Main Street Landing project in NPR to resume

City officials hope to see workers back on the Main Street Landing development site in the next week after coming to a new agreement with the developer.

City Council voted 5-0 in favor of the agreement with Gainesville-based McGurn Management Inc. during Tuesday's regular meeting that, according to City Manager John Schneiger, now gives the developer the authority to submit building plans to complete the retail-residential project's shell.

Construction was halted again less than a month ago after resuming last May following an earlier hiatus of nearly four years. The main reason for the latest work stoppage was language in the development's current building permit that only allows for construction of two complete stories. Plans call for Main Street Landing to be a three-story building.

Schneiger said he is not aware of any major issues that may hold up submission and approval of the second building permit, but does not have specific enough details to propose when the process will go through. City officials are optimistic for next week, though, he said.

A revised site plan, development agreement and zoning amendments will come later this year.

"I think we're all feeling really good that we were able to get that agreement and allow things to move forward," Schneiger said during a Wednesday phone interview. "We definitely see it as a good sign that the developer is working toward a revised site plan and to submit that sometime this spring."

Council members unanimously agreed that this was in the city's best interest and are ready to see work continue on the site.

"Hopefully, we'll see the workers back out there and finishing this part up," said Councilman Bob Langford.

Since work resumed last May, the expectation has been to complete the exterior, or shell, of the three-story building. In theory, that would increase the development's potential to attract commercial tenants. Council has also held in past meetings that it would simply be more aesthetically appealing given that it is located at the symbolic entrance to the city.

Overall, the relationship between the city and Ken McGurn - he and wife Linda own McGurn Management Inc. - has been cordial and cooperative over the past year.

After construction came to a halt in the summer of 2006 as the real estate market and economy began their downhill tumble, New Port Richey officials considered launching legal action against the developer and taking over the site but did not follow through.

The McGurns' partner in Main Street Landing, former Mayor Peter Altman, was forced to drop out of the project.

Mayor Scott McPherson on Tuesday thanked both city staff and McGurn for working toward this agreement and said the developer's willingness to submit a new site plan and possibly expand beyond it is a welcomed concept.