Infinity ... and beyond

In 2005, the Longboat Key Town Commission unanimously approved plans for an 11-unit condo at 4765 Gulf of Mexico Drive. More than nine years later, those plans are nearing fruition for the rare parcel of Gulf-front land.

Site work began last week for the $37 million Infinity project that will bring 11 new luxury units to the Key, priced between $2.95 million and $4.95 million.

“We’re in the process now of starting site clearing,” said Randy Moore, managing partner of developer Crossgate Partners LLC, of Atlanta. “We’re excited to be off the ground and running.” Moore estimated that in the next couple of weeks, contractors will begin laying the foundation for the new clubhouse.

The condominium has the same basic footprint of the Bleu Claire project that was planned for the property in 2005, however, its design has been modified to have a “coastal contemporary” look instead of the Mediterranean design that was planned for Bleu Claire.

The Holiday Beach Resort, which was demolished in July 2013, was previously located on the site.

Lee Rugh, sales associate at Michael Saunders & Co., who is marketing the project, said that five units have sold, and one is under contract. Rugh said she has received calls about the property since the installation of the construction fence around the property last week.

“I think the start of construction has spurred a lot of interest,” Rugh said.

Sarasota architect Mark Sultana, of DSDG Architects, is the designer. Residences will have between 3,380 square feet to 5,456 square feet.

Wayne Martin, new homes and condominiums sales manager at Michael Saunders & Co., said many of the property’s amenities — including a clubhouse, fitness center and a lighted HarTru tennis court — will be closer to Gulf of Mexico Drive, while the building will overlook the Gulf. Other amenities include a beachside infinity-edge swimming pool and a hot tub spa that overlooks the beach.

“It’s going to be a great building,” Martin said. “Some of those balconies are close to or up to 1,000 square feet, which is pretty much the size of a small condominium.”

The project is scheduled for completion in late 2015 or the first quarter of 2016.

...beyond Infinity…
The following new residential construction projects continue on the Key:

Aria condominium
2251 Gulf of Mexico Drive
Developer Jay Tallman’s Ascentia Development Group broke ground on the 16-unit, $60 million Aria condominium project in July and is currently on schedule for completion in fall 2015, according to project spokeswoman Amy Drake.

“We’re pouring the first level of slab for the first living level under the garage,” Drake said. “We’ve taken nearly four months for site work. The vertical columns are in, and now we’re pouring the first deck.”
Thirteen of the condo’s 16 units are currently under contract. Prices range from $3.44 million to $4.25 million.

The restored 1935 Villa Am Meer home on the property will become the condo’s future residents’ club and will include a catering kitchen, guest residence and wine cellar.

Triton Bend
located off of Neptune Avenue near the 2900 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive
The single-family Triton Bend neighborhood is located mid-Key and will eventually have 13 homes.

Currently, five homes are at or near completion. Two have certificates of occupancies, one of which is currently occupied, and developing agent Walter Hackett, of Michael Saunders & Co., expects the other three to receive certificates of occupancy in the next few weeks.

Hackett estimates the remaining eight residences will be built over the next two years. Prices begin at $1.1 million.

“The demand is definitely picking up, and of course, we’re coming into season,” Hackett said. “The season looks very promising.”

Bonaire
5005 Gulf of Mexico Drive
Holmes Beach developer Shawn Kaleta plans to break ground on the first homes in the nine-home Bonaire subdivision by the end of the year.

Contractors began clearing the 3.48-acre property of invasive plant species earlier this year. During the summer, work came to a temporary halt while Kaleta waited for the Florida Department of Transportation to approve construction of a road off of Gulf of Mexico Drive, a state highway.

“Rather than clearing it all and letting it grow in again, we were waiting on FDOT approval,” Kaleta said. “The permits were received, and that was clearly all we are waiting on.”

Kaleta said that six of nine lots have sold. Completed home prices range from just under $3 million to $5.9 million.

Residences will range from 2,800 square feet to 5,000 square feet and include private swimming pools, driveways and garages. Three of the homes will be located directly on the Gulf, although each home will have Gulf views and access.