Pinellas Development News (St Pete, Clearwater, Beaches)

[smiley]

HEre's one article, more to come later:

Tower to contain public parking
Clearwater will buy up to 100 spots in the planned Station Square to replace parking sacrificed for the project.
By JENNIFER FARRELL, Times Staff Writer
Published December 20, 2003

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CLEARWATER - The 10-story condominium, restaurant and retail tower planned downtown next to the city's historic post office will include 100 public parking spaces on Cleveland Street.

Pegged by city officials as a catalyst for downtown redevelopment, the $25-million Station Square project would remake a parking lot next to Station Square Park and include a restaurant and retail space on the ground floor.

Designed to complement the post office's Mediterranean Revival architecture, the proposal features masked parking on the first five floors, topped by 146 condominiums with one and two bedrooms.

Developers hope to begin construction in June and finish in 12 to 14 months.

Ray Cassano, a downtown property owner and health food distributor, who also is prominent in local Scientology circles, is heading a group of local investors backing the project.

Designed by Beck Development LLC, a Dallas builder, the complex marks the first high-rise, mixed use redevelopment project downtown in 15 years.

Nick Pavonetti, director of development management for Beck, said his firm sees opportunity in the struggling downtown.

"We believe that Clearwater has the opportunity to become another Sarasota," he said. "It's our modus operandi to be the first one in."

According to plans on file with the city, the project includes outside seating for a 9,904-square-foot restaurant. Pavonetti said a market study will help determine which restaurant and retailers will be involved in the project.

"There's no names that we can discuss," he said. "We expect to have a major restaurant. I can't really tell you any more at this point."

City commissioners, sitting as the Community Redevelopment Agency, sought requests from developers for the project. The plans are scheduled for review Jan. 20 by the city's Community Development Board and approval is contingent on a development deal with the CRA, according to city planning director Cyndi Tarapani.

As part of the deal, Clearwater Custom Floors, the two-story building at 628 Cleveland St. owned by Cassano, 51, and his wife, Kim Bright Cassano, will be demolished.

City officials have said they are prepared to spend up to $1.25-million to buy back the 72 public parking spaces on the existing lot and then some, up to 100. Most of the money would come from the sale of the property, which has been appraised at $720,000.

The remainder would come from money that has been set aside for the CRA, according to Assistant City Manager Ralph Stone.

Under the proposal, developers are seeking 85 units from a density pool set up in the downtown redevelopment plan as well as an increase in the building height limit to 158 feet.

"We're very excited about it," Stone said Friday. "It brings two things that we really value downtown. One is additional residential and the other is ground-level retail and restaurant space right in the heart of Cleveland Street."

- Jennifer Farrell can be reached at 445-4160 or farrell@sptimes.com

http://www.sptimes.com/2003/12/20/Northpinellas/Tower_to_contain_publ.shtml

[Meffy]

This project is practically a gaurentee to go through, the developer and city are working very closely together on this. Heres another news link on this that was just posted on MSNBC.

http://famulus.msnbc.com/famuluscom/bizjournal12-20-010527.asp?bizj=TAM

Also the City is pushing hard to open a new movie theater complex downtown since there isn't one first run theater in town (Oldsmar is the closest one I can think of) Expect more news on that in the coming months.

[Style™]

This sounds awsome! :)


Be sure to keep us updated on this project! More great things happening in Florida!

[smiley]

EXCLUSIVE REPORTS
Clearwater's plan has it all
Commercial, retail and residential make up project
Ken Salgat
Staff Writer
CLEARWATER -- The City of Clearwater has teamed up with construction firm The Beck Group to develop a $40-million mixed-use project on the site of the Station Square Parking Lot downtown.

The approximately 1-acre project will include an 11-story building with two floors of commercial and retail. The top floors will be reserved for residential.

The first floor will consist of 15,000 square feet of retail and one large restaurant. Major components of the project include a restaurant fronting on Cleveland Street and potential for office space.

The residential component will have 146 condominium units over several floors of structured parking.

Construction is expected to commence in the early summer, said Reg Owens, the city's economic development director.

"We selected The Beck Group and have been meeting with them on a regular basis to finalize the development agreement," said Owens, who added he expects the final agreement to be approved in early February.

The Beck Group is scheduled for community board approval on Jan. 20.

"After that approval, we will consummate the development agreement with them," said Owens.

The partnership has been more than seven months in the making.

On May 12, the Clearwater Redevelopment Agency authorized the issuance of a bid proposal to select a development team to redevelop the Station Square Parking Lot site as a mixed-use infill development.

The agency made the site available for redevelopment as a catalyst for new urban housing and professional office use in the downtown core.

Owens said the original infill site contained approximately 36,000 square feet. The Beck Group proposed to enlarge the site by acquiring an additional 6,500 square feet, and the city agreed.

Once both sides agreed on development specifics the process took off.

"We (the city) have a process in place where we put together a quick-response team to meet with the developer on an immediate basis," said Owens.

In addition, the city will start up a $5-million streetscaping program as an incentive to development.

The program will begin in November on Cleveland Street between Myrtle Avenue and the bayfront. Cleveland Street will be made more pedestrian friendly, said Owens.

The city will be buying back into the project 100 public parking spaces, he said.

To reach Ken Salgat, call (813) 342-2477 or send your e-mail to ksalgat@bizjournals.com.

http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2003/12/22/story3.html?t=printable

[smiley]

EXCLUSIVE REPORTS
Condo towers depend on city's plan
Ken Salgat
Staff Writer
CLEARWATER -- The face of downtown Clearwater will get a significant lift if three towers and 150 condominiums are added.

Glendale, Calif.-based Mainstreet Clearwater Development LLC recently purchased the AmSouth building at 400 Cleveland St. On Dec. 12 the company closed on the $1.6-million purchase of Cleveland Street storefront property formerly owned by Calvary Baptist Church.

The latter purchase constitutes approximately 28,000 square feet stretching from 401 to 428 Cleveland St.

The owners have consolidated the AmSouth and Calvary properties and could be planning a large redevelopment project, said Bill Horne, city manager.

A Clearwater developer familiar with principals at Mainstreet said Mainstreet has preliminary plans to build as many as three mixed-use towers. The towers could house more than 150 luxury condominiums and ground-level retail.

However, Mainstreet will not release any concrete plans for the site until the city finalizes its downtown redevelopment plan, said Tom Wright, spokesman for Mainstreet.

"The plan is contingent upon the City of Clearwater completing its downtown redevelopment policy," said Wright. "They were to have it done by November, but I understand its been pushed back to next year. Overall, we are not bothered much by the length of time it's taken the city to get this done. But now that we own it, it's back on the tax roll so the city's happy."

Mainstreet may not have to wait as long as it anticipated for the redevelopment plan.

Horne said that the city commission has approved a redevelopment plan, but it needs to clear a two-step county approval process to become effective.

The first step was taken Dec. 16 when the county approved the plan. In doing so, it also gave the city the authority to develop a tax increment plan to help fund redevelopment projects, said Horne.

"The next step is for the county to approve the tax-increment trust fund, which probably won't be approved until February," said Horne. "That will give us a new plan that will allow developers to move forward with their projects. Future development is really contingent upon the plan being approved."

Until the redevelopment plan is approved, the new owners are allowing the church's hardship and singles ministries to continue to occupy the properties for at least six months, said Wright.

Depending on the church's needs and the release of the downtown redevelopment plan, this arrangement may be extended on a month-to-month basis, he said.

To reach Ken Salgat, call (813) 342-2477 or send your e-mail to ksalgat@bizjournals.com.

http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2003/12/22/story6.html?t=printable

[smiley]

City's designs to draw people
Clearwater's principles for its downtown revitalization aim to attract people who stroll the sidewalks, sip coffee in courtyards and chat in plazas.
By KELLY VIRELLA
Published December 22, 2003

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CLEARWATER - Before Starbucks opened on Cleveland Street at S Fort Harrison Avenue, the intersection was just a plain set of crosswalks.

People walked by on their way to lunch at Cajun Grill Express, the buffet at 421 Cleveland St., barely stopping to notice the 77-year-old Wiseman Building.

Then the coffee shop added a patio to the building and installed an arcade of windows along its facade.

"The corner came alive," said Gina Clayton, Clearwater's long-range planning manager. "Pedestrians are drawn to it because people are sitting on the patio people-watching. You can look inside the store and see people."

Lively is what Clearwater's planning department and commissioners would like to see the rest of downtown become. And, those officials say, one way to achieve that is through close attention to the design of buildings and streets.

The planning department, in conjunction with a committee of residents, will soon begin formulating a list of the features that they believe downtown streets and buildings must have to draw people. On Thursday, the City Commission approved a set of 20 or so principles from which the features will be derived.

The principles offer a preview of the city's design priorities. For example:

New buildings should be "compatible" with surrounding structures in terms of height, width and depth.

Blocks in the downtown core should be small.

Parking lots and garages should be unobtrusive.

Courtyards, plazas and other public spaces are encouraged.

The final list of features will be called design guidelines. They won't require the remodeling of existing buildings, but will apply to all new construction.

"You have to make it an interesting place to walk," said Cyndi Tarapani, the city's planning director. "You have to give people a reason to want to be there."

Clayton declined last week to give examples of buildings whose designs drive people away. "Our philosophy is that we don't put any property owners on the spot," she said. "If we have a development proposal in front of us and it isn't working out, we deal with it then."

The look and feel of a building or street is crucial to the success of downtown revitalization projects, said Trent Green, an associate professor of architecture and urban design at the University of South Florida.

People complain that downtown Tampa and other cities are dead, as if it were an accident, he said. "Guess what?" he said. "It's designed that way."

Before pedestrians will use a particular street, the windows and doors of the buildings on it must open to the street, Green said. Dead streets are often lined with buildings that turn their backs to pedestrians.

"We can design a building in such a way that it repels life," he said. "If you walk along a full city block and there are no windows and no way to go into a building, generally people will avoid that street."

Parking lots located in front of buildings isolate pedestrians on sidewalks from the people inside of the building, he said. Courtyards and plazas unite pedestrians.

The height, width, and depth of buildings also affect pedestrian's affinity for a particular neighborhood, he said. The proportions of the buildings in a neighborhood establish its identity, or character, he said.

"The first thing you encounter is the character of a place," he said. "Either you like it and it makes you want to come back or you don't."

Green and other experts tout Orlando as an example of a Florida city that has leveraged design guidelines to stimulate downtown growth.

For years the north side of the city's downtown was a sea of parking lots, said Kristin Larsen, associate professor in the University of Florida's department of urban and regional planning.

Adopting design guidelines brought people and housing back downtown, Larsen said. "They had a very strong vision of what they wanted their city to look like and they stuck to it," she said.

Yet, their guidelines were flexible enough to accommodate reasonable variation, she said. "I have seen guidelines that get down to architectural details on buildings, that require a porch that is 5 feet deep and 20 feet wide" she said.

"There should be certain unifying elements, but to overdo it so that you hamstring people makes all buildings look the same."

Flexibility also keeps costs low, said Robert Stroh, director of the Shimberg Center for Affordable Housing, a University of Florida research center. "A tile roof or a certain selection of exterior materials may really contribute to the design of a building," he said. "But on the other hand, the developer might not be able to control the cost."

With the help of Clearwater's planning department, a committee of 15 residents will steer the development of the city's design guidelines. Keeping them flexible is one of their primary objectives, Clayton said.

"We've got a good process in place with the steering committee," she said. "We've got a good cross section of people from architects to contractors to residents."

The committee's schedule of meetings and its agenda will be posted on the city's Web site, www.myclearwater.com Clayton said. Every draft that the committee produces also will appear on the city's Web site, Clayton said.

People living in the affected areas will get letters about the new guidelines, she said.

Clearwater developers Ben Harrill and Jerry Figurski said they have faith that the city will adopt reasonable guidelines.

But the men, whose proposal to build 150-foot-tall condo towers near the Old Bay neighborhood was rejected earlier this year, questioned whether the planners who review development projects will also be reasonable.

"The devil is in the details," Harrill said.

"The devil will lie in the hands of people who review proposals," Figurski said.

http://www.sptimes.com/2003/12/22/Northpinellas/City_s_designs_to_dra.shtml

[smiley]

I find it funny that they want to be like Sarasota

Anyway, here's something about Largo sort of getting its head out of its ass (these are actually much more like real townhouses than the suburaban two story apartment that is so often called a townhouse).

Townhouses catch on with home buyers
Builders launch two townhome projects and an apartment complex to meet demand.
By LORRI HELFAND, Times Staff Writer
Published December 22, 2003

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LARGO - The trend to multifamily living, such as townhouses and apartments, is gaining momentum in Pinellas's third-largest city.

Two townhome projects, each with more than 100 units, are under way on Starkey and Ulmerton roads.

Downtown, the 54 townhomes in the West Bay Village complex, anticipated for their new urbanism flavor and the urban renewal they might inspire, are nearing completion.

And in the northern sector, 180 apartments will be built next year near Ponce de Leon and Clearwater-Largo Road.

It's a pattern of new home construction seen throughout Pinellas. With few pieces of easy-to-develop land remaining in Largo, many builders are erecting townhomes and apartments rather than single-family homes, said Largo's Community Development Director Mike Staffopoulos.

Townhomes also seem to be popular for residents wanting to break out of apartment living.

"A lot of people renting apartments don't want to be renting anymore," said Mary Latuszek, a representative at the 112-unit Seminole Palms townhomes project being built by Atlanta-based Beazer Homes.

That's one reason Jaime and Brenda Castro moved there. They were looking for an investment without having to pay much more than they did as a renters.

At Seminole Palms, which is off Starkey Road, two- and three-bedroom homes cost about $122,000 and $141,000 before upgrades.

"We were looking for houses in a budget range of what they have here," said Castro, 29, who works in airport security.

About 70 units have been sold at Seminole Palms. Beazer has completed about 16. More than 60 are in construction.

The units will have 1,205 and 1,607 square feet, 21/2 baths, vaulted ceilings and will be wired for security systems.

Around the corner, on the south side of Ulmerton Road, is the Cumberland Trace townhomes project bring built by Minneapolis-based Rottlund Homes.

Rottlund Homes broke ground on the 126-unit development two months ago. Sixteen homes are being built now. By spring, the first units should be completed.

The two-bedroom, 11/2 bath units, range from about $126,000 to $130,000 and feature lofts, one-car garages and security systems. Thirty four have been sold, according to Bud Levell, representative for Cumberland Trace. Buyers "have been across the board," he said. "Some people from up North who want a summer home, and some young professionals."

Cumberland Trace and Seminole Palms each will have a swimming pool and cabana room.

In February, the Richman Group of Florida plans to break ground on the apartment complex along the Clearwater-Largo Road corridor.

The new construction has caught the attention of city leaders, some of whom predict a spike in Largo's population, which is just less than 75,000.

"The area is on fire," said City Commissioner Charlie Harper. "It's growing by leaps and bounds. I fully expect to be at 80,000 in a couple of years."

Lorri Helfand can be reached at 445-4155 or at lorri@sptimes.com
http://www.sptimes.com/2003/12/22/Northpinellas/Townhouses_catch_on_w.shtml

[Lakelander]

form the Jacksonville Business Journal- 22 Dec. 2003

Ken Salgat
Staff Writer

CLEARWATER -- Developer Clearwater Village LC plans to redevelop an entire city block into two-story townhomes.


The $10-million, 3.5-acre project called New York Lofts will face Laura Street and Grove Street and will be fully encompassed by Booth Avenue and Martin L. King Avenue. Pre-construction prices for the 46 units range from $192,000 to $222,000, but those numbers will change.

"Our prices are too low, and we're reviewing price increases," said Bud Reichel, Clearwater Village principal. "Our intention is to sell half before construction and then increase the price by a minimum of $10,000 after that. If we can get $20,000 more, we will."

Reichel and city officials said new residential is wanted and needed in the area. He hopes New York Lofts will bring young professionals Downtown.

Ralph Stone, assistant city manager overseeing economic development, echoed Reichel's sentiments.

"We have really good residential development opportunities wrapping around Cleveland Street," Stone said.

The loft project is not the first for Reichel in Clearwater, but it is expected to have a much faster approval process.

Reichel's company is in the final stages of developing Clearwater Village at Kings Highway and State Street. Clearwater Village has 129 single-

family and multifamily units on more than 12 acres, which took Reichel years to acquire and receive approval to develop.

Reichel said he expects to receive the the final permit to build New York Lofts by mid-January. Groundbreaking is scheduled for March.

"It is definitely the type of project we want to see Downtown, and we're actively promoting Downtown residential," Stone said.

Ken Salgat is a staff writer with The Business Journal of Tampa Bay, a sister publication.

link: http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2003/12/22/focus4.html

[Jasonhouse]

Clearwater will never be Sarasota.

[smiley]

NOt as long as you-kow-who runs the place.

[smiley]

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/01/21/images/large/CT_1_ctstation_175976_0121.jpg
[Urban Studio Architects]
The Station Square proposal, shown in this rendering, would include a restaurant and retail space on the ground floor topped by 146 condominium units. Developers hope to begin construction on July 1 and finish in 12 to 14 months.

Downtown tower okayed
A city board approves the $30-million residential-retail project.
By JENNIFER FARRELL, Times Staff Writer
Published January 21, 2004

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CLEARWATER - A city board on Tuesday approved plans for a 14-story condominium, restaurant and retail tower planned downtown next to the city's historic post office.

Pegged by city officials as a catalyst for downtown redevelopment, the $30-million Station Square proposal includes 100 public parking spaces on Cleveland Street.

The project, designed to complement the post office's Mediterranean revival architecture, would remake a parking lot next to Station Square Park and include a restaurant and retail space on the ground floor, topped by up to 146 condominium units with one and two bedrooms.

Developers hope to begin construction July 1 and finish in 12 to 14 months.

Ray Cassano, a downtown property owner and health food distributor prominent in Scientology circles, is heading a group of local investors backing the project.

Designed by Beck Development LLC, a Dallas builder, the complex marks the first high-rise, mixed-use redevelopment project downtown in 15 years.

On Tuesday, the city's Community Development Board unanimously approved the plans, which include a reduction in parking requirements and an extra 85 units granted from the city's downtown incentive pool for public amenities.

According to plans on file with the city, the project includes outside seating for a 9,904-square-foot restaurant.

City commissioners, sitting as the Community Redevelopment Agency, sought requests from developers for the project. Tuesday's approval is contingent on a development deal with the CRA.

As part of the deal, Clearwater Custom Floors, the two-story building at 628 Cleveland St. owned by Cassano and his wife, Kim Bright Cassano, will be demolished.

[Lakelander]

^That looks like it will be a nice fit in downtown Clearwater. Its about time downtown Clearwater has started to grow vertically.

[smiley]

I like it a lot. Downtown Tampa could use a few buildings that scale and look.

[Jasonhouse]

I like that building alot too.

I agree that DT Tampa could use about 5-6 of those kinds of projects scattered around northern DT. However, I also hope that Tampa manages to build a few buildings in a more modern style. Perhaps something a little South American (modernist) in influence.

[Style™]

That does look like a great project for downtown. Do most of the buildings in downtown resemble something like that? Or is it just a nice blend? :)

[smiley]

There are a number of smaller buildings 2-5 stories that have a similar type of facade, but nothing bigger. The taller stuff is all newer.

Jasonhouse - patience. :cool:

[smiley]

Trying to get some info on this thing (see bold section)

December 2003 Issue
Clearwater Building Boom
by Joe O'Neill

Clearwater wants to be known for more than a great beach, awesome sunsets and a drive-though downtown. To that end, city officials are aggressively marketing downtown to developers, getting creative with incentive packages and investing in infrastructure amenities while putting out the word that there are prime parcels — public and private — for redevelopment. This includes City Hall itself, which overlooks the harbor.


According to Reg Owens, the city’s director of economic development and housing, the campaign has generated about 65 face-to-face meetings with developers — predominately residential — over the last year.


“What’s really driving us is the national trend for urban living,” Owens says. “Clearwater is safe and clean. Properties can be assembled, and there’s a water view. And now that so much is built out, developers are looking at infill projects. We qualify.”


Owens would get no argument from Nick Pavonetti, director of development for Beck Development LLC, which is set to begin the 140-condominum Station Square by the end of the first quarter of 2004. “Clearwater is ripe for downtown residential,” Pavonetti says. “The support of everyone from Mayor Aungst down is the reason we’re here.”


[B]Among other planned downtown projects is the 20-story, $80-million Clearwater Bay Club, a hotel-condo-retail hybrid. “If you’re putting something into the ground, this is the place,” says Lee Arnold, CEO and chairman of Colliers Arnold, the developer of Clearwater Bay Club. “We see pent-up demand.”

Ralph Stone, Clearwater’s assistant city manager, put the prospects in perspective. “Clearwater doesn’t enjoy position on the transportation network, but we do enjoy a unique piece of geography,” points out Stone. “We can bring the waterfront into downtown. This could be Dunedin on steroids.”


Clearwater city officials and developers alike have done double takes when they looked west and glimpsed their pristine beach through the filter of reality. It saw world-class sand and water — but many second-class properties. And so they’re doing something about it.


The $350-million Bluewater Isle Resort was one of the most prominent proposals for development when it was announced last year, but uncertain financing has left its prospects a question. On the other hand, it’s nothing but clear sailing for JMC Communities, which opened the Mandalay Beach Club luxury condominums last year. Now, JMC is building Belle Harbor Condominiums on Mandalay Avenue, which will total 200 residences when it opens next spring. Some condos are priced at more than $1 million.


“We looked at the beach market and saw a lack of recent quality development,” says Lee Allen, JMC’s vice president of finance, “and a lack of supply of quality second homes.”


It’s the same story for hotels, according to Richard Gehring, a partner in the ownership group developing the Seashell Hotel near mid-beach. Seashell Resort LLD hopes to break ground by the end of next year on its 250-unit, $85-million project.


“We’ve had a lot of city support on issues such as density,” Gehring says. “There’s been no new resort development here for some time. And there’s still strong visitation.”


It’s all enough to get Mike Meidel gushing like the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce president that he is. “I’d call it a self-feeding catalyst,” Meidel says. “The city’s doing streetscapes and public amenities pools. We’re recruiting retail and restaurants. A number of residential properties are going through the permitting process. All the parts are coming together.”
http://www.tampabayillustrated.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_article&whicharticle=343

[smiley]

March 19, 2003
Clearwater downtown condos could start next summer
Colliers Arnold Commercial Real Estate Services Inc. reported Wednesday that it plans to start work as early as next summer on an $80-million redevelopment project in downtown Clearwater that will include approximately 100 condominium units.

The Clearwater-based company hopes to close on the acquisition of the redevelopment site this summer, said Lee Arnold, chairman of Colliers Arnold. The 1.7-acre site includes the building currently being used as the city's main public library, along with adjacent parking lots and an office building owned by the Church of Scientology.

"Altogether we will have assembled a site that has frontage on Drew Street, Osceola Street and Fort Harrison," Arnold stated in a release.

A sophisticated site planning process now under way could include between 92 and 110 condos, many with premium water views, priced from the $500,000 range, he said. The 250,000-square-foot development may also include upscale retail space and luxury hotel rooms, he said.

Architect Richard Gillette developed initial plans for the project, Arnold said.
http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2003/03/17/daily18.html?t=printable

[Jasonhouse]

I really hope that DT Clearwater takes off alot more. I would rather see Clearwater beach not get built up too much more, just because of the disaster potential.

A few buildings 15-20 stories tall would be a nice start.

[Jasonhouse]

Some stuff is already happening...



Belle Harbor... 2 x 14 story condo towers, as well as 2 x12 story condo towers. The towers are surrounded by two blocks of townhouses.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/8clearwater_belle_harbor_from_cwbcwy_b.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/8clearwater_belle_harbor_from_mandalay_park.jpg




Bella Rosa... 10 stories... 32 units.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/8clearwater_bella_rosa.jpg


Utopia... 9 stories... 29 units.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/8clearwater_utopia_2.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/8clearwater_utopia.jpg

Bayview... 6 stories (And I think a 2nd 5 story?)... 28 units.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/8clearwater_bayview.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/8clearwater_bayview_2.jpg


There were two other projects along the intercoastal further up towards Dunedin... I couldn't get a pic of either, because of traffic.


One was Del Mar Vista, which was 5 stories and almost topped out. I don't know how many units.

The last one was Dunedin Arms, which was 28 units and 7 stories. It was undergoing siteprep (and sales I imagine).




I still think that even with the new Causeway, that the DT Clearwater/Clearwater Beach/Sand Key area suffers from very poor connectivity. I really hope that they do build something like a monorail on a dedicated ROW to serve DT clearwater and the two keys of Clearwater. Hell, they could rake in the cash by charging "event" fares during Spring Break and peaks in the tourist season. Couple this with tolls on visiting autos going out to the keys and the city could wind up paying very little to run a well ridden and effective transit line.

[smiley]

Downtown condo tower gains city's final approval
Station Square will rise 14 stories with up to 146 condo units, as well as restaurant, retail and parking space.
By RICHARD DANIELSON, Times Staff Writer
Published February 20, 2004

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CLEARWATER - City commissioners Thursday night gave final approval to a development agreement meant to bring a 14-story condominium, restaurant and retail tower to downtown Clearwater.

The Station Square building will be downtown's first high-rise, mixed use redevelopment project in 15 years.

The vote was 4-1, with Commissioner Bill Jonson voting no. He worried that, at 158 feet, the Station Square building would be inconsistent with the historic character and scale of development on Cleveland Street.

The contrast might be especially stark, Jonson said, because the tower would be next to the city's post office, which is on the National Register of Historic Places for its Mediterranean revival architecture.

"I love the project," he said. "I just wish the front side had a different feel to it."

Other commissioners, however, welcomed the $42-million project with no such misgivings.

Interim City Commissioner J.B. Johnson said he thought the Station Square project would be a catalyst for other new development downtown.

"I think this is a project that's beautiful," he said. "It is something that the city of Clearwater has needed for years. It's going to bring people downtown."

Now that it has the city's approval, the developer will work on completing the project's design, said Nick Pavonetti, director of development management with Beck Development, which is designing the project.

Once the design is finished and the exact cost of the project is known, developers will line up financing for the project. Pavonetti expected construction will begin this summer and take 12 to 14 months to complete.

When finished, the building will have up to 146 condominium units, 15,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space and 326 parking spaces. Under the terms of the development agreement, the city will pay the developer $1.25-million to buy 100 of those parking spaces, which will be made available to the public.

The high-rise is planned for slightly less than an acre on Cleveland Street. Currently, the property consists mostly of a parking lot next to Station Square Park.

Ray Cassano, a downtown property owner and health food distributor, who also is prominent in local Scientology circles, is heading a group of local investors backing the project.

As part of the work, Clearwater Custom Floors, the two-story building at 628 Cleveland St., would be torn down and the business would move, developers have said.

In an unrelated matter, commissioners briefly discussed this week's announcement that cracks have been discovered in four columns supporting the new $69.3-million Memorial Causeway Bridge.

Mayor Brian Aungst thanked city Public Works Administrator Mahshid Arasteh for warning city officials long ago not to try managing the bridge's construction themselves.

As a result, the city and the state agreed to have the Florida Department of Transportation manage the project. Clearwater officials plan to work with DOT as it determines what can be done to repair the bridge and will not let it open until it's safe.

"We're as frustrated as anyone else out there," Aungst said. But he said experts have told him the design of the bridge is sound. "It's not sinking, and it's not a flawed design. . . . To blame anyone in the city of Clearwater for the mishaps of the bridge is inaccurate and unfair."

[Last modified February 20, 2004, 01:31:57]
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/02/20/Northpinellas/Downtown_condo_tower_.shtml

[SkyDiveJunkee]

Originally posted by smiley

I find it funny that they want to be like Sarasota



Why is that funny? Sarasota is the perfect model for Clearwater, it has the most vibrant downtown of all the Gulf Coast cities.

[Jasonhouse]

It's funny because one woudl generally think of Clearwater as the older, much larger, more established city. But instead, the diminutive upstart south of the bay has it all over the Bay Area's 3rd largest city.

[smiley]

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/03/03/images/large/CT_1_cthotel_180979_0303.jpg
New plans filed for luxury beach resort
City officials are cautious but hopeful that Tony Markopoulos' $100-million plan can anchor a new Clearwater Beach.
By LORRI HELFAND, Times Staff Writer
Published March 3, 2004




CLEARWATER - A beach hotelier has filed plans to build a $100-million luxury condo and hotel resort after nine months of sometimes contentious negotiations with the city.

Tony Markopoulos's Clearwater Beach project would include 350 hotel rooms, 75 condominiums and 30,000 square feet of meeting space. The project, which also would feature retail, restaurants, banquet rooms and night clubs, would replace Markopoulos' Day's Inn, Beach Towers, Spy Glass and Golden Beach motels south of the roundabout.

While Markopoulos has pressed for concessions like street closures in the past, now he's chiefly asking for more units than current rules allow. Such a concession has already been granted to the developers of the Marriott Seashell resort planned next door.

City officials, who rejected Markopoulos' plans for an even bigger beach development nearly three years ago, expressed caution. But clearly they are keeping their fingers crossed.

Mayor Brian Aungst said that if an agreement can be ironed out, the development would be a tremendous boost to the city's Beach By Design redevelopment program and Beach Walk, an ambitious transformation of the aging south end of the beach into a gleaming public promenade.

"It will get a us a kick-start in Beach by Design and Beach Walk, and that's what we really need," Aungst said. "If we can get this going, it will be a catalyst to the remarkable transformation of that block."

Some disagreement about management and traffic control, however, remain.

Commissioners hoped the hotel would bear the name of a national chain, or at least be run by an independent management company with experience operating and marketing high-end properties.

But Markopoulos has firmly refused those options and said they could be a waste of money.

"I don't think I need management after 40 years in this business," said Markopoulos."It's a better use of money to market your property yourself."

Assistant City Manager Ralph Stone said the city's key concern revolves around maintaining the quality of the resort. That could could be accomplished by providing the same type of amenities and services provided by hotels such as Ritz-Carlton or Marriott, Stone said.

Ed Hooper, a consultant and spokesman for the project, described the project as a three-star resort with some of the amenities of a four- or five-star hotel. The development would have features such as concierge service, a spa and a landscaped pool deck, with a splash pool and morning pool, he said. It would also have classical grand architecture with punched window openings, accented with balcony treatments and trim.

Markopoulos previously requested that the city limit traffic on Gulfview Boulevard surrounding his resort to one-way, and to close Gulfview Boulevard from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily.

Both proposals met resistance from officials and were dropped.

Hooper said one of the most recent challenges was accommodating new federal flood zone maps that changed what can be built along the coastline. Markopoulos revised original plans to raise the bottom floor to 14 feet above ground level to better clear the new rules, Hooper said.

Stone said city officials hope to iron out an agreement with Markopoulos by Thursday. If no agreement can be reached, the City Commission will make the final decision.

Markopoulos and officials say getting to this point meant give-and-take on both sides. Officials would contribute 250 units from the city's density pool on the beach if Markopoulos would help pay for the construction of Beach Walk on the north and west side of the resort.

If both parties can make the project a reality it has the potential to revitalize an aging resort market on the beach, Stone said.

"This would be the kind of project that could really reposition Clearwater Beach and the tourist market," he said.

Markopoulos said that challenge attracted him to the project.

"It comes to a point where money doesn't mean anything. It's a challenge. If it was just money, I could renovate," Markopoulos said. "The city wins, the public wins and we accomplish our dreams."

- Lorri Helfand can be reached at 445-4155 or at lorri@sptimes.com

[Last modified March 3, 2004, 01:45:07]
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/03/03/Northpinellas/New_plans_filed_for_l.shtml

[Style™]

Found these posted by a forumer here a while ago. ;)




Mirror Lake
http://www.stpete.org/images/100199.jpg

http://www.stpete.org/images/022800.jpg
Fire Station
http://www.stpete.org/images/100799.jpg

Snell Arcade Building
http://www.stpete.org/images/101199.jpg
http://www.stpete.org/images/0915002.jpg
http://www.stpete.org/images/100600.jpg
http://www.stpete.org/images/091201.jpg

Kress Building
http://www.stpete.org/images/101399.jpg

Bank of America
http://www.stpete.org/images/101599.jpg
http://www.stpete.org/images/022500.jpg
http://www.stpete.org/images/032100.jpg
http://www.stpete.org/images/062000.jpg
http://www.stpete.org/images/120800.jpg
http://www.stpete.org/images/072700.jpg

http://www.stpete.org/images/080100.jpg
St Pete Skyline
http://www.stpete.org/images/1103992.jpg
http://www.stpete.org/images/112499.jpg

Fountain
http://www.stpete.org/images/110599.jpg

http://www.stpete.org/images/110999.jpg

Post Office
http://www.stpete.org/images/111599.jpg

Coliseum
http://www.stpete.org/images/111699.jpg

http://www.stpete.org/images/083100.jpg
City Hall
http://www.stpete.org/images/111799.jpg

The Pier
http://www.stpete.org/images/1118993.jpg
http://www.stpete.org/images/012400.jpg
http://www.stpete.org/images/030100.jpg
http://www.stpete.org/images/082300.jpg

http://www.stpete.org/images/071700.jpg
Vinoy
http://www.stpete.org/images/122799.jpg

http://www.stpete.org/images/121000.jpg
Port
http://www.stpete.org/images/122899.jpg

Tropicana Field
http://www.stpete.org/images/dome.jpg

http://www.stpete.org/images/082200.jpg
Museum of Fine Art
http://www.stpete.org/images/123099.jpg

Garage
http://www.stpete.org/images/010500.jpg

Aerial View of Downtown
http://www.stpete.org/images/010700.jpg
http://www.stpete.org/images/011800.jpg
http://www.stpete.org/images/020200.jpg
http://www.stpete.org/images/021700.jpg
http://www.stpete.org/images/080900.jpg
http://www.stpete.org/images/081100.jpg
http://www.stpete.org/images/062300.jpg
http://www.stpete.org/images/081700.jpg
http://www.stpete.org/images/082100.jpg
Theatre
http://www.stpete.org/images/011300.jpg
http://www.stpete.org/images/010201.jpg

Downtown Construction
http://www.stpete.org/images/0114002.jpg

Arena

http://www.stpete.org/images/031500.jpg

Bankers Insurance Building
http://www.stpete.org/images/071900.jpg

http://www.stpete.org/images/011201b.jpg
http://www.stpete.org/images/011401.jpg
Bayfront Center
http://www.stpete.org/images/082900.jpg
http://www.stpete.org/images/090600.jpg

Central Station
http://www.stpete.org/images/101600.jpg

Baywalk
http://www.stpete.org/images/122700.jpg

SouthTrust
http://www.stpete.org/images/122800.jpg

The Florencia Condo
http://www.stpete.org/images/010901.jpg
http://www.stpete.org/images/011001.jpg

Sunshine Skyway Bridge
http://www.stpete.org/images/011801.jpg

Northen Trust Building
http://www.stpete.org/images/011101.jpg

Welcome
http://www.stpete.org/images/012501b.jpg

The Cloisters
http://www.stpete.org/images/012601b.jpg

First Methodist
http://www.stpete.org/images/012901b.jpg

Sunrise over Pier
http://www.stpete.org/images/020101.jpg

http://www.stpete.org/images/030702.jpg
Kress Building
http://www.stpete.org/images/020301.jpg

St Pete 1st Avenue
http://www.stpete.org/images/031701.jpg

Pioneer Park
http://www.stpete.org/images/032201.jpg

Spa Beach
http://www.stpete.org/images/051901.jpg

St Pete Beach
http://www.utdallas.edu/~navzer/beach1.jpg

Location of St PEte
http://home.att.net/~frankpat/gif/mapspb.gif

[MIAballinboi]

Thats Hot Stuff, thanks:)

[smiley]

http://www.stpete.org/images/010500.jpg

This garage was built to house an office building on top of it. that changed and now they are building 6 or 7 stories of lofts on the top.

[Jasonhouse]

http://www.stpete.org/images/082200.jpg


I would still like to hear the city officials from back then explain(with a straight face) how the layout of the Trop's site is conducive to encouraging downtown to develop away from the water, and to reinvigorate Central Ave towards Midtown. The dome should have been in the opposite corner diagonal from where it is, with the crappy surface lots (if they MUST have them, istead of space efficient garages and shuttle busses from other lots) facing the interstates.

[Jasonhouse]

I am quite excited to see what Clearwater beach becomes after this and the Marriott are built in the next few years.(hopefully)

It could actually become a decent place to go to the beach again.

[New Jack City]

Originally posted by Jasonhouse

I am quite excited to see what Clearwater beach becomes after this and the Marriott are built in the next few years.(hopefully)

It could actually become a decent place to go to the beach again.

What's wrong with the beaches now?

I've been there a couple of years ago, and I thought the beaches were amazing there. The water was so warm!

[Style™]

How can an areana that faces a freeway promote any type of growth that the city could want? If a new "Park-Rite" is what they have in mind...they got it.

[Meffy]

It faces the parking lot, that entrance in the pic is the back (I had no clue there was an entrance there)
Its a shame the city got stuck with one of the last 70's/80's style stadium's to be built, instead of the better more "urban" style stadiums of the 90's. I can't wait for it to be replaced, hopefully with something like Camden Yards in Baltimore will replace it (by far the best sports stadium I've been to) but thats far off if ever (assuming the D-Rays survive and another stadium ever gets built DT)

[Jasonhouse]

The promenade and entrance shown have always been the main entrance to the stadium.

This is a big reason why the team spent $58 million on renovations several years ago. It simply made no sense whatsoever to have folks park on the backside of the stadium, and walk several hundred yards around to the front, out in the heat. So, they greatly expanded what was the "outfield seats entrance", altered the concourses and concessions inside, and effectively reversed the flow of people in the stadium.

Of course, there's still nothing that they could do for how the stadium is seemingly built to AVOID interacting with the rest of the city. The only way to improve that issue would be to develop the parking lots, and build garages, offices, hotels and residential above the street level retail and entertainment. But that would cost serious $$$$ at this point.


BTW, without a new collective bargaining agreement and a REAL salary cap (like that of the NFL or at least NBA), then the Rays will fold within 5 years at most. If there is a new agreement, then we'll likely see a new stadium (somewhere in the metro, probably more like Tampa or Gateway IMO) within 10 years at most.

[smiley]

Luxury resort eyed for beach
The $130-million project would include a hotel, spa and condos on the current site of the Clearwater Beach Hotel.
By JENNIFER FARRELL, Times Staff Writer
Published April 2, 2004

CLEARWATER - St. Petersburg developer Mike Cheezem plans to build a $130-million luxury beachfront resort on Clearwater Beach that would rival such tony hotels as Tradewinds Island Grand and the Don Cesar.
In a deal with the Hunter Hotel Company, Cheezem's JMC Communities would tear down the landmark Clearwater Beach Hotel to make way for the new resort, planned on a 5.5-acre tract with700 feet of prime beachfront along the Gulf of Mexico.
The resort, with a 224-room, four-diamond hotel and spa with shops, restaurants and 120 condos, would be the first ever upscale resort development on Clearwater Beach.
"Our goal," Cheezem said, "is to create a classic beachfront resort."
The city would have to approve the development plans, which have not yet been submitted. Cheezem said he hopes to complete the project by early 2007.
City officials, who heard about the conceptual plans early Thursday, said they were universally pleased - and relieved - to learn that a hotel is part of the deal. Skyrocketing land prices have fueled a hot condo market on the beach, and a resulting loss of hundreds of motel units.
A resort project like Cheezem's, if successful, could spark similar redevelopment on other parts of the beach, Mayor Brian Aungst said.
"It's something that we desperately need," he said.
City Councilman Frank Hibbard said the resort would complement two other upscale condo projects Cheezem has developed north of the roundabout: Mandalay Beach Club, which is immediately to the south of the new site, and Belle Harbor, which is still under construction directly across Mandalay Avenue.
"Conceptually, it's what we have been searching for," Hibbard said. "It's starting to get a critical mass of luxury."
Early plans call for meeting space, a fitness center and a private beach club with a limited number of memberships for sale to the public, Cheezem said.
Hotel rooms would run $200 a night and guests and condo owners would have access to valet and concierge service as well as room service.
"It is a destination resort," said Ed Armstrong, the Clearwater attorney representing Cheezem.
For nearly 50 years, the 137-room Clearwater Beach Hotel has been owned and operated by the Hunter family, and its company will retain a partnership interest in the property.
Designs have not been completed, but Cheezem said the project will retain the intimate character of the Clearwater Beach Hotel, which opened in 1915.
The deal between JMC and Hunter does not include a series of storefronts on Mandalay Avenue, that are adjacent to the project land and are anchored by co-owner Tom Gionis Waterfront Restaurant.
Gionis has said he is not interested in selling, and Cheezem said he is prepared to move forward without the property. Gionis declined to comment Thursday.
In Clearwater, strapped with aging hotels and a stagnant redevelopment market, city officials set up a density "pool" three years ago to allow hotel developers to add more rooms to their projects. Rights to hundreds of resort hotel units were made available as a carrot to lure developers.
The city also tweaked its land use code and invested millions on streetscape improvements. So far, not a single resort project has broken ground.
But two other luxury resort hotels are proposed south of the beach roundabout. Both have been in negotiations for years and neither are directly on the beach.
Like those proposals, Cheezem's project would request units from the density pool. But to accommodate him, the city would have to amend its Beach By Design plan, the blueprint for beach redevelopment. That move, in turn, would require approval from the state Department of Community Affairs in Tallahassee.
Cheezem said he also will ask the city to vacate Beach Drive, which runs north-south through a portion of the property. Armstrong said there will be no request to vacate Baymont Street, which divides the property roughly in half and provides public access to the beach from Mandalay.
On Thursday, city officials said they are willing to consider Cheezem's requests.
"Two hundred twenty-four first-class resort units directly on the sand. That is an opportunity that is begging us to look at Beach By Design," said City Councilman Hoyt Hamilton. "I think it screams for it."
Elected officials also cited Cheezem's proven track record. In less than a decade, he has been involved in the development of about 500 condo units on Clearwater Beach and Sand Key, as well as projects in St. Petersburg, including Dolphin Cay and Florencia in downtown.
Cheezem, 50, also is working with Connecticut developer David Mack to redevelop the Holiday Inn Sunspree at the south end of Clearwater beach into condominiums.
"He's the real deal," Aungst said. "He's not a guy that will try to cut corners. When he says he's going to do something, he does it."
City Councilman Bill Jonson, likewise, was thrilled with the proposal.
"The only thing that would be better," Jonson said, "would be if it was in a really ratty area."
[Last modified April 2, 2004, 01:20:42] http://www.sptimes.com/2004/04/02/Northpinellas/Luxury_resort_eyed_fo.shtml

[Jahi98]

The promenade and entrance shown have always been the main entrance to the stadium.

This is a big reason why the team spent $58 million on renovations several years ago. It simply made no sense whatsoever to have folks park on the backside of the stadium, and walk several hundred yards around to the front, out in the heat. So, they greatly expanded what was the "outfield seats entrance", altered the concourses and concessions inside, and effectively reversed the flow of people in the stadium.

Of course, there's still nothing that they could do for how the stadium is seemingly built to AVOID interacting with the rest of the city. The only way to improve that issue would be to develop the parking lots, and build garages, offices, hotels and residential above the street level retail and entertainment. But that would cost serious $$$$ at this point.


BTW, without a new collective bargaining agreement and a REAL salary cap (like that of the NFL or at least NBA), then the Rays will fold within 5 years at most. If there is a new agreement, then we'll likely see a new stadium (somewhere in the metro, probably more like Tampa or Gateway IMO) within 10 years at most.

I thought I was the only one that was predicting a new stadium in Gateway or across the bridge in Tampa coming soon. Now that the Bucs are building their new training facility on the Tampa Bay Center site, that rules out my theory of a new baseball stadium there, but there's still room in Gateway. I think the City of St. Petersburg will fight hard to keep the team in the city.

I really don't care for the dome, even with the renovations. I really don't like all the surface parking. I agree that the lots should've been developed as parking garages. I would've created some type of shopping/entertainment district with a large hotel leading from the 3rd Ave parking entrance all the way down to the bridge accross the creek that runs through the property. I'd tie it into a complete redevelopment of that entire area of downtown from surface parking and a strip center into a new, large-scale urban development-- a new Webb Plaza/Dome District. (We'd have to get U-haul outta there, too.) With all that land over there, there's a nice opportunity for the city to do something really nice, and perhaps build some affordable housing to balance the ritzy stuff along Beach Drive. (I'm all for the ritzy stuff, too.) Part of the site could even become a transportation hub for buses and a future light rail system.

I was looking at what they're doing across the country in LA around the Staples Center. Something similar to that should be happenning around the dome. Some public-private partnerships can get it done, with the city, housing authority, private developer(s) and maybe the universities (SPC and USF) working together.

My radical thinking sees that dome demolished and the entire dome site redeveloped, though. :)

Something else the city should consider moving: the Police Department Headquarters. It is absolutely killing any opportunity for the development of Central Avenue into the entertainment oriented strip (with some shopping, office and definately housing) it should be. Who wants to party right in front of the police? They should build a new complex close to the Fire Department Headquarters on the other side of downtown. I believe there are some surface parking lots over there.

[Jahi98]

I'm also interested, among other things, to see what gets done with the land the Bayfront Arena sits on, with it's eminant demolition. That's another outdated sports venue that needs to go. I hope they reconsider a partnership with the USF to build a conference center. Perhaps making it a hotel/conference center might make it more worth it for the city.

[GRID]

Thanks for sharing all of those. I like the close-ups of the B of A. I always thought that was an odd building with that brown "cap" on top. But, your pictures show it really is not a bad-looking building at all. Back in 1990, my family took a vacation to the St. Petersburgh area and we had a blast. We stated on a small island called "Terre Verde" nearby.

One of these days, I want to cross the state and explore Tampa and St. Petersburgh. I have no good personal pics of that town, and I want to get some more postcards.

[SkyDiveJunkee]

Grid,

If you get over there, make some time for Sarasota, its my personal favorite Gulf coast city..in many ways its more urban than both St. Pete and Tampa.

[Jasonhouse]

I forgot to add a long time ago that in the future, it may be advisable to not necessarily post 73 pictures in one thread, even if they're very small file sizes, as it takes a LONG time for this thread to load most of the time. The sheer number of pictures impacts load time almost as much as thier total size.

I don't know about this new software and server, but on the old one, there was a reasonable limit on the number of pictures the page of a thread could have that was around a 110 pics or so (depending upon file size) whereas after that point, there was a reasonable chance that multiple simulteneous hits on such a thread could overload and crash or crash/roboot the server during peak load times. I'm sure it's much better than that now though, and is probably only a practical concern in terms of the time it takes for the enduser.

[Jasonhouse]

What's wrong with the beaches now?

I've been there a couple of years ago, and I thought the beaches were amazing there. The water was so warm!



To me, Clearwater Beach is mostly old, run-down, and very "low budget", if you know what I mean. There's a couple decent hotels, and a couple decent ones on Sand Key. But most of it is 3 star or less crap.

I'm eager to see things be redeveloped extensively, and I am especially eager to see some sort of rail connection that would run from Sand Key up to Clearwater Key, and then in the Causeway to Dt Clearwater, with the line ending on the eastern side of DT, with a sizable park and ride facility... lol... It would be great just to see the basic connection from the beach to DT that they're mulling.




BtW, I wonder if some things will actually start getting built in DT Clearwater? It's such a shame to see one of Florida's few coastal cities not really thriving.

And does anyone else agree that the new Causeway bridge to the beach isn't really going to do much for traffic? I think that they need another bridge, either at the south end of Clearwater Key (preferable), or at the north end (ha!)... An even better solution would be rail, so hopefully the city will actually find a way to do that.

[smiley]

I would not hold my breath for any train or monrail, unless the Scientologist pay for it. As for projects in Clearwater, I think some will get built - which can only help. What theyerally need is a good road to the Courtney Campbell Causeway so getting to Clearwater from Tampa does not take as long as getting to St. Pete Beach.

As for the beach, it is getting there, though I hope they keep some of the old stuff, which is pretty cool and oddly urban.

[smiley]

Dali museum may get new digs
Under a proposed plan, the Salvador Dali Museum would move closer to the downtown shopping district.
By JENNIFER LIBERTO, Times Staff Writer
Published April 20, 2004

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


TALLAHASSEE - A team of local officials is working on a plan to build a 50,000-square-foot Salvador Dali Museum on the Bayfront Center property and to sell the current museum to the University of South Florida.

The Dali would get a three-story facility closer to the downtown shopping district. It would get a more secure location for its extensive collection, now at greater risk of storm surge in a one-story building on 1000 Third St. S.

USF would get much-needed space for expansion, possibly a new student center within a renovated museum building, and a new graduate arts program housed inside the new Dali building.

The estimated $20-million plan, in the works for four months, involves officials with the Dali Museum, USF, the city of St. Petersburg and Sen. Jim Sebesta, R-St. Petersburg.

"However fond people are of Dali, this is the best collection of one of the most important artists of this era," said Hank Hine, executive director of the nonprofit museum. "The ball is rolling, and the board is excited about it."

The next hurdle is money.

The plan hinges on state funding that the city and museum would apply for next year. More immediately, the plan needs several hundred-thousand dollars this year for detailed engineering, architectural and survey studies.

Rep. Leslie Waters, R-Seminole, said a joint House-Senate committee working out differences in economic development spending has not agreed to fund the necessary engineering and architectural studies, though the issue "is still in play."

Waters put $4-million in the joint budget for various economic development projects, and lawmakers are scrambling over how to divvy it up.

"I think it would be great," Waters said of the idea to move the museum.

Sebesta has led the charge for the museum-university swap but declined to comment Monday for fear of endangering the project.

Because the money for the study has not been recommended by a state agency, it is subject to rejection by Gov. Jeb Bush.

He has said such projects should come with a state agency's stamp of approval. The Dali money is not included on any list.

This year differs from past years because so much money for local projects has been sprinkled throughout the budget by lawmakers trying to protect projects from veto.

That means Bush would have to veto all projects under a lump sum line item if he wanted to veto any one of them.

The museum has considered expansion or relocation for some time.

The museum owns the building but leases land from the city of St. Petersburg.

Only recently did museum and university officials begin talking about the project.

The University of South Florida St. Petersburg, which wants a new student union and more classrooms, would have the option of renovating or tearing down the museum building.

The 35-year-old downtown waterfront campus is amid a massive expansion and plans to more than double student enrollment to 10,000.

At a time when many universities are struggling with layoffs and hiring freezes, USF St. Petersburg is bursting at the seams with new faculty members and administrators.

"There's been discussions ongoing, and we made sure to say that we have an interest in the property," said Jeff Muir, a USF associate vice president following the project. "We're benefiting from the deal more than we are a major player."

The museum attracts 200,000 people a year and has contributed an estimated $600-million to Florida's economy since it opened in 1982, according to state documents.

The new museum would include classrooms and a research library to house a graduate art program for USF that would focus on the 20th century avant garde era.

"We decided it would be really useful to put our collection together with the academic power to create a study center," Hine said.

The museum's board has made the relocation project its top priority. Once funded, the museum could move into its new location in about two to three years, he said.

"If people's will to make this happen is in indicator, it seems really likely," Hine said. "I can only hope that the Dali will find state money, federal money and private money to make this commitment."

- Times staff writers Alisa Ulferts and Anita Kumar contributed to this report.

[Last modified April 20, 2004, 01:20:37]
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/04/20/Southpinellas/Dali_museum_may_get_n.shtml

[Lakelander]

A move to the heart of downtown would benefit all parties involved. It would also pull more foot traffic into the downtown scene.

[smiley]

I don't know where the St. PEte development thread went - having a hard time finding it - it looks to have sunk quite far since all teh Miami stuff gets listed individually - and there is so much of it, but I found this nice view of Parkshore Plaza (u/c) at the street. St. Pete raelly ahs come a long way on this issue. Almost everything they build has a nice street level
http://www.opuscorp.com/images/p_Parkshore%20Plaza%20shops%20web%20site.jpg

http://www.parkshoreplaza.com/images/home_rendering.jpg

[Jasonhouse]

I am surprised that we haven't seen other proposals pop up for St Pete, since the two tower projects currently active are mostly sold. I guess Tampa really is the epicenter of the "condo boom" right now. I have to wonder if St Pete wouldn't be doing just as well asTampa if city leaders were half as gung-ho as Tampa's leaders are about reshaping DT. Afterall, St Pete has an infinitely more livable DT right now, and likely will for at least another 7-10 years.

[Brunswick]

St. Petersburg really looks like a nice city. Great photos of St. Pete. Really gives you a good over view of the city and its buildings.

[smiley]

I am not surprised that St. PEte is slower. I mean, don't get me wrong - St. Pete is nice and they are doing a lot of good things, but 1) the complain about overcrowding where Tampa is now dying to get crowding and 2) the place has alwys been slower. I want it to pick up, but I think it will take time, for instance if people really did complain about Bayaway lofts - it is 500+ feet, ok. a bit tall for St. PEte. Tampa is fast tracking the two 600 or so footers and barely even discussing the 30 story ones. Thus, developers will put money in Tampa faster. It is pretty simple.

[smiley]

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/05/12/images/sopin-dalimuseum.jpg
REINVENTING THE DALI
THE SPACE: The proposal calls for a three-story, 50,000-square-foot museum on the Times Arena at Bayfront Center site.
WHAT MUST HAPPEN: The City Council must approve two referendum questions for the Nov. 9 ballot.
DALI IN ST. PETERSBURG: Valued at more than $500-million, the art collection draws 200,000 visitors annually.

Salvador Dali Museum names its site in St. Petersburg
Officials say land now occupied by the Times Arena at Bayfront Center is the best choice.
By CARRIE JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Published May 12, 2004
ST. PETERSBURG - Salvador Dali, long considered the greatest artist of the surrealist movement, was born 100 years ago Tuesday.

So representatives from the museum that houses the largest collection of Dali's work used the historic occasion to ask the City Council to give them a new home on St. Petersburg's waterfront.

After months of speculation about the future of the Dali, Tuesday's presentation offered the first concrete evidence that museum leaders plan to move into the site now occupied by the Times Arena at Bayfront Center.

The arena is scheduled for demolition in early 2005.

"Out of all of the sites we have considered, this one fits our needs best," said Tom James, president of the museum's board of directors.

James and Hank Hine, the museum's executive director, asked council members to consider a proposal that would let them build a 50,000-square-foot museum south of the Mahaffey Theater. The museum and the theater would be connected by a pedestrian plaza overlooking Tampa Bay.

The three-story museum would be 20,000 square feet larger than the current museum and would include space for classrooms and a research library.

The city owns the property where the Dali Museum is now. The Dali's lease expires in 2072.

As part of the plan, the city would sell that property to the state so the University of South Florida St. Petersburg could use the valuable waterfront site for expansion.

To achieve this, the council would have to approve two referendum questions for the Nov. 9 ballot. The ballot questions are necessary because the city can't sell or lease waterfront property without voter approval.

The need for the move comes from the Dali Museum's location in a one-story building on 1000 Third St. S, where it is at constant risk of damage from high winds or hurricanes, said James.

"It's not just risk of wind damage to the building," he said. "It's the danger of projectiles, large yachts, being thrown through the building."

The museum's collection is valued at more than $500-million, and the threat of a storm would close the building for three days as workers placed paintings in a secure vault, Hine added.

Also, the museum is difficult for some tourists to find. A site closer to downtown could attract more visitors and encourage people to visit other local museums, as well as restaurants and shops, Hine said.

The museum attracts 200,000 people a year and has contributed about $600-million to Florida's economy since it opened in 1982, according to documents provided by the museum.

Members of the museum's board have considered dozens of other sites, but none of them fit their needs. Then, in June 2003, the city proposed tearing down the aging Times Arena and several city leaders began a movement to steer the museum to the site.

This spring, state lawmakers sought several hundred thousand dollars for detailed engineering, architectural and survey studies. The museum received $25,000 for a planning study.

In addition to voter approval, the deal needs about $6-million in state funding so the state can buy the current Dali site from the city. Lawmakers plan to ask for the money during the 2005 legislative session.

Most of the City Council enthusiastically embraced the plan.

"I think this is a real no-brainer," said council member Virginia Littrell.

Council member John Bryan said the move would create "the most significant change in the waterfront of St. Pete in the last four decades."

But a couple of members balked at the idea of selling valuable waterfront property without getting to keep the proceeds. Under the proposal, the $6-million from the state for the current Dali property would be applied to the cost of the new museum.

"I'm just wondering if university use of that land is really its highest and best use," asked council member Bill Foster.

Council chairman James Bennett expressed concern about the Albert Whitted Airport Advisory Task Force, which is working to create a new plan for the airport property. Part of the Bayfront Center sits on land that was designated for Albert Whitted.

"I just do not want to have another battle," Bennett said. "We need progress down there."

The council will have to hold public hearings and a formal vote before putting the referendum questions on the ballot.

Karen White, USF St. Petersburg's vice president and chief executive officer, said the proposal offers a tremendous opportunity for the rapidly growing campus.

"I see this as building on the tradition of the city caring for the university," she said, "and giving USF an option for expansion that we would not have in any other manner."

- Carrie Johnson can be reached at 727 892-2273 or cjohnson@sptimes.com

SALVADOR DALI MUSEUM
An architect's rendering shows the plan for the new 50,000-square-foot Salvador Dali Museum. It would be three stories tall. The art collection, valued at more than $500-million, draws 200,000 visitors annually.

REINVENTING THE DALI
THE SPACE: The proposal calls for a three-story, 50,000-square-foot museum on the Times Arena at Bayfront Center site.

WHAT MUST HAPPEN: The City Council must approve two referendum questions for the Nov. 9 ballot.

DALI IN ST. PETERSBURG: Valued at more than $500-million, the art collection draws 200,000 visitors annually.

[Last modified May 12, 2004, 01:54:10]
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/05/12/Southpinellas/Salvador_Dali_Museum_.shtml

[smiley]

Are the Pier's days numbered?
St. Petersburg explores what to do about the declining Pier approach and base. One option is to start over.
By CARRIE JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Published May 13, 2004

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

[Times file photo]
The Pier opened in 1973, but its approach and base were built in the 1920s. It attracts more than 2-million visitors every year.
Photo gallery


ST. PETERSBURG - In the 31 years since it opened, the inverted pyramid at the end of the Pier has become a city icon.

It graces postcards. ESPN used it as a broadcast studio during the 1999 Final Four. Thousands of spectators crowd onto it every year to watch offshore boat racing.

Now the landmark's days may be numbered.

The Pier's approach and base, built in the 1920s, are badly deteriorating and must be replaced within the next 10 years at a cost of $25-million to $40-million. One option the city is considering involves tearing down the structure and building an approach half the length of the existing one.

A new building probably would not resemble the current one.

The City Council is waiting for a consultant to study the options and hasn't begun a serious discussion. But council chairman James Bennett said he's keeping an open mind.

"The pyramid hasn't been there since the beginning," he said. "If you go back in history, you'll find it used to be something else. And I think that was a beautiful pier."

A pier has graced St. Petersburg's downtown waterfront since 1889, when Peter Demens connected the Orange Belt Railroad to a half-mile wharf.

Several piers were constructed through the years to charm locals and draw tourists. But it was the Million Dollar Pier, built in 1926, that won the most acclaim.

The popular Mediterranean-revival building that crowned this pier featured a central atrium, a rooftop ballroom with terrazzo floors and an observation deck.

The building was demolished in 1967 and replaced with the space-age inverted pyramid. It attracts more than 2-million visitors each year and is the second-most popular destination in downtown St. Petersburg, after BayWalk, the shopping and entertainment complex.

A recent study showed the annual maintenance on the Pier was no longer cost-effective, said Mike Connors, the city's engineer. The heavy, reinforced steel beams that support the structure are badly corroded by saltwater and the concrete pillars that encase the beams have cracked, Connors said.

"The Pier is safe," he said. "There's no concern with the pedestrian or the vehicle traffic, but we won't be able to say that in 10 years. It's just nearing the end of its useful life."

The city likely would borrow the money to build a new pier, Connors said.

The city's plan is to keep the Pier open during construction. Connors gave the City Council three preliminary scenarios.

In the first, and most expensive, the Pier approach and base would be replaced, which would take six or more phases of construction.

Cost for this plan is estimated at $40-million.

The second plan involves building two approaches to the Pier, one on either side of the existing approach. Then the middle approach would be demolished, Connors said.

This proposal would allow workers to rebuild half the Pier's base at a time and is the least expensive option, estimated at $25-million. But it doesn't address some of the problems associated with the inverted pyramid building.

"The inverted pyramid has some limitations in the vertical movement of patrons," Connors said. "If you were to start from scratch, you probably wouldn't build an inverted pyramid with the number of elevator banks we have now."

The third option is similar to the second, but the approach would be shortened to 600 feet from its current length of 1,200 feet. Also, the inverted pyramid would be demolished and a new building constructed.

Cost for that is estimated at $30-million. A shorter pier would reduce maintenance costs, which are estimated at about $250,000 per year, Connors said.

Among the factors still to be considered include the effect on the flight path from nearby Albert Whitted Airport and the mooring of boats next to the Pier.

The city has solicited bids for a consultant and is developing a plan to gather input from the public. Connors estimates it will be at least six years before construction begins.

Meanwhile, the Pier's tenants are experiencing the highest sales levels in recent history. Susan Robertson, the Pier's marketing manager, said April sales were up 19 percent from a year ago.

Pier tenants credit a rebound in tourism after 9/11 and a flood of visitors from the Chihuly exhibit at the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts.

But many of the small shopkeepers fear construction will end the boom.

"It will be bad for business," said Colleen Ford, manager of Just Hats, a store on the ground floor of the Pier. "A lot of people won't want to deal with the mess and the noise."

The Pier underwent a major renovation in 2001, when the city repaired the approach's three expansion joints.

Tenants said sales dropped to record lows.

But store owners interviewed Wednesday said they wouldn't object if the city decided to do away with the familiar inverted pyramid.

"The water is the attraction," said Dave Dahms, who owns DD Collectibles and Peppers on the Pier. "Not the shape of the building."

- Carrie Johnson can be reached at 727892-2273 or cjohnson@sptimes.com

[Last modified May 13, 2004, 02:20:18]
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/05/13/Southpinellas/Are_the_Pier_s_days_n.shtml

[Jahi98]

I am not surprised that St. PEte is slower. I mean, don't get me wrong - St. Pete is nice and they are doing a lot of good things, but 1) the complain about overcrowding where Tampa is now dying to get crowding and 2) the place has alwys been slower. I want it to pick up, but I think it will take time, for instance if people really did complain about Bayaway lofts - it is 500+ feet, ok. a bit tall for St. PEte. Tampa is fast tracking the two 600 or so footers and barely even discussing the 30 story ones. Thus, developers will put money in Tampa faster. It is pretty simple.

Lack of progressive thinking -- as long as it persists with the city leadership, St. Pete will never realize it's fullest potential. It's a city of "almosts". St. Pete, due to it's geography, could be the showpiece for innovative urban development in this state, but it's almost like our leaders (and many citizens) are scared to let go of the "old St. Pete".

Anyway, the new Dali Museum should be a nice replacement to the old Bayfront Arena. I hope USF does something nice with the land where the current museum is located -- perhaps a hotel/conference center.

They need to start over with the pier. Aside from the failing structure, it's just too cramped, and the atmosphere needs an upgrade.

[smiley]

I agree with the lack of pregressive thinking. I think part of that is never quite dealing with Tampa properly. Instead of worrying about Tampa (which they do even if they won't admit it - Like tampa worries about Orlando or Miami) they should jsut be themselves. They have a good thing going, they should push it. They also need to neutralize this Uhuru thing. Those people don't do anyone any good. They attack their own neighborhood while complaining about a lack of economic dvelopment, they jsut bitch. There are good leaders, they need to be pushed too.

Beleive it or not, I think a key here is to build a new, nice, retractable roof baseball stadium on the other half of the tropicanan field lot (where the original should have been). I know it costs money, but especailly with baseball and all the games, it will actually really boost the area away from the water. The present stadium just adds the impression of St. PEte as a perpetually half-assed place, even if it has good things going.

As for the Pier, they are crazy if they shroten it. Repalce the building - fine, but do not shorten it.

[Jahi98]

I agree with the lack of pregressive thinking. I think part of that is never quite dealing with Tampa properly. Instead of worrying about Tampa (which they do even if they won't admit it - Like tampa worries about Orlando or Miami) they should jsut be themselves. They have a good thing going, they should push it. They also need to neutralize this Uhuru thing. Those people don't do anyone any good. They attack their own neighborhood while complaining about a lack of economic dvelopment, they jsut bitch. There are good leaders, they need to be pushed too.

Beleive it or not, I think a key here is to build a new, nice, retractable roof baseball stadium on the other half of the tropicanan field lot (where the original should have been). I know it costs money, but especailly with baseball and all the games, it will actually really boost the area away from the water. The present stadium just adds the impression of St. PEte as a perpetually half-assed place, even if it has good things going.

As for the Pier, they are crazy if they shroten it. Repalce the building - fine, but do not shorten it.

St. Pete will never be Tampa. The sooner we realize it, the faster we can progress.

I agree with the Uhurus. As an African-American resident of the city, I see them as a big distraction. Their intentions are good. However, I don't agree with most of their ideologies and their way of doing things. IMO, it's time out in (south) St. Petersburg for all the marching and passing out of flyers with rediculous caricatures and comics. It's time for some true economic development, which is what people like Goliath Davis are working for.

I also agree with you on the stadium. They should build a new, retactable-roof stadium on the eastern portion of the property. Then on the west part of the property build a nice, open-air pedestrian mall with 5 or 6 restaurants/sports bars, a night club and 2 or 3 of sports and/or music-related retail outlets. Basically, do what they attempted to do on Central Avenue, which needs to be remodeled again and redeveloped (it looks like it belongs out on the beach somewhere). Put the parking in garages and have a transit station on-site. Now you have a winner. The Rays have a new owner now. Although he says the focus will be on building a winning team, I hope that new facilities are in the plans.

And, the pier...yeah...they shouldn't shorten the approach, but the building needs to be replaced with something bigger and flashier.

[John F]

I doubt St. Petersburg will foot the bill for another stadium....

I see the Rays relocating to anothe rpart fo the Bay area or even out of Tampa Bay at this rate.

There was talk of building a hotel near the stadium - never happened. If the Rays did vacate, St. Pete would be smart in keeping the arena and converting it into a Convention Center that trumps Tampa's in available and ammemnities.

And as for Progressive thinking -- Some in St. Pete have it but it's odd the citizens elected a staunchly conservative mayor.

[Jasonhouse]

St Pete likely couldn't support a convention center without massive investment, simply because there is little business climate like that in St Pete to support it. One can only have so many boat shows and garage sales.

If St Pete ever rebuilds the stadium DT, I would strongly suggest that it be built several blocks closer to the present "core", or they had damn well better build a monorail or trolley or something connecting it. (God, the Rays need a new stadium to compete and I pray they get it, even if it's in another city. These poor guys really helped this area out by fronting for a team, and they've done nothing but lose thier asses for thier effort. I personally refuse to see significant public money get spent on another stadium, but I DO feel for them)

[sarasotan]

Speaking of monorails in St. Pete, does anyone know the status of Pinellas' monorail intiative?

[Jasonhouse]

Basically dead in the water, as always. It isn't on the ballot, doesn't have any funding, and doesn't even really have a schematic design SFAIK. That's about as dead as something can be IMO.

[Jahi98]

I doubt St. Petersburg will foot the bill for another stadium....

I see the Rays relocating to anothe rpart fo the Bay area or even out of Tampa Bay at this rate.

There was talk of building a hotel near the stadium - never happened. If the Rays did vacate, St. Pete would be smart in keeping the arena and converting it into a Convention Center that trumps Tampa's in available and ammemnities.

And as for Progressive thinking -- Some in St. Pete have it but it's odd the citizens elected a staunchly conservative mayor.

If the Rays build a new stadium outside of DT, I'd rather see the dome demolished and the entire site converted to a nice, large-scale urban infill development that might include a hotel w/ meeting space, not a major convention center. In the grand scheme of things, St. Pete is not the place for Tampa Bay's major business convention center. That's not where St. Pete fits into the picture.

I always saw them building a new stadium in the Gateway area or in Tampa on the old Tampa Bay Center site. Well, the Bucs have that land now for their new training facility, and most of the land in Gateway is pretty much bought up with plans for new office or "mixed-use" developments. There is that strip of land between I-275 and Carillon, but I don't know what's up with that. Right now, I think DT St. Pete is their best option if they want to stay in Tampa Bay. However, they desperately need a new stadium. I hope they get it within the next 5 to 7 years. If done right, it could really work to expand the "core", and spur redevepment in that activity gap between the stadium and the current "core" (the area between 4th and MLK Streets).

As for the monorail, it never made it past the sketchpad. I think it will be another decade before any type of rail is built in any part of St. Pete or Pinellas County. Outside of Gateway, traffic really isn't much of a headache in St. Pete, unlike Tampa, and I don't think there's enough "critical mass" in DT St. Pete to warrant a monorail yet. A nice light rail line from DT St.Pete to Gateway to DT Clearwater would greatly benefit St. Pete and Pinellas County as a whole, but I don't think people really see the value of it yet.

You're right, John F. Our mayor, although somewhat pro-development, is very conservative, but I think he does represent the prevailing attitude of many of the city's residents. There are definately some progressive thinkers in our city government. I know of one city planner that is very progressive in thinking. However, you will find that a conservative attitude still persists in the city among residents and elected officials. They are trying desperately to hold on to the "old St. Pete", but that's going to start to stunt growth and development in the city.

[smiley]

Costs squeeze condo tower designers
Construction of the Station Square in downtown Clearwater will be delayed, as will sale of a city parking lot.
By JENNIFER FARRELL, Times Staff Writer
Published May 19, 2004

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


CLEARWATER - Plans for a high-rise condominium, restaurant and retail tower downtown have been sidetracked as developers scramble to contend with the skyrocketing price of building materials.

Approved in February, the Station Square project was supposed to begin construction next month, next to the city's historic downtown post office on Cleveland Street.

But after the recent spike in concrete and steel prices, developers retooled the plans to make them more efficient, said Nick Pavonetti, director of development management for Beck Development LLC.

"We've squeezed out a bunch of wasted space," he said Tuesday.

Instead of a U-shaped high-rise, the tower is now centered in the middle, with indentations on the east and west sides.

"It's sort of an H with a fat middle bar," Pavonetti said.

The changes are minor and should only delay construction by 30 days, according to Pavonetti.

"We don't consider there's anything negative going on," he said.

But the pending sale of a city parking lot that would accommodate the deal is on hold until the new plans receive final approval.

Developers had inked a deal with the city to remake the public parking lot next to Station Square Park and include a restaurant and retail space on the ground floor. Under the agreement, the developer would buy the lot, while the city would put up $1.25-million in exchange for 100 public spaces in the complex's garage.

A closing that had been scheduled last month has been postponed, according to Assistant City Manager Ralph Stone.

"It would have closed had they decided to go forward with original designs," he said. "We're waiting for them to make the adjustments on the design and then we'll close."

Pavonetti said he expects to file the new plans this week.

Depending on how much the plans change, Beck will need staff approval and perhaps another nod from the city's Community Development Board, Stone said.

Designers have shifted the pool from the east side of the building to the south side, above the parking garage, according to Pavonetti. Also, he said, the condos have been made larger, reducing the total from 146 to 128.

The $42-million project is still planned for a height of 158 feet.

Ray Cassano, a downtown property owner and health food distributor, who also is prominent in local Scientology circles, is heading a group of local investors backing the project.

Designed by Beck, a Dallas builder, the complex would be the first high-rise, mixed-use redevelopment project downtown in 15 years.

- Jennifer Farrell can be reached at 445-4160 or farrell@sptimes.com

[Last modified May 19, 2004, 01:00:42]
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/05/19/Northpinellas/Costs_squeeze_condo_t.shtml

[Jasonhouse]

It's always something with Clearwater projects. Little seems to get without sdoe sort of unexpected drama. It's almost as if the city has been stigmatized or cursed or something.

(like the bridge repairs, which will delay things almost a year!)

[smiley]

They are cursed. IF the city wasn't dominated by Scientology (regardless fothe merit or lack thereof of that particular philosophy) it would be booming now. They kill the tax base and scare people away - you have to admit many people think they are freaks - regardless of whether they are or not.

[ToniJH]

Hi folks

Im new here and i want to share my photos/screenies here.
So here is my first one. What do you guys think about this, my virtual St Pete(MS Flight Simulator 2004 COF).
http://pics.xs.to/pics/spt.jpg

[Jahi98]

Looks pretty good!

[Jahi98]

Sports hall plan hailed as catalyst
An $80-million downtown development could swivel on the arrival of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame.
By SHARON L. BOND and CARRIE JOHNSON
Published June 2, 2004

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http://www.sptimes.com/2004/06/02/images/xlarge/B_1_1bhof_188323_0602.jpg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


http://www.sptimes.com/2004/06/02/photos/sportshalloffame.gif



ST. PETERSBURG - The Florida Sports Hall of Fame would move to a new building near Tropicana Field as part of a larger development that would include 320 condominiums, restaurants and offices.

Grady Pridgen is the developer of the $80-million project, which would cover more than 3 acres on Central Avenue east of 16th Street S. He said it is the largest contiguous piece of available property in downtown St. Petersburg.

If the project is completed, it would re-energize an area that has not benefited as much from baseball as city officials once predicted. It also would provide new life to the hall of fame, which closed its Lake City site in 2001 and has kept memorabilia in storage from such sports stars as tennis' Chris Evert, drag racing's Don Garlits and football's Bobby Bowden.

The unnamed project is still in its preliminary stages. Pridgen said he has purchased one small parcel at the northeast corner of 16th Street and First Ave. S, where a restaurant now stands. He is scheduled to close on the remainder of the property in July.

Pridgen, who has announced several residential developments in the Tampa Bay area recently, is planning to build three interconnected five-story buildings. The first floor of each would be retail and office space.

The development also would include 40,000-square-feet of retail space featuring two or three restaurants and an art gallery. A pedestrian plaza would overlook Booker Creek, Pridgen said.

The condominiums would be priced between $150,000 and $250,000, considerably less expensive than other recent residential developments in downtown.

The Florida Sports Hall of Fame, which announced last year that it wanted to move to St. Petersburg, has a signed letter of intent from Pridgen and plans to build a new 20,000-30,000 square-foot facility on the site, said Darrell Brandimore, the hall's development director.

The hall's building will be paid for through a $4-million capital fund-raising campaign. Details will be discussed at the 2004 induction ceremony Sunday at Tropicana Field.

The building probably will be shaped like a cylinder to complement Tropicana Field and provide more natural light, Brandimore said.

Inside, he said, there will be an emphasis on educational information and interactive materials for children.

The project is planned for the Dome District, which connects downtown to the economically struggling area known as Midtown. City officials hoped the arrival of Major League Baseball in 1998 would encourage development, but it did not do as well as they had hoped.

Pridgen's project would sit next to Ferg's Sports Bar, which has built a good business while others trying to take advantage of the crowds from Tampa Bay Devil Rays games have not been as successful. Many restaurants and clubs have opened and closed.

"We're hoping this project will spur additional development in Midtown," Pridgen said.

Kevin Dunn, managing director of development for St. Petersburg, said a project of the magnitude Pridgen is considering for Central Avenue would be a shot in the arm for the area.

"We certainly would be delighted to see some new project evolving out there," he said.

Mayor Rick Baker said he has not seen final plans for the project but was cautiously optimistic.

"It's still fairly preliminary," Baker said. "But obviously there are a lot of good things going on in downtown right now."

Pridgen was known primarily for commercial development in the Tampa Bay area until recently, when he announced several residential projects. One is Bayway Lofts, a $50-million project that would be 42 stories high, downtown St. Petersburg's tallest building. The project now is being redesigned.

Pridgen also plans to build a $350-million mixed-used development on the Imperial Yacht Basin off Gandy Boulevard in Hillsborough County.

Two years ago, he bought land in mid-Pinellas from the city of St. Petersburg for just under $5-million and plans to build businesses and homes there. Pridgen also owns a vacant former church and parish hall in downtown St. Petersburg, where he lived for a while and planned to develop a restaurant.

Last year, he bought baseball star Dwight Gooden's custom home in Pinellas Point for $1-million and moved his family there.

Pridgen is buying the biggest chunk of the Central Avenue land from Low Investments, a group of about 35 investors. Some of those investors are connected with Derby Lane, the greyhound track on Gandy Boulevard.

Closing on that land is set for July, according to a spokesman for the investment company. The land now is used for a parking lot.

Some City Council members expressed concern Tuesday that Pridgen may be overextending his reach.

"I think what he's doing is acquiring more and more projects and he's not going to complete them," said council member Virginia Littrell, who has been critical of Pridgen in the past. "He's just trying to leverage them."

Pridgen dismissed those fears and said he will complete the development.

Council member Earnest Williams, whose district includes the proposed project as well as portions of Midtown, said he's waited a long time to see investment in the area.

"People sometimes want to see things happen right away," Williams said. "But you've got to wait for the right project. I think this is going to be a positive step for the city."

[Jahi98]

When I read the headline, I was prepared to read that it was another project for Tampa. I was pleasantly suprised to see this was St. Petersburg, and it was just the type of project needed for that section of Central Avenue. In fact, that whole stretch from MLK to 16th Street should be filled with similar projects. Although it's yet another Grady Pridgen venture, I believe that this one probably has one of the greater chances, if the the greatest chance, of being built.

[smiley]

HEre's a couple more St. PEte things I ran across. The first looks like the the people who are doing Franklin residences in Tampa brought their concept of no street action to St. PEte.

http://images1.e-net.com/smith/Development/full/170.jpg

As I have no info on this I will put the realtor's propaganda:

Description:
Casablanca Towers, an awe-inspired Mediterranean concept offering a host of amenities that brings the feel of old world living and blends it into the heart of downtown St. Petersburg. Traditional by nature but contemporary be design, this extraordinary condominium offers incredible views, outdoor living facilities for your leisure and/or entertaining pleasure around the shimmering pool with whirlpool and deck. Just outside the doors awaits all that downtown St. Petersburg has to offer and beyond. Shopping, leisure activities, parks and recreation areas, museums, performing arts, restaurants, professional sports venues and much more are close by. Casablanca Towers is among one of the best values in the downtown.

Location is a couple of blocks east fo Tropocana Field's parking lot.

HEre is a little loft job near Mirror Lake, an area with much more potential than present reality:

http://images1.e-net.com/smith/Development/full/169.jpg

Nothing overwhelming, but decent filler.
Here is the propaganda (I guess Dr. Goebels was out when this was posted):
Development Type: Townhomes
Priced from $129,900

[rayman]

I thought it was st petersburg in russia but this st petersburg looks kinda tropical :laugh: anyway the skyline is bad but it looks romantic in some way , walking there when the sun sets ;) sounds nice

[Jahi98]

Didn't know about Casablanca Towers.

Also, $129,000 is an excellent price.

[Lakelander]

Utility aims to replace museum with tower

The company wants to build downtown St. Petersburg's first new office tower since 1990 - and on land where Florida International Museum now sits.

By CARRIE JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Published June 5, 2004

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


ST. PETERSBURG - Progress Energy wants to build the first new downtown office tower in more than a decade on the site of the Florida International Museum.

According to its letter of intent, Progress Energy is seeking a developer to build a multistory building on the prime piece of city-owned property near the BayWalk entertainment complex. The city would be paid $1.5-million for the property, and the new building would have more than 200,000 square feet of office space and include room for retail and parking.

It would be the first office tower constructed in downtown St. Petersburg since the Bank of America tower in 1990.

Progress Energy would anchor the tower and sign a long-term lease. The project would take up a little less than half the block where the museum sits, between Central and First Avenue N., and 2nd and 3rd streets N. The remaining 50,000 square feet of the block would be available for another development.

"Progress Energy Florida has and will continue to play a role in the ongoing cultural and economic resurgence of downtown St. Petersburg," said Bill Habermeyer, president of Progress Energy Florida. "As this renaissance continues, we have tremendous confidence in the vitality of downtown St. Petersburg as both a business and residential center."

Progress Energy officials want the city to tear down the former Maas Brothers department store building that now houses the museum.

The deal is still in the preliminary stages. Mayor Rick Baker will ask the City Council for permission to run an advertisement giving 30-day notice of the transaction, which would allow others to bid for the property. The city also will conduct a study to ensure Progress Energy's price is in line with the current real estate market.

"If we are able to accept this," Baker said, "I think it will be a very, very positive sign for the future of downtown and the future of our city."

The City Council is expected to listen to a presentation about the proposal on June 10.

Progress Energy has about 600 employees and five locations in Pinellas County, including two floors of the Central Station building at 100 Central Ave.

All those employees would be consolidated at the new building, said Aaron Perlut, a company spokesman.

Company officials have searched for years for a new location to demonstrate the corporation's commitment to the area. In late 2003, they announced they were exercising an early exit option on the lease on the Central Station building, which was originally built by a developer hoping to lure a department store downtown.

Perlut said Progress Energy scouted dozens of locations for a new home and concluded the museum property was the best fit.

"We wanted to make an impression in downtown St. Petersburg," he said. "We can accomplish that with this site."

Progress Energy wants to close on the property by December, according to the letter of intent. Construction of the new building would begin three months after closing, with the completion date scheduled for 16 months after building permits are issued.

Accommodating that schedule would be challenging but not impossible, said Ron Barton, the city's director of economic development.

First, the museum would need to find a new home.

In January, the City Council approved a deal that would allow the financially struggling museum to move out of its oversized home and into an annex building it would share with St. Petersburg College.

But the move wasn't expected until 2007 because St. Petersburg College needs time to prepare the annex building for classrooms.

The museum has been in financial trouble for years and has received more than $6-million from the city. As part of the deal to move the museum out of the Maas Brothers building, the city also agreed to forgive $1-million in unpaid rent.

Barton said the city will help the museum explore options, including finding a temporary home.

"There could be a very low-cost scenario out there," he said. "It depends on the space and the location."

David Punzak, the museum's chairman, said the museum is willing to look at any proposals suggested by the city.

The quick move also would leave Central Station, in the heart of downtown, without a primary tenant.

Perlut said Progress Energy would work with the city to find other companies to fill that space.

Don Shea, president of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, said he didn't foresee problems finding new tenants.

"It's a good location," Shea said. "It should appeal to a number of different companies."

City Council member Jay Lasita said there are a number of details to review but his initial impression was favorable. He said he was pleased to see Progress Energy make a commitment to remain in downtown St. Petersburg.

"I'm also glad that there will be some commercial development there," Lasita said. "Residential development is good, too, but it's nice to see something else at that location."

[smiley]

So I guess 200,000 sq feet will be 12-20 depending on parking and other things

Progress Unveils St. Pete Plan
By CARLOS MONCADA cmoncada@tampatrib.com
Published: Jun 5, 2004




ST. PETERSBURG - Progress Energy has proposed constructing a 200,000- square-foot corporate headquarters and moving up to 650 employees to a prime city- owned site downtown.
In a letter Tuesday to the city, the utility offered to buy at least 30,000 square feet of land occupied by the Florida International Museum for $1.5 million. Progress Energy, which disclosed the letter Friday, leases its headquarters, at 100 Central Ave.

The company proposes a mixed-use development that would include street-level retail and a 200-space parking complex. Progress Energy wants to close the deal by Dec. 31. Construction would begin by March and take about 16 months.

City administrators will ask the city council Thursday for authorization to open negotiations with the company and to advertise for other offers.

The museum would have to relocate temporarily to make the site available for development. The museum eventually plans to move in with St. Petersburg College, which intends to build a 31,000-square- foot downtown campus.

Mayor Rick Baker said the project would stimulate downtown's revitalization and demonstrate the loyalty of Progress Energy, created when Carolina Power & Light Co. bought Florida Progress in 2000 for $5.3 billion.

``If we're able to successfully make this happen, then it would be a great statement by Progress Energy,'' Baker said.

http://www.tampatrib.com/Business/MGB275823VD.html

[smiley]

Condos sought at SunSpree site
A pair of busy developers want to add to their Clearwater Beach portfolio. But some council members aren't buying their latest idea quite yet.
By ROBERT FARLEY, Times Staff Writer
Published June 11, 2004

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CLEARWATER BEACH - The same men who plan to bring a landmark four-star resort to the heart of Clearwater Beach now have unveiled plans to replace an aging beachfront hotel at the southern end of the island with two 14-story condominium towers.

The $80-million project from developers Mike Cheezem and David Mack would feature 150 condos and 12 townhouses priced from $600,000 to $1.2-m