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Neighborhood report

Developer pitches big plans for yacht sites

The Gandy Civic Association withholds judgment on New Port Tampa Bay but does voice concerns about traffic.

By SHERRI DAY
Published April 15, 2005

Any developer seeking to build a large project in Sun Bay South would be wise to check in with the Gandy Civic Association.

The neighborhood association fights viciously against projects it opposes. Just ask St. Petersburg developer Grady Pridgen, who tussled with the group over plans to redevelop the Imperial Yacht Basin. Or the state Department of Transportation, which is still trying to figure out how to reconfigure Gandy Boulevard after the association fought a plan for an elevated road.

Wearing a lapel microphone, South Tampa developer Edward Oelschlaeger pitched his proposal to civic association members Monday night.

Oelschlaeger, the president and chief executive of EcoGroup, is now the lead developer for New Port Tampa Bay, a project that includes the Imperial Yacht Basin on Gandy Boulevard and two ship repair yards that abut it near West Shore Boulevard and Tyson Avenue.

In a slide show presentation, Oelschlaeger gave residents the first glimpse of his vision for the community. In addition to the 750 residential units on the Imperial Yacht Basin site, which the City Council approved in October, Oelschlaeger wants to build another 1,000 units.

Because the additional property is not zoned for residential use, EcoGroup plans to ask the City Council to rezone it on June 9.

New Port Tampa Bay would also include a public marina, promenade, community park, restaurants, offices and shops, Oelschlaeger said. Designs even bring the Friendship Trail through the development.

"It's going to be terrific for the community," he said.

Civic association members did not vote to support or oppose the proposed development. They did question how the influx of people and automobiles would affect the area's aging infrastructure.

Traffic problems topped the concerns.

"Right now, West Shore is backed up constantly, and that's before any of these projects have even started," said Ralph Lambert, a retiree who lives in the area. "It's only going to get worse."

Association president Michael Hursey questioned whether EcoGroup, based in South Tampa, could handle such a big project. He also expressed skepticism that the development, which will not be gated, will really be open to the surrounding community.

"The development will generate a large tax base for the city, but at what price and at whose expense?" Hursey said. "Is this "community' notion or "open to the public' reality or a selling point? Remember, a good salesman sells someone what they want, not what they need."

Calling the exchange open and frank, Oelschlaeger left the meeting encouraged.

"I thought it went very well," he said. "The issues on the traffic, obviously everybody is aware of them, and we just need to find solutions to it."

Construction is scheduled to begin by fall.

- Sherri Day can be reached at 226-3405 or sday@sptimes.com

[Last modified April 13, 2005, 16:39:09]