TEAM Punta Gorda Design Awards

As our memories of Hurricane Charley’s destructive rampage fade, the voids the storm left are being filled by new projects that trumpet the city’s physical renewal. TEAM wants to applaud those who are building, in mortar and stone, the pieces of a vision of Punta Gorda’s future – the vision of the Citizen’s Master Plan 2005.

The award is being given to those who are building their new projects consistent with the principles of that plan.

Here is a brief rundown on each of the projects which have received awards to date.

TEAM CEO Judy Brentano presents a Citizen’s Master Plan Design Award to Dean Stainton owner of Dean’s South of the Border Restaurant.

Dean’s Tex-Mex South of the Border Cantina

Owners Dean and Sandy Stainton have some finishing touches to add to their restaurant – a wrought iron fence around the patio and a gazebo. The brightly colored restaurant/bar/sports bar behind Laishley Park Marina at East Retta Esplanade and Route 41 northbound is the culmination of a lengthy struggle to first rebuild the original restaurant that sat a half block away. But it was too badly damaged by Charley. The Staintons managed to save a few things from the orginal nearly hundred year old building – nearly century-old beams that form a trellis over the outdoor dining section and a seven-ton fireplace. The new renovated building used to house an auto parts store. It now can accommodate 200 diners.
 

Laishley Park Marina

Laishley Park reopened its boat ramp in December, 2006, and the remainder of the project is coming along nicely with a building to house the harbormaster, ship’s store, and other amenities, new floating docks and more. Completion of this first phase is expected in early spring, 2007. The city is negotiating with a private concern which will add another building to the site, housing a restaurant on its top floor.
 

Sunloft

This four-story mixed-use project replaces the old Professional Center on Marion Avenue. Developers Ann and Martin Schulz are developing the project through their Florida Insel Properties group. Their original plan was to add to and rebuild, in some form, the old building. A variety of events sent the Schultz’s back to the drawing board of architect William Pantsari and, now, Punta Gorda can look forward to a new structure in the style and spirit of new urbanism – at considerably more expense to its European owner. The Schulz’s had toured the Seaside area in Florida’s Panhandle region and were smitten with its new urbanism design and use. They were referred to architect Pantsari, who had designed elements of Rosemary Beach, not far from and much like Seaside. When complete, Sunloft’s exterior will boast 24 facades, five different types of glass, and three different types of brick. An interior courtyard, accessed from Marion Avenue, will grace the lowest level while a terrace with palm trees and other plantings will crown the building. Retail establishments, including a yet-to-be chosen eclectic restaurant and two other small eateries, will inhabit the ground level. Offices will be sandwiched between the ground level and condominiums on the upper level. The Schultz’s hope Sunloft will contribute to a lively downtown street scene. Jennifer Schoultz, a designer at Pantsari Architecture and William Pantsari’s wife, will is designing the building’s interior. Ken Dunn of Punta Gorda Construction Management is the general contractor. The project is targeted for completion in late 2007.


Swiss Connections

Swiss Chocolates and an art gallery are housed in this multi-use project, situated at the corner of Sullivan and West Virginia Streets, as well as two other office spaces. The top floor is the new living quarters for Franz and Maria von Atzigen, who hail from, yes, Switzerland. Franz is retired from a 31-year career with the Swiss Foreign Service. His last assignment was acting ambassador at the Swiss Embassy in Singapore. The von Atzigens have owned a seasonal home in PGI since 2002. Swiss Chocolate Plus (the plus meaning coffee and other treats) and the art gallery Joe Mathis are their enterprises. Many of the works displayed in the art gallery are the product of Maria’s artist father, who passed away in 2002. The Mediterranean-style building was designed by Teresa Scott of the George Palermo architectural firm in Sarasota. It was built by Taylor Contractors of Florida in Punta Gorda.


Old Town

Old Town Development’s Jim Westmoreland envisions a one-stop shopping venue for builders and rehabbers at his 21-unit office/industrial complex on Acline Road between U.S. 41 and Taylor Street. The U-shaped, old-Florida style structure is architecturally attractive, something, Westmoreland says, that new construction in Punta Gorda should be. Old Town is now up and running.


Isles Yacht Club

Our first award recipient, the new Isles Yacht Club is another old-Florida style building. The new 14,000 square foot clubhouse is completed. Thanks to Commodore Fred Dawson, Fleet Captain Dick Condon, and member John Bush for tramping through the construction site with us and, along with other members, for their enthusiasm and hospitality. The building’s architect is ADP Group of Sarasota. The builder is WG Mills of Fort Myers.