVEN GIRARDI | The Tampa Tribune
Published: November 13, 2008

CLEARWATER - When Brian Beck looks at downtown Clearwater, he sees Denver.

Not Denver 2008, but Denver 20 years ago, before merchants, investors and the city fashioned the "LoDo" district of nightclubs, restaurants and loft-style condominiums from an aging collection of old warehouses.

"You could have bought an entire block of them for $125,000," Beck said. "Now they go for a million dollars apiece."

Beck, 49, is one of the people who recently decided to take a chance on downtown Clearwater. In October, he opened Rio Grande Mexican Grille at 528 Cleveland St. in the downtown area called the "Cleveland Street District."

Beck harbors no illusions that Clearwater, the junior partner in the Tampa metropolitan area, can be Denver, the center of the Mountain West. But he stands by the comparison as the city gains traction in its decades-long quest to redevelop its downtown core.

Even the most optimistic city leaders concede there is a long way to go, especially in an economic downturn, but they say they have a solid plan and a promising start.

Here is a look at five ways Clearwater intends to make it happen.

1. Not Just Anywhere

A unique identity is the top priority, said the people in charge of re-energizing downtown Clearwater and those who have had success in neighboring communities such as Dunedin, Safety Harbor and Palm Harbor.

Capitalizing on its enviable position atop the bluff overlooking Clearwater Harbor, the city aims to create a distinct retail and housing community.

The renamed Cleveland Street District, four blocks from Myrtle Avenue to the Intracoastal Waterway, is remade with sidewalk pavers, planters and decorative lamp posts, and new and restored storefronts. Two high-rise condominiums will anchor the district, and a marina with about 127 boat slips is scheduled for completion in July.

Even the new bridge to Clearwater Beach, which some complained would divert traffic from Cleveland Street, is an asset.

"We were able to recapture the street and make it more pedestrian," city Economic Development Director Geri Campos Lopez said.

The goal: Attract specialty shops and restaurants that, in turn, will add character and attract people. As the Pinellas County seat, downtown Clearwater already has about 2,300 people a day working there – if it could only get them to stick around after-hours.

"I think the city has provided the right atmosphere for the private sector to come to invest," a cautious Mayor Frank Hibbard said. "That said, it's a pretty tough time. We're not seeing that private sector investment."

2. Paving The Way

To define its downtown core, the city undertook a streetscape program in 2000 to spruce up an aging shopping district that went into decline with the advent of shopping malls three decades ago.

The $10 million project, completed this year, dressed up Cleveland Street and made it a pedestrian-friendly environment, Campos Lopez said.

The city provided money to help businesses improve their building facades, in some cases removing siding that covered historic brick exteriors. Not as visible, but as essential, was the infrastructure work to support the new development.

In all, about $385-million in public and private money has been spent in downtown.

These are the basics for successful downtown redevelopment, said Robert Ironsmith, economic director development director in Dunedin, whose downtown renovation has been widely acclaimed.

"You really do have to make it a different place that you don't see anywhere else," he said.

3. Shopping For Shops

Three days each week, Courtney Orr, downtown manager for the Clearwater Redevelopment Agency, shops the Tampa Bay area – for interesting, owner-operated shops and restaurants that would fit in downtown Clearwater.

She is hitting Hyde Park in Tampa, BayWalk in St. Petersburg, downtown Dunedin, Safety Harbor and Dade City. Each of those districts have staged makeovers.

"People within a 10-, 20-, 30-minute drive would come to downtown Clearwater if given a reason," Orr said.

She's seeing some interest, especially among those who haven't been downtown in several years.

"The beach is an asset," she said. "They like that."

As an incentive, the city and the Downtown Development Board offer $35,000 to retail stores and $50,000 to restaurants to locate there.

But with the economy uncertain, businesses are holding back. "They know they'll be pioneers, so it needs to be an established business with a loyal following," Orr said.

Beck, who opened the Rio Grande Mexican Grille, said he always wanted a restaurant, and Clearwater seemed worth the risk. "Since I took the money out of the stock market to put in here, it's a little less of a gamble," he said.

There are still more empty storefronts than occupied ones, but other shops and restaurants are filtering in. The streetscape, the festivals and events, the building renovations and the new condominiums give Beck confidence in the future.

"My thinking is this is a carbon copy of what happened in Denver, though obviously a little smaller scale," he said. "For that not to happen, a lot of these projects would have to shut down. I can't imagine that happening."

4. Home, At Last

Those with a stake in downtown agree on one thing: Without residential development, none of this works. So as two high-rise condominiums go up in the Cleveland Street District and another rises about a half-mile to the east, so do the city's hopes.

Water's Edge, the city's tallest building, is a 153-unit, 26-story luxury condominium perched atop the bluff. It opened in September. Station Square Condominiums, a 126-unit, 15-story tower a few blocks east on Cleveland Street, is nearing completion.

In addition, The Strand at Clearwater Centre, a mixed-use project at 1100 Cleveland St., east of the Cleveland Street District, has stalled, but will have 71 luxury condominiums, 17 town houses and 20,000 square feet of retail and office space when completed.

And the Marriott Residence Inn, a 115-room hotel on the eastern edge of the district, opened in September.

Within a dozen blocks, three town house communities and a grocery store have opened in recent years, "so that's a good thing, too," Hibbard said

Campos Lopez said there are about 500 new housing units in and within a mile of downtown.

"We need residential to get bodies down here to support retailers," Orr said.

So with that, all eyes are on Water's Edge, the towering condominium overlooking Clearwater Harbor and with views to the beach and beyond.

The $100 million project offers condos and town houses ranging from mid-$300,000 to $1.6 million for a penthouse.

The real estate market has nosedived since construction began in 2005, and Water's Edge has only a handful of residents. Developer Opus South won't discuss sales figures, but real estate manager Grant Wood said the company is prepared to weather the market.

"We're not going to walk away from anything," he said. "Things change in the marketplace, and you have to anticipate things are going to change. It's the risk that you take."

He said buyer interest has picked up since the streetscape project was competed, and the opening of the boat slips will add yet another attraction. "We're excited about it," he said.

5. Coming Attractions

Several public projects still are in the works that, combined with a steady calendar of special events, are expected to bring more people downtown.

The boat slips on the harbor, at the foot of the bluff, are targeting year-round boaters as well as sailors passing through.

"Clearwater is a very good jumping off spot," halfway between Pensacola and the Florida Keys, with easy access to the Gulf of Mexico, Hibbard said.

The city is on the verge of buying the landmark Royalty Theatre and working with Ruth Eckerd Hall to turn the Royalty into a concert and performing arts venue.

The vacant 1920s-era theater at 403 Cleveland St., in the middle of the renovated district, could seat 600 to 700 people, Hibbard said.

Also, Harborview Center, the city-owned community building on the bluff above Coachman Park, is slated to be demolished in January 2010 and could be offered for development.

Hibbard said the downtown domination of the Church of Scientology, which occupies the historic Fort Harrison Hotel and the massive Flag building across the street, doesn't seem to be the deterrent it once was perceived to be.

"It's an issue with some of our citizens but probably not to people outside the core of Clearwater," he said.

Campos Lopez said revolving public art exhibits will become part of the regular landscape, along with regular events such as the Fourth Friday street parties and concerts, and similar activities.

Special events are the key to drawing new people to the area and gaining exposure, said Robin Husbands-Cauchi, executive director of Old Palm Harbor Main Street, where a similar transformation recently occurred in the neighboring Pinellas town.

"They're headed in the right direction," Husbands-Cauchi said. "People have to keep in mind these processes are incremental."

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/nov/13/identity-key-downtown-clearwater-redevelopment/news-metro/

I'm sorry but it's going to take quite a bit to make downtown Clearwater interesting... First off with the scientologists aside, it's a pretty dead place. Clearwater in general is just a suburb with many old people, that might be a way to get more people into downtown is attract old people, but that can be a negative thing too. Another thing is the waterfront sucks and in the summer it can be like a swamp with that heavy humidity and the bugs flying everywhere. Another thing is access to downtown is a joke, Gulf-to-Bay which in downtown is Court St, but that is the way most people use to get there. That isn't an easy fix and won't be fixed for a while but the fact when you drive into downtown you pass run down houses and buildings doesn't help.

Really if downtown wants some success instead of the stupid boat slips they could invest that money towards a shuttle service, ferry, or monorail. Sure it might be expensive but it could work. They could charge less for parking than they do at Clearwater Beach. If the right stores were built around the parking areas there would be a good customer base right there. Perhaps adding a movie theater or something younger people might like would attract more too. I'm sorry but Clearwater has an incredibly long way to go to be considered even half as good as DT Tampa or St.Pete.

I think DT Clearwater will come together. Just 10 or 15 years ago, DT St. Pete was just as abandoned. It takes years of planning and patience for things to happen. Most cities that are seeing rejuvenated downtowns are seeing the realization of plans put into action years ago. It will happen for Clearwater. Fortunately, Clearwater Beach is popular, so its DT could capitalize off visitors to the Beach if marketed right. I also think the city should push hard for light rail access to its DT. It will make DT more attractive as a place to live, and make it more accessible to residents who might not want make that 20 to 30 minute drive but may take a train ride there if there's something to do.

Downtown clearwater could benefit tremendously from a pier similar to Pier 39 in San Francisco.

They already plan to add the harbor and boat slips beneath Memorial Causeway. Adding a pier with some shops, a place to look at dolphins (they show-up there daily), and a ferry to Clearwater Beach could bring a lot of people downtown that bypass it on their way to the beach. Plus, the need for parking at the beach could be reduced with a garage and ferry downtown.

Oh yeah, I saw a Dunkin Donuts has moved in downtown too!

http://www.kevinhock.com/images/SF-Pier39Large.jpg

http://www.planetware.com/i/photo/pier-39-san-francisco-casfp39f.jpg

Lack of financing means delays for Clearwater resort
Wednesday, December 24, 2008

http://media2.www.baynews9.com/images/news/2008/12/24/patelresort.jpg;pv73058c86d0d71ddf
This resort was supposed to go up on the site of the old Spyglass Hotel...

CLEARWATER BEACH (Bay News 9) -- A delay with the development of a Clearwater Beach resort means the site of the old Spyglass Hotel could become the most expensive parking lot in Florida.

Earlier this year, an implosion brought down the Spyglass Hotel, and a new resort was slated to go up in its place. Five months later, Clearwater City Council members are wondering if the new resort will actually happen. There are no signs of a resort hotel being built, and the only thing the land is being used for now is a parking lot.

"When we turn this into a parking lot for the next few years, probably the most expensive surface parking lot in the state of Florida," said council member Paul Gibson.

Gibson said Dr. Kiran Patel has already spent $49 million on the land. Patel was initially given approval to build the 450-room hotel back in 2004.

However, at last week's city council meeting, representatives from the Related Group, the development firm that represents Patel, said the recession is the reason they are not building, and they've asked for an extension to their development agreement.

"The banks still are not ready to lend yet," said Eric Fordin, project director with the Related Group. "We're hoping that maybe second or third quarter that'll come around."

The city council wasn't happy about the request, but they voted to extend the agreement anyway.

"I will hold my nose and vote for it," said council member Carlen Petersen.

City officials said Patel has three years to get financing and build the resort, and there will be no more extensions.

And if it doesn't happen in that time frame?

"At that point we might buy that for a parking lot permanently...ooh, ouch. But that's not what I want to see," said Mayor Frank Hibbard. "The best thing for us to have is a resort there."

Gibson was the only council member who voted against the extension.

"Upset that the project has not been completed on time," he said. "Most importantly, the window of opportunity which was in 2004, 2005 and maybe even 2006 was missed, and now the financing simply is not available."

A reporter from Bay News 9 attempted to contact Patel, but was told that he is visiting India and has 'no comment' about the proceedings at this time.

http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2008/12/24/418354.html?title=Lack+of+financing+means+delays+for+Clearwater+resort

You know, at first I liked this project, but now I think the site could do better than what is planned. Look at the space of land, something more than a ~16 story tall resort could be planned there. The beach's main tower could be placed there, a landmark of sorts to the beach. This project, it's just another project to me. I don't know, that's just I feel about this now.

^^Well thanks to the economy I don't think this thing is going to be built, but you have to remember Clearwater has a lot of residents with the small florida town mentality.

^^Well thanks to the economy I don't think this thing is going to be built, but you have to remember Clearwater has a lot of residents with the small florida town mentality.
A lot of people have that kinda mentality in the area. Hell, look at Tampa. Basically Bayshore is full of small town folks moving in that area and complaining about any type of development. :ohno:

I'm sick of people here that want to live in the past. :gaah: :bash:

^So move somewhere else... That's what most young adults with any kind of ambition do.

^^
Uh....I don't plan to til I'm done with college......

^^
Uh....I don't plan to til I'm done with college......
X2! Stupid non residency adds to tuition.

^^
Yeah ridiculous.......anyways, let's get back on track before Jason yells at us for the nth time for hijacking all these development threads.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 1:06pm EST
Tampa Bay Business Journal

Tampa philanthropist Kiran Patel and his partners, the Related Group of Miami, have pushed back the construction start date, and redesigned the plans, for the Clearwater Beach Resort & Hotel on Clearwater Beach.

Construction is now expected to begin on the $180 million resort in 2010 or 2011, a release said.

The city of Clearwater currently rents part of the property for public parking and plans to add 100 parking spaces on the undeveloped land. It will spend up to $150,000 for paving and installing meters and other parking amenities, said Tracey Bruch, parking system manager for the city.

When the improvements are completed, Clearwater will pay $23,640 a month in rent to the property owners. Based in its agreement, the city intends to withhold rent until the improvement costs are covered.

The lot should be ready in time for spring break, the city said.

http://tampabay.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2009/01/12/daily24.html?ana=e_du_pub

Does anyone know what happened to the Marqueses development on Clearwater Beach? The developer (JMC) took it off the webpage and the webcam was turned off.....

Anybody know what this project is? I haven't really noticed it and as you can see in the pic the lane was ending and that asshole on the bike felt he had a right to ride in the middle of the road. So I had to floor it to get around him going in the oncoming traffic lane and didn't really get a chance to look at what the project was.

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/MK727%20Ablum%202/Clearwater%20Pics/100_0441.jpg

That's where the Patel development is supposed to be some day. The city extended the develoeper's deadline to find financing. For the meantime, they are building a temporary parking lot.

as you can see in the pic the lane was ending and that asshole on the bike felt he had a right to ride in the middle of the road. So I had to floor it to get around him going in the oncoming traffic lane and didn't really get a chance to look at what the project was.

That is kind of fishy there. I know that by state law, bikes and motorcycles are entitled to one whole lane, but I don't know about THAT close to the striping.

That's where the Patel development is supposed to be some day. The city extended the develoeper's deadline to find financing. For the meantime, they are building a temporary parking lot.
I meant the building that is U/C sorry if I wasn't specific.

That is kind of fishy there. I know that by state law, bikes and motorcycles are entitled to one whole lane, but I don't know about THAT close to the striping.
Yea well you see up ahead it goes from from 2 lanes to 1 lane so the guy rides in the middle of the road while its still 2 lanes. Then when its one lane he is riding like a foot from the center line, some bikers with courtesy would move over to the far right right enough so a car can pass. This idiot was just sitting in the middle of the road so I got pissed and when the other side was clear I floored it and went around. I don't get why some people on bikes think they own the road, when I used to ride on a bike I gave the cars right of way, I mean person on bike vs 3000+ pound car who will come out better? Besides isn't it a rule for people on bikes to move over to the far right side of the lane so vehicle traffic can pass?

That BLDG is AQUALEA. It's a Condo Hotel run by Hyatt.

Ah thanks! Any render of it?

There is some info on the first page of this thread. This is a link to their site: http://www.aqualearesort.com/

Yeah, that's Aqualea. I haven't been to Clearwater Beach lately to view the thing, but I've been using these cams to watch it;s progress.

http://www.clearwater-fl.com/gov/depts/pwa/engin/projects/beachwalk/beachwalkcam/index.asp

Thanks guys, looks good but nothing special, I liked how they photoshopped the empty lot next door into a park in the render.

Thanks guys, looks good but nothing special, I liked how they photoshopped the empty lot next door into a park in the render.
Yeah, but is norm for most developers to do that. You could have a damn sewage plant there and the developer would have birds and bees flying all through a park with flowers and lovely ponds. lol

Development board okays plan for 88-room hotel on Clearwater Beach
By Mike Brassfield, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Wednesday, June 17, 2009

CLEARWATER — Once upon a time, developer Uday Lele dreamed up a vision for an incredibly lavish Clearwater Beach condominium called Enchantment.

It was going to be a curving, undulating tower on Clearwater Pass with rooftop domes, private elevators for each owner, a sculpture garden, a champagne lounge with free bubbly. Units would sell for up to $5 million.

This was during a different era, way back in 2005. Then the condo market went bust, and Enchantment never happened.

Tuesday, Lele got approval from a city zoning board to build a scaled-down dream — an 88-room, eight-story hotel farther north on Clearwater Beach.

The Community Development Board okayed the hotel over the objections of neighbors who complained it would be too big and tall for a relatively small lot and it would block their views of the beach. They said it wouldn't fit in with the Old Florida neighborhood on the northern edge of the island's tourist district.

However, Lele's attorney and city planning officials said the proposed hotel meets local building codes. They said it follows Clearwater's idea of allowing bigger beach hotels to be built, in an effort to attract mid-sized, mid-priced hotels to replace ones torn down to make way for condos.

"Today this property is an overgrown sand pit with a temporary construction fence around it," Lele's attorney, state Rep. Ed Hooper, told the development board. "We need to bring tourists to Clearwater in an effort to fill that void that we have lost over the years."

In an interview, Lele proclaimed that his hotel, called Ambiance, will be a local attraction. Its fourth floor will have an "infinity pool" with a waterline that seems to spill out over the edge, along with a three-story waterfall cascading down the building's northwest corner.

"It's going to be quite a spectacle," Lele said. "It'll be backlit. You'll be able to see it from the beach."

The hotel would be built between Kendall and Avalon streets just north of the well-known Palm Pavilion restaurant and inn. The only thing between it and the beach would be a narrow city parking lot.

It would have five floors of rooms above three levels of parking, along with a small restaurant for guests. Lele said he's talking to hotel companies like Doubletree and Indigo about possibly operating it.

The City Council must sign off on an agreement that would give Lele two years to begin construction.

At Tuesday's development hearing, the hotel ran into vocal opposition from the owners of the small Snowflake Inn, its next-door neighbor on Kendall Street.

Also opposed were the owners of several townhouses a block and a half away on Poinsettia Avenue, who were upset about the possibility of losing their gulf view. "We'll be looking at a concrete eyesore, and gone will be the sunsets from our rooftops," said one resident, John Grubb.

However, the Community Development Board and its attorney said property owners don't have a legal right to a water view.

Lele, a successful businessman, has a mixed track record as a developer. He moved to the United States in 1990 and made his fortune by starting a candy company and inventing a fruit-juice-filled confection called Juicee Gummee.

He bought the 110-room Best Western hotel on Clearwater Pass, intending to replace it with the Enchantment condo tower. That never happened, and one of his lenders is suing him.

But Lele says two smaller condo projects on the beach, Chalet on White Sands as well as Chateau on White Sands, have been successful.

"We're not a fly-by-night company," he said. "We have a track record."

http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/article1010763.ece#comments

Not mention in the article is that the developers are also part of the Aqualea project in Clearwater Beach. Now on the project, it sucks. Design wise, poor in the dedication in design and architecture. Height, can and should be taller. Screw the residents, and I don't mean that like they have no opinion at all, but they can walk to the sand and beach to get the beach view, not stay in their front yard. On possible hotel chain, be cool if they got Indigo. That would mean that Indigo would have a hotel in the main 3 cities in the Tampa Bay area. A render will be below this also.

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/1893/ambiance.jpg

Ha, I was just coming to post that...


Nasty looking building, that's for sure.

And no street interaction aswell, oh god!

There was an article of a parking garage on Clearwater Beach proposed or under consideration by the city. I was going to post it earlier, but the damn hacker closed down the site and the article isn't on the page area. I'll try to find it if I can.

Yuck!

Yeah, that's pretty awful...

Clearwater strikes deal for 300-space parking garage on Clearwater Beach
By Mike Brassfield, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Saturday, June 20, 2009

CLEARWATER — For more than a decade, the city has wanted to put a parking garage on Clearwater Beach. The job became more urgent last year after the half-mile-long BeachWalk promenade wiped out hundreds of waterfront parking spaces along S Gulfview Boulevard.

There's no place to park, complained beachgoers and business owners.

So when the City Council voted unanimously Thursday night to strike a deal to put a 300-space garage along BeachWalk, the council chambers at City Hall erupted with a rare burst of applause.

Council members decided to pursue the deal once they became convinced that the garage, which is to be built in a flood zone, will almost certainly win approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. City Attorney Pam Akin also reassured them that Clearwater will be able to escape from the deal if FEMA rejects the plan.

"This certainly has been a long time in coming. And until the shovels are broken out, it is not done by any stretch," said Mayor Frank Hibbard, who warned that even a garage won't totally fix the parking situation on the beach. "We are always going to have traffic problems when we are at peak."

Still, council members felt that the site they chose is the best option for pedestrians, who won't have to walk across four-lane Coronado Drive to get from their parked cars to the sand.

The garage will go on the site of the Britt's Laguna Grill restaurant at 315 S Gulfview Blvd., just south of the large Hyatt Aqualea Resort that's under construction.

Surf Style Retail Management, the company that owns the site, plans to put a Britt's restaurant and a Surf Style beach retail store on the structure's ground floor with four levels of parking above that.

The company will pay to build the garage itself, with no city tax dollars. It envisions the 300 parking spaces feeding customers into the ground-floor businesses. Vehicles will enter and exit the garage from Coronado Drive.

Between permitting and construction, the job is expected to take slightly more than a year. "By next fall, it should all be done," said Bill Finfrock, whose design/build firm will construct the garage.

So what will it cost to park there? That has yet to be determined.

The city intends to mimic the agreement it has with the Hyatt next door, which will have 400 parking places for the public in its 750-space garage. The Hyatt's rates must be "comparable" to the garages of other beachfront resorts.

Surf Style's competitor for the parking garage deal was the development company Mainstream America, which offered up a site on Fifth Street between Hamden and Coronado drives. Mainstream's proposal for a 300-space garage would cost the city about $32,000 per space.

Mainstream's representatives warned the City Council on Thursday night that Surf Style's proposal had too many potential pitfalls.

Mainstream's development consultant, Ed Hooper, warned that 1,600 parking places clustered at three locations on Gulfview Boulevard — the Hyatt, the Britt's site and developer Kiran Patel's proposed resort — could cause "a traffic nightmare."

But the council still preferred Britt's.

"This is a very clear, very easy decision for me," said Council member Paul Gibson.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/article1011931.ece

When hearing about Clearwater looking to build a parking garage on the beach, I quickly emailed the development department and asked them to have the garage being as less obvious than others in the area. I can see that they took it in consideration. Tried getting the render on here, but heep on getting the red box. :lol:

^In what format do you have the render?

^In what format do you have the render?
jpg, I'm trying to get it from imageshack to here and its not working.

CLEARWATER — For more than a decade, the city has wanted to put a parking garage on Clearwater Beach. The job became more urgent last year after the half-mile-long BeachWalk promenade wiped out hundreds of waterfront parking spaces along S Gulfview Boulevard.

There's no place to park, complained beachgoers and business owners.

So when the City Council voted unanimously Thursday night to strike a deal to put a 300-space garage along BeachWalk, the council chambers at City Hall erupted with a rare burst of applause.
This part gets me, so the city built the beachwalk first so they would wipe out parking spaces so people would then be desperate to have a parking garage built where ever. Assholes...

^I thought i was the only one thinking that.... lol...

Well, even though a parking garage would had eventually ended up on the beachfront, I got the same kind of idea as you two.

http://www.tampabay.com/multimedia/archive/00072/0422842035_72964c.jpg

Are they really that dense?

Why aren't there also spaces over the entry ramp??? lololol... wow

^I thought i was the only one thinking that.... lol...

Well, even though a parking garage would had eventually ended up on the beachfront, I got the same kind of idea as you two.
Great minds think alike lol. But what's sad is I don't know of any major parking garages on the Miami Beaches, come to think of it I haven't been to a beach where a parking garage was right on the beachfront as that is the most valuable land, they could make more in tax revenue from a condo. I guess they didn't want the oldies complaining about walking too far to get to the beach.

http://www.tampabay.com/multimedia/archive/00072/0422842035_72964c.jpg
Are you serious? Wtf is that?? I thought I went back in time for a second but realized it was 2009 not 1979. That think looks like shit and looks like it will be over capacity in no time. If they have to build on the waterfront would it kill them to build something decent?

^Yeah, Clearwater Beach will continue to just be a cheap, teen destination with no real sustainable industry if it continues to shovel out crap like this.

Proposed toll at Pinellas County's Howard Park angers its Tarpon Springs neighbors
By Demorris A. Lee, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Saturday, July 18, 2009

TARPON SPRINGS — To the folks in Tarpon Springs, it's a neighborhood park. Sure, there are 155 acres of land that includes 25 acres of causeway and beach that opens up to an unobstructed view of the Gulf of Mexico.

There are no restaurants, and there is no one selling ice cream or $2 drafts during happy hour.

It's Fred Howard Park.

Right down the road from Tarpon Springs High and an after-school hangout spot for students. It's the place where seniors go walking and lovebirds watch the sun descend daily beyond the horizon.

But now Pinellas County officials are considering a $5-a-car fee to access the beach. For some Tarpon Springs residents, that's like paying a fee to enter the front door of one's own home.

"This is unacceptable to us," said Mo Brunelle, president of the Pointe Alexis Homeowners Association, a 500-resident community adjacent to Howard Park.

"We are being asked to pay to use our neighborhood park. The central and southern part of the county have beautiful beaches. We have Howard Park and that's it. Now the county wants to start charging us for the only beach available to us."

The Tarpon Springs City Commission is riled up by the proposed fee as well. At its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, the commission will discuss a resolution that "strongly opposes the imposition of any fees" for Howard Park.

County officials are proposing an access fee for the causeway and beach entrance to Howard Park. A fee is also being proposed for Fort De Soto Park.

At $5 a carload at Howard Park, the county is estimating it will raise $547,000.

The County Commission will have the ultimate say about the fee when it votes on its annual budget in September.

Paul Cozzie, the county's cultural, education and leisure director, said there are a couple of things to remember about the Howard Park fee.

"It's not a fee to get into the park," Cozzie said. "The fee as it is proposed would only be assessed at the causeway and beach and what it is is a beach access parking fee. There is no difference than what occurs to folks who go and pay to park at Sand Key."

Cozzie said access to the mainland portion of the park would still be free, and bicyclists and walkers will not be charged. He said there will be no additional cost to park in one of the 600 parking spaces that are at the beach once the access fee is paid.

A tollbooth is more economical than meters or a pay-and-display system, Cozzie said.

Howard Park has a butterfly garden, several miles of kayak and canoe waterway trails, a ballfield, two playgrounds, more than 90 picnic tables and nine shelters with grills and tables.

The beach and causeway portions have been closed since September because saltwater damaged its two bridges. Construction and repair are to be completed and the beach portion reopened in late September or early October.

Tarpon Springs Commissioner Chris Alahouzos suggested that the community's senior citizens be spared if a fee is imposed.

"Our senior citizens make up a significant portion of Tarpon's population," Alahouzos said. "They are among our most vulnerable citizens. Squeezed by higher prices for everything from food, lodging, insurance, energy cost, and the list is endless."

Bruce Snyder, president of the Friends of Howard Park, agreed the fee could be a problem.

"There are a lot of seniors and people who don't have a lot of money," Snyder said. "Five dollars a day will be a hardship. Some will gladly pay a yearly fee, but it's a little neighborhood park. They say 2 million people a year (visit the park). With a tollbooth, that number is going to go way down."

http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/article1019479.ece

Sad on how far our local governments have gone to make change

Yea it's bad enough there isn't much to do up in Tarpon Springs, this will only make it worse.

I don't see the problem with it... If you know this beach, then you know that it's manmade and needs constant upkeep. People pay to get out onto Honeymoon Island, Caledesi (by boat), and soon Ft DeSoto.


Besides, if people don't like getting nickel and dimed to death with this kind of nonsense always springing up every year, then stop voting for the 'leaders' doing this to us (primarily Republicans). Its their disastrous tax policies and economic mismanagement that has wrecked our state economy and crippled government's ability to respond.

The thing is, the people already pay for Fred Howard through tax. So basically it's them paying for something they already paid for. And the money earned from this toll will unlikely all go forward to Fred Howard.

I think it's intended to save jobs, which will prevent parks from having to be closed all together, because there would be nobody to maintain them. The idiots we had in power and presently have in power have mismanaged things so bad that it's come to these kinds of compromises in our quality of life.

Clearwater condo tower, hotel projects facing foreclosure
By Will Van Sant, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Friday, August 7, 2009

CLEARWATER — Lenders are moving to foreclose on two proposed development projects backed by Uday Lele, a businessman who made his fortune as a candy entrepreneur.

The higher profile of the two projects is Lele's planned Enchantment development. First announced in 2005, the massive condo tower is to one day replace the Best Western that Lele owns on Clearwater Pass.

Despite occasional rumblings that the project was soon to take flight, Enchantment has remained at the blueprint stage.

On July 24, Bank of America filed a notice to foreclose on a loan helping fund the project. Though now in Bank of America's hands, Lele originally got the $21 million loan about year ago from Lehman Brothers, the financial giant that filed for bankruptcy in September.

In a conversation Thursday, Lele said Lehman Brothers had duped him. After handing over $300,000 to lock in a favorable interest rate, Lele said the lender altered the terms of the loan at the closing table. If you don't agree, Lele said he was told, you lose your $300,000.

Then, after the loan was finalized, Lehman demanded that he purchase frivolous insurance for the project, Lele said.

"What was done by Lehman was extremely, extremely wrong," he said. "It was predatory lending."

Two months ago, Lele said, he stopped making his payments not because he was short on cash, but to get the attention of the loan's current beneficiary. He's actively in talks with the company servicing the loan, he said, and expects to reach new terms in a matter of days.

So how far is he behind?

"It's a couple of hundred thousand," Lele said. "It's not a big deal."

The second project is a planned eight-story hotel called Ambiance to be built between Kendall and Avalon streets north of the Palm Pavilion restaurant and inn.

Over the objections of some residents who are concerned the hotel won't harmonize with the area's Old Florida feel, the city's Community Development Board okayed the project in mid June.

On May 1, Whitney National Bank filed a notice to foreclose on a loan behind the Ambiance project. Lele said that unlike Enchantment, he is not a primary investor in Ambiance and he's unfamiliar with the details of what's owed or why payments have been missed.

"That was my brother-in-law's deal," Lele said. "I wasn't calling the shots."

Lele insisted that neither project is in jeopardy, that the loans will be paid and that both developments will be brought to completion, though he was unable to say when.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/growth/article1025546.ece

New taller Clearwater Beach hotels resented by little guys
By Mike Brassfield, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Sunday, September 6, 2009

CLEARWATER — Despite the worst economy in decades, a growing number of developers are quietly getting their ducks in a row to build hotels on Clearwater Beach.

They're assembling land, drawing up plans and seeking permits. The beach needs more hotels, but not everyone is happy with what's being proposed.

Developers are being lured by Clearwater's willingness to allow taller hotels on smaller parcels. Some 1,200 beach hotel rooms got dynamited and bulldozed during the condo boom a few years back. In order to replace them and boost tourism, the city is letting hoteliers build more rooms per acre than normally allowed.

The first two projects that are to get extra rooms from the "density pool" have run into opposition from their neighbors, who complain the hotels will be far too big for their lots.

One proposed hotel's large size has prompted a couple of City Council members to wonder if the city should tweak its approach. But other Clearwater officials and hoteliers think this strategy is necessary to attract the mid-priced hotels the beach is lacking.

Because of the cost of assembling land on the barrier island, mid-range hotels with rates at $100 to $200 a night need a certain number of rooms per acre to be financially viable, said assistant city manager Rod Irwin.

"We're trying to bring in the Hampton Inns of the world and the Courtyard by Marriotts, so the mid-priced customer will have a future on Clearwater Beach as well as the upscale luxury resort customer," Irwin said.

Walking around his two-story Sea Captain Resort near the beach marina, Don Eifert shot a worried look at the little four-story motel next door.

It's going to be replaced by a 10-story Holiday Inn Express that Eifert worries will dwarf his and hide it from tourists on Coronado Drive.

"The way it's designed, we'll be looking up at a wall five stories high right on our lot line," he said. "You're opening up a can of worms for anyone else who wants to develop on Clearwater Beach. Coronado Drive will be a canyon if the city gives everyone else the same thing."

The Holiday Inn Express' owner, Jeff Keierleber, notes that the building will follow all the city's rules regarding its height and its nearness to the property line.

He intends to begin construction by December, and he also hopes to eventually build another hotel next to his other Holiday Inn farther south on Clearwater Pass.

"We need more hotel brands on the beach," Keierleber said. "We don't have a Ramada down here or a Radisson or a Renaissance. All those brands have different followers."

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/tourism/new-taller-clearwater-beach-hotels-resented-by-little-guys/1034081

Now, you would think that Ambiance render was awful and the city would improve slightly, think otherwise. Here's the other 2 hotels mentioned in the article. Seriously, it's going from awful to look at to awful to even believe it will be approved.

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/9573/hiet.jpg
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/2715/gusd.jpg

Exactly WTF are with these horrible hi-rise designs on clearwater beach? I've started lately to go to Clearwater Beach at night to go for a walk and I look around and all of the new buildings look like shit except maybe one on the intercoastal. The latest disaster that pink condo along the riverwalk looks like a short slab of stucco with a tile roof. These residents need to wake up and start fighting for better designs because the hirises will come but the shitty designs will be around for years.

And again, look at the Holiday Inn render, no retail. And the location for this is right there in the center of Clearwater Beach and still no retail. Sooner or later the city council is going have to wake up and start being more forceful on these proposals about the design and detail. And heck, if it isn't them, it will be the residents.

I like the Tropicana Land Trust rendering. The other one seems just conceptual to me. As for retail...how many more shops do you want on Clearwater Beach? There already are tons of empty storefronts.......

I like the Tropicana Land Trust rendering. The other one seems just conceptual to me. As for retail...how many more shops do you want on Clearwater Beach? There already are tons of empty storefronts.......
Seriously? The Tropicana Land Trust project looks more like something in Harbour Island. Hell, take away the base design and its just a plain hotel, something you would find out here in Pasco. Look at what Miami Beach is approving and then look at what Clearwater is approving and that's the problem.

It's the same reason when I say we need to have all projects in Tampa approved consisting of retail. Because sooner or later the empty ones will fill up and we will need more. And another thing, look at where this is. It's basically right there at the intersection of Coronado and Gulfview. It's going to be filled with visitors most of the time with it's location and not putting retail there would be one of the stupidest things I ever seen. In my opinion, the location deserves more than what is proposed. But considering that there are homes right there, I don't see any of the residents supporting a 20+ floor hotel tower on that corner.

^^Exactly really what most people don't realize is Clearwater Beach is the true downtown of Clearwater. That is where most of the activity is, that is where people go in Clearwater. Really the reason why retail is not going so great in Clearwater Beach? Well you can only have so many restaurants and tourist shops but really there is no significant retail there. At the same time the whining residents don't want more density because they want their "small town" beach so less people to support any kind of retail. Clearwater is just a complicated place...

And the thing is, it isn't in the whole sense that Scienctology is the whole reason that Downtown Clearwater is failing. Although their presence is harming the character of the city. there is isn't anything in Downtown that will bring people there. And at the same time, they approve all these condos on the beach and rarely paid attention to downtown. At this time, because Clearwater is far behind from Miami, the city needs to make the beach either one or the other. A beach full of condos or a beach full of hotels, resorts, and retail plazas. And what ever the chose on, the opposite needs to go on in downtown.

My God, this whole thing is hilarious to me... You've got people freaking out about the "massive" buildings... And none of them are even tall enough to meet any reasonable definition of a highrise... And we're not even going to get into the proposed designs... lol...wow.

Everyone involved with the redevelopment process of Clearwater beach seems to be fundamentally clueless on the subject. Could the planning possibly be any worse out on the beach? I honestly don't think so. USF's freshman architecture class could do a better job!

Controversial marina project a go in Clearwater
By Mike Brassfield, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Thursday, September 10, 2009

CLEARWATER — The city now has all the environmental permits it needs to build 126 boat slips on Clearwater Harbor near Coachman Park, and it intends to start construction Monday.

"We're good to go," said Bill Morris, director of Clearwater's marine and aviation department.

The series of 12-foot-wide floating docks beneath the western end of the Memorial Causeway bridge should be finished by February, said Ed Chesney, Clearwater's environmental manager.

At the same time, construction crews also will extend the length of the nearby Drew Street fishing pier, which has been closed. In its absence, some local anglers have been fishing off a 200-foot-long concrete promenade that was recently built at the west end of Cleveland Street. They sometimes cast a line there despite a "No fishing" sign.

This week, crews are repairing sidewalks and seawalls at the site in preparation for Misener Marine Construction to begin work on the docks next week. A stack of wooden piles is ready to be driven into the harbor floor. Crews will construct docks just south of the bridge first, then they'll work on the docks north of the bridge, Morris said.

Two years ago, Clearwater voters narrowly approved the $12.8 million marina project. It remains a sore point for critics of the city administration, who consider it a waste of taxpayer money. Critics also say too few boaters will rent the slips. So far, 23 boaters have put down $500 deposits to reserve about a fifth of the 126 spaces.

However, Clearwater officials think more boaters will rent the slips once the work is further along and the economy improves. They contend that the new docks will be good for boaters, will help boost downtown development and will eventually generate income for the city.

To get this far, the city had to navigate through regulatory hurdles to get permits from county, state and federal governments. Residents of the neighboring Pierce 100 condominium objected to the project.

Once the city secured its permits, it was finally able to collect a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the docks.

Mike Brassfield can be reached at brassfield@sptimes

http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/controversial-marina-project-a-go-in-clearwater/1034937

I think I have realized Clearwater's problem. The city's government wants to build a big city and develop their downtown, but at the same time approve shopping plazas directly in their downtown. The city has a small city mindset is what I see. There's at least 4 signage on the corner of lots with the render of the retail plaza and saying leasing. You don't see this in Tampa happening. I haven't seen this in St. Petersburg, even though their is that plaza with the Publix but that actually works out. But having numerous retail centers on street corners isn't a way a city wants to grow big. So much planning failures ,and I do say failure because that is what it is, will not help Clearwater.

And Dunedin Gateway has some kind of road work going on with it.

Clearwater within itself is a massive planning failure, the city center has no highway connection to due it's whining residents. At the same time the re-route to the new bridge killed business in downtown. City wide you have so many retirees who really don't give a damn about the future of the city. Clearwater also has the most unnecessary amount of traffic lights which at the same time are all poorly timed. Then there is a lack of identity as the city center, sure downtown Clearwater has all the city buildings and some office space but Clearwater Beach seems more like the "urban core". There is also nothing in Clearwater(aside from the beach) and the same goes for downtown, what would be ones motivation to go there? Clearwater is behind some of the small downtowns like Dunedin and Safety Harbor.

Clearwater within itself is a massive planning failure, the city center has no highway connection to due it's whining residents. At the same time the re-route to the new bridge killed business in downtown. City wide you have so many retirees who really don't give a damn about the future of the city. Clearwater also has the most unnecessary amount of traffic lights which at the same time are all poorly timed. Then there is a lack of identity as the city center, sure downtown Clearwater has all the city buildings and some office space but Clearwater Beach seems more like the "urban core". There is also nothing in Clearwater(aside from the beach) and the same goes for downtown, what would be ones motivation to go there? Clearwater is behind some of the small downtowns like Dunedin and Safety Harbor.
Clearwater has one of the worst street planning I have ever seen. From the numerous stop lights to the strange intersections. Moving the bridge over isn't the problem though. Many areas can survive without a major street, highway, or bridge going past it. What I really believe killed it is actually something I liked, the redevelopment of Cleveland Street. Nobody is going to drive through that. First time I drove through it I found it a headache. It's just way too tight to drive through and the manuevering to get through it is a mess. I really believe that the redevelopment of that street was a good idea, but something you would had seen in Dunedin or New Port Richey and not in Clearwater. It really takes away from businesses when people try to avoid the turns and narrowness.

Yea Clearwater is really a place of its own and not in a good way, partly why I hate living here lol. The redevelopment of Cleveland St really isn't that bad, though it's not what should have been there. The problem is Cleveland is one of the only decent looking streets in downtown, everything else is somewhat run down. Downtown will take a lot to develop, right now the city should focus on it's only gem, the beach! They need to start allowing more development but at the same time make sure it's quality development not some short, stubby, cookie cutter garbage. Clearwater Beach is very walkable, I like to take walks there frequently, the Beachwalk perhaps is the best thing to happen on that beach since I've lived there. Really what the beach needs is to solve the parking issues, quality designs and beautification, and maybe some more places of interest. I can't say it is that easy for downtown Clearwater which really needs a whole lot of work with no guarantee of success.

If anything, Cleawater needs to change their focus from the Cleveland St. area to the SR 60 area. To me, SR 60 in Clearwater is more along the lines of Kennedy to Tampa. Both are major roadways that are both the entrance to the cities. Cleveland St. is to Clearwater as Franklin St. is to Tampa. Clearwater simply needs to move their focus to re-ncourage growth and development. But at the same time, this is the same area as I mentioned all the retail centers, surprise.

I just recently visited Clearwater and I was disappointed to see that my drive to the beach was absolutely a poor experience! The streetscape is awful..It starts out pretty nice up to and after US 19 and all of a sudden it becomes seedy looking (Court St) It looks like night and day once I get closer to the bridge linking the beach to clearwater. I am astonished that the city of clearwater doesn't make any attempt to beautify that area..eg Missouri, etc..all i saw were run down auto repair shops, seedy shops and no I repeat no landscaping whatsoever. Clearwater Beach is a tourist destination, at least where I am from and I was so disappointed to see what I saw..Do you know of any plans-present/future to beautify this area? I would really like to see it kept nice as I used to travel to clearwater beach with my family since i was a young child and I just hate to see it look like that. I did not see even one palm tree and i was only about 2-3 blocks from the downtown core... I would thinkh that the city of clearwater would like to make a good impression on people entereing their city. Any thoughts on this issue?

Totally agree sora100 and as you can see in my post above you, we both are in agreement in fixing up that area. I don't believe Clearwater has any plans, or any money to say the least, to develop and beautify the SR 60/Court St. at the moment. But certainly if you are a out of city or out of state visitor and email them, they would get the idea. I would be surprise if you were the first person to bring this up to the city.

Here's the city's website: http://www.clearwater-fl.com/gov/

Clearwater is cheap as hell so it'll be years until that area looks nicer. But at the same time the are after the palm trees on Court Street, the road becomes narrower and has the center turn lane, the businesses you can't really do anything about either. To me I don't pay attention to how bland Gulf-To-Bay Blvd looks because the drive there is miserable during the day with stop and go traffic and poorly timed lights because every intersection needs a damn light.

That should have been converted to frontage with limited lights years ago... Now they could never afford to do it, unless the conversion was to fund an elevated toll road. (which I bet would get tons of use by drviers, but the business owners along SR60 would FLIP OUT)

That should have been converted to frontage with limited lights years ago... Now they could never afford to do it, unless the conversion was to fund an elevated toll road. (which I bet would get tons of use by drviers, but the business owners along SR60 would FLIP OUT)
Would sound like the same arguments we get about the Gandy Elevated toll road. Seriously, I take SR 60 the whole way down from US 19 to Clearwater and never stop anything "just for the hell of it". If I stop, it's because I NEED something and want it. That's what Gandy needs to realize and I would be supportive of a elevated toll road to Clearwater and further to Clearwater Beach.

That should have been converted to frontage with limited lights years ago... Now they could never afford to do it, unless the conversion was to fund an elevated toll road. (which I bet would get tons of use by drviers, but the business owners along SR60 would FLIP OUT)
Exactly I had a vision I made on google maps where Clearwater had a highway going to downtown. One would be a 3 or two lane elevated toll road going from US19 down Drew Street heading west to downtown and ending one exit to downtown and one on the Memorial Causeway. This would reduce Drew Street to a two lane road to allow of a median for an elevated road. Then you could have an eastbound elevated road heading down the median of gulf to bay starting in downtown as 2 lanes and once there is room when Court St turns into Gulf-to-Bay then it will be 3 lanes. Gulf to Bay could reduce the lanes to 2x2 or 2x3 with 3 lanes going westbound, it would be difficult to connect that portion to US19. That is just a vision though and will never happen but its a possible scenario.

yes, i will email the city of clearwater as the beaches area is so beautiful and the drive there is so miserable. Tourists definitely get the wrong impression on their way there from Tampa International. Such a disappointment. wonder if they will respond to me.

I actually emailed the city of clearwater planning and developemtn and got a reply. a very nice one. I was assured that the city is aware of the issues at hand and have long term planning for redevelopment of the area. that is a positive sign. i think?

^The rank and file city workers can plan until they are blue in the face. Nobody that matters is ever going to do a damned thing about it. Locals who don't like the status quo have a simple choice; either wait it out until the current crop of leaders die off, or move to a city not so backwards.

really, that is very sad to hear. the potential of this city to skyrocket in term s of bringing in investment is so there...bring in and promote big tournaments on the water/beach..eg boating shows...competitions of all sorts and see where the tourism dollars skyrocket!!!

Sure. No problem. Any idea how much even two easily blocked elevated lanes would cost?

Putting elevated lanes through the heart of Clearwater is soooo yesterday. That's the concept of automobile-friendly cities and will hurt any kind of true urban development. The area needs intensive public transportation systems. Long range planning should focus future development with increased densities around light rail stations.

As for the appearance of State Rd 60, it is not ideal, but already was gretly improved compared to 20 yrs ago. Remember Gulf-to-Bay with all the huge bill boards and no palm trees in the medians? I also like the new required landscaping with new projects.

Putting elevated lanes through the heart of Clearwater is soooo yesterday. That's the concept of automobile-friendly cities and will hurt any kind of true urban development. The area needs intensive public transportation systems. Long range planning should focus future development with increased densities around light rail stations.

As for the appearance of State Rd 60, it is not ideal, but already was gretly improved compared to 20 yrs ago. Remember Gulf-to-Bay with all the huge bill boards and no palm trees in the medians? I also like the new required landscaping with new projects.
Clearwater is a city that is far from urban and will be an auto-dependent city for a long time to come. Having a highway run to downtown and to the beach would be very beneficial to the city.

Clearwater is a city that is far from urban and will be an auto-dependent city for a long time to come. Having a highway run to downtown and to the beach would be very beneficial to the city.

I'd rather have mass transit than more automobile dependent roads. I hate driving more than I hate HCC.

Clearwater is a city that is far from urban and will be an auto-dependent city for a long time to come. Having a highway run to downtown and to the beach would be very beneficial to the city.

You're right, but if you build the highway, you will never start the change toward mass transit and a more urban development. Instead you will put the city even more behind in sustainable development/thinking.

really, that is very sad to hear. the potential of this city to skyrocket in term s of bringing in investment is so there...bring in and promote big tournaments on the water/beach..eg boating shows...competitions of all sorts and see where the tourism dollars skyrocket!!!
Super Boat races come to Clearwater Beach
Friday, October 2, 2009

PINELLAS COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- The first of what organizers hope will become an annual event is taking place off Clearwater Beach this weekend with the Clearwater Super Boat National Championship.

Organizers said they anticipate the event, which brings power boats, will bring big money to Clearwater for the three-day festival.

"In Michigan City, this race as a first time event, produced approximately 40,000 attendees and $6 million dollars in impact to the community," said Bob Clifford, the president of the Clearwater Chamber of Commerce. "We certainly hope those numbers will be matched here in Clearwater."

More Information

Watch the story
Super Boat International
More than 20 boats will be running the two-and-a-half mile course, racing at speeds of over 140 mph from Pier 60 out and back again.

Saturday is dedicated to fine-tuning and testing the boat, with the big day of racing scheduled for Sunday.

Mayor Frank Hibbard thinks the races are a great addition to Clearwater's collection of outdoor events.

"We have Jazz Holiday, which is a great event every year, with Ironman, and now with the boat races, I think it really rounds things out."

Parking can be limited at the beach, so city officials are asking attendees to use the trolley that will run from Coachman Park to the beach over the weekend.

http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2009/10/2/528470.html

i think that this is such a positive tep that the city is taking ..what about the jose cuervo volleyball tournaments..what happened..are they still going on..the city should bring in more national-international events

Apartments envisioned at site of Clearwater's Lakeside Mobile Home Park
By Mike Brassfield, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Sunday, November 8, 2009


One of the biggest vacant lots in the city is sitting right alongside one of Clearwater's busiest intersections. Narrow streets crisscrossing the 30-acre plot of land are the last remaining trace of a mobile home park that closed in 2007.

For two years, there's been speculation about what will replace Lakeside Mobile Home Park at the southwest corner of Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard and Belcher Road.

Now the property's owners are unveiling plans to build the first major new apartment complex in Clearwater in nearly a decade. It would be coupled with a shopping center that might include a grocery store, a bank and a restaurant or two.

In today's shaky economy, some might ask: Are they crazy?

But the owners sound confident. They say they've got the financial backing to build this, and they believe the local rental market will support a high-end apartment complex.

"We've studied the market. There is no new supply of apartments here," said Andrew Ingersoll, president of Nickel Plate Properties, which has owned the land since 1978.

They're also undaunted by the empty storefronts along Gulf-to-Bay because they think their prime location will attract retail tenants. "We believe this is a good corner," Ingersoll said.

Now they're unveiling their plan to the surrounding neighbors, some of whom are skeptical. They're also preparing to jump through regulatory hoops with the city, county and state governments, which will be concerned about more traffic in this congested intersection.

240 apartments

At this point, the development is called Lakeside Clearwater. The northern third of it, fronting on Gulf-to-Bay and Belcher, would have 90,000 square feet of commercial space.

Although there have been rumors of a Walmart Supercenter coming to this site, none of the buildings will be that large, said project planner Cyndi Tarapani. One building that's tentatively slated for a grocery store is no larger than neighboring supermarkets like Publix or Albertsons.

An acre of open space at the southwest corner of Gulf-to-Bay and Belcher would serve as a passive park, she said.

The southernmost two-thirds of the property would have 240 upscale apartments in a series of three-story buildings. Ingersoll envisions a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units with high-end amenities and monthly rents ranging from $800 to $1,300.

The main entrance to the apartments would be to the south, along Druid Road.

The property's 2-acre stormwater pond would be moved farther south and expanded to a more scenic 3 1/2-acre pond. It and the entire 19-acre apartment complex would be ringed with landscaping and a walking and biking trail.

"It'll be family- and pet-friendly," Ingersoll said. "We're focusing on a community environment, which lends itself to larger units."

Mixed reactions

The property owners and their representatives fielded a lot of questions Thursday night at an informational meeting for the surrounding neighborhoods. Reactions were mixed.

Marilou Konen, president of the Oak Grove Neighborhood Association, thinks three-story buildings on that property would be too high. She worries about the impact that 240 apartments would have on traffic. She feels there are enough supermarkets at that intersection already.

However, Ed Armstrong, land use attorney for Nickel Plate Properties, notes that the other three corners of Gulf-to-Bay and Belcher are all intensely commercial. To remain consistent with those corners, Armstrong says the Lakeside property could potentially be developed far more intensely than the current plan calls for.

He said the landscaping that rings the apartment complex is heavier than what's required.

Also, the mobile home park that this development is replacing had more than 300 homes.

"We think this fits the community better," said Armstrong, who added that the development team has been talking with government regulators to get an idea of what can realistically get approved at the site. The plan must be okayed by Clearwater's Community Development Board and its City Council, the Pinellas County Commission and the Florida Department of Community Affairs.

One other issue: The intersection of Gulf-to-Bay and Belcher is one of the county's most congested, rated an "F" for traffic flow. More than 50,000 cars travel east-west along Gulf-to-Bay every day; another 30,000 move north-south on four-lane Belcher.

Traffic concerns thwarted past redevelopment plans there and remain a key issue for what's coming.

To mitigate those concerns, Nickel Plate is proposing to add two turn lanes. One would take cars from eastbound Gulf-to-Bay to southbound Belcher. The other would take vehicles from southbound Belcher into the shopping center.

If things go the property owner's way, bulldozers could be turning dirt by fall.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/realestate/apartments-envisioned-at-site-of-clearwaters-lakeside-mobile-home-park/1050204

If I was a neighbor, I wouldn't be complaining. Too tall, seriously? Don't tell me they're going to be like the people down in St. Pete complaining about shade. Most of the homes next to this area have trees 3 stories tall. Give me a break already. I can agree about traffic though. Don't know why they just seperate the right turn lanes completely from the right lane. Would allow them to make 2 left turn lanes instead of just one.

Does anyone have any information or pictures of the construction on South Gulfview between the Sand Key Bridge and Hamden?

Why don't they make the apartments 5 floors, and then have several acres for a proper park for residents to enjoy the outdoors and have gatherings? I hate it when developers tout 'luxury', and then give consumers a cheaped-out cookie cutter development.

http://www.tampabay.com/multimedia/archive/00072/0422842035_72964c.jpg
This awesome designed masterpiece has recently been approved. With I was sarcastic with all of it, but unfortunately just the beginning.

Ah the bright people of Clearwater!

Wasen't there a different rendering a few weeks ago which looked much better??

Wasen't there a different rendering a few weeks ago which looked much better??
Nah, this is the one they had in the St. Pete Times article yesterday. Here's the article.

Clearwater approves new garage for beach parking
By Mike Brassfield, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Saturday, February 20, 2010

CLEARWATER — For more than a decade, the city has wanted to put a parking garage on south Clearwater Beach. The job became more urgent two years ago after the half-mile-long BeachWalk promenade wiped out hundreds of waterfront parking spaces along S Gulfview Boulevard.

After months of delay, the City Council struck a deal Thursday night with a developer who will build a 300-space public garage along BeachWalk. Council members voted for it unanimously even after hearing some last-minute opposition to the project.

"We're doing this because people have been demanding additional parking at Clearwater Beach for as long as I've been here, since 1983," said council member John Doran. "It's been demanded, requested, it's been begged for, and it's been promised in one form or another for a long time."

The garage will replace Britt's Laguna Grill and the Surf Style retail store in the 300 block of S Gulfview Boulevard, just south of the Hyatt Regency Resort that opened earlier this month. The new Hyatt also has a 750-space garage, with 400 spaces open to the public.

Surf Style Retail Management, the company that owns the site, plans to put a new Britt's restaurant and Surf Style store on the structure's ground floor with four levels of parking above that. Vehicles will enter and exit the garage from Coronado Drive.

The company will pay to build the garage itself, with no city tax dollars. It envisions the 300 parking spaces feeding customers into the ground-floor businesses. Surf Style also gets the right to expand its retail and restaurant space at the site from 13,000 to 38,000 square feet.

So what will it cost to park there? That has yet to be determined. The city is requiring that parking rates be "comparable" with other beachfront locations.

Probably the most controversial part of the deal — or at least the part that has sparked the most discussion — is the fact that Clearwater is setting aside $9.3 million in city reserves to buy the garage if it goes into foreclosure within five years.

That has prompted questions from citizens, including City Council candidate Mike Riordon, who called for an independent audit of the deal.

"This is the public's money," he said Thursday night. "I think this is some kind of a sweetheart deal," he added, because the building the garage is expected to cost about $30,000 per space, and other places don't pay nearly that much.

Council members responded that this garage will cost more than most because of the high price of beachfront land, plus the fact that the garage is required to have an more aesthetically pleasing design than the average parking structure.

Mayor Frank Hibbard said it's an opportunity to have the private sector provide beach parking instead of making the city pay for it.

"If all goes well … we will not outlay any money," Hibbard said. "To me, that is a pretty good business deal and that is the reason I'm going to support this."

Council members also think this site is the best option for pedestrians, who won't have to walk across four-lane Coronado Drive to get from their parked cars to the sand.

The agreement requires Surf Side to begin construction by the end of September.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/clearwater-approves-new-garage-for-beach-parking/1074556

At least there's ground floor retail, but damn if it isn't ugly as hell. Hopefully they have at least had the foresight to design the garage in such a way so that something could be built atop the garage at a later date (even if it's just more parking)

But the retail will be directly facing Hyatt if I'm picturing the render right. And anything taller on the garage would likely recieve opposition not only from residents and small business owners across Coronado but also from Hyatt. And my opposition would be that it would develop a wall in the area and any new development should be spread out somewhat.

Don't know if we have seen a layout of the Kiran Grande Project, but just stumbled on a pic and will post. Also came across some information I didn't know of.

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/2858/kiranf.jpg

Clearwater’s only 4 star resort will feature 75 world class condominium residences and 350 luxurious hotel suites located along the newly constructed Beachwalk project along the Gulf of Mexico. The $150 million project will feature an automated automobile lift, 20,000 SF themed retail space and Clearwater Beach’s largest convention center.

But the retail will be directly facing Hyatt if I'm picturing the render right. And anything taller on the garage would likely recieve opposition not only from residents and small business owners across Coronado but also from Hyatt. And my opposition would be that it would develop a wall in the area and any new development should be spread out somewhat.
They decided to wall everything off when they stuck with the puny 150ft height restriction, combined with the necessarily high zoning required to make development work at all. With the current zoning, there's no other form that could possibly be built but wide, wall-like slabs one after the other.

They decided to wall everything off when they stuck with the puny 150ft height restriction, combined with the necessarily high zoning required to make development work at all. With the current zoning, there's no other form that could possibly be built but wide, wall-like slabs one after the other.
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.