Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

Tyrone project approved despite strong opposition

Residents fail to sway the development panel's okay of Shoppes at The Royale.

By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA, Times Correspondent
Published October 7, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG- Despite the impassioned pleas of more than two dozen residents on Wednesday, the Development Review Commission approved the construction of a five-story, 135-unit rental apartment building adjacent to the Crossroads neighborhood.

Failure in their effort to stop the project was a familiar experience for area residents, who unsuccessfully appealed approval of an earlier version of the project last April.

"I don't know what we will do now," said Carolyn Arnow, a neighbor who presented a lengthy traffic analysis that she said raised serious questions about the project's possible effect on her neighborhood.

Arnow asked the commission to deny any access to the site from 13th Avenue - a request the City Council denied in April. She also asked the commission to reject the proposed apartment building and require an independent traffic consultant to review the city's traffic study.

Arnow's comments were followed by testimony from dozens of residents who opposed the latest version of the project.

"It is much too big, much too hurriedly planned. The building will not attract Class A tenants," resident Morton Sherman said. "We have been ripped off."

The project the DRC considered on Wednesday was the third version. The original version, called Tyrone Crossings, included a town center with a mix of residential, retail, office and recreational uses.

A six-story building, in much the same location as the proposed rental apartments, was to have been a luxury condominium.

Then when the condominium market tanked, the project was redesigned, eliminating any residential component and adding a two-story Publix supermarket.

Residents liked the first version, but strongly opposed the second. Wednesday's third version was just as ardently fought by residents who fear their "quiet neighborhood" will be disrupted and devalued.

Teresa McDavid said she was afraid the redesigned project would attract "hookers and drugs".

Many residents said the apartment building, only 100 feet from the nearest single-family homes, would overshadow their neighborhood.

"I love my neighborhood. It is quiet, safe and beautiful. This plan is just a bad idea. This building is a monstrosity," said John Cautero.

Now called the Shoppes at The Royale, the entire project retains three existing buildings on the northern portion of the property - a 3,946-square-foot restaurant, a 2,650-square-foot medical office building and a five-story, 71,456-square-foot office building.

A two-story, 214,000-square-foot Publix supermarket will fill the center of the site, while the controversial apartment building will be located on the western side of the site.

"We have made big concessions on our project. I don't know what else we can do," said Les Porter, whose company, Porter Development, is redeveloping the block on 66th Street between 13th and 18th avenues N.

Porter said his team met with three neighborhood associations and worked closely with city planners to address neighborhood concerns.

"The intensity is far less than is allowed," stressed Ned Armstrong, attorney for the developer.

The city's planning staff recommended approval of Porter's project, saying that addition of rental residential would be "an exciting amenity for the Tyrone Center."

The entire project "should substantially further the revitalization of the Tyrone shopping district," the staff report concluded.

Other action by the DRC included:

NURSING HOME REDEVELOPMENT: Approved a site plan modification and street vacation, allowing the redevelopment of Palm Terrace of St. Petersburg, an existing 96-bed nursing home at 521 69th Ave. N. - No. 07-32000029, F-36.

RESIDENTIAL ZONE PARKING LOT: Approved a special exception and site plan for a parking lot in a residential zone that will service the renovated Central Avenue Hotel at Park Street and Central Avenue. - No. 07-32000031.

[Last modified October 6, 2007, 20:51:06]