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Harbourpointe project tweaked

Underground parking will be eliminated at the multiuse complex. Some Safety Harbor leaders fear traffic snarls.

By EILEEN SCHULTE
Published December 7, 2005

SAFETY HARBOR - The City Commission unanimously approved Olympia Development Group's third amended site plan at a Monday meeting, eliminating a level of subterranean parking at the $30-million Harbour Pointe multiuse complex.

Although a slope will make it appear, from the vantage point of Main Street, that the parking level is underground, "nothing will be underground," said Edward Entreken, vice president and chief financial officer of Olympia.

The project, which includes a three-story, 45,975-square-foot commercial and retail building at Main Street and Bayshore Boulevard, a five-story condominium building and eight townhouses, will have a total of 213 parking spaces. The condos will be constructed on top of one level of parking.

To make up for the loss of underground parking, Olympia will demolish the Waterview Apartments at 155 Second Ave. S and create 34 spaces on the 15,000-square-foot site next to Harbour Pointe.

Entreken said eliminating a parking level, which also shortens the condominium building by 3 feet, was a "cost driven" decision.

In November, he told the Times "it is cheaper to provide more surface parking than underground parking," and that "the soil isn't good" at the site and it "has a lot of clay."

But the mayor and commissioners didn't want to discuss cost.

"Will there be enough parking for all the retail (shops) and restaurant being built?" asked Mayor Pam Corbino.

"With the mix of tenants, we feel there is enough parking there," Entreken said.

The commission voted to approve the change.

"I would have loved to have more parking in Safety Harbor, but I was glad they were above the minimum," said City Commissioner Nadine Nickeson after the meeting. "Parking is at such a premium downtown."

The city mandates 163 spaces for a project of that size.

Despite the fact that Olympia is building more than the required number of spaces, some commissioners predict a congested downtown when Harbour Pointe is done.

"I'm not happy about the project, but it better be successful," said City Commissioner Kara Bauer. "If it isn't, we will have a big problem. Parking is a huge issue. There's only so much geography there."

At one time, the city considered buying the Waterview property to build a parking garage, "but we couldn't make it work," said City Commissioner Nadine Nickeson.

She said the city simply could not afford the estimated $500,000 price.

Entreken told commissioners the multiuse complex will be open in April. He said at least 80 percent of the retail space is already leased. Among the tenants so far are Crispers restaurant, Cold Stone Creamery, Great Clips for Hair, a wine store and a women's clothing boutique.

He said Olympia is also "very close to signing with a nationally known coffee company," but would not name the company.

Eileen Schulte can be reached at 727 445-4153 or schulte@sptimes.com

[Last modified December 7, 2005, 00:34:15]