New development for Firmenich property?
By 
Near the conclusion of the Safety Harbor City Commission meeting on Monday, December 5, Mayor Andy Steingold mentioned something that could greatly impact to the city.
During his Commission Comments, the mayor spoke about the state of businesses in and around the downtown district, and while recalling a recent conversation with Chamber of Commerce President Susan Petersen, Steingold revealed he’s had discussions with someone who is interested in developing the long-abandoned Firmenich property on SR 590.
“I think we’re filling our businesses downtown, and I’ve spoken to Susan about that,” Steingold said.
“And she’s kind of conveyed we’re doing a pretty good job here in Safety Harbor, and we’re doing such a good job in Safety Harbor that we’re getting some play on some other lands that aren’t necessarily in the downtown area.”
Steingold went on to explain how earlier in the day, he and City Manager Matt Spoor met with representatives of a group that reportedly has interest in developing the 34-acre parcel.
“I will tell you, without identifying the group, that Matt and I met today with a potential interested party in the Firmenich property,” Steingold said.
Steingold also mentioned this was the second party to show interest in the property recently, although he did not elaborate on the nature of the talks or the identity of either group.
City officials confirmed a Clearwater company inquired about developing the entire site last summer and went so far as to meet with residents to discuss the deal this past fall. However, no formal proposal was ever made.
When questioned about the potential new development after the meeting, Steingold remained vague but hopeful something would be done with the property sometime in the near future.
“Matt and I met with someone who wanted to pick our brains regarding the location,” the mayor told Safety Harbor Connect.
“They’re investigating now, and we should know something over the next several months.”
The news is just the latest in the ongoing Firmenich saga that has stretched more than four years.
In 2012, the Richman Group of Florida presented a plan to build a 296-unit apartment complex, along with 25,000 square feet of office space, on the parcel, which had been home to the Firmenich Citrus Center plant before the company relocated to Lakeland in 2009.
After receiving blowback from residents concerned about the amount of traffic the development would generate, representatives for the Richman Group reworked their proposal and received approval from the Safety Harbor City Commission as well as the Pinellas Planning Council to move forward with the new plan.
But the deal was struck down, not once but twice, by the Board of County Commissioners, defying a judge’s ruling not to do so, a decision that ultimately led to a lawsuit and a $16 million judgement in favor of the Richman Group last June.
Since then, area health care giant BayCare flirted with the idea of building a 120,000-square-foot office building on the property, but pulled out the deal at the eleventh hour, much to the consternation of city officials.
“The city staff had put a lot of work into the project, and the commission was pretty receptive to it,” Mayor Steingold said in May 2016.
“We’re saddened by the last minute withdrawal, because we could see a good partnership with BayCare. But unfortunately, it didn’t work out. Sometimes, business is business.”
Now comes the latest possible Firmenich development, which at this point appears to be in the informal discussion stages rather than the concrete proposal phase.
Still, when asked to assess the probability of a deal being made after the collapse of the previous plans, the mayor remained positive.
“I believe they’re more serious than not,” Steingold said of the mystery group.
Stay with Safety Harbor Connect for future updates to this story.
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Safety Harbor, become a model city
to support a wide range of housing that serve individuals, families, seniors, the homeless, and persons with special needs that would offer financial support to groups creating affordable housing for low– and moderate-income households; and assists people looking for affordable rental and ownership housing.
Would be ideal if the development footprint were located in the previously disturbed front half of the site so the environmentally sensitive back half could remain a productive ecosystem. Blanketing the site with buildings, concrete and asphalt isn’t the best solution for current or future generations, nor is it necessary for a decent return on developer investment.
Tammy,
That’s is what the most recent developer that met with the residents proposed. It would also include an assisted living facility at the north end, maybe light industrial, but it would be mixed for sure.
Their setup was very favorable and their project manager was (is) Robert Pergolozzi, who is very familiar with not only the property, but the residents. He previously represented The Richman Group so he was acutely aware of of what had transpired in the past.
So, not certain if this is the same group or not, but they presented a great plan.
– The Riddler –
My dream was to open a a small grocery on Main that is why I chose my house to be nearby so I could walk to work. I wanted to be able to have it family run and learn everyone by their first name I love that little yellow building and the white one that is sitting empty. I recently sold my office building and had the funds to do something really nice, however after seeing how everyone is toward me being on Iron Age I am afraid they would boycott my business. These people don’t get it they are chasing nice people away.
Diane,
That sounds like a great idea. I would love that. When the produce market, under the tent, was in the empty lot it was always busy. Local rocks.
– The Riddler –
I would shop at your grocery store almost on a daily basis. Actually, I have been doing some number crunching on exactly that same idea. There is a perfect place for it on Main between 3rd and 4th Avenue that is available for lease. My wife and I are building a house very close to that location now. Do you have experience in the grocery business?
I have no experience however so many people have mentioned it that I thought it would be a great venture. I support business on Main every day and I think the whole town would support one. I know I would rather pay a little extra and go to one close to my house than drive out of the city.
Hi Diane, from what I’ve heard, the way some people have treated you has been terrible. However, please don’t misunderstand that to be how “everyone is toward me being on Iron Age.” We have a small minority of extremists on each side of the development/preservation issue who have created a lot of tension in the community. The other 95%+ of us want to see redevelopment and new businesses started within the existing master plan and zoning laws. I’ve always thought it’d be awesome to have a small grocery store (like Trader Joe’s but locally owned) in downtown Safety Harbor.
Thank You Paul for your kind words
Thank you Jaxson and Kevin, I was thinking I live in the twilight zone. I saw another empty storefront today and thought these people just wont get it. This is what most of the residents want and they are going to get it. No retail . Susan you bring up a good point about taxes. My property taxes will be about 10thosand a year but all I have received is hate. Don’t depend on new residential because they don’t want that either. The buildings that are empty for years at the very least should be made to paint and keep up the property, Dunedins are beautiful, but people are more worried about the new buildings , not the ones falling apart.
Still do not understand why residential and/or mix use is considered a crime for this piece of property??!When will Safety Harbor start welcoming new residents?
Desanya – traffic volume is the killer – 590 & McMullen-Booth is a D or F rated intersection. Significant additional traffic would be a disaster. I think ANYONE moving in there should be prepared to pay a significant portion (75℅+) of the cost of four-laning 590 to the downtown end of the property
Apartments don’t produce much traffic during peak hours. Office uses and retail produce the most traffic.
Apartments would have the residents leaving the same time as SH residents, causing more congestion on 590 and at the already failed intersection. Office use and retail would be coming into the property so that is opposite of Harborites.
Dan is correct about the traffic. At this point in time, the current infrastructure (10th) can nearly support the current volume of traffic, let alone adding the traffic an apartment complex would produce.. As I’ve already mentioned, single family, or townhomes would be the preferred type of residential, along with mixed house, light industrial and/or retail.
– The – Riddler –
Not sure what I was smoking but there is no more traffic congestion on 590 than any other intersection. And at 10th, well maybe we do get 4 cars at the 4-way stop but we should be able to handle this. What was I thinking? My bad.
-The Riddler-
Dear Fake Riddler,
You are bad, very bad, I don’t smoke. Please don’t say things like that. My Mom reads this, and she would be upset if she thought I smoked. Thank you in advance, and yes, 4 cars should be manageable.
– The Real Riddler –
I agree, town homes or single family would work well, just not 300 apartments, as that would cause a traffic nightmare. Entrance on Mac Mullen is imperative.
– The Riddler –
Please do not get a non-for-profit for this property such as Baycare, church, etc. They do not pay taxes. We need businesses or residential to add to Safety Harbor’s tax base. Baycare was not a good option for the city with them being non-for-profit. Make decisions that will help the city and residents from a financial perspective.
I’m with Susan.
I could go either way – on one hand, a residential complex helps stretch out the city to it’s borders and will likely do more to support shops/retail at the edges of our town and nudges is in the direction of urban sprawl.
Then there’s the tax revenue – but if we’re going to spend it on yet another sports complex ($500k the council supported to build over by the old farm), then even that benefit is sort of muted.
I can’t say I’m all that passionate either way – but I think I lean toward commercial or non-profit as my preference just due to the influence a large cluster of residences and have on stretching us away from our Main Street.
Good job of filling downtown with businesses???? Huh??? Great destination place if you want to hire an attorney on Main Street!!
2 more businesses are gone…Organic Goddess Café and Edgewater on Main…room for more professional services to move in!!
Exactly. As a comparison take a look at the new development on Mainstreet in Dunedin. ALL retail spaces of the new beautiful buildings are already filled with real walk up retail shops. And the rents are not cheap. And the mayor says that Safety Harbor has it over Dunedin. Maybe he was referring to a different Dunedin.