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Georgetown Now Ghost Town

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By MARK HOLAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 3, 2007

WEST SHORE - The last tenants at Georgetown Apartments were vacating the once-thriving community this week.

Wednesday was the move-out deadline imposed by The Motta Group of Fort Lauderdale, which bought the property for $125 million in April 2005. Roy Paskow, principal of the development company, said he was not aware of extensions being granted to residents.

A few tenants loading up SUVs and moving trucks this week said they were told they had to go. Large trash bins were stuffed with old furniture.

A mailman said he was delivering to about 80 of Georgetown's 624 units.

The Motta Group announced plans to raze the red-brick buildings and replace them with a mix of 1,249 condominiums, town houses and single-family homes on the 162-acre property slightly north of West Shore and Gandy boulevards.

But the slumping real estate market has brought other large developments to a halt, including the nearby New Port Tampa Bay, where two condo towers and a marina were planned on 54 acres south of West Shore and Gandy.

Paskow said Tuesday his project is moving forward.

"It's premature to announce anything beyond that," he said.

There are no signs along West Shore touting development at Georgetown, only a city permit notice to remove a tree from the property.

Georgetown opened in the mid-1960s, and residents enjoyed below-market rent until the end.

Reporter Mark Holan can be reached at (813) 835-2102 or mholan@tampatrib.com.

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