Beach Parking Garage Gets City Council Approval

On February 18th Clearwater City Council approved an agreement with L.O.M. Inc. to build a parking garage on Coronado Drive, next to the new Hyatt Regency Resort. The 300 spaces will replace the ones that were lost to the BeachWalk project. The site is currently occupied by Britt’s Laguna Grill and Surf Style, who will occupy the ground level of the new facility. Construction is expected to start by the end of September.

Beach Renourishment Projects

Pinellas County Commissioners unanimously approved on Jan. 5 amendments to two beach renourishment contracts.

Amendment No. 1 to the Treasure Island beach renourishment grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection increases the state share of the project from $400,000 to $700,000. The project is scheduled to begin in late spring 2010.

Amendment No. 2 to the FDEP contract for the Sand Key renourishment project increases the state share of costs from $333,320 to $3.9 million. Construction is set to begin between November 2010 and February 2011.

The Treasure Island project will be constructed in conjunction with the Upham Beach renourishment project and will be administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The estimated cost of $3.5 million for the project will be cost-shared, 60 percent federal government, 20 percent state and 20 percent county. The $20 million estimated cost for the Sand Key project will be paid for with the same cost-sharing formula.

History of the Treasure Island project shows that the beach has “two erosional hot spots:” One on the north end and along the southern two-thirds of the island.

Treasure Island was the first federal project to be constructed on the west coast of Florida in 1969. The beaches have been restored 14 times. Treasure Island was last restored in 2006.

Project plans call for sediment to be dredged from John’s Pass and pumped onto the beaches. The project will renourish a total of 1.4 miles of shoreline encompassing two areas: One in north Treasure Island and the other further south along Sunset Beach.

Officials estimate that construction of both areas will take less than four months.

The Sand Key project is 9 miles long and extends from the Sand Key portion of Clearwater south to North Redington Beach, according to staff notes.

The project history shows the area was first renourished as a single unit in 1998. Prior to that time, individual communities, such as Indian Rocks Beach, Redington Shores and others, were nourished separately.

The 2005-06 Sand Key project was the most expensive beach renourishment project in the history of the Jacksonville District U.S. Army Corp of Engineers at $45 million. The high cost was mainly attributed to fuel costs from barging sand from the Egmont Key Channel borrow area to the beach.

Officials are trying to reduce the cost of the 2010-11 project by contracting Coastal Planning Engineering Inc. to do a sand search for new borrow areas several miles offshore Sand Key.

Clearwater Beach Featured On ESPN

Clearwater Beach will be featured in this year’s Outback Bowl Preview Special on ESPN2 and ESPNU. In addition to Clearwater Beach, Busch Gardens Tampa, the Florida Aquarium, Channelside Bay Plaza, Ybor City, St. Pete museums and area events will also be featured.  The Outback Bowl, named for sponsor Outback Steakhouse,  kicks off at 11 a.m. on Jan. 1 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa and will be telecast internationally on ESPN TV. The event is in its 24th year.

The half-hour show also will highlight Auburn University and Northwestern University football teams, who will compete in the bowl. The show will air at 2 p.m. on Dec. 28th on ESPN2 and is scheduled to run eight additional times until Dec. 31 on ESPNU.

 

AAA Offers Free Transportation New Year's Eve - Don't Drive Drunk!

AAA Auto Club South is offering transportation for party-goers who've had too much to drink on New Year’s Eve. The free service, available throughout Florida, Georgia and Tennessee, is intended as a last resort for those who haven't made designated driver arrangements. Through the weekend, AAA's network of drivers will be offering a free tow to anyone who has had too much to drink.

When people call 1-800-AAA-HELP, a driver will show up and give them — and their vehicle — a ride home.

 

Outback Bowl Clearwater Beach Day

The Outback Bowl Clearwater Beach Day is December 30th. Join the teams, their marching bands and cheerleaders as they enjoy the sun and beaches at the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort next to Pier 60. The Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce, City of Clearwater, the Hilton, Suncoast Hospice Foundation, 95.7 the Beat and 93.3FLZ Radio sponsor this fun day which includes live music, skydivers, a tug-of-war and other contests from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

New Market & Deli At The Shoppes on Sand Key

"Sand Key Market & Deli" is located at 1261 Gulf Blvd, at the Shoppes on Sand Key. They will feature NY style sandwhiches, Philly cheesesteaks, and Barnies coffee along with groceries, beer, wine, and Boars Head products.

Ironman Event Bringing Visitors To Sand Key

The Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 will bring visitors to Sand Key this weekend. The event takes place Saturday morning in Clearwater Beach, and the Harborview Center and Sheraton Sand Key Resort are hosting pre and post race activities.

The race begins and ends at Pier 60 consists of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and 13.1-mile run, will start and finish at Pier 60.