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For once, cheaper than expected

Adding bathrooms at a new water park to comply with health codes will cost $49,000. The original estimate was $200,000.

By JODIE TILLMAN
Published September 12, 2006

NEW PORT RICHEY - The city must pay an extra $49,000 to make sure its aquatic facility will comply with state health code requirements for public pools.

That figure is about a quarter of what the city originally estimated it would cost to make the changes at the $14.2-million recreation and aquatic complex under construction and expected to open by next spring.

The Community Redevelopment Agency, which is made up of City Council members, decides tonight whether to approve spending money on the changes.

Elaine Smith, the city's parks and recreation director, said the $49,000 would go toward building seven bathroom stalls in the pump house.

The state Department of Health requires a certain number of stalls within 200 feet of public swimming pools. Architect Harper Aiken Partners planned plenty of bathrooms in the original plans, but they were 220 feet from the pools.

The city contemplated constructing a freestanding bathroom, which officials estimated would cost as much as $200,000. Building the stalls in the pump house turned out to be cheaper.

The bathroom issue, however, wasn't the only problem when it came to complying with state code requirements for the pools. An Aug. 18 letter from contractor J. Kokolakis Contracting Inc. outlines 22 things the city must change, including a drainage system that would not sufficiently handle the water flow of a pool slide and lighting that would be inadequate for nighttime swimming.

Smith said the city will make up for the cost of those items with engineering modifications. The letter indicates the city also cut back on some things to save money, such as forgoing water cannons at the pools.

In other business at tonight's Community Redevelopment Agency:

- The agency will get an update on redevelopment efforts at the city-owned Hacienda. After requesting proposals for developing the vacant historic property, the city received only one proposal last month.

Andrew Ham of Community Development Partners Inc. has joined with Three Oaks Hospitality Inc. to propose redeveloping the property as an upscale lodge offering spa, dining and other uses.

City redevelopment officer Caprena Laliberte said officials are meeting with Ham this month to discuss his idea further. He has not indicated whether he would want to lease the property or buy it from the city.

- The second developer hoping to build in the Schwettman Oaks neighborhood and qualify for city grant money has come forward.

Wyndham Construction Services plans to build six three-bedroom homes in the struggling neighborhood, where the city has promoted home ownership as part of revitalization efforts.

If approved by the City Council, Wyndham would receive a certain amount of city redevelopment grant dollars - 10 percent of the sale price but not more than $20,000 - per home once it is built and sold.

Developer Gary Blackwell is building five homes in the neighborhood and will qualify for the grant money under the same redevelopment grant program.

- City Council members will also consider funding the first commercial applicant to the grant program.

Cracker Barrel, which is planning to open a restaurant in the South Gate Plaza on U.S. 19, is asking for $50,000 from the city to comply with a code requiring the company to "flood-proof" its building.

Laliberte said the grant program has been open to both commercial and residential developers, but no business had applied until now.

Jodie Tillman can be reached at 727 869-6247 or jtillman@sptimes.com.

[Last modified September 11, 2006, 22:41:10]