Prices for the Bayshore Boulevard townhomes, the gated Villas at Seagate at St. Joseph Sound project, will range from $670,000 to $850,000.
By MEGAN SCOTT
Published June 4, 2004
DUNEDIN - After only a three-minute discussion, commissioners on Thursday unanimously approved plans to build 33 upscale townhomes on Bayshore Boulevard.
"The concept of townhomes in Dunedin does seem to fit," said Commissioner Dave Eggers in an interview before the meeting. "The market seems to be responding to townhomes. People are buying them up."
That's one of the reasons the development group chose to construct townhomes instead of condos.
When Ballast Point Group purchased the 4.5-acre, undeveloped site on the west side of Bayshore Boulevard north of SR 580 in November 2002, the plan was to build 33 high-end, Mediterranean-style condos.
But the group decided that townhomes would be a better fit.
"I don't like building condos," said Robert Fleeting, managing partner with the Ballast Point Group in St. Petersburg. "I prefer townhomes. You have a front door. You have your own garage. We actually found out we can save trees with this plan."
Under the approved site plan, the gated Villas at Seagate at St. Joseph Sound will consist of three-bedroom, three-bathroom townhomes in clusters ranging from two to four.
Each 3,000-square-foot townhome will have a four-car garage that comprises the first floor and a private elevator to carry residents from the garage all the way to the third floor.
Prices will range from $670,000 to $850,000.
The idea of townhomes is much better than that of condos, Fleeting said. The townhomes will be only three stories high, compared with the five stories approved for the condos. The new plan preserves most of the oak trees, which will be taller than the townhomes, which will have a height of 40 feet.
"All those big gorgeous oak trees there - we wanted to save as many as we can," said Ed Armstrong, a land use lawyer representing Ballast Point Group. "One of the big marketing features is the oak trees. We spent time with Dunedin staff coming up with a plan that saves as many oak trees as possible."
In an earlier interview, Commissioner Bob Hackworth, though, expressed some disappointment that Ballast Point changed its plan. The condos would have been in three separate buildings, as opposed to 33 townhomes across the property.
"But having said that, I also recognize that the developer basically has the right to do it," Hackworth said.
Fleeting hopes to begin construction on the townhomes in August, with the first families moving in around April. He said the townhomes will attract a variety of people, including empty nesters, upper-income singles and seniors who need the elevator service.
The townhomes are selling fast.
In five days, Fleeting sold 22. The most expensive homes, with the best view of the water, are already gone.
The Ballast Point Group was responsible for the 478-unit MacAlpine Place Apartments at Keene Road and Union Street.
The company is building six townhome and condo projects in the county, including the Villas at Seagate.
