The Anna Maria City Commission took a bold step last week by authorizing the purchase of six prime lots on the bayfront across from the historic century-old city pier. The vacant property, which amounts to a little less than one acre, could become a park, a bandstand or other public space depending on the community’s wishes.
With a price tag of $2.8 million, the city hopes to build a public-private partnership to pay off the debt. While this could be considered a poor time to commit considerable municipal resources to one project, the city could lose this golden opportunity should a developer swoop in with an offer on such valuable property. The city expects to close on the purchase next month.
Some sort of park on the land, at the northwest corner of Pine Avenue and North Bay Boulevard, would be an appealing complement to the boardwalk under construction along the Tampa Bay shore perpendicular to the pier.
The 850-foot boardwalk, partially open, sports benches, shelters, turtle-friendly lighting and native landscaping. It extends north to a pedestrian bridge over a canal, connecting to Bayfront Park, and south to additional pier parking. Federal grants are paying for the boardwalk.
These public projects come as private investments are spicing up Pine Avenue with a batch of specialty boutiques, a small village of restored historic structures and renovations to other buildings.
As development continues, Anna Maria’s “main street” is now a walking district that hosts Porch Parties on the third Friday of the month, the next one tomorrow.
Anna Maria has come a long way from the heated political imbroglio of last year that saw the recall of a fervent anti-development city commissioner. Harry Stoltzfus lost his seat after his long fight against new construction, primarily that of the Pine Avenue Restoration developers Ed Chiles and Michael Coleman.
One of the ousted commissioner’s many provocative emails indicated his desire to bulldoze PAR’s new Key West-style buildings, two stories with a boutique on the ground floor and a residence above.
Stoltzfus attempted to stymie further PAR development after the first two buildings went up, but a recall petition for misfeasance and malfeasance took hold, a vote followed and the commissioner lost his seat 11 months ago.
Now, those wounds appear healed. Chiles and Coleman continue to revitalize Pine Avenue alongside fellow Anna Maria residents and real estate investors Lizzie and Mike Thrasher.
PAR’s many boutiques include Kelly Kary’s Olive Oil Outpost, well known for its oils, olives, cheese and artisan breads; Janae Rudacille’s Pink and Navy, with its upscale women’s and men’s clothing, home decor and more; and Emerson Quillin’s Studio Store, stocked with his original art, published cartoon prints and other products bearing his work.
The Thrashers continue to preserve Anna Maria history with another restoration project -- that of a 98-year-old, two-story structure known by two names, Thelma by the Sea and Angler’s Lodge.
The building was moved three blocks to the Thrashers’ Historic Green Village on Pine Avenue, already home to the Village Cafe at Rosedale, the Sears Cottage and Relish in Resourcefulness, all housed in restored historic structures.
All this newfound charm comes only a few years after the only shopping that could be found along Pine Avenue stood at the east end with the handful of shops in Bayfront Plaza.
This week’s report of the remarkable increase in tourism in Manatee County -- a 13 percent rise in economic impact this July over the previous July -- confirms the area’s strong appeal.
Anna Maria Island’s Old Florida look and feel -- wonderfully lacking in high-rise resorts and condos -- contributes mightily to that allure.
With additional development in store along Pine Avenue, a boardwalk scheduled for completion in October and now a park in the offing, Anna Maria’s future looks bright indeed. Kudos to the City Commission for its visionary land purchase.
