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No hotel for Soundview property
BY VICI PAPAJOHN Gulf Breeze News vici@gulfbreezenews.com
Though the Gulf Breeze City Council granted conceptual approval of an extended stay hotel for Soundview Drive in early July, the project has stalled.
"We have not heard back from the Maldins," says Gulf Breeze City Manager Edwin "Buzz" Eddy. "They had worked quite a bit with city staff and the council to work out a plan, but the deal did not go through and we have not heard back from them. All the questions we had were mostly answered but there was no formal deal and the project is not moving forward."
Rumors have circulated that the Highpointe Hotel Corporation is building a Residence Inn on the commercial zoned property, but both the city and Highpointe deny any such possibility.
"That particular piece of property is not one we are looking at," says Dave Cleveland, Highpointe Vice President and partner. "We are excited about breaking ground on our new Hilton Garden Inn on Airport Boulevard in late summer or early fall."
In other news: in 2003 the South Santa Rosa Utilities Service (SSRUS) received approval from the Gulf Breeze City Council for a special assessment to fund fire hydrant upgrades. The assessment was due to sunset, but on March 17 the council approved extending the $2 per month fee for an additional 50 months to pay for the now-completed project.
"The system had inadequate hydrants," Mayor Lane Gilchrist said during council discussion Feb. 13, "and undersized water mains."
The work completed in Santa Rosa Shores, Ramblewood, Bay Shore area, and various areas in Tiger Point includes 26 new hydrants and 4.2 miles of water main. According to engineering reports, a six inch pipe is needed and the existing pipe varied in size from two to four inches. The increased number of hydrants and the proximity to the homes will improve water pressure and should improve fire ratings and decrease insurance costs in these areas.
Thomas Lambert, Assistant Director of Public Services, advised the council that the cost of the hydrants nearly doubled from the original 2002 estimates and the posthurricane construction costs and delays caused the scheduled projects to cost over $913,000.
To date, only $479,793 has been collected, and additional expenses totaling near $16,000 are expected.
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