BRADENTON BEACH – Demolition began Saturday on 101 Bridge St., the second of four buildings slated to be torn down to make way for a 106-room resort hotel/restaurant/retail project.
Developer Shawn Kaleta and hotel co-applicant, former Bradenton Beach Commissioner Jake Spooner, received city commission approval on Dec. 7 to build the project on the corner of Bridge Street and Gulf Drive South. In addition to the hotel rooms, a 60-seat restaurant and 5,396 square feet of retail space is planned, with 154 on-site parking spaces.
The hotel property is sited on 1.61 acres and located at 101, 105 and 117 Bridge St. and 106, 108, 110 and 112 Third St. S.
The 101 Bridge St. building, formerly the Freckled Fin, was built in 1925. It is listed on the demolition permit application as a mixed-use commercial property with two living units and one commercial property.
Kaleta is named as the property owner on the application.
On Dec. 11, the permitted demolition began at 129 Gulf Drive S., the location of the former Joe’s Eats N Sweets.
In a Dec. 27 email to The Sun from Bradenton Beach permit technician Annabre Veal, demolition permit applications for 105 and 117 Bridge St. had been submitted but were missing some information.
The former Magnolia Inn at 105 Bridge St. dates back to 1935. 117 Bridge St. houses the Fudge Factory.
BRADENTON BEACH – It was just after 1 a.m. on Jan. 12 when three fishermen on a boat near the Bradenton Beach Pier needed a break from the inclement weather and decided to head to the adjacent dinghy dock to get warm.
When they pulled up to the dock, they observed what appeared to be a coat and clothing lying on the dock. As they got closer, they found a man slumped over the end of the dock with his head underwater. The reporting witness, Joshua Adkins, called 911 and waited for police to arrive.
According to his report, Bradenton Beach Police Officer Thomas Ferrara responded to the scene with Officer Roy Joslin and Officer Devon Straight to investigate.
“As we approached the dimly lit end of the dock, I observed an adult male body, obviously deceased with the chest area laying over the edge of the dock above the water and the left leg laying straight out on top of the dock out of the water,” Ferrara said in his report. “The right leg was above the water and half wrapped around a wooden piling that was attached to the dock. The deceased had both hands and arms dangling in the water and his entire head was under the surface of the water.”
After confirming that the deceased was beyond resuscitation, Straight pronounced the time of death to dispatch and the officers left the pier. They briefed their supervisors, Chief John Cosby, Sgt. Steve Masi and Lt. Lenard Diaz, about the situation. Diaz told Ferrara to contact the medical examiner and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit to respond and photograph the scene, according to the report.
The Sun spoke to Diaz on Jan. 12, who said the victim, identified as Mark Allen Crooks, 63, lived on a boat the department had cited previously for not being properly operational in the bay near the Bradenton Beach Pier. Diaz said Crooks had moved the boat to the coast of Cortez to avoid further Bradenton Beach violations.
Diaz said there was no foul play suspected in the death, and that the results of the autopsy would not be available by press time. Whether the man drowned or had a medical emergency that led to his death will not be known until that report is made available.
The U.S. Census Bureau has released its population statistics for the year 2022 to 2023. All I can say is the heat is on in the South.
The takeaway here is that Texas and Florida’s population grew by a much larger number than any other state in the country. By now, it’s commonly accepted that the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way people live and do their jobs. Remote work has allowed many in the home labor force to relocate to more affordable living with better weather and a sense of security and freedom. This defined the state of Florida before incoming COVID escapees pushed up property values, which are only now starting to stabilize.
So, let’s dig into the actual numbers of the top three on the U.S. Census Bureau’s list of states with the highest growth.
The population of Texas on July 1, 2022 was 30,029,848. The population on July 1, 2023, was 30,503,301, an increase of 473,453 or 1.6%.
Florida, coming in second, had a population on July 1, 2022 of 22,245,521, increasing to 22,610,726 on July 1, 2023, an increase of 365,205 or 1.6%, same as Texas.
Third on the list is North Carolina, which on July 1, 2022 had a population of 10,695,965 and on July 1, 2023 had a population of 10,835,491, a growth of 139,526 or 1.3%.
The five states with the highest populations are California, Texas, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania. However, only Texas and Florida are in the top 10 of growth between 2022 and 2023. The other three all lost population during the same timeframe, with California being the biggest loser of 2023. Remember that population growth or decline has everything to do with real estate values.
Another survey by Bankrate.com analyzes the hottest metro areas in the country. Here they are in order: Gainesville, Georgia; Knoxville, Tennessee; Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Florida; Northport-Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida and Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Sarasota metro area, which also appears on the Best Places to Live list, ranks second nationally in price appreciation and 12th in population growth, but 206th in active listings.
The Fort Myers metro area ranked fifth in price appreciation and eighth in population growth, also with a lack of available listings. They too appear on one of the best places to live lists. These two South Florida regions are closely linked, sharing the same quality of life appealing to people relocating to the Sunshine State.
Bankrate also analyzed the five hottest large metro areas, placing Tampa at number three and Orlando at number five. This, among other area studies, will explain why the South added 1.4 million residents, accounting for 87% of the nation’s growth this year according to the Census Bureau.
The Census Bureau’s numbers aren’t perfect. They include everyone living within the U.S. except short-term visitors, but the number of immigrants without legal status is difficult to accurately count. The estimates are based on birth and death certificates, IRS and Medicare records and the American Community Survey. In addition, the Census Bureau released projections showing that the population is expected to continue growing slowly to approximately 2080.
You may have a love/hate feeling about our increase in population. You love the influx because they keep the property values moving up, expand the tax base and are responsible for the many new shops and restaurants in the area. But it comes with the price of increased traffic, especially getting to our outstanding beaches.
If you’re still worried about property values, remember housing density increases the price of homes, and we’ve got the density, good or bad. What we don’t have is the snow.
BRADENTON BEACH – During their Jan. 4 meeting, commissioners denied a request from a resident to allow a houseboat vacation rental at his dock.
They also approved three police vehicle purchases, approved a grant for signage and placed on hold a request from the Anna Maria Oyster Bar to add a fourth tiki structure on the pier.
HOUSEBOAT VACATION RENTAL DENIED
Gregory Winsper, registered agent for Green Slip Realty LLC, requested the commission’s permission to operate a rental accommodation on a live-aboard houseboat to be moored at 2399 Ave. A.
“My plan is to rent it out to no more than four people at a time with a focus on renting to couples on a weekly or weekend basis,” Winsper wrote in a Nov. 21 letter to the commission.
City Attorney Ricinda Perry noted that former city building official Steve Gilbert had rejected the applicant’s request.
“Steve Gilbert had opined that it was an improper use. That can’t be challenged at the city commission.”
Perry said the city Land Development Code does not allow for commercial uses of docks in R-1 single-family districts.
POLICE VEHICLE PURCHASE APPROVED
Following a request from Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby, the commission approved a quote of $162,060.78 for the police department to purchase three police interceptor vehicles from Bartow Ford.
The cost of each vehicle is $54,020.26. The funds will come from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
“It’s very difficult to get vehicles,” Cosby said, noting that some manufacturers are no longer making police vehicles.
“Bartow Ford has three vehicles that were refused delivery,” Cosby said. “What I’m proposing is we buy these three vehicles now, we would use ARPA funds to do it. That would allow us to keep our half-cent sales tax building under public safety and we’ll be saving between $6,000-$8,000 a vehicle minimum because there’s going to be a price increase once they start producing again.”
Cosby said there will be an additional cost to stripe the vehicles and add equipment.
“It’s putting the light bar on and the quicker we get in the queue the sooner we’ll get them,” Cosby said.
Commissioner Ralph Cole moved to approve the purchase. Commissioner Jan Vosburgh seconded the motion. It was passed unanimously with votes by Mayor John Chappie and Commissioner Marilyn Maro. Maro phoned in to the meeting.
SIGNAGE GRANT APPROVED
The commission unanimously approved the Scenic WAVES partnership committee’s acceptance of a Tampa Bay Estuary Program mini-grant of $5,000 that was approved in 2021. The grant will be used to prepare an application to design and produce educational wildlife signs at John Chappie Park, 1400 Gulf Drive N., and to work with city staff to obtain Florida Department of Environmental Protection approval and obtain quotes from businesses.
The proposed signs will feature shorebirds and aquatic animals native to Anna Maria Island.
“This is another great project from our volunteers,” Chappie said.
Scenic WAVES chairperson Ingrid McClellan said that the grant should cover the total cost of the signs. Scenic WAVES partners with Bradenton Beach-based animal rehabilitation center Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center Inc. and Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring.
AMOB REQUEST FOR FOURTH TIKI HUT ON HOLD
Trey Horne, representing Anna Maria Oyster Bar, submitted a request to allow the building of a fourth tiki structure along the south side of the Bridge Street Pier.
“There are a number of things still in play,” Chappie said. “We have the ferry service going there now.”
Chappie said he would like to wait and see what the flow of foot traffic is on the pier once the ferry service gets underway before agreeing to allow the addition of another structure on the pier.
Vosburgh agreed that a wait-and-see approach was appropriate.
“I think we should put this on hold,” she said.
Commissioners agreed to take no action on the request and revisit it in six months.
BRADENTON BEACH – Following the vacancy left by the Dec. 28 resignation of Commissioner Jake Spooner, city commissioners discussed the course of action to fill his position at a Jan. 4 meeting.
The discussion also included the possible redistricting of the city’s four ward boundaries.
Spooner, a commissioner since 2015 from Ward 1, ran unopposed in 2022 and was sworn in for a two-year term in November 2023. He said he resigned because of the state’s expanded financial disclosure requirements that now apply to all Florida mayors and city commissioners holding office as of Jan. 1.
Mayor John Chappie and Commissioners Ralph Cole and Jan Vosburgh attended the Jan. 4 meeting while Commissioner Marilyn Maro and City Attorney Ricinda Perry phoned in.
“There is a process our charter dictates that we go through,” Chappie said. According to Section 8 of the City Charter, Filling of Vacancies: “Whenever there is a vacancy, the commission shall propose by nomination one or more names of willing and qualified successors for the vacancy. The commission will then vote among the nominees to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term. If a majority of the commissioners are unable to fill a vacancy or vacancies after two meetings, then the successor shall be chosen by lot by the city clerk from the nominees proposed. If no appointee can be found residing in the ward of vacancy, the commission may appoint an individual who would otherwise qualify for elective office.”
“There are two things we’re dealing with that are both dealing with this particular issue,” Perry said. “One is the changing or review of the ward boundaries and also changing the numbers of three and four so they’re sequential in our city. Right now it’s one, two, four, three.”
Perry said part of last year’s charter review process was to make sure the four wards are evenly balanced for the number of registered voters.
“This comes directly with recommendations from the Supervisor of Elections,” Perry said. “If you recall it was almost a year ago, maybe a little longer, the city formally requested from the Supervisor of Elections their data and analysis.”
The Supervisor of Elections produces maps and boundary descriptions for the four wards, she said.
“The charter review committee had recommended the city redistribute that once that data was available from the Supervisor of Elections,” Perry said. “It wasn’t until much later in the year, almost right before the deadline for the November election, that the Supervisor of Elections produced that data to the city. And at that time (City Clerk) Terri Sanclemente and I had discussions with the Supervisor of Elections as to when would be the best time for the city to take up this issue and look at redistributing the voters. “
She said Assistant Supervisor of Elections Scott Farrington had asked the city to hold off until after the elections to avoid confusion.
“Now that the election is over, this would be the time for the city commission to look at those recommendations that came from Mr. Farrington,” Perry said.
She suggested the city take up the redistricting issue first, which is done by resolution.
“Once that issue is fully addressed, then I believe the city commission can take up appointments for Mr. Spooner’s seat,” Perry said.
If no candidate steps forward from Ward 1, Perry explained the next steps.
“Then it becomes an at-large seat temporarily for the remainder of that term,” Perry said. “Until the next election cycle, then it would become a ward seat again if anyone wants to run.”
Perry said the commission would discuss the issue again on Thursday, Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. in the Katie Pierola Commission Chambers, 107 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach.
Prior to that meeting, Perry said she plans to reach out to Farrington to ensure the data received last year from the Supervisor of Elections has not changed.
BRADENTON BEACH – In a charitable kickoff to the new year, more than 100 people gathered at Cortez Beach and jumped into the Gulf of Mexico’s 61-degree waters on Jan. 1 at noon for the Shamrock Shiver Charity Plunge.
The event, sponsored by Clancy’s Irish Sports Pub & Grill, is in its 16th year and has raised more than $400,000 for local charities since its inception.
The fundraiser has grown over the years; in 2009, $14,000 was raised, while in 2023, more than $38,000 was brought in, with 100% of the proceeds donated to charity.
As noon approached, Clancy’s employee Danny Moore counted down – New Year’s Eve-style – before telling the crowd, many of them in costume, that it was time to make their splash into the water.
The participants rushed forward into the water, and given the especially chilly water temperatures, most ran out of the water just about as quickly as they went in.
Jim Madison has been participating in the plunge for the past five years.
“The water was really cold this year. It’s usually close to 80 degrees, but not this year,” Madison said. “Still, I’m happy to do it, it’s for a good cause.”
The proceeds from the Shamrock Shiver benefit non-profit organizations Feeding Empty Little Tummies, Healthy Teens Coalition of Manatee County Inc. and Take Stock in Children of Manatee County.
Following the plunge, fundraising festivities continued at Clancy’s on Cortez Road throughout the afternoon.
The Dr. Dave Band performed and more money was raised through raffle tickets, a silent auction and a live auction.
Participants in the 16th annual Clancy’s Irish Sports Pub & Grill’s Shamrock Shiver Charity Plunge on New Year’s Day run into 61-degree Gulf waters at Bradenton Beach to raise funds for local non-profits. - Leslie Lake | Sun
Despite homeownership being a pipe dream for many Americans, there is good news on the horizon. If you’re a first-time buyer and are still stuck on the sidelines, this may be the time to get started.
One-third of buyers in 2023 were first-time home buyers, below the historical average of 38%, according to the National Association of Realtors. In addition, the median age of first-time buyers was 35 years old. It is now less affordable than at any time in recent history to buy a home, and that isn’t changing any time soon – except for one interesting point.
When the Federal Reserve started raising rates aggressively two years ago to curb inflation, mortgage rates went up right along with all the other rates for borrowing money. Well, a funny thing happened on the way to 2024; rates started going down. The Federal Reserve stopped raising rates during the last several meetings, the stock market started going up and mortgage rates started heading to 7%. As of this writing, according to Forbes, the rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage was 7.26% and the rate for a 15-year fixed rate mortgage was 6.34%. Also, the Federal Reserve signaled it may cut interest rates next year and possibly have multiple rate cuts.
This may not help the housing shortage that has kept asking prices so high, but for those who can finally find a home, the carrying charges are starting to look more affordable, allowing more first-time buyers to qualify for financing. However, Gen Z and Millennials, the primary buyers of first-time homes, will continue to be facing a limited supply of single-family properties. This will put pressure on prices to stay elevated unless or until supply catches up.
Locally, there is more positive news. WalletHub.com, an online company that analyzes market trends, has placed Tampa as the best place to retire. In fact, their analysis places the five top best places to retire as Tampa, Scottsdale, Arizona, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Miami, four out of the top five in the state of Florida.
Just to be fair, U.S. News & World Report placed Tampa as #4 in their analysis as the best place to retire, moving up from #6. Both surveys are based on affordability, quality of life and health care.
And very close to home, imagine my surprise when about a month ago I opened the second page of the Wall Street Journal and found Cortez, Florida as the dateline in a good size news story.
The story was about the Hunters Point new construction on Cortez Road just east of the Cortez Bridge. Hunters Point single-family homes are all energy-efficient homes, explained by the developer as the first “net zero” single-family home development in the country. This means that the homes generate at least as much energy as they consume.
The homes have solar panels and a battery system to keep the power on even if the power grid experiences outages. They are also built with flood vents to accommodate rising water and living space that is about 16 feet above sea level. Hunters Point’s goal is to fight both the cause of climate change and carbon emissions while protecting their properties during major storm events.
It looks like little Cortez made the big time, and you can too if you start the new year with an optimistic outlook. In the words of Mark Twain, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” Happy New Year!
BRADENTON BEACH – Shortly after the Dec. 7 city commission approval of a 106-room resort hotel/restaurant/retail complex on the corner of Bridge Street and Gulf Drive South, demolition began on the first building on the site.
On Dec. 11, a permitted demolition began on 129 Gulf Drive S., the location of the former Joe’s Eats N Sweets.
The property that the hotel will be built on is co-owned by local developer Shawn Kaleta and Bradenton Beach commissioner and businessman Jacob Spooner. It is sited on 1.61 acres and located at 101, 105 and 117 Bridge St. and 106, 108, 110 and 112 Third St. S.
In a Dec. 27 email to The Sun from Bradenton Beach permit technician Annabre Veal, the permit application for demolition of 101 Bridge St. is complete and demolition permit applications for 105 and 117 Bridge St. have also been submitted.
The proposed scope of the work at 101 Bridge St. is “Demo and remove entire structure (Mixed use comm/res, 2 living units, 1 comm building),” according to the permit applied for by Kaleta.
Several local residents who are critics of the hotel project have expressed concern about the historical background and environmental concerns surrounding the three remaining buildings on the proposed hotel site, and they have reached out to city officials with their findings.
The building at 105 Bridge St. is slated for demolition. – Leslie Lake | Sun
A Dec. 15 letter signed by Christine Johnson and Sue Longacre and addressed to Mayor John Chappie, City Attorney Ricinda Perry and City Clerk Terri Sanclemente was hand-delivered to city hall by Johnson.
“Residents of Bradenton Beach have uncovered historical elements located in the Florida Master Site File for situs addresses within the planned development, Bridge Street Resort, in Bradenton Beach, Florida,” the letter states in part.
The letter lists the three addresses from the Master Site File as:
• “Magnolia Apartments, 105 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, Florida; dated 1935; Florida Master Site File: Condition- ‘Fair;’ appears to meet qualifications for National Listing Individually and as Part of a District;
• Maestro’s Italian Restaurant; 101 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, Florida; dated 1925; Florida Master Site File; Condition ‘Good;’ appears to meet qualifications for National Listing Individually and as Part of a District;
• Bridge Street Bazaar; 117 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, Florida; dated 1955; Florida Master Site File; Condition ‘Good;’ appears to meet qualifications for National Listing Individually and as Part of a District.”
“Documents supporting relevant findings will be attached to this letter and residents believe it is necessary to present these findings to the City Commission and the City Attorney to preserve the historical elements of Bradenton Beach.”
Former Building Official Steve Gilbert said that the listing in the Master Site file does not prevent building owners from demolition.
“I’m not aware of any structures in Bradenton Beach that might be listed on the state or federal registry,” Gilbert wrote in a Dec. 13 email to The Sun two days before he retired. “Even so, being listed does not preclude an owner from renovations, or demolition and rebuild. The purpose of the program is to encourage owners to ‘save’ older buildings, but there are no regulations through state or local ordinances to prohibit what is proposed.”
In an April 24, 2013 story in the Anna Maria Island Sun, reporter Cindy Lane described the renovation at Magnolia as follows:
“While preserving the two-story exterior, in keeping with the Island’s low-rise appeal, Bill Herlihy has replaced almost everything inside the Island Time Inn, 105 Bridge St., formerly the Magnolia Inn, which he said dates back to 1935.
Tile floors, beadboard cabinets, granite countertops, flat-screen TVs, textured walls, light fixtures, kitchen appliances, bathroom fixtures and comfortable furniture are all new.
But he saved a few things for history buffs, too – an old stained glass window in one unit, original wood ceilings in another, and even some of the original exterior of the building incorporated as interior walls.”
It’s a whole year later and we’re still talking about interest rates and low inventory – will it ever end? The sellers are still happy with their values, the buyers are still dismayed with the lack of inventory and it’s not likely things will change much in the new year.
The most recent conversation among real estate analysts is that even though interest rates have dropped slightly, it will make homes more affordable but not affordable enough since the shortage of available properties to purchase is not expanding at the national level.
The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, which measures home prices across the nation, rose 3.9% from a year earlier in September compared with a 2.5% annual increase the prior month. September was the highest since the index began in 1987. In addition, according to the National Association of Realtors, the median existing home sale price rose 3.4% in October from a year earlier to $391,800.
So, what is the outlook for the new year? Some analysts feel home prices are feeling the burden of high mortgage rates, which will slow the rate of price growth in the new year. Others agree and think it might be that home prices are going to tread water for a number of years until the economy gets in balance with higher incomes and lower rates.
One nice change for those buyers out there is the increase in the maximum size of home mortgage loans eligible for backing by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which represent the majority of home mortgages. In expensive markets like Hawaii, California and New York, the increase will be a maximum of $1,149,825 from $1,089,300 and for less expensive markets, the cap would rise to $766,550 from $726,200. The increases are set by a legal formula and could make it easier and more affordable for some borrowers, especially in the high-end markets.
Let’s take a look at Manatee County’s November sales statistics reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.
Single-family homes closed 22.2% more properties compared to last November. The median sale price was $485,861, down 4.1%, and the average sale price was $662,237, up 4%. The median time to sale was 82 days compared to 77 days last year.
Condo sales were up 20.7% compared to last November. The median sale price was $351,500, down 1.8%, and the average sale price was $393,475, up 0.6%. The median time to sale was 83 days compared to 56 days last year.
The month’s supply of available properties for both single-family and condos were up. Single-family properties had a 3.4 month’s supply, up 13.3% from last November and condos had a 4.4 month’s supply, up 63% from last November.
Overall demand is strong for both Manatee and Sarasota counties. With inventories in both counties continuing to increase, we can assume sales will be strong over the winter months when visitors and part-time residents return in force.
The stability of the real estate market really depends on the stability of countrywide and even worldwide economies. And don’t discount the emotional impact of wars and unrest as well. Fortunately, Florida is still a hot market that doesn’t look like it’s cooling off any time soon. We’re going into the busy buying and selling season, which will be the real barometer of how successful our market is.
BRADENTON BEACH – The Pines Trailer Park and Bradenton Beach Marina sales and the approved hotel/restaurant/retail project on Bridge Street and Gulf Drive made the biggest headlines in the city in 2023.
Bradenton Beach Marina sold
In early January, developer Shawn Kaleta and the Metropolitan Property Ventures LLC purchased the Bradenton Beach Marina from the Bazzy family for $14 million. Kaleta now serves as president of the Bazzy Marine Corp.
County works on sewer, drainage problems
In January, Manatee County initiated its ongoing $8 million sewer improvement project along Gulf Drive South and the adjoining side streets from Sixth Street South to 13th Street South. As the sewer line replacement and installation work takes place on the residential side streets one street at a time, those streets temporarily closed to vehicular traffic for a month or more. Impacted residents, property owners and visitors must park in designated parking areas in the Cortez Beach parking lot until their street reopens. The county project is slated for completion in late 2024. By mid-August, Manatee County had essentially completed the second and final phase of the $7 million Coquina Beach drainage improvement project that included the installation of pervious pavement that allows rainwater to seep into the new drainage systems below. The completed project that began in 2019 provides more than 1,000 paved parking spaces and required the removal of more than 180 Australian pines.
The parking lot at Coquina Beach was finally finished. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Signs, signs, signs installed
In February, Scenic WAVES Committee members and others expressed their concerns about the Florida Department of Transportation installing more than 60 new “No Parking on Right of Way” signs along Gulf Drive South, near Coquina Beach. Police Chief John Cosby requested the signs but had no input on the number of signs FDOT installed.
Azure Shores ordinance passed
In November, the city commission approved an ordinance that eliminated zoning map and future land use map inconsistencies that existed with 23 residentially zoned (R-3) properties in the Azure Shores subdivision between Bridge Street, the Cortez Bridge, Highland Avenue and Gulf Drive North.
Beach House Restaurant celebrates 30 years
Celebrating a longevity rarely found in the restaurant business, Chiles Hospitality observed the 30-year anniversary of the Beach House Waterfront Restaurant.
Hurricane Idalia precautions taken
In advance of Tropical Storm Idalia, City commissioners voted Aug. 28 to declare a local state of emergency until Tuesday, Sept. 5, as clean-up efforts continued following storm surge. Beaches were closed and a mandatory evacuation order was in place for Level A residents, including all mobile home parks. Manatee County issued a voluntary Level B evacuation. “What we’re expecting now is a storm surge 4-7 feet,” Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby said prior to the storm’s landfall.
Developer Shawn Kaleta purchased the Pines Trailer Park. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Pines Trailer Park purchased
In late August, Shawn Kaleta and the Pines Park Investors LLC purchased the Pines Trailer Park for $16.25 million after the resident/owners were unsuccessful in their efforts to purchase the park. In late September, Pines Park Investors LLC sent letters to park residents and mobile homeowners informing them of the rent increases that will take effect Jan. 1. The monthly rents are increasing from $620-$625 per month to $1,200, $1,350 per month or $1,475 per month depending on proximity to the waterfront.
Alcohol sales, consumption on city pier approved
Commissioners approved with conditions a special use permit for the sale and consumption of alcohol at the Anna Maria Oyster Bar (AMOB) on the Bradenton Beach Pier. The permit, with the City of Bradenton Beach as applicant, was approved on Sept. 18 allowing the consumption of alcohol purchased from AMOB, either from the main restaurant or takeout kiosk, at designated areas of the pier. AMOB leases both spaces from the city.
Tingley Library elevation considered
The creation of public parking by elevating or moving the Tingley Library was discussed at both the City Commission and Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meetings in September. The city-owned library was built in the early 1990s using $240,000 of the $678,801 that Beulah Hannah Hooks Tingley bequeathed to the city in 1986 to create a public reading room. At the Sept. 6 CRA meeting, members acknowledged the need for public parking, but one member questioned whether CRA funds should be used for the design/build project. Mayor John Chappie directed city attorney Ricinda Perry to draft an RFP.
Coquina Beach Market reopens under county management
Nearly a year after the Manatee County tourism agency took over management of the Coquina Beach Market from the previous market director, a new manager and opening date for the market was announced. In a July 25 meeting of the Manatee County Board of Commissioners, it was approved that Dottie Deerwester from Ready Set Go Tour and Travel serve as the new market manager. The market reopened on Oct. 4 at South Coquina Beach and operates year-round.
Zoning irregularities discovered
At an Oct. 5 city commission meeting, a city building official determined that several properties in the city do not conform to the building code. “What we discovered, Runaway Bay – all the condominiums – Tortuga, Silver Surf, Bridgewalk, Old Bridge Village, all of these appear to be triggered in some way by this provision on first blush,” City Attorney Ricinda Perry said. Many properties in the city exceed the number of allowable units, making them legally non-conforming, according to Perry. City officials say the classification only affects property owners if a natural disaster forces rebuilding, whereupon current codes would apply, potentially eliminating some units.
Chappie, Vosburgh and Spooner begin new terms
Mayor John Chappie and Commissioner Janet Vosburgh were sworn in for new two-year terms on Nov.17 by City Clerk Terri Sanclemente at Bradenton Beach City Hall. Chappie, Vosburgh and Commissioner Jacob Spooner ran unopposed. Spooner was sworn in the following day.
CRA votes to discontinue tram funding
At a Dec. 6 meeting, the CRA board voted unanimously to discontinue funding of the Old Town Tram, a free park-and-ride service which it began subsidizing in November 2020 at a cost of $52,000 per year. The tram was launched as a pilot program to help address the lack of parking on Bridge Street. Annual funding for the service was cut from the city’s 2023-24 budget, but CRA board members agreed at a Sept. 6 meeting to a $10,000 expenditure to keep it going until the end of 2023.
Hotel/Restaurant/Retail project approved on Bridge Street
At the end of a second public hearing on Dec. 7, city commissioners voted unanimously to approve a hotel/restaurant/retail project at the corner of Bridge Street and Gulf Drive South. The 106-room hotel will also have a 60-seat restaurant, 5,396 square feet of retail space and 154 on-site parking spaces. Co-applicants for the hotel are Shawn Kaleta and Jake Spooner, a Bradenton Beach city commissioner who recused himself from all hearings related to the hotel. At the first public hearing on Nov. 16, following a Nov. 13 recommendation for approval by the City Planning and Zoning Board, commissioners expressed concern about lack of parking, hotel design and density. In addressing those concerns, applicants’ representatives made design changes to the original plan, adding balconies, public walkways and a hydraulic lift parking system. Within days of approval, demolition began on one building on the site of the hotel – the former Joe’s Eats ‘N Sweets ice cream shop.
Passings
On April 10, Bradenton Beach Public Works Department employee and Holmes Beach resident Marylou Kelley passed away at 62.
On June 17, Pines Trailer Park resident and former Michigan resident Dick Smith passed away at 83. Smith was a popular regular patron at the Sport Lounge and the Drift In.
Drift In parking lot attendant, local artist and former Cortez commercial fisherman Marty Tupin passed away on Aug. 1 at 62 after battling ongoing health issues.
Longtime Bradenton Beach property owner and visitor Judy Kuhlman passed away on Sept. 23 at 81. Kuhlman and her husband, Dick, owned the historic 3 Pines Cottage beachfront vacation rental at 2214 Gulf Drive N. that still contains the 1948 Airstream trailer her grandparents placed on the beachfront property in the late 1940s.
Former Chiles Group Chief Financial Officer Martha Wright passed away on Oct. 20. Wright was also the treasurer and a longtime volunteer for Gulf Shore Animal League.
– Sun Correspondent Joe Hendricks contributed to this story
Although most Americans didn’t realize it then, the holiday season of 1946 was the opening bell of some of the most prosperous decades in our history. World War II had just ended, and men and women were coming home from overseas and starting new lives, which also included new homes.
The postwar housing boom created 40 million new homes starting in 1946. New suburban communities sprouted up all over the country but particularly adjacent to major cities where returning soldiers were filling jobs in a suddenly booming economy. Florida, of course, didn’t enjoy the same level of building as the Northeast and West Coast did, but starting after the war there was a steady increase in population that still hasn’t slowed down.
What happened in 1946 was the beginning of the suburban lifestyle. Americans for the first time had the choice of living in a single-family home and commuting to their jobs in the city. It was a way of life that mostly continued until COVID-19 locked everyone in their homes and on their computers. This once-in-a-century phenomenon pushed property values and the desire to own a home through the roof, which has substantially benefited Florida.
If you don’t pore over Manatee County listings like I do, take a few minutes to review the Realtor.com website. The website can be sorted by zip codes and if you start with the highest price properties you may be shocked. Here’s an overview, just to give you an idea as of this writing.
The city of Anna Maria has 79 listings. The highest price is $12 million and the lowest is $1.15 million. Less than half of the properties are under $3 million.
The combined cities of Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach have 214 properties listed. The highest price is $10,950,000 and the lowest is $510,000. A little less than 25% of the properties are above $3 million.
All of Anna Maria Island has ongoing new construction of large homes with multi-million-dollar price tags. These properties have drastically changed the price point of properties on the Island, as you can see from the above.
Cortez has 19 properties listed starting at $3,750,000 and ending at $695,000. Out of the 19 listings, 12 are over $1 million. The construction of the new Hunters Point development on Cortez Road has also changed the price point of Cortez properties, listing new construction townhomes at just under $2 million.
If you are dazzled by the numbers, here’s a reason to step back in time. Another major event happening in 1946 was the release of the iconic holiday movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life.” This black and white film has been playing every year for 77 years and will undoubtedly go on forever. It’s a classic story about good and evil and the important things in life that rang true in 1946 as they continue to do today.
One of my favorite parts of the movie is when new homes are built for needy families in the town. James Stewart and Donna Reed present the keys to the new owners along with these gifts and an accompanying poem: “Bread that this house may never know hunger, salt that life may always have flavor and wine that joy and prosperity may reign forever.”
Wishing you a peaceful and happy holiday surrounded by friends and family in one of the world’s most beautiful places to live. Enjoy the food and the wine, and ring the bells because “Whenever you hear a bell ring, an angel gets its wings.” Happy holidays!
BRADENTON BEACH – An ethics complaint filed against Commissioner Jake Spooner has been dismissed.
The complaint, filed with the Florida Commission on Ethics by Bradenton Beach resident Sue Longacre on Sept. 1, alleges that Spooner, a co-owner in the recently approved Bridge Street hotel/restaurant/retail project, had a conflict of interest as a Bradenton Beach commissioner.
“I feel that there is a conflict of interest with Mr. Spooner remaining in the Bradenton Beach public office since Mr. Spooner owns so much commercial and residential property in Bradenton Beach,” Longacre’s complaint reads in part. “The proposed hotel on Bridge Street is within his jurisdiction and currently being considered for more development.”
Spooner recused himself from all hearings related to the hotel project. He is a co-applicant for the project with local developer Shawn Kaleta but was not present at any of the Planning and Zoning Board or City Commission hearings related to the project.
“I do not feel Mr. Spooner recusing himself on any development he owns or is co-owner with (Kaleta) are fair and reasonable actions,” the complaint continues.
Longacre wrote that she opposes Spooner remaining in office.
The city commission unanimously approved the hotel project on Dec. 7.
In a public report and order dismissing the complaint dated Dec. 6, the State of Florida Commission on Ethics cited the following from Florida Statute 112.3143 (3)(a): “No county, municipal or other local public officer shall vote in an official capacity upon any measure which would inure to his or her special private gain or loss.”
“The complaint fails to indicate a possible violation (of that section),” the commission wrote. “To indicate a possible violation of the statute, a complaint must allege, in a factual, substantive, nonconclusory manner, that a respondent voted on a matter that would inure to his or her special private gain or loss. There are not allegations in the complaint the Respondent (Spooner) voted on any matter pertaining to his company’s properties or that any matter pertaining to the Respondent’s company’s properties has come before the city commission for analysis or approval.”
The complaint was dismissed for “failure to constitute a legally sufficient complaint with the issuance of this public report.”
Spooner had no comment regarding the dismissal.
In Spooner’s 2022 statement of financial interests, he lists ownership in these Bradenton Beach properties: 302 23rd St. N., 300 23rd St. N., 2301 Ave. B, 108 Third St. S., 110 Third St. S., 112 Third St. S., 112 Third St. S., 117 Bridge St., 115 Bridge St. and 102 Bridge St.
BRADENTON BEACH – If the Old Town Tram continues providing rides within the city, it will do so without the financial support of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).
At its Dec. 6 meeting, the CRA board voted unanimously to discontinue funding of the free park-and-ride service it began subsidizing in November 2020 at a cost of $52,000 per year.
Using two electric golf carts, the tram was launched as a pilot program to help address the lack of parking on Bridge Street. It is partially funded by advertising sales.
Annual funding for the service was cut from the city’s 2023-24 budget, but CRA board members agreed at a Sept. 6 meeting to a $10,000 expenditure to keep it going until the end of 2023.
That temporary funding was based on the understanding that Joshua LaRose, owner of Sarasota-based Easy Parking Group and provider of the tram service, and CRA Chairman Ralph Cole would work together to look at options to make the service self-supporting.
One of those options included LaRose securing additional advertising from the businesses that benefit from having customers brought to their doorsteps.
LaRose said at the Dec. 6 meeting that he spoke to local business owners about advertising on the tram, but without success.
“People offered to donate $50-$100 a month to keep it going,” LaRose said. “They’re saying right now how slow it’s been over the summer and they don’t have the funds to do a full advertising.”
LaRose offered an option to save money.
“I can cut the hours and days back out of season, to maybe four to five days a week and maybe start a little bit later in the afternoon. That would dramatically bring down the cost,” LaRose said. “If we did a later start time and less days a week, we could probably do it with the advertisers we have now. I could keep one car going.”
Commissioner Jan Vosburgh has been an opponent of financial support for the tram service.
“I think we should discontinue it,” she said. “I don’t think it’s up to the taxpayers to pay for this.”
Cole echoed that sentiment.
“Businesses benefit the most from it,” Cole said. “Those are the people that need to step up to the plate.”
Commissioner Jake Spooner suggested the possibility of having the tram in service during the busier times of the year.
LaRose said in season the tram was giving nearly 8,000 rides a month.
“It’s encouraging that you said you could survive on its own with one car,” Chappie said. “We haven’t been satisfied. It was worth a shot. I’d like to see you do it on your own.”
LaRose indicated that he will likely continue the tram service with one cart.
“This fellow took over and is trying to support our businesses,” Bradenton Beach resident Jim Hassett said during public comment. “I think his business needs to be supported.”
In addition to board members Chappie, Cole, Spooner and Vosburgh, member David Bell was in attendance. Marilyn Maro phoned into the meeting. Member Ed Chiles was absent with excuse.
BRADENTON BEACH – Characterizing the possible consolidation of the three island cities as “breaking up the team,” Mayor John Chappie spoke out against consolidation efforts at a Dec. 6 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting.
On Oct. 31, the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) sent a letter to the mayors of all three Anna Maria Island cities saying that the Florida Legislature has directed the organization to review the potential consolidation of services and government entities on Anna Maria Island. Options discussed include annexing the Island into the city of Bradenton or Manatee County, or creating a new city from the Island’s three cities.
At the Dec. 6 CRA meeting, city attorney Ricinda Perry updated the board on the OPAGGA study.
“The CRA is part of the OPAGGA study,” Perry said. “If they decide to consolidate there is a very real chance the CRA will no longer exist, which would be a major detriment to the improvements we’ve been making, and very substantial improvements.”
Perry outlined city efforts to comply with requests for documents from OPAGGA.
“The state has issued the OPAGGA study to the city and staff has spent a very considerable amount of time working through the documents and preparing the reports and the correspondence that has been requested from OPAGGA,” Perry said. “I want to recognize the clerk’s office. Terri (Sanclemente, the city clerk) has been compiling every single contract that the city has and the CRA has, and that as a team, Chief (John Cosby), Tom (Woodard, public works director) Shayne (Thompson, city treasurer ), me, Mayor (John) Chappie and Terri have gotten together to respond.”
Perry said she is hopeful that the state elected officials see the value in allowing the municipalities that have been authorized by the state Legislature to maintain their status.
“That deals with some of the concerns about cities versus services, consolidation, non-consolidation, elimination or whatever,” Chappie said. “With a smaller municipality, and the CRA, we had the ability to utilize funds to establish a viable commercial district out here on the Island.”
Chappie said that in the past, the central area of Bradenton Beach consisted mostly of bars.
“When we started, it was dying here,” Chappie said. “The ability of local government to work and transform an area, and create a viable commercial district, it’s incredible what you can do with local government, smaller government and CRAs. Without that it would have never happened, if it had been all the county.”
Chappie said with the reputation that Bradenton Beach had in years past, he doubted the current revitalization would have ever taken place.
“And that’s my pitch for not breaking up the team,” Chappie said.
BRADENTON BEACH – Improvements to the Coquina Beach multi-use trail have been delayed.
The trail is a paved path about the width of a city sidewalk that begins at the Longboat Pass parking lot and runs 1.5 miles along the beach north to Fifth Street South.
Manatee County commissioners approved $1.3 million in tourism funds for improvements to the trail at an Aug. 8 meeting. Under the scope of the new project, workers will resurface and widen the trail, but its location and length are planned to remain unchanged.
The project also includes the removal of 96 Australian pine trees whose roots are damaging the pavement.
The removal was scheduled to take about eight months to complete, but work was recently halted.
The Sun contacted Manatee County Information Outreach Manager Bill Logan to find out why. Logan responded with an email statement from Manatee County Public Works Senior Project Engineer Michael Sturm.
“The trail restoration project began back in October, clearing the area around the trail of 20 trees,” Sturm said in his email. “We are currently installing root barriers in areas where the trees could impact the trail in the future. As for the actual removal and replacement of the trail, I received an update yesterday (Nov. 29). The asphalt plants are getting ready to shut down until the beginning of the new year. This supply issue will impact our schedule and push out the completion date. We plan to mill segments of the trail that can then be paved on the same day. So, the actual work on the path will start in early January, making it hard to provide project phasing and timeline estimates.”
Manatee County leaders are no strangers to delays due to supply chain issues. The drainage project at Coquina Beach, which caused the long-term closure of hundreds of parking spaces in 2021-22, also fell well short of the original completion timeline due to supply issues.
The county currently spends between $35,000 to $40,000 a year maintaining the trail and public works says that the steps being taken with the new trail will save that money because the tree roots will no longer be an issue. If this holds, about a third of the cost of the project would be covered by the nearly half a million in repair dollars that wouldn’t need to be spent over the next decade.
Bradenton contractor Woodruff & Sons has been retained for the trail project.
