Beach Walk Family Festival Scheduled For October

The first Family Fun Festival is planned for October 24 and 25, 2009. Beach Walk will offer arts,crafts, toys and novelties for sale along with entertainment, games, celebrity visits, food and refreshments.

The Family Fun Fest will benefit Tampa Bay Harvest, who's mission is to end hunger in our community by moving good food from super markets, restaurants and other sources to places where hungry people are being fed. Shelters, food pantries and other services are the recipients of the food.

The Clearwater Beach Association is offering volunteers and planning help. Anyone wishing to volunteer can call Rich Gonzalez at 727-394-1012. Crafters can sign up at http://www.familyfunfest.net/

Clearwater Beach Post Office May Close

We could lose the Clearwater Beach post office as early as October. It is on the list of thousands of post offices around the country that may close.

Other Pinellas locations on the list are Countryside, Cleveland St, St Pete Beach and Pass a Grille. The full list is here.

Sand Key Real Estate Transactions April - June 2009

The following sales closed during April, May, and June 2009. Data is obtained from the Realtor MLS data.

Property Address / Subdivision / Sale Price / # Days On Market

1651 Sand Key Est. #83 / Harborage / $235,000 / 42
1621 Gulf Blvd #202 / Isle of Sand Key / $274,500 / 21
1230 Gulf Blvd #507 / Landmark Towers / $290,000 / 87
1480 Gulf Blvd #205 / Sand Key Condo / $299,500 / 162
1460 Gulf Blvd #706 / Sand Key Condo / $325,000 / 9
1501 Gulf Blvd #706 / Sand Key Condo / $306,000 / 144
240 Sand Key Est. #612 / Harborage / $308,000 / 58
1400 Gulf Blvd #612 / Sand Key Condo / $285,000 / 80
1430 Gulf Blvd #407 / Sand Key Condo / $310,000 / 1165
1270 Gulf Blvd #1403 / Harbor Light Towers / $325,000 / 160
1290 Gulf Blvd #2004 / Lighthouse Towers / $300,000 / 107
1501 Gulf Blvd #204 / Sand Key Condo / $375,500 / 136
1582 Gulf Blvd #1305 / Cabana Club / $410,000 / 88
1540 Gulf Blvd #2104 / Ultimar / $430,000 / 86
1170 Gulf Blvd #704 / Grande on Sand Key / $600,000 / 68
1600 Gulf Blvd #1014 / Dans Island / $535,000 / 525
1200 Gulf Blvd #1006 / Meridian / $600,000 / 117
1170 Gulf Blvd #1004 / Grande on Sand Key / $650,000 / 76
1200 Gulf Blvd #1101 / Meridian / $715,000 / 1
1390 Gulf Blvd #P2 / Sand Key Club / $616,000 / 149

Average Sales Price $409,375
Average number of days on market 164
Number of properties sold: 20

For more Sand Key Real Estate information & a Free CMA for your Sand Key Condo call PropCo Real Estate 727-585-0800, or visit SandKeyProperty.com

Shoppes Will Remain Zoned "Tourist"

On June 18th, the Clearwater City Council gave up its fight to impose the “Commercial” zoning designation on the 3-acre property where the Shoppes on Sand Key are located.

The Shoppes were left without valid zoning when a 20 year agreement ended back in 2006. Owner D.A. Bennett Company, sought Tourist zoning, which would allow it to build a 100-foot-high hotel on the site.

Under pressure by the Save Our Shoppes organization and other Sand Key residents, the council imposed the obsolete Commercial zoning and re-applied it to the Shoppes. Bennett appealed and won, and the city appealed that ruling and lost. The City Councel said they have no options left at this point.

Bennett executives have claimed they have no plans to build a hotel.

4th Of July Celebrations and Fireworks

There are lots of area events scheduled to celebrate the 4th of July. Take in a parade, enjoy live music and then watch fireworks. All events are on Saturday July 4th unless noted.

Clearwater Celebrates America
Overlooking the beautiful intercoastal waterway at Coachman Park, this celebration features the Mostly Pops Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. A spectacular fireworks show will follow at 9:30 p.m. The event includes children's activities, food and beverages for purchase and exhibitor and sponsor booths. Gates open at 4 pm.
*Coachman Park 301 Drew. St., Clearwater.

4TH of July U.S. Constitution Boat Parade
Enjoy a patriotic, fun filled Rally that will kick off the First Annual Fourth of July U.S. Constitution boat parade. Festivities will start at noon at Gators Pass. There will be music and prize drawings throughout the afternoon. Decorate your boat - Show it off - Wave Flags! Or, just watch the boat parade sail by just after 3:00 P.M.
*Gators on the Pass 12754 Kingfish Dr, Treasure Island

4th of July Extravaganza at The Pier
Starting at 1pm on the east courtyard, enjoy live music by the Cool Daddies or step inside to catch a one man circus. If you've never tried a drum circle, this is your chance, with free drums or bring your own. Live music continues until 8pm. Fireworks start at 9 pm.
*The Pier 800 2nd Ave. NE, St. Petersburg.

Largo 4th of July Celebration
Music starts at 7pm with interactive kids activities near the stage. Fireworks begin at 9pm. Parking is available on site and free. No alcohol, pets, or personal fireworks.
*Largo Central Park, 101 Central Park Drive, Largo.

Madeira Beach Fireworks
The fireworks display will be fired from the city recreation park on Rex Place next to the City Hall complex.
*Madeira Beach 300 Municipal Dr., Madeira Beach

Redington Shores Fireworks
The fireworks display will take place shortly after dusk in the County beach park.
*Redington Shores,182nd Avenue and Gulf Boulevard

St. Pete Beach Fireworks
Launched along the Gulf of Mexico, enjoy the fireworks show starting at dusk.
*St. Pete Beach Access Park, 4700 Gulf Blvd, St. Pete Beach

Treasure Island Fireworks
Enjoy fireworks on the beach. Bring your chair or blanket. Fireworks start at 9pm.
*Treasure Island Beach,10400 Gulf Blvd, Treasure Island

July 3rd Concert and Fireworks
Fri, Jul, 3 6:00 pm
*Knology Park , 373 Douglas Ave. Dunedin

Fireworks Cruise
Take a high speed water sightseeing ride. Then, watch Clearwater's fireworks display from the deck of the Sea Screamer. $35 adults, $25 children. 8 pm.
*Clearwater Beach Marina at Sea Screamer 25 Causeway Blvd. Clearwater Beach 727-447-7200

4th Of July Parade
The North Redington Beach 4th of July Parade will be begin at Addie Graham Park 173rd Avenue and proceed via Second Street and First Street to Radcliffe Park starting at 9 am.
*North Redington Beach at Addie Graham Park

Finally, A Deal For Beach Parking Garage

Clearwater Beach has finally struck a deal to build a city parking garage. City council voted unanimously on a 300 space 4 level garage atop ground floor retail space. Vehicles will enter and exit the garage from Coronado Drive.

The site is currently the home of Britt's Laguna Grill, a popular restaurant on the Beachwalk promenade. A new Britt's will be located on the ground floor. Surf Style Retail Management, who owns the site will pay to build the garage itself, with no city tax dollars. It has not yet been determined what the city will charge for parking, but it will likely be similar the agreement the city has with the Hyatt, which will have 400 parking places for the public in its 750-space garage - rates must be "comparable" to the garages of other beachfront resorts.

The Beachwalk project, which was completed last year, eliminated hundreds of waterfront parking spaces on S. Gulfview Blvd, and the city has been scrambling ever since to come up with replacements. The city is currently leasing 2 vacant lots for parking.

The project is expected to to be complete by next fall.

Sand Key Park May Allow Alcohol Sales

The contract with vendor who currently provides concession service at the Sand Key Park expires in a few months. That vendor along with 2 others has submitted proposals for the new contract.

The current vendor is mobile, selling snacks from a roving golf cart, and hot dogs, hamburgers and soft drinks from a mobile kitchen/trailer. One of the alternative proposals includes a 2,200 square foot elevated pavilion, called "The Sandbar Grill". The pavilion would provide beach concession services, hot meals in addition to the standard beach fare of hot dogs and hamburgers during the day. After 4 pm the pavilion would be used to host "weddings, food functions and other special events and would include providing "controlled and restricted alcoholic beverage services." The consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on the city's public beaches and parks, but Sand Key Park is governed by the County, not the City.

Pinellas County will review all three proposals and the city Commission will discuss the proposed availability of alcohol at Sand Key Park at their next meeting.