Edgewater Residents Protest 'Eyesore'
Friends of Edgewater would prefer more park space instead of the large, unfinished home adjacent to the Edgewater Linear Park. The parcel is on the edge of the proposed Edgewater Drive Scenic Corridor Overlay.
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A huge, partially constructed waterfront home on Edgewater Drive was the site of a protest Jan. 23.
Friends of Edgewater would like to see the home, which may be sold at the end of the month, razed and the property added to an adjacent waterfront park.
Protesters held up signs in front of the property calling attention to the aesthetics of the property, the blocked view, and the need for parking and an entrance to nearby Edgewater Linear Park.
"It's just an ugly building. ... The purpose (of the protest) is to call attention that it's been years and years since it is sitting here. It's not the view issues; it's an eyesore," said Marti Royal, who has lived in Dunedin on and off since 1950.
The 11,198-square-foot parcel, at 570 Edgewater Drive, is listed on AOL Real Estate for $999,900. The listing states the home has nine bedrooms and nine bathrooms.
Dunedin Director of Planning and Development Greg Rice said the parcel is zoned only for a single-family home. The property's building permit expired in December. The city has heard the property is supposed to be sold by the end of January. The new owner would have 180 days to reinstate the building permit, which would come under current building code, Rice said.
Rice said he was not aware of any available funding for the city to buy the property and add it to the adjacent Edgewater Linear Park.
The property rests on the edge of the proposed Edgewater Drive Scenic Corridor Overlay. The corridor goes from the Edgewater Linear Park area to Union Street. The city, with input from residents, is creating a plan to preserve the area, Rice said. The proposed draft plans, which will be presented to the city commission in April, include:
- Preserving the Washington palms
- Possible lighting in the Edgewater Linear Park
- Designed landscape around the park's trashcans and benches
- Controlled signage along Edgewater Drive
- Uniform guidelines for crosswalks
- Preserving the historic look of the neighborhood
concerned citizen
6:13 am on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
I'm confused, the city is supposed to swap One Million dollars in tax revenue, outlay taxpayer money to purchase the property, more money to build a park in dire economic times?
Sounds questionable at best, mismanagement of taxpayer funds charges could follow?
What are the legal ramnifications of interfering with a currently binding sales contract?
Which city administrators are asking for the current sale to be halted?
Becky Robbins-Penniman
7:31 am on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
First, of course, the city would need to comply with all the legal requirements of a land purchase. That is not an issue.
Second, we are NOT in "dire" economic times, we are in challenging times. There is a big difference. That means we need creativity and a united citizen effort to accomplish what's best for the community as a whole.
Third, Pinellas County is 98% developed. There is no way to create more greenspace. Our waterfront is a precious, beautiful, irreplaceable asset.
This property is literally the front door of downtown Dunedin, and it could be a jewel of a welcome mat and a widely-used public resource. I live across the street from this property. Dozens and dozens of walkers and bikers come by every day. When I talk to tourists, or to people who come visit me from out of town, they almost always say, "Dunedin is so quaint and wonderful. But, what is THAT ugly thing?" and they point to the unfinished hulk. Even if it were finished, it would always be a huge zit on an otherwise lovely face. And once it's private, that's one more door slammed on the public's access to the waterfront. Ask folks on the east coast of Florida, or down on Marco Island, what it's like to have mile after mile of waterfront closed to public access from the road.
Creation and preservation of open, publicly accessible parks is not "mismanagement" of taxpayer funds. In fact, it's one thing taxes can do that private enterprise, by definition, cannot.
Bob Hackworth
8:28 am on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
To the concerned citizen above. Caladesi Island, Honeymoon Island, The Hammock, Weaver Park, the linear park on the west side of Alt. 19 on Edgewater Drive, and many more Dunedin Parks - all purchased or acquired from private property owners, all swapped property tax revenues for the preservation of public green space and access to the waterfront. All purchased by city leaders during past dire economic times and ALL now provide a far greater economic impact to the citizens of Dunedin than property taxes ever could have.