The site of "Truckin' for Jesus" near downtown Palm Harbor will be reborn as a gated community.
By RICHARD DANIELSON
Published March 24, 2004
PALM HARBOR - The former site of Stansell Trucking, a long-gone business once famous for the motto "Truckin' for Jesus," could soon be home to a gated townhome project.
Hillsborough County developers have submitted site plans for the Villas of San Marino at Palm Harbor, where the 64 townhomes would start at more than $320,000 each.
The redevelopment of the 8.5 acres would help transform what used to be a mostly industrial corridor into a more residential area, said Jim York, who is in charge of sales for the project.
"It's cleaning up the area," York said Tuesday.
Once built, sold and occupied, the townhomes also could give a welcome boost to the merchants and restaurants of historic downtown Palm Harbor, to the southeast across Alt. U.S. 19.
"It sounds like it's going to be pretty upscale, and if it comes to pass, it would definitely be good for the area," said Don Calhoun, who owns the block between Georgia and Florida avenues that's home to Eric's New World Bistro.
The project is being developed by Ronald A. Oxtal and Frank R. Hayden. In addition to the Palm Harbor project, they are also involved in completing a similar townhome project just south of Hillsborough Avenue at the northern end of Old Tampa Bay and adding townhomes to and improving the golf course at the old Country Club of Carrollwood, now known as the Emerald Greens Golf and Country Club at Carrollwood.
York said developers originally intended to build five light industrial buildings on the Palm Harbor site but found that similar property was selling for considerably less in Pasco County.
"We thought, let's change directions," he said.
Now developers plan to build 16 buildings, each with four two-story, three-bedroom, Mediterranean-style townhomes. Construction could start as soon as May. The first buildings could be completed six to eight months after that.
The company acquired the Stansell property about three years ago, York said.
The Stansell family drew widespread attention in the late 1970s when it had the slogan "Truckin' for Jesus" emblazoned on the side of its building and trucks.
At its peak, the company operated 90 trailers and hauled flowers and food to 48 states and Canada. But the owners had one strict rule: They refused to transport alcohol or tobacco.
At one point, the Campbell Soup company canceled its contract with Stansell because the company was afraid customers might see the motto on Stansell trucks in the Campbell parking lot and be offended.
The now-defunct trucking company filed for protection from its creditors under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy code in December 1999.
Although the property lies just outside Palm Harbor's historic commercial center, merchants there hope it would attract residents who would appreciate what the downtown has to offer.
The county has a series of extensive road improvements planned or under way downtown. Once those are finished, merchants hope the recently renovated White Chapel and recently built Harbor Hall buildings will attract more groups and events.
In addition, downtown merchants are trying to draw visitors to First Friday street parties, next scheduled for April 2, as well as special events such as the third annual Parrothead party on April 24 and a bike night May 15.
The benefits of those events and the road improvements could be enhanced by the arrival of a few dozen more residents, merchants said. "There are people that like to live near downtowns, and this is more of a suburban downtown," said Lesley Klein, owner of Oak Trail Books. "There are a lot of amenities in the area, so that you can walk or ride your bicycle. You don't have to drive."
