Hendricks originally purchased the property in 2013 and had plans to enter into a joint development agreement with an adjoining property but quickly ran into opposition by neighboring property owners and businesses. This eventually caused them to withdraw their proposal and rethink their strategies going forward.
In March of 2016 Hendricks and its representatives reached back out to the city and requested a scaled back proposal, which involved the review of a Site Improvement Plan, and which was eventually approved by both the Planning Board and the City Council.As part of those negotiation the then city manager struck a deal with Hendricks Properties to add some badly needed additional parking along Herb Savage Way. That roadway runs behind the Island Plaza and allows for additional employee and public parking in that area. As part of that agreement Hendricks agreed to maintain that improvement.
In addition to the parking improvements, a lighted walkway from the rear of the building is to be enhanced for access to the retail area of the plaza.The company would also be doing the following improvements:
Clean up the alleyway between their building and that of Progressive Auto Storage and providing additional parking in that area, which would also help to improve access for public safety personnel.
Updating the façade on the building.
The addition of a pedestrian node at the Collier/Bald Eagle intersection.
Upgrades to landscaping.
Improvements to site lighting and security surveillance.The addition of an architectural clock tower feature on the building.
The façade at the rear of the building would be updated.
When the project was started in May of 2017 it was estimated to last for 6-7 months, but has lasted now for close to 11 months due to some additional upgrades and Hurricane Irma.
Steph
This project, while an improvement, falls well short of Marco Island standards and the kind of development the city deserves. The project violates the LDC on so many levels that it is breathtaking. The sign ordinance, landscape requirements and parking requirements were for the most part ignored during the approval process. There was little if any attention paid to storm water run off as well. The city did a lousy job negotiating this deal.
Mr Brechnitz,
Since your the chair of the Planning Board and I would assume professionally trained in Architecture, Land Use and Planning, I would like to ask if you could cite the specific sections of the LDC that this project violated.
I don’t seem to recall you being part of the process. Perhaps if you had been it would have been a far greater success?
Also very odd how none of the Councilmen had such strong objections, not even Mr. Honig. I guess they must have been asleep at the wheel that day???
So please, indulge me and provide specific LDC references to the sections violated. I am very interested in reading your professional assessment.
-The Architect
Mr Brechnitz,
Since your the chair of the Planning Board and I would assume professionally trained in Architecture, Land Use and Planning, I would like to ask if you could cite the specific sections of the LDC that this project violated.
I do t seem to recall you being part of the process. Perhaps if you had been it would have been a far greater success.
Also very odd how none of the Councilmen has such strong objections, not even Mr. Honig. I guess they must have been asleep at the wheel that day???
So please, indulge me and provide specific LDC references to the sections violated. I am very interested in reading your professional assessment..,
-The Architect