Edgewater 'Eyesore' Nears Final Stages of Sale

Tony Beneri made an impassioned plea to commissioners Thursday about the vacant, partially constructed, bank-owned structure at 570 Edgewater Drive.

He and his neighbors would like to see it gone.

"We have no one else to turn to," he said, "except for you people we've elected."

Emails between bank officials and city staff indicate that the potential new owner wishes to continue construction on the property.

And the new owners are nearly set to take over the 11,198-square-foot parcel, according to city manager Rob DiSpirito.

"We are part of a contract which will affect the sale of this property to an individual that wishes to purchase and complete the construction of this property," bank official Chris Dorn wrote in a Feb. 24 email to Dunedin building official Joe May.

Commissioners declined comment Thursday based on the advice of city attorney Tom Trask. 

Trask did, however, allow DiSpirito to give a brief update on the property’s long-rumored sale.

DiSpirito said he conversed with officials at Iberia Bank in Bradenton on the afternoon before the March 15 commission meeting. They told him that all title issues have been cleared and they have prepared and signed all of the paperwork necessary for the potential owners. DiSpirito said bank officials told him they are just awaiting signatures from the potential new owners and estimate it would have them in another few days.

Dunedin residents have repeatedly asked commissioners for stricter enforcement of the building’s expired permits and also to consider purchasing it for future use as a public park. Residents describe the large, nine-bedroom, nine-bath building, zoned for single-family use, that would only continue to degrade the character of the neighborhood if the project is allowed to continue.

"A lot of people feel the city of Dunedin is catering to the Iberia Bank," Beneri said.

The owners, or potential new owners, are to reinstate the expired permit, but under new and more stringent city codes that place timelines on building projects.

Technically, the city could cite them for not having a valid building permit, Trask explained, but “we have about 2,000 that we’re not pursuing. … If we went after it … it would be selective enforcement.”

“I don’t know what to tell you, Tony,” Mayor Dave Eggers said. “We hear you, and we’re listening.”