- May 2, 2024
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Beachplace hit its 45th anniversary this year.
It's one of the biggest homeowners associations on Longboat Key with 11 buildings and 336 units. Condo owners got together at their annual owners party Jan. 24 to commemorate the numerous memories and relationships built while living on the island. The event was held at the clubhouse. New and longtime owners mingled among friends for a delicious dinner and a beautiful sunset.
With its long history on the Key, here are some of the personalities and activities that make this a special place to call home.
Jack Keelin, 90, stopped at the party in honor of the celebration. He is one of the original owners at the condominium, buying it in 1979.
Jean-Marie Seidl, a member of the social committee, called Keelin the mayor of Beachplace because he knows everyone.
He was on the board of directors for 18 years and was board president for 16 years, the longest tenure in Beachplace history. Some of his fondest memories are living next door to his late best friend in what he called the nicest place on the Key.
“I originally moved to Seaplace from Long Island in 1976,” said Keelin. “There was not a traffic light on Longboat Key. There was not a grocery store. I saw when they were building Beachplace and my best friend bought a condo here so I bought it right next to him. If that says anything about our community, it shows how our fellowship is an inseparable one.”
If you're ever looking for someone at Beachplace, you can most likely find them at the pool. It's the place to be. Residents don't come to the pool with hopes of alone time because it is usually bubbling with all their neighbors and Beachplace club members.
Oddly enough, the well-known hangout spot wasn’t intended to be the social hub that it is today.
The pool was originally supposed to be smaller, following other condominiums on Longboat.
Original owner Jim Miller, whose son Dan Miller now owns his unit, decided that the pool was not big enough to accommodate the 336 units. He told the developer Arvida and its executives to “double it.” Taking his advice, Beachplace has the largest pool on Longboat Key, according to Seidl.
Seidl said she thinks the size of the pool compared to other condominiums' decentralized, smaller pools has brought residents together and made the pool a third place for them.
Most residents, including Keelin, have their designated tables for playing card games and mingling. For those who do want some quiet time, heading to the beach is strongly advised at Beachplace, but stopping by the pool on the way might delay your quiet time by a couple hours.
Seidl shared that some illustrious guests stayed in Beachplace over the years on their visits to Longboat Key.
Audrey Hepburn visited during the late 1980s to early 1990s because her longtime companion, Robert Wolders, had a sister who owned a condo at Beachplace, according to Seidl and the board. Wolders’ mother also lived across the street in Country Club Shores.
“It was hard not to be in awe of her as she walked the beach or lounged at the pool. Everyone loved her exquisite smile,” said Seidl. “John Keelin Jr., Jack's son, was the one and only person from Beachplace to my knowledge who was invited by Audrey to dinner.”
Seidl also shared that Michael Jordan stayed at Beachplace in the 1990s, when he was trying his luck at baseball for the Chicago White Sox during his first retirement from basketball. He stayed in a Beachplace Condo owned by his Chicago dentist.
Beachplace’s community is largely due to its legacy unit owners. Many adult children keep the units their parents originally bought and some have actually acquired additional ones to accommodate siblings who follow them down to Longboat.
Seidl said it shows the strong foundation the community has built here on the island.
Seidl shared that her favorite part about living at Beachplace is the numerous social activities residents have access to, including monthly happy hours on the beach, ladies game nights, book clubs, weekly yoga and annual golf tournaments.
Daily water aerobics at the pool are a big hit. Nancy Bronska has been teaching her water aerobics class for 30 years now at Beachplace, and participants have been coming back year after year.
“People have made lifelong friendships in the class,” said Bronska. “That is my favorite part watching everyone interact. They did an article on my class, maybe 18 years ago. They said that Beachplace is the friendliest place in the Tampa Bay area. We are just all on the same playing field, no one boasts about where they are from. We just want to build community and enjoy the beautiful place we live in.”
