 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Inquiring eyes gaze at Orlando --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
But delays have hit the company's 180,000-square-foot village center project in Baldwin Park, a sprawling subdivision near Orlando. As Temple Terrace City Council members consider hiring Unicorp as the city project's master developer, they are taking a close look at the Baldwin Park project, a village center plan that is similar in concept - if not in scope - to Temple Terrace's dream. Council members will tour the development on Tuesday. They could vote as early as July 26 to enter negotiations with the young but fast-rising development company in Orlando. Unicorp pins the Baldwin Park delays on issues with the original general contractor, the original architect and the city of Orlando. Dozens of subcontractors filed more than $1-million in liens, claiming they weren't paid by that general contractor: Harbco Inc. of Orlando. Temple Terrace officials, eager to bury the first shovel on a project that could take 10 years and more than $300-million to build, have known about the problems since March. Ralph Bosek, the city's project manager, said he learned of the delays when Unicorp and nine other companies submitted applications to become the master developer. But references told him the company had undertaken steps to move the Orlando village center project back on track. After checking back about a month ago, Bosek feels that Unicorp backed up its promises, and remains a viable candidate for Temple Terrace's project. "I've looked closely at the (Baldwin Park) project and visited the project, and it's beautiful," he said. "It's going to be a great town center." Unicorp deserves blame, said Bosek, who also directs the city's community development department. "The buck stops at Unicorp's desk," he said. "They had a general contractor that underbid the job significantly." But, "One of things I've said in my career is you make mistakes. It's how you handle them that separates the men from the boys. I'd give them a B-minus on the original effort but an A on the recovery." Unicorp president and owner Chuck Whittal said the company has spent more than $1-million of its own money paying deserving subcontractors. Harbco, which didn't respond to calls seeking comment, "underbid the job" and "bit off a little more than he could chew," Whittal said. A principal at Looney Ricks Kiss in Memphis, the Baldwin Park project's original architect, had some sharp words for Unicorp, however. "They wanted to make changes after the fact ... and take shortcuts," Frank Ricks said. "We have certain standards we work by and we weren't going to shortcut that." Ricks did not respond to a request for specifics. But citing the village center's mix of retail, business and residential development, he said Unicorp "had never done anything like Baldwin Park."
Unicorp is the only master developer candidate left standing for Temple
Terrace after two other finalists - Trammell Crow and LNR Property Corp.,
a division of Lennar Corp. - dropped out. They cited concerns about
existing long-term leases at the site off N 56th Street, unpurchased
parcels and the ability to make money from the project. Most of the City Council members gushed with praise. "I'm very pleased with the developer," council member Ken Halloway said last week. Council member Frank Chillura continues to raise questions about the city's financial exposure. Unicorp's plan includes an option to build Temple Terrace's new City Hall and civic center, which it would lease back to the city. Chillura said that could amount to a hidden cost that could vastly increase the city's proposed $30-million contribution. He said he also wants more information about the cost of settling long-term leases with several current tenants at that site, including Burger King and Kash n' Karry. Unicorp representatives "have a long way to go to win my confidence," Chillura said. Those questions should come up over the next week during a series of meetings. On Tuesday, the council sits down with its financial adviser on the project, followed by a public meeting on Friday where Unicorp will present its $325-million plan once again to the public. The council meets again on July 26, when it could vote to enter negotiations with Unicorp. Chillura voted against proceeding with negotiations of any kind because only one master developer remains in the mix. He said the city should have invited the fourth-highest-ranking company back into the process. "At this point I haven't made a total decision," Chillura said. "But I am not comfortable having one developer on board, especially after two others dropped out for many varied reasons." Unicorp's Whittal cited other factors that he said contributed to the Baldwin Park delays. Hurricane damage across Florida drew away construction crews while unexpected demands from the City of Orlando forced the company to redo the architectural renderings. Baldwin Park, like the proposed Temple Terrace project, is a mix of stores, offices and residences, which sit above the street-level space. That created the need for special sprinkler systems the city hadn't seen before, Whittal said. Construction crews had to rip out the drywall. "By the end of the year we'll be totally finished with the project," said Whittal, an assessment that David Pace, managing director of the Baldwin Park Development Co., agreed with. Pace said Unicorp hired on new people to complete the project, which hasn't stopped generating excitement in the 2,000-home subdivision. Many of the existing stores and apartments are occupied. "A lot of concerns have basically gone away," Pace said. "They've hired some very competitive project managers, as far as I can tell. They seem to be hitting on all cylinders now." Josh Zimmer can be reached at (813) 269-5314.
Several meetings are scheduled over the next week to discuss the proposed $325-million redevelopment project in Temple Terrace. They come before the Aug. 2 referendum, which will ask residents to approve a 1-mill tax increase to raise money for public infrastructure improvements. If approved, the owner of a $150,000 home, with a standard homestead exemption, would see a $125 tax increase: Tuesday at 6 p.m.: City Council will discuss the project, including financial issues raised by a special project consultant. City Hall is located at 11250 N 56th St. Friday at 7 p.m.: A public meeting at the Masque Theatre with the proposed developer, Unicorp National Developments from Orlando. Masque is located at 11007 N 56th St., next to the Kash n' Karry. July 26 at 7 p.m.: City Council could vote to accept or reject Unicorp's bid. |
 |
