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Proponents of the $30-million project say it would help relieve blight and promote tourism in the region.
By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 2, 2001
CLEARWATER -- Making over Gulf Boulevard could take three years and cost $30-million, a cautious but clearly enthusiastic Pinellas County Commission was told Monday.
Nearly two-thirds of the money would be used to bury utility lines along the 20.7-mile road that stretches along the county's beaches.
The commission heard for the first time the full proposal for improving the look, safety and accessibility of the entire length of Gulf Boulevard from Clearwater Beach to St. Pete Beach. The proposal was the result of more than a year of meetings among officials of both the county and all affected beach communities, as well as representatives of public utilities, beach tourism and businesses.
"I am very supportive of this project," said Commissioner Karen Seel. "My biggest fear for Pinellas County is the emphasis Orlando is placing on being a one-stop destination for tourists. To keep people over here we're going to have to make some necessary improvements."
Gay Lancaster, the interim county administrator, said, "This is the culmination of a long period of work, and we have important next steps to take."
The commission is expected to give its "conceptual support" for the Gulf Boulevard project later this month and authorize a 90-day formal study of how to pay for the project and how the various pieces would be done.
"It's a wonderful project and we're all enthusiastic about it, but what I don't want to see on the table is displacing other Penny (for Pinellas) projects. We must look for other sources for the board's share of it," cautioned Commissioner Barbara Sheen Todd.
As proposed, the county would be responsible for half the projected $30-million cost. The beach communities would be responsible for the other half. The entire cost could also be offset by state and federal grants.
Assistant County Administrator Rick Dodge, who spearheaded the Gulf Boulevard project, stressed that other Florida communities have "moved the bar" in their beautification efforts to attract tourists. "We need to move to remain competitive," he said.
"Gulf Boulevard has a rather unaesthetic appeal, and there is visual blight all along the road. We have to deliver a product that people are expecting and more," said Phil Graham, the landscaping architect who worked closely with the planning group.
The most significant change recommended for Gulf Boulevard is putting the utilities underground, a project estimated to consume more than $20-million of the total project cost. The proposal also calls for "thematic" landscaping that would both unify and identify the individual beach communities, as well as coordinated signs all along the roadway.
"We need to lean heavily on Florida Power, big time," said Todd, who also said FEMA and other federal funding should be part of the financing mix.
Todd couldn't resist a dig at the latest DOT traffic control installations: "We need to get a message to DOT. We've got to get rid of those hideous sewer tubes. I don't want them on the beaches, and I want them taken out of Pinellas Park."
Commissioner John Morroni, while describing recent talk of creating a separate county for the beach communities "counterproductive," said he was excited about the beautification project.
"We need to continually think about our future and improving the beaches," said St. Pete Beach Mayor Ward Friszolowski.
"This is the only way we can prevent Pinellas County from becoming a destination of the past," said Commissioner Kenneth T. Welch.