Sunset Harbor condo bid sprouts to 21 stories

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February 23, 2006

Sunset Harbor condo bid sprouts to 21 stories

By CINDY F. CRAWFORD
Staff Writer

DAYTONA BEACH -- The riverfront property under the Seabreeze Bridge was an abandoned restaurant and dock just a few years ago.

Today, the old Marker 32 is a posh yacht club called Sunset Harbor -- and plans for an adjoining condominium are growing with the area's profile.

At the time the club was built, owners received city approval to build a nine-story, 28-unit structure. But now that construction along the city's once quiet riverfront has started to boom, Sunset Harbor developers are seeking a 21-story, 116-unit condo. The Planning Board is expected to vote tonight on the rezoning request. The City Commission has the final say.

"We want to improve and create an even prettier waterfront view," said Hugh Upton, Sunset Harbor developer.

Located at the north end of the Downtown-Ballough Redevelopment Area, the $100 million condo with three floors of parking and up to 200 boat slips would fulfill several city goals. It would be a residential "bookend" at the edge of downtown, supplying customers for the local businesses. And it would be in an area where officials prefer to place the tallest riverfront buildings -- at the base of bridges, said Steve Spraker, planning manager for the city.

"This project would bring a substantial (tax) increment to the Ballough Road redevelopment district that could be used for roads and parks," Spraker said. The condo, with units worth $750,000 to $1 million, is expected to generate $125 million in property taxes.

Since opening the yacht club convention center and restaurant in 2004, Upton said it's been interesting to see Ballough Road blossom into a thriving riverfront district.

"I like the fact that we started the ball rolling by spending a lot of money here to build the yacht club and we're finally seeing what the area could look like," Upton said. "We're fortunate and pleased to be able to be the first in line of a number of developments going in here."

To the club's north, the 20- to 25-story condo Terra Mark is planned in place of Smokey Yunick's racing garage and the former Park's Seafood Restaurant. North of that, over the Holly Hill line, is an even bigger project, Marina Grande, which will have four 25-story towers and nearly 1,000 units. South of Sunset Harbor, two 22-story condos called Beach Street Condos have been approved.

Upton also has plans to build a four-story residential and retail project across the street from the yacht club, where the tennis court and parking lot sit, but has put the idea on hold for now.