Three-story townhomes to settle on the water

The 11 units, from $370,000 to $425,000, will have private elevators and boat slips. More are coming elsewhere.

By KATHY SAUNDERS

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 20, 2000

TREASURE ISLAND -- By midsummer, the first of 11 townhomes should occupy one of the last vacant parcels on the city's waterfront.

The El Nido Townhomes of Treasure Island, which are under construction on Gulf Boulevard, across the street from the Island Inn, are one of three developments planned around town this year.

Each of the El Nido units, priced from $370,000 to $425,000, will have a private elevator and a boat slip, according to general contractor Sven Dumont. Eight of the 2,400-square-foot townhomes will be on the Intracoastal Waterway. The other three will face Gulf Boulevard.

"Those three will have gulf views from the third floor," said real estate broker Gail Byrne, who is selling the units for Dumont.

The three-bedroom, three-bath homes will be built in a tropical or Key West theme with hardwood floors, glass front doors, tin roofs, high ceilings and large balconies. The buildings will be yellow with white trim.

Private hot tubs are planned for each unit. One on the end of the development will have its own swimming pool.

The ground floor of each of the three-story townhomes will include garage space for up to six cars, Dumont said.

Construction is expected to be completed on the first units by the end of July.

Dumont said he has built similar townhomes in Indian Shores as well as beachfront duplexes in Indian Rocks Beach.

When he finishes the El Nido project, Dumont said he plans to begin building eight to 10 more townhomes on four lots purchased last year by Byrne and her husband, Leslie.

Byrne said she and Dumont are partners on the project to demolish the Murray Cottages and construct townhomes along the Intracoastal, just north of the El Nido development.

"They will be similar in style and price to the El Nido townhomes," Byrne said, adding that they also will include private elevators and boat slips.

Byrne also is planning to build four townhomes on the Isle of Capri with local developer Robert Yankanich.

The pair purchased the empty lot at the northeast corner of Second Street E and 126th Avenue about six months ago and plans to break ground for the townhomes in a month, Byrne said.

The preconstruction price for the Isle of Capri Townhomes is $199,000. The three-bedroom, 21/2-bath units will have about 2,000 square feet of living space. Private elevators are not included in the purchase price, but they will be offered as an option, Byrne said.

"People really want elevators now," she said.

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