Postcard
Mostly Angels now-a-days
Monday, May 24, 2004
The good citizens of Gulfport Florida must prepare for an onslaught of development and enterprise. The recent purchase of several properties on the once quiet beach Boulevard, suggest that change is afoot. First of all the aquisition of For years the strip from the library to the waterfront Casino dance hall. was dominated by a vacant but beautiful hotel, one of the original buildings from the late twenties. The property changed hands several times over the years without any noticeable change other that the increase in value and the fact that one individual Jimmy Lecanto, repeatedly bought the building back from unsuccessful investors and resold it at profit. Finally after many vague "community center" and 'art studio' proposals the place has become a thriving bed and breakfast.called the Peninsula. In fact the quiet shady little town seems ideal for that type of hospitality industry. Another 'B and B,' The Sea Breeze inn, has operated quite successfully since the mid nineties. During that time the neighborhood hosted a large number of artists and crafts people. Characteristic of the area was a place called Tivo's. Tivo sold produce, fresh eggs and milk, and vegetables which he would buy at the farmers market in Tampa, Tivo also worked a booth at the Wagon Wheel Flea Market on Saturdays, so you could conceivably pick up an antique sewing machine. along with some fresh avocados on the way home from work. Tivo lived in a kind of Wiki-up shelter on the roof. The back of the property was overgrown with banana trees, and strung with tiny white Christmas lights. Tivo ad sighed a 'lifelong lease' with the previous owner of the building. On her death her Children refused to honor the contract. an threw Tivo out.
Now, the site of Tivo's hosts what seems to be a Tiki Bar. almost a parody of Tivo's tropical beach bum lifestyle, the place features colorful grotesques of Polynesian culture On the outside. since they only have enough parking for about two cars in front, Its hard to Imagine whatsort of Business they might do. The recent purchase of the old 1926 building by AGNI Fortunes will oust another long term resident, The Village LaundroMat. This will leave local appartment dwellers without a place to wash their clothes. AGNI' Plans have not been Finallized but the preliminaries include Removing sheds and out building and adding a rock waterfall plus foliage gardens and a glass atrium, according to an article in the Gulfport Gabber. A mmeting is scheduled for June second with the City Planning Board, and One for June 17 with the City Council. They are calling the project a 'Bistro.'
Rumor has it that the entire sout side of the Boulevard has been bought in the past month. In addition a waterfront lot that has been undeveloped sold for 260 thousand, where it was originally bought for half that in the nineties. Most of the waterfront property has doubled in value over the last ten years. What the new owners intend remains unclear. Residents will have to wait and see what develops.
Now, the site of Tivo's hosts what seems to be a Tiki Bar. almost a parody of Tivo's tropical beach bum lifestyle, the place features colorful grotesques of Polynesian culture On the outside. since they only have enough parking for about two cars in front, Its hard to Imagine whatsort of Business they might do. The recent purchase of the old 1926 building by AGNI Fortunes will oust another long term resident, The Village LaundroMat. This will leave local appartment dwellers without a place to wash their clothes. AGNI' Plans have not been Finallized but the preliminaries include Removing sheds and out building and adding a rock waterfall plus foliage gardens and a glass atrium, according to an article in the Gulfport Gabber. A mmeting is scheduled for June second with the City Planning Board, and One for June 17 with the City Council. They are calling the project a 'Bistro.'
Rumor has it that the entire sout side of the Boulevard has been bought in the past month. In addition a waterfront lot that has been undeveloped sold for 260 thousand, where it was originally bought for half that in the nineties. Most of the waterfront property has doubled in value over the last ten years. What the new owners intend remains unclear. Residents will have to wait and see what develops.
