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DUNEDIN — Gov. Charlie Crist this week spared a major downtown project from his budget veto list, approving $1.3-million for the city's Gateway project.
On Wednesday, Crist cut just $1-million in projects from the state's $66.2-billion spending plan.
"I all along believed that we had demonstrated that as a completely defendable economic redevelopment project," Mayor Bob Hackworth said of the Gateway project. "That's an investment. It's not spending."
The $30-million mixed-use project planned between Skinner Boulevard and Main Street will include offices, homes and stores.
Because of the economic slowdown, Ohio-based developer Pizzuti Solutions asked that the project be built in two phases. The plan is for Pizzuti to close on half of the city-owned 4.1 acres for $1.2-million by September.
The other half would be acquired by the fall of 2011 for $1.65-million.
The state money will go toward streetscape improvements and enhancing the east entrance of downtown, said Robert Ironsmith, director of economic development. It will also go toward extending Milwaukee Avenue through Main Street to Skinner Boulevard.
Tamara El-Khoury can be reached at (727) 445-4181 or tel-khoury@sptimes.com.
Fast facts
By the numbers
$1.3M approved by Gov. Crist
$1.2M due by September on city-owned property for the development
$1.65M due by fall 2011 for the other half of the city's property involved in the project
[Last modified: Jun 16, 2008 02:03 PM]
Comments on this article
by JT
Jun 14, 2008 10:36 PM
More out of control government spending by the State & City. And you wonder why taxes seem to never go down. If this is such a great business scheme then the developers would be begging to make all these improvements with their own money. :(
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