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Neighbors Bid Adieu To New Port Project

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By MICHAEL H. SAMUELS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 27, 2007

SUN BAY SOUTH - Residents surrounding New Port Tampa Bay aren't exactly sad to see the massive redevelopment project on hold.

Many welcome the wait-and-see on the future of the 54 acres at the foot of the Gandy Bridge west of West Shore Boulevard.

'It's a shame to lose a neighbor, but I'm not sorry,' said Ellen Nimon, president of the board of the Homes of Regency Cove mobile home park across Gandy Boulevard from the proposed project. 'Traffic is bad down here now.'

New Port was to be the centerpiece of West Shore redevelopment. It touted condominium towers, shops, restaurants, public parks and boardwalks.

But all that neighbors saw for months were two tower cranes that never moved.

Al Steenson, president of the Gandy Civic Association, said he liked the New Port concept, but it was the wrong time for it.

Last week, EcoGroup President Ed Oelschlaeger said the project couldn't get financing, and the company was returning deposits to buyers. EcoGroup bought the property in 2005 from St. Petersburg developer Grady Pridgen. The site encompasses the former Imperial Yacht Basin, Hendry Corp. and M.D. Moody and Sons properties.

EcoGroup received approval to build 1,750 units but planned to cap the residences at 1,200.

Steenson said he is worried EcoGroup may seek more residences if it finds a financier to assist with the project.

'Then we're right back to square one again,' Steenson said. 'The land is way too valuable to sit there vacant.'

City Councilman John Dingfelder considers the stalling of New Port a temporary setback.

'Obviously the whole market has taken a dip,' Dingfelder said. 'In five or 10 years it will rebound. Sometime during that time period, I think you'll see a lot more activity all along there.'

He would like the commercial, restaurant and retail aspect of the project to move forward even if the residential is delayed.

'That still is really a prime location for some high-end waterfront restaurants and shopping,' he said.

Dingfelder understands why residents are happy that more traffic won't be coming to their neighborhoods.

The Gandy Area Transportation Study estimated that New Port would generate 19,200 daily trips south of Gandy.

'It really is a double-edged sword,' Dingfelder said. 'On one hand, I'm glad for the folks living there now. They are rightfully very concerned about additional traffic. I'm glad they have a little time to breathe.

'The flip side is from an aesthetic perspective,' he said. 'It will be a nice gateway. We'll just have to wait it out.'

Reporter Michael H. Samuels can be reached at (813) 835-2109 or msamuels@tampatrib.com.

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