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Anclote Pointe Yacht Club plans snag on sale of marina

"Dockominium" developers blame the seller, who says he has lined up other buyers.

By MELIA BOWIE
Published January 26, 2005

HOLIDAY - A $12.5-million luxury "dockominium" yacht club proposed for Holiday could be on hold, say those involved with the project.

Plans to build Anclote Pointe Yacht Club, which made a big splash with colorful newspaper ads and a December open house, have "slowed down," said Ray Varner, who is selling his Holiday marina to the project's developers.

Dockominium developer Burke Hedges and his partners announced last year their intent to build the 255-unit project. It would be built on 3 acres Varner currently owns where he operates his Anclote Village Marina.

But Hedges and his partner in Dockominiums of Florida LLC have yet to buy the property from Varner, who said he has already granted one extension to the partners.

"Everything is still up in the air," Varner said Monday. "We don't know what's going on (and) they've asked for another (60-day) extension. It's confusing to me."

Hedges, however, said that plans to acquire the marina are still "full steam ahead" but added that the partners are waiting on Varner to complete contractual obligations. He also cited some delays in receiving permitting paperwork from the state.

Among the advertised amenities at the planned yacht club, Hedges said in December, is a $3.5-million club facility - complete with pool, restaurant and liquor lounge, 24-hour security and harbor staff. Other perks would include wholesale gas, food and beverage prices, plus valet parking for members who pay a $200 monthly association fee.

Construction on the private yacht club in Pasco is tentatively set to start late this year, after a similar Fort Myers project that some of the Florida Dockominiums partners are involved in is completed.

On Tuesday, Hedges, a motivational speaker and author, said "we were supposed to close on the 27th (of January). We're ready to close, but one of the conditions of the contract was everything had to be in order.

"We're still waiting on some due diligence from the seller," Hedges said, adding, "really, the ball's in his court."

Countered Varner, "that's what they're saying."

Hedges said he now anticipates closing on the Holiday marina in two to three weeks but "we've backed off on marketing until . . . we take possession of the property."

Should the deal fall through, however, Varner said he has other buyers lined up for the marina that he founded four years ago.

Anclote Village "was not for sale initially, but they (Dockominiums of Florida) approached me," he said. Now that it is on the market, his plans are to sell and "probably retire."

[Last modified January 26, 2005, 00:13:15]