Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Townhomes may come with park

The developers behind a high-end townhome project offered that extra as a compromise with Dunedin officials.

By MEGAN SCOTT
Published January 21, 2005

DUNEDIN - It may not be as grand as the proposed Trump Tower Tampa, but a developer is planning to build 23 to 26 high-end townhomes in Dunedin ranging from $600,000 to $900,000 apiece.

The proposed San Ruffino complex on Wilson Street off Bayshore Boulevard features two- and three-bedroom units of about 2,600 square feet each, with private elevators and verandas, two-car garages, stainless steel appliances and granite countertops.

"There are five directly on the water, four more with views," said Aram Guluzian, who owns LIST Group Developers with John Lum. "The others won't have a direct view, but they will definitely have access to the water."

The condo townhomes will replace 28 rental cottages, all but one currently vacant.

"It's going to have a very dramatic Mediterranean style," said Jack Bodziak, project manager. "There are going to be wood floors, top-of-the-line appliances throughout, verandas on the first floor."

LIST bought out the contract of another developer who wanted to purchase the 2.5-acre property to build an 80-foot-tall condominium. That idea was met with resistance from the public and commissioners, who objected to the height.

These townhomes are about 35 feet high, two floors over garages.

"We just decided to go with the townhomes, and that's what we specialize in," Guluzian said. "We target empty nesters who don't want yard work and don't want maintenance."

Developers are planning to vacate the western right-of-way on Wilson Street from Bayshore Boulevard to the waterfront, and create a 40-foot wide, 500-feet long park with six parking spaces for the public.

A pool will be located at the end of Wilson Street overlooking the water. The community will not be gated, but a portion of the street will become a courtyard.

The park will serve as a buffer between San Ruffino and Seagate at St. Joseph's Sound, an upscale 33-unit townhome development under construction.

The park was a compromise with city officials who were concerned that vacating the right-of-way would eliminate one of the very few public accesses to the waterfront.

"This development is going to provide us with a new park, parking for the park, which we don't have, and the possibility of even building a dock," said Commissioner Dave Eggers. "It fits into our efforts to keep a small town feel."

Construction on the townhomes will be in phases and is expected to begin within 60 to 90 days. A grand opening for the sales center is scheduled Feb. 18. The center will be located inside the existing complex, 10 Wilson Street.

LIST, which stands for Land in South Tampa, has nearly 12 developments in the works throughout Pinellas County, including a 68-unit condominium on Madeira Beach and townhomes in the Old Northeast neighborhood.

The company has plans to build four commercial and residential projects on Kennedy Boulevard in Tampa, an area in the midst of revitalization efforts.

Megan Scott can be reached at 445-4167 or mscott@sptimes.com

San Ruffino is listed with LIST Realty Inc. For more information, call Martin Lum at (813) 310-7007.

[Last modified January 21, 2005, 00:29:18]