By Melissa Eichman, Reporter

Clearwater — Just a few years ago, it was hard to find a place to park a boat near Downtown Clearwater because of a dearth of boat slips.

Now, thanks to a new marina opening, even in the midst of a bad economy, there are plenty of slips to fill. A ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday morning officially opened the marina.

Clearwater boater Al Albert was one of the first to tie up to the new marina.

“I think we’re looking for a new experience and it was new,” Albert said. “We’re intrigued by the idea of just having a good quality marina with new power and nice new docks that were well maintained, also the security.”

A few years ago, boaters like Albert had a hard time finding places to dock.

“There weren’t that many boat slips, you didn’t have a lot to chose from,” Albert said. “And the slips that you did have, there was no security to know it was even going to be there for a year or years to come.”

With a brand new facility opening up in the midst of a bad economy, how high is the demand for docks now?

Mayor Frank Hibbard says it’s slower than anticipated.

“When we passed this referendum in 2006, boat slips were going for anywhere from $150,000 to $250,000 and there was a real demand,” Hibbard said. “Obviously, we’re somewhat a victim of timing but I know eventually that market is going to come back.”

About 40 of the 126 permanent slips are currently reserved. There’s also space for transient boaters and free daily tie-ups.

Grant Wood with Water’s Edge Condo Towers said he’s already seeing an economic impact downtown.

“It creates a destination place and you’re going to see a lot of activity with additional restaurants and retailers downtown,” Wood said. “It’s going to drive additional residential sales I think downtown, so putting that whole package together really created a great lifestyle for downtown.”

8/17/2010 3:12:51 PM

Contact: 462-6954

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aug. 17, 2010

Contact: Krystal Schmidt

(727) 562-4834

The Downtown Clearwater Boat Slips Ribbon Cutting Scheduled

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The City of Clearwater will hold a Downtown Boat Slips Grand Opening Celebration Thursday, Sept. 2, at 9 a.m., 210 Drew St. The event will include speeches by city officials and representatives from the agencies that have worked to ensure the success of the project. Refreshments will be served.

Clearwater voters signed off on the project in a 2007 city referendum. The completed facility includes 126 boat slips, 1,700 feet of overnight space for visitors, 700 feet of space for daytime visits and special events that are happening in the downtown area. The daytime space is free. The boat slip lengths range in size from 30 to 55 feet. Slips are available to anyone that is interested. There are slips currently available and boats must fit within the area of the slip.

The rates for the slips are as follows:

• Residents: $9 per foot – length of the slip

• Non-residents: $10.50 per foot – length of the slip

The boat slips facility will include 24-hour security, restrooms and showers, convenient parking, laundry facilities, electricity and a pump-out service.

For more information or if you are interested in renting a slip, call the Clearwater Municipal Marina at 462-6954.

A unique location, soaring on a downtown Clearwater bluff, framed by some of the most beautiful waterways in Florida, would be enough to enchant anyone, but residents at Water’s Edge enjoy much, much more at once-in-a-lifetime-values.

These spectacular condominium residences feature sweeping vistas of the Gulf and its renowned white sandy beaches, the city’s new marina park, lush barrier islands, or scenic downtown Clearwater. But it’s not just the views that are spectacular. From its landmark exterior architecture to the exquisitely designed interiors, everything about Water’s Edge is far above the expected. Except the prices.

“We are now offering Water’s Edge pricing of up to 50% below the original pre-construction sales prices. This is a generational opportunity for anyone looking for a primary residence or a second home in the ideal location,” said Grant Wood, asset manager of Water’s Edge.

There is something for everyone: tower residences offer Clearwater Harbor and Intracoastal Waterway views, poolside homes feature private pool deck patios and city residences offer the most affordable access to this incredible waterfront address. Seven well-thought-out floor plans range from two -to three bedrooms; with an average 1,981 square feet in size.

One of the jewels on the crown of downtown Clearwater’s beautification project is the $12.8 million new deepwater marina and waterfront park, with nearby promenade, boardwalk and fishing pier, conveniently situated just steps away from Water’s Edge.

For residents who enjoy a yachting lifestyle, the marina is in the perfect spot and offers instant connection to major waterways leading to the Gulf and beaches, island preserves, prime fishing sites and myriad of enjoyments of the Florida coastal lifestyle at your fingertips.

With 126 slips, the dockmaster foresees an active, dynamic waterfront that is sure to become a destination for locals and visitors alike.

The marina boat slips range from 30 feet to 55 feet in length and feature 24-hour security, restrooms and showers, laundry facilities, electricity and cable hook-ups as well as pump-out service. Parking for the boat slips is also conveniently located.

Current rates for the slips are:
• Residents $9.00 per foot – length of the slip
• Non-residents $10.50 per foot – length of the slip

In addition to the 1,700 feet of overnight space for visitors, there is an additional 700 feet of space for daytime visits (which are free) and special events that may be happening in the downtown area. For more information or if you are interested in renting a slip, call the Clearwater Municipal Marina at 727-462-6954.

More than 700 guests mingled and enjoyed a taste of the Water’s Edge lifestyle at the grand re-opening event. Despite concerns of a still-weak real estate market, the grand re-opening marked history in the Tampa Bay and Gulf Coast area. The offering of luxury condominium homes at up-to-50-percent-off original listing prices was a hit. The property’s unique location nestled between white sandy beaches and city life, is the perfect complement to resort-like luxury lifestyle right at home, in the privacy of one of the spacious two- and three-bedroom residences. Robert P. Glaser, president of Smith & Associates Real Estate in Clearwater, which is handling residential sales for Water’s Edge, considers this “the last opportunity to buy a luxurious residence in a newly constructed condominium tower in Clearwater for at least the next several years.”

With a backdrop of 360-degree views of sky and glistening water, guests and potential buyers sampled delectable hors d’oeuvres, live music and three fabulous fully-furnished units with outstanding interior design by Robb & Stucky. Additional event happenings included models and fashion by Neiman Marcus, Bentley and Rolls Royce displays by Dew Luxury Motor Cars, yacht display by Galati Yacht Sales, orchid showcase by June’s Orchid Estate, fine art displayed throughout by Menaul Fine Art and libations and delectables by Mise en Place.

Tampa Bay Business Journal – by Michael Hinman Staff writer

CLEARWATER — A sales strategy that has sold all but a couple dozen condominium units at Signature Place in St. Petersburg is being tried in Clearwater at Water’s Edge.

But this time, it’s not downtown living that’s at stake in selling out a condo project. It’s downtown itself.

Towering over Cleveland Street, Water’s Edge was intended to be a crown jewel in Clearwater’s skyline with 153 luxury homes expected to sell above the $500,000 mark.

The tower opened in late 2008, long after the demise of the housing market, and its developer, Opus South, went bankrupt.

New owner Concierge Asset Management is taking advantage of its 31 cents on the dollar buyout of the tower. Following 25 percent discounts at Signature Place, the company cut Water’s Edge listing prices as much as 50 percent.

That could start getting more residents in the tower immediately. They would provide an economic boost to a struggling downtown also depending on the Station Square condos to bring consumer traffic to Cleveland, where vacant storefronts outnumber occupied spaces.

Business on the move

The prospect of people moving into downtown Clearwater has Tony Bledistarova excited. He’s moving his restaurant, Tony’s Pizza, a block closer to Water’s Edge — tripling his space to 3,800 square feet and banking that new residents won’t be able to resist the aroma of Italian food.

“We feel the tower is going to get filled up in a year or two, and that will bring more business to downtown,” Bledistarova said, taking advantage of lower lease rates because of the vacancy levels downtown. “We’ve been in downtown for five years, and we’ve survived a lot. This is the time for us to expand, and it will be better for downtown.”

Anticipated change

Business owners downtown say Cleveland could really use a bakery, a florist and maybe even a wine shop.

“What we’ll see is gradual growth, which will be nice because it gives the merchants a chance to see new people walking on the streets downtown and give them a feeling about the future,” said Howard Warshauer, vice chair of the Clearwater Downtown Partnership.

Water’s Edge has 10,000 square feet of retail on Cleveland, about half set aside for restaurant use. Filling the retail space is not the highest priority at the moment.

“I’d like to be looking at that sooner, but the first couple of months are difficult as we’ll be kicking off our sales program from the residential side,” said Grant Wood, managing member of Stingray Asset Management LLC, which will manage Water’s Edge. “We’re going to have a lot of flexibility there, so I think it can be very attractive and keep us very competitive with the current downtown marketplace.”

Not stopping here

Before Concierge Asset Management bought Water’s Edge for $31 million, the cheapest unit in the 26-story condominium tower was $422,000. Now a 1,330-square-foot unit is listing at $195,000, a discount expected to raise eyebrows, but one needed to get the remaining 143 units sold.

“I see these vacant stores downtown and tried to figure out what needed to be done,” said Maxwell Drever, Concierge’s chairman. “You need bodies here at Water’s Edge to fill those up. That’s what you would do.”
Drever is looking for other properties in the Tampa Bay region he can turn around as well.
— Michael Hinman

INFO

Paula Cadman opened her boutique lifestyle store called The Blue Dahlia in the shadow of Water’s Edge next to the soon-to-be-restored Capitol Theatre at the beginning of the year and is depending on Water’s Edge traffic to make her business thrive. However, the pressure to succeed can’t be placed solely on the condo market.

“We have to come together as a community and support each other,” Cadman said. “We have to buy from each other and bring that kind of community spirit back that has been kind of lost in recent years.”
If those elements don’t come together, Cadman is ready to use another bargaining chip that comes with a weakened real estate market: She has a clause in her lease that lets her leave at the end of the year.
— Michael Hinman

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