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Postwar developer built strong Pinellas reputation

James Rosati Sr. built more than 5,000 homes and created seven major subdivisions in Pinellas.

By SCOTT TAYLOR HARTZELL
Published March 9, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - A bit elegant and completely innovative, James Rosati Sr. was the area's premier postwar developer. Friends called him "The Duke."

"He prowls muddy projects in royal raiment, never having switched costumes when he left the men's suit business for construction," journalist Douglas Doubleday wrote in 1961.

Upon arriving here in 1950, Rosati developed the city's first post-Depression subdivision. He then created the west coast's first orange grove subdivision and inspired concrete house construction. By the 1960s, Rosati was building 500 houses a year and had won numerous honors.

In 1950, Rosati's Tyrone Gardens garnered the National Association of Home Builders' first place award. His Orange Lake Village was featured on NBC-TV in 1957, and Skyview Terrace later earned Rosati Florida Illustrated's community award.

Rosati netted the 1960 Award of Merit from the American Institute of Architects for his Horizon Home for the disabled.

"Mr. Rosati and his sons have pioneered a new era in housing for the disabled . . . throughout the world," the press reported.

In Chicago before NAHB members in 1961, Rosati accepted Practical Builder magazine's "Oscar" - the country's highest construction honor.

"Rosati is recognized as one of the nation's leading home builders, and the unchallenged retirement home producer of the Florida west coast," Lynn B. Clark wrote for Women's Day magazine.

Born in 1898, Rosati finished his education and entered his father's clothing business. The New York City native tired of fashion in the 1920s and established his own plastering business before undertaking highway construction.

In 1923 Rosati married Ida Manieri.

"He gave us a wonderful life," said Genevieve Binda, 79, Rosati's eldest of three children. "He wore a smoking jacket every night. (He) sat next to me and taught me how to read."

"He was always teaching us," said James Rosati Jr., 73, Rosati's son.

During the war, while under government contract, Rosati built about 600 Virginia apartments for servicemen. He later cleared land for Idlewild Airport. At age 50 in 1948, Rosati began Tampa's 396-home Bel Mar Gardens.

Two years later, he moved here and initiated construction on the 400-home Tyrone Gardens, the first new-home development here in two decades. There, Rosati built the city's first postwar shopping center.

"Rosati was very successful," said surveyor C. Fred Duel, who worked with him on several projects. He was "an honest builder who knew how to market his developments."

By 1954, Rosati had launched Oak Valley Estates (168 homes at 67th Street and Eighth Avenue S) and Orange Hill (196 homes at 49th Street and 54th Avenue N). Orange Hill was the west coast's first development set amid an orange grove.

In 1954, Rosati began Orange Lake Village near Lake Seminole. He carved it into 1,026 lots and established perhaps the nation's first retirement village of homes. For $2 a month, residents enjoyed swimming and shuffleboard at Orange Lake's community center.

"Dad was an innovator," said Rosati's son Joseph, 76. "He felt that residents would rather live in a sturdy home constructed of cement blocks rather than a trailer. A one-bedroom, one-bath home with a carport sold for $5,995."

By 1956, Joseph and his brother James Jr. had joined Rosati as vice presidents. About two years later, the three developed Skyview Terrace on U.S. 19 in Pinellas Park.

"What a location," said Rosati, a golfer, fisherman and opera enthusiast. Some "15,000 cars a day using that highway."

Florida Retirement Village, the home of Rosati's Horizon Home for the disabled, was later added to Skyview.

With baseball great Roy Campanella in a wheelchair beside him in 1960, Rosati presented a model Horizon Home to Belleview Medical Center in New York. The father of President John Kennedy, a disabled Joseph Kennedy, would live in the home that had low-level faucets and wall switches and other handicap-friendly features.

In 1961, a train collided with Rosati's car. He suffered a broken leg, arm and ribs. His cousin was killed. That year the Rosatis developed Freedom Village, at Alternate U.S. 19 and 92 Avenue N.

Before his death in 1967, Rosati had built more than 5,000 homes and created seven major subdivisions countywide.

"He went into great depth and detail to answer construction questions," said James Jr. "It was his love."

Scott Taylor Hartzell can be reached at hartzel@msn.com

[Last modified March 9, 2005, 00:54:20]