Thursday, November 10, 2005
Seascape Resort in Marathon goes Condo
Middle Florida Keys units to cost over $1 million
Robbie Browning and Jim Rudnick of Winter Park purchased the old Seascape Resort at the end of 75th and 76th streets in Marathon. Now they're moving forward on their plans for the property. In a phone interview this week, Browning reported that he has presented plans to city Planning Director Gail Kenson and is waiting for a decision from her department and, then, from the Planning Commission.
While he doesn't want to reveal much because the issues are pending, Browning did provide a peek into his concepts for development. The given is that the new owners propose to demolish the current structure and replace it with 10 condo/hotel units. The number of rooms per unit remains to be decided but each will be approximately 1,500 square feet. Browning said they would have to reduce the number of current units by the number of additional bedrooms they add.
And, yes, the new condo/hotel rooms will sell in the $1 million-plus range.
”It just wouldn't be profitable to use the current building,“ he said, explaining the decision to demolish the current structure and rebuild. Browning can also build one residence on the property, and plans to. As part of the new owners' strategy, Browning staged a meeting with neighbors surrounding the property.
The former owners, Bill and Sara Stites, had encountered challenges from nearby residents when they attempted to modify a zoning decision by the city. Some neighbors had objected because of concern over one part of the property that had been zoned residential. The Stites claimed the residential designation was an error and sought to change it. Eventually the city chose to leave the one lot as residential, which is why the new owners will construct a single-family home there.
Mandy Rodriguez, who runs the Dolphin Research Center on Grassy Key, lives on 75th Street and attended the session Seascape's new owners staged. He reported it was a very cordial session and that the new owners were gracious in letting their plans be known. ”They told us they weren't required to show us their plans but wanted to anyway,“ Rodriguez said. ”Most of us were quite satisfied with what we saw.“
Rodriquez added that he has no problem with the new owners knocking down the old structure nor is there any worry over the new home to be built on what is now a vacant lot. Browning said that once he's obtained approval for his plans, it should take about six months to complete the project. He's hoping to begin this fall.
”So far all we've done is clean up after three hurricanes,“ he said. ”It has cost us between $4,000, $5,000 each time, so we're eager to begin.“
The resort sits at the end of 75th and 76th streets on the Atlantic side, providing 10 small rooms, a dock on the ocean and swimming pool. The now-closed Seascape had a legion of loyal fans who returned year after year. Originally developed as a resort by Joan and Byron Stites in 1971, Seascape went through several changes before being acquired by the couple's son Bill and his wife Sara Stites.
Purchasing it in 1994, the Stites made a number of changes including adding the pool, converting a garage into the present-day lobby, adding air conditioning, redoing all the rooms and putting in landscaping. They rebuilt the dock this year.
Read this Post on more Florida Keys Resort Redevelopment
More on Florida Keys Resorts
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Robbie Browning and Jim Rudnick of Winter Park purchased the old Seascape Resort at the end of 75th and 76th streets in Marathon. Now they're moving forward on their plans for the property. In a phone interview this week, Browning reported that he has presented plans to city Planning Director Gail Kenson and is waiting for a decision from her department and, then, from the Planning Commission.
While he doesn't want to reveal much because the issues are pending, Browning did provide a peek into his concepts for development. The given is that the new owners propose to demolish the current structure and replace it with 10 condo/hotel units. The number of rooms per unit remains to be decided but each will be approximately 1,500 square feet. Browning said they would have to reduce the number of current units by the number of additional bedrooms they add.
And, yes, the new condo/hotel rooms will sell in the $1 million-plus range.
”It just wouldn't be profitable to use the current building,“ he said, explaining the decision to demolish the current structure and rebuild. Browning can also build one residence on the property, and plans to. As part of the new owners' strategy, Browning staged a meeting with neighbors surrounding the property.
The former owners, Bill and Sara Stites, had encountered challenges from nearby residents when they attempted to modify a zoning decision by the city. Some neighbors had objected because of concern over one part of the property that had been zoned residential. The Stites claimed the residential designation was an error and sought to change it. Eventually the city chose to leave the one lot as residential, which is why the new owners will construct a single-family home there.
Mandy Rodriguez, who runs the Dolphin Research Center on Grassy Key, lives on 75th Street and attended the session Seascape's new owners staged. He reported it was a very cordial session and that the new owners were gracious in letting their plans be known. ”They told us they weren't required to show us their plans but wanted to anyway,“ Rodriguez said. ”Most of us were quite satisfied with what we saw.“
Rodriquez added that he has no problem with the new owners knocking down the old structure nor is there any worry over the new home to be built on what is now a vacant lot. Browning said that once he's obtained approval for his plans, it should take about six months to complete the project. He's hoping to begin this fall.
”So far all we've done is clean up after three hurricanes,“ he said. ”It has cost us between $4,000, $5,000 each time, so we're eager to begin.“
The resort sits at the end of 75th and 76th streets on the Atlantic side, providing 10 small rooms, a dock on the ocean and swimming pool. The now-closed Seascape had a legion of loyal fans who returned year after year. Originally developed as a resort by Joan and Byron Stites in 1971, Seascape went through several changes before being acquired by the couple's son Bill and his wife Sara Stites.
Purchasing it in 1994, the Stites made a number of changes including adding the pool, converting a garage into the present-day lobby, adding air conditioning, redoing all the rooms and putting in landscaping. They rebuilt the dock this year.
Read this Post on more Florida Keys Resort Redevelopment
More on Florida Keys Resorts
florida+keys marathon+florida middle+keys seascape seascape+resort keys+resorts
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