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Mom-and-pop story has a clever development twist

A Polish immigrant who owns an aging beach motel has thought up a way to survive and thrive.

By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA
Published January 29, 2006

REDINGTON SHORES - Emily Macner may be 82, but she is still reinventing herself.

Some of her most vivid memories are as a teenager during World War II and then as a young mother of four struggling in Communist-controlled postwar Poland.

Today, she is one of Redington Shores' newest developers, intent on replacing her aging Sinbad Motel with six upscale Mediterranean-style townhomes.

She could have sold out to a developer, but, as throughout her life, she is determined to do it on her own.

In fact, redevelopment of the Gulf Boulevard landmark was not her first choice.

What she really wanted was to renovate the 18-unit 1950s motel, but as other motel owners here are finding, FEMA rules, current town zoning and building regulations, and the value of waterfront property forced the costs too high.

The lushly landscaped Sinbad, at 17819 Gulf Blvd., used to cater to a steady stream of winter and summer tourists who came year after year. But as the motel aged, the clientele changed. For much of the year it is now filled with local people living from week to week or month to month in the small rooms and apartments.

So, with the help of her daughter, Laura Puchowicz, they hired an architect, drew up some plans, and succeeded in getting town approval for some variances to build three two-unit duplexes.

"My mother is a very keen businesswoman," Puchowicz says. "She came to this country from Poland in 1959. Her parents were entrepreneurs and she is, too."

Macner's story is both unique and typical of many American immigrants.

Her mother-in-law was already living in this country and had become a citizen. She sponsored her son, Macner's husband, who came first. Five months later, he, in turn, sponsored Emily and their four children.

They settled in Hartford, Conn., where they worked for more than a decade in factories and saved their money. Then they purchased the historic Adams Inn, an old hotel and restaurant in North Woodstock, N.H., where they lived and worked for years.

During the winter, they often vacationed in Florida.

"It just got too cold. We heard about the Sinbad and decided to buy it," Macner says. And that, as they say, is history.

Thirty years later, her husband is deceased, but her son, Stanley, still lives with her and helps at the motel. Her daughter lives close by as well, and helped her mother work through the redevelopment process.

"It hasn't been easy," Puchowicz says. "Most mom-and-pops sell to developers. My mother didn't want to do that."

When they discovered they would have to reduce the number of motel units from 18 to about 10, they decided to build single-family residences.

"We wanted to make the motel better, but renovating the old structure would just have been a humongous problem," Puchowicz says.

They approached a bank for construction financing, but Macner thought the cost was too high. Instead, she plans to presell two units and another beach lot and use that money to begin construction. She plans to live in one unit and rent the other three.

Two signs in front of the Sinbad Motel announce the preconstruction sale. "We already have offers on some of the units," Puchowicz says.

Each of the six townhouses will have about 2,500 square feet, enclosed garages and balconies with iron railings. Red Spanish tiles will cover the roof. At the rear, large individual terraces and sliding doors will offer views of the Intracoastal Waterway.

They hope to replace a dock at the rear of the property.

"We hope to start construction in March or April, maybe sooner," Puchowicz says.

So, sometime next year, Macner will be living in her new home at the Emilia Townhouses, named for her as she was known in Poland.

Does she regret having to tear down the Sinbad? She shakes her head emphatically.

"No. I will still stay here in my new home. I like it here," she says.

And what about Poland, her homeland?

She did return once but has no interest in going back again.

"Nothing is like America," Macner says in her still thickly accented English. "I love Florida. America is a good country. I am happy now."

[Last modified January 29, 2006, 01:27:17]