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The developer says he is still working on the financing but has had offers.
By SHARON L. BOND, Neighborhood Times Business Editor
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 3, 2002
ST. PETERSBURG -- Plans for the Villas, a $70-million twin-tower, mixed-use project in the 400 block of Beach Drive, are back before the city for approval.
Developer Paul Morris resubmitted the plans he had before the city last fall but changed the 200 apartments to condominiums. The project also would have a parking garage and space for restaurants and shops.
Plans for the Villas were pulled in November before the Environmental Development Commission could act on them.
From the paperwork filed with the city's zoning division, the withdrawal appeared to be because Morris had not paid his architect, Calvin Samuels of CSJM Architects. Samuels actually withdrew the project from city consideration, using a power-of-attorney Morris had given him. The power-of-attorney said Morris had failed to pay Samuels $263,781 for work on the project.
But both men said the money had nothing to do with the project's being pulled, and Morris said in December he had repaid most of what he owed. Last week, he said Samuels remains the architect for the project.
The plans were withdrawn, Morris said, because he didn't have the financing worked out and feared he wouldn't before the plan went before the EDC. He said last week he still was working on the financing but had offers from several banks and two investment institutions.
The project would have twin 20-story towers, which each would have 100 condominiums. It is to be built on land owned by the John M. Hamilton family. Morris will sign a long-term lease for the land when his financing is in place.