Stopgap possible for parking
By MIKE DONILA
Published February 14, 2007
CLEARWATER - BeachWalk construction will begin chiseling away at public parking on Clearwater Beach next month, but city officials think they have a stopgap to help visitors during the busy tourist season.
The City Council on Thursday will discuss a plan to lease at least 67 spaces just south of the roundabout. If approved, the spaces will be available for $8 per day.
Officials might create the temporary parking to ease BeachWalk's impact.
More than 500 of the south beach's 750 spots will be eliminated in the next few years as the project transforms S Gulfview Boulevard into a winding promenade with expansive walkways, plazas, greenery and fountains.
The first phase, which starts in early March, will eliminate roughly 280 spaces over the next year.
"There is no way with a project of this scope that we're not going to have a period where people are not inconvenienced," said Doug Matthews, director of communications for the city. "It's just not possible."
The $30.4-million BeachWalk project is scheduled to be complete in September 2009.
As proposed, the city would lease the spots for $120 per space per month from the developer of a neighboring project, so Clearwater would pay roughly $8,000 per month overall.
But city officials expect to make $190 per month in revenues from each space, so the city possibly could clear about $4,700 a month.
"We'll probably make a nickel or two with the projections we've got right now," Assistant City Manager Garry Brumback said. "If it makes money, that's great, but if not, well, we're just trying to provide a service."
A city attendant would monitor the spaces.
Most of the spaces - 51 - would be where Coronado Drive and S Gulfview Boulevard split. An additional 16, including three for people with disabilities, would be in a small lot on the other side of First Avenue and Coronado Drive.
City officials said there's also a chance that the city could create 60 more temporary metered spots further down S Gulfview Boulevard.
If approved, the city will level part of the temporary parking area and restripe other parts next week. The work would be done in-house with minimal costs, city officials said.
During a work session Tuesday, city staffers discussed the proposal briefly with the council, which meets again Thursday.
There is, however, one initial concern.
Although an attendant would collect money during the beach's busiest months, the city would have an attendant there only on weekends in the summer. Mayor Frank Hibbard said he was concerned that the city could "cannibalize itself" during the week because visitors would opt to park in what would essentially be free parking rather than paying for city-owned spaces.
"But ultimately we want to provide as much parking as we can," Hibbard said.
Construction on the Hyatt project, called the Aqualea Resort and Residences, began late last year. Officials said a parking garage that is part of the Hyatt could be ready within a year. That garage will include 400 public spaces.
Under the temporary parking proposal, the city would rent the spaces monthly, probably until the end of September, when development for the Kiran Grand Resort and Spa is expected to start.
Kiran officials had planned to build on the 2.7 acres last summer, but slow advance condo sales and an increase in the price of construction materials and labor delayed the project.
Mike Donila can be reached at 727 445-4160 or mdonila@sptimes.com.How to place an obituary or funeral notice
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