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City picks builder for Gateway

Commissioners prefer the lower-density plan from Pizzuti Solutions for the downtown site.

By SHEELA RAMAN
Published February 20, 2007

DUNEDIN - City leaders took a big step Thursday toward the building of a multimillion-dollar mixed-use project downtown.

City commissioners unanimously designated Pizzuti Solutions of Columbus, Ohio, as the developer for the Gateway tract, a city-owned 4.1-acre property on State Road 580.

Pizzuti plans to build a complex that includes an upscale grocery store, retail and office space, and workforce housing. The tract currently houses office buildings that the city leases to Morton Plant Mease Health Care and Izone.com.

Pizzuti approached the city with a $3-million offer for the land and a proposed investment on the project of $32-million.

Transwestern/Chesapeake, the other prospective developer, offered $3.5-million for the land and estimated it would invest $40-million in the project.

Commissioners arrived at their decision after hearing representatives from both developers present plans for the site.

At the start of the meeting, City Manager Rob DiSpirito recommended Pizzuti as his developer of choice.

"Their concept is less dense and more compatible with the open-space downtown," DiSpirito said.

He also noted that Pizzuti has more experience in public-private partnerships than Transwestern/Chesapeake does and has an architect on its staff who is certified in designing green buildings.

The Pizzuti design for the property includes 62,485 square feet of office space, 22,000 square feet of retail space and a 14,000-square-foot gourmet market.

As of now, the residential component has 27 units and encompasses about 41,900 square feet. There would be a parking lot at the rear of the building.

Transwestern/Chesapeake planned to combine 50,000 square feet of retail space, 20,000 square feet of office space and a 20,000-square-foot gourmet market, in addition to 120 condominium and apartment units at about 1,000 square feet each.

The plan was much denser than the Pizzuti plan and would have required a parking garage because much of the property would be filled with buildings.

The bulk and density of the Transwestern/Chesapeake project was a major turnoff to commissioners, although some appreciated the emphasis on workforce housing.

"I would like to see more affordable housing in the Pizzuti plan, but they have said they are willing to work with us, so I'm sure that can be arranged," Commissioner Julie Ward Bujalski said.

"Pizzuti was very responsive and professional all the way through this selection process," Commissioner Dave Eggers said. "This is like a job interview. We were also looking at the conduct and qualifications of the developer, not just their site plan."

Commissioner Deborah Kynes acknowledged that the Pizzuti design still needs some work but said she is confident that the firm has the capability to meet the city's needs.

She was most impressed that Pizzuti aimed to place local vendors in the retail space.

Pizzuti will now undergo a feasibility study that will last about 60 days. Then the city will vote on the actual sale of the tract, and after that, Pizzuti will have to go through preliminary and final site plan approval.

Kynes said construction on the site will probably begin in March 2008.

[Last modified February 19, 2007, 22:56:34]