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Meres Boulevard extension awaits Army Corps approval
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Published: October 31, 2009
TARPON SPRINGS - All that stands in the way of the Meres Town Center project moving along according to schedule is an Army Corps of Engineers permit on the extension of Meres Boulevard from Alt. 19 to U.S. 19.
As part of a Special Area Plan, Meres Town Center developer A.G. Armstrong agreed to make roadway improvements to extend Meres Boulevard from U.S. 19 to Alt. 19.
Phase I of the road project is nearing substantial completion with the exception of the Safford Avenue extension from Harrison Street to Meres Boulevard. That portion of the work will be completed after issuance of a permit by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, which should occur shortly, Joseph DiPasqua, city development services director, told city commissioners Tuesday night.
In the interim, the developer requested Certificates of Occupancy for the Sweetbay Supermarket and up to two tenants. Commissioners unanimously agreed to the developer's request.
Construction of Meres Town Center's anchor tenant, Sweetbay, is substantially completed with the supermarket scheduled to open Nov. 14. A Chinese take-out and unnamed national chain store will likely be the first two tenants to open in retail space next to the supermarket, according to a representative of developer A.G. Armstrong.
Located at the southeastern corner of Meres Boulevard and Alt. 19, Meres Town Center is a retail, medical research and office, senior living, mixed-use development constructed in phases. It is being praised as an example of commercial construction that is LEED certified or can show Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design.
The first phase of construction, currently in progress on the north end of the site, includes Sweetbay, retail shops and office space in an elaborately designed project that includes public art murals visible from the road.
The Center will be accessible to the Pinellas Trail that runs along its eastern boundary.
Construction on the second phase of Town Center, which could start in spring, includes medical and professional offices along with a biomedical research facility operated in conjunction with adjacent Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital. The hospital is eagerly awaiting construction of this phase to attract additional medical providers and their patients. Additional medical practitioners and a biomedical research facility will fit in with hospital plans to offer open heart surgery to patients in about a year.
The second phase also includes construction of senior living facilities.
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