Parking Garage SitesWatching the Clearwater City Council Workshop, Monday, I was pleased to hear that the young man from Chase Real Estate was able to put together more than one parcel on South Clearwater Beach that could support our much needed parking garage. And for close to $5 million an acre! That's 40 percent less than the market price for that land, according to my realtor friends. Furthermore, these lots are right between Hamden and Coronado so they're convenient to the beach without taking up beachfront property. Since the city already has set aside $6 million to use for a parking garage on the Beach, we could actually buy the property and have some left over to start the building. Obviously, the City Council felt it would be better, if possible, to buy land for a garage rather than use any city-owned parcels. Otherwise they would not have voted to engage an agent to put together parcels for purchase. All of the city-owned land on the South Beach is waterfront. To use it for parking makes no esthetic or economic sense in a tourist area. On several occasions, our mayor has stated that he wanted the South Beach parking garage as far from the Roundabout as possible to avoid tie-ups in traffic. Both of the proposed South Beach parcels satisfy that requirement. How great it is that we have the funds to place the parking in the most logical and convenient place for the public's use. Perhaps the Council's vote tonight will help scotch the rumor that the Clearwater Marina was going to be sacrificed for a "joint development" with a developer who would build a large time-share on the site and, in return, build the parking garage on part of the Marina site. Anyone who would think the Marina property is the suitable site for a parking garage obviously has no notion of the amenities required for an attractive entrance to a quality tourist destination. Our two-story marina building at our entryway, with the open docks, fishing fleet and pleasure boats beside it, shows our visitors, as they arrive, that Clearwater Beach is a place to relax and enjoy a pleasant vacation. I hope the people of the Clearwater Islands will be there at the City Council meeting tonight to urge the Council Members on as they vote to grab this opportunity to put our parking garage in the most convenient place for all concerned. Even if it doesn't break even for the first few years it will be a badly needed boost for our businesses on the Beach. - Anne McKay Garris
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