CLEARWATER - The two-year journey to obtain the City's blessing for a parking garage at Pelican Walk is finally over. Clearwater's Community Development Board unanimously approved the application by BJE Inc., the owner of Pelican Walk, during their April 19 meeting.
Originally planned only as a 300-space garage intended to support retail businesses on Mandalay Avenue, the project has grown into a mixed use facility including 355 parking spaces on four floors, and 28 condominium units on three floors above parking. 54 spaces will be reserved for condo owners and the remaining 301 spaces will be available to the public according to Louis Anastasopoulos, BJE President.
The planned condo units include two penthouses of 2,900 square feet, and 26 3-bedroom, 3-bath units of 2,100 square feet. Each unit will have east and west facing 300 square foot balconies, and the facility will include a rooftop swimming pool.
Anastasopoulos hopes to obtain building permits within two months, and complete the garage portion of the project 5 months later. "I'm doing all I can to make it happen as quick as possible," Anastasopoulos said. The condos should be completed about one year after the garage.
Public parking rates have not yet been determined, nor has a decision been made on metered versus attended parking. Anastasopoulos plans to offer free parking to customers of Pelican Walk businesses.
The Pelican Walk garage will provide a welcomed addition to beach parking inventory while the City's Beach Walk project removes more than 500 public spaces during its construction.