FACEDOWN ON 5TH AVE

A five-story, 18 unit midernist condominium project in one of St. Pete's oldest neighborhoods has been put on hold. But only temporarily. And maybe only until May 3rd, at 9 a.m. when City Council again meets as the Community Redevelopment Board at 175-5th Street North.

City Staff has already recommended approval. And City Staff has told us that their stamp of approval has never been rejected by the Board.

Tell me it ain't so.

Or tell me why City Staff thinks that the following opposites are not opposite?
1.) 5-story box building in a neigborhood of 1 and 2 story homes.
2.) Modernist, warehouse inspired architecture in an old neighborhood of craftsman bungalows and vernacular styles circa 1910-1925.
3.) Concrete and glass construction in a neighborhood of wood frame homes.
4.) Seven trees (maybe) on .28 acres in a neighborhood of lush tropical landscapes of front and back yards.
5.) A 40,000 square foot structure in a neighborhood of homes ranging from approximately 1,200 to 6,000 square feet.
6.)Only 19 parking spaces for a proposed 30+ bedroom condo, retail space and office space development in a neighborhood that already gets overflow parking from Baywalk, Straub Park and the Palladium.

Do you agree with City Staff that this project ''relates well to the context of the neighborhood''?

No, I'm not making this up. It's in Staff Report, Case No: CRA IRP #01-04

Sally Ann Lawson

Opinion vs facts

You are surely entitled to your opinion. But tell the facts.

The 5th Avenue Lofts would NOT be in the Old Northeast neighborhood. They would be in the downtown core. They are planned for the south side of 5th Avenue. That's downtown.

Directly across the street from the Lofts is a concrete bldg at least four stories tall. It is non-descript, non-historical box.

The Lofts property is NOT surrounded by a residential neighborhood of cute houses and single family dwellings. Or lushly landscaped properties.

One may object to the modernist style architecture proposed, the parking (the city needs to revamp that entire requirement!), or the lack of proposed landscaping. But this project is NOT being built in Old Northeast.

And it is replacing a horrible property which numerous owners could never make decent.

So, whether what you say is in the report or not, it is not the whole truth and is misleading.

No Historical Petting Zoos

Those who know me know I am the original historical house hugger. I helped craft the current North Shore Neighborhood Plan back in the 80's and advocated for Design Review FOR OUR NEIGHBOR. Central Business Distric IS NOT included in North Shore bounderies, does not have a Design Review requirement and this project, and as I understand, REQUIRES NO VARANCES. Architech Tim Climmens is a HIGHLY accomplished designer, the proposed design is reminisent of many venacual St Petersburg but if it seems a bit exotic it might be because St Pete is so littered with uneducated design examples. A point of note: mention has been made that the surranding area archeticture is of ''...1910-1925'' vintage. So be it, but this is 2001 and I for one am not at all interested in living in an ''historical petting zoo,'' a alla; Williamsburg, Va. We need the vibrancy of a continum of style. For an ACCURATE rendering of the proposed project please see their web site at www.loftsville.com. Please proceed your critique with accurate information.

Prudency

Might I suggest that it would be prudent not to have headlines such as Old Northeast vs. Whatever. Or
''Facedown on 5th Avenue.''

Though I do not know you, Sally, I do not think you represent North Shore or the Old Northeast.

Also, as a casual observer of this site, I hope I am not witnessing a repeat of what got a previous board in turmoil- trying to wear two hats.



By SLJ