Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADAThe Redington Shores commission recently upheld variances to structural heights for a construction project.
REDINGTON SHORES - Major redevelopment of 175th Avenue will continue despite efforts of some residents who complain the planned luxury duplexes are too big and too high.
Four separate appeals to variances granted by the town's Board of Adjustment for the Palms of Redington Shores project were rejected recently by the town's commission.
"I feel the variances are not a hardship to the developers and our town will lose its character, as we know it, forever," resident Mary Purcell-Evans said.
"I am just real disappointed in how things are being handled by the commission in not following our codes."
She and other residents argued that the additional height allowed to accommodate elevators and cabanas will create a canyon effect on 175th Avenue. They also objected to reduced rear setbacks granted the builder.
"Cabanas on top of roofs just encroach on height restrictions," said resident Stefan Corts, who argued they "clutter" the roof line.
Susan Guise said she didn't have a "problem" with the building height but did object to the setback variances. "I am concerned this sets a precedent and creates a massive cement barrier facing Gulf Boulevard," she said.
Guise said the variances "present a detrimental change to the architecture of the community."
Richard Gannaway, project manager, countered that the buildings are "in harmony and consistent with neighborhood."
"This redevelopment, which is welcome and obviously a high quality building structure, should be held to town codes as existing residents are," Christy Herig insisted..
Other residents liked the project and praised town officials for granting the variances.
"It's nice to turn down 175th and see something besides a beat-up duplex," one resident said.
Sam Myerson said the project "is awesome" and "is going to be a great, great improvement for town."
"I've lived here 22 years and have always been a little ashamed of 175th. I really do like what is going on. It sure looks first class. Thanks for the changes," Cal Johnson said.
The commission listened to the testimony with little comment and then voted unanimously to uphold the variances for 10 properties now under development.
"It appears the board made the appropriate decision," Commissioner Lee Holmes said.
When completed, the project will line 175th Avenue with luxury duplex townhomes selling for more than $700,000 each. Each two-unit, Mediterranean-style building will rise 21/2 stories over parking, and include an elevator and rooftop cabana.
This is not the only redevelopment going on in this 50-year-old beach community.
A half-block to the north is the former Parsley's Mobile Home Park, now a 23-acre construction site that eventually will become a $150-million-plus gated condominium and housing development. The Redington Shores Yacht and Tennis Club will include swimming pools, tennis courts and boat slips. Each unit will cost between $565,000 and $1.5-million.