 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Sunken Gardens restoration plan gets commission okay
By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA © St. Petersburg Times, published May 6, 2001 ST. PETERSBURG -- After seeing a computerized vision of Sunken Gardens restored to its Mediterranean Revival former self, the Environmental Development Commission on Wednesday unanimously endorsed the project site plan. The exterior renovations, a new parking lot and new landscaping "will do a great deal to enhance the beauty of Fourth Street," said architect John Toppe of Harvard Jolly Clees & Toppe. The city will restore the exterior of the Coca-Cola building, constructed in 1927, to its original style. The interior will include a grand lobby shared by Sunken Gardens and Great Explorations -- The Hands-on Museum. The commission also approved the closure of 18th Avenue N from Fourth Street to the rear of the Sunken Gardens property. A new main entry to the gardens will line up with the Outback Steakhouse planned on the west side of Fourth Street. The first phase of renovations -- the building's exterior and parking lot -- will cost about $2.7-million. Construction is scheduled to begin in October and will take about a year. There is no timetable for the second phase, which will include renovations to the existing entry pavilion, construction of new maintenance buildings and a new animal services building south of the new main entry. Each month, the commission meets to consider proposed projects that require variances or site plan approval, or requests for alley or right-of-way easements. If the requests are not too far afield of city codes, the commission will recommend their approval to the City Council, providing the developer includes substantial green space and other changes to improve the project's appearance. Among other items considered Wednesday were: BED AND BREAKFAST: An existing but unpermitted expansion of the Mansion House bed and breakfast facility at 105 and 115 Fifth Ave. NE was ratified when the commission approved a special exception and site plan over the objections of the North Shore Neighborhood Association. "It seems to have become a trend in this city to develop first without a permit and then ask for forgiveness," said Susan Rebillot, president of the association, which argued that the requested parking variances would mean guests would be forced to park on the street. Rose Marie Ray, owner of the Mansion House, said the facility would use off-site valet parking. She also argued that the additional rooms in a second building were needed to make the facility profitable. "We have invested $900,000 in this property, and we hope you'll give us the variances because we need them to stay in business," she said. The Mansion House expansion was supported by the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Offshore Sailing School and some area residents. EDC Chairperson Sharon Heal-Eichler said that while the city was "correct" to cite the Mansion House for unpermitted code violations, "it is obvious you have a lot of support and you really have your hearts in it." BETHEL COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH PROPERTY: Despite the objections of the Lakewood Civic Association, the commission approved street, alley and easement vacations in the interior of Bethel Community's property at 31st Street and 54th Avenue S. The Rev. Manuel Sykes told the commission that the church, which recently expanded its property holdings, would be able to pay a lower property tax rate if the properties were consolidated. The property is currently taxed as 24 separate parcels, with a number of them failing to qualify for the church-use exemption. Residents' fears that the vacations would allow unwanted development were unfounded, according to city planners, who stressed that the property would remain zoned for residential use and any development would have to come back to the commission for approval.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From the Times South Pinellas desks |
