TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Port, Channelside at odds

ADVERTISEMENT

By TED JACKOVICS

tjackovics@tampatrib.com

Published: October 21, 2009

TAMPA - The landlord-tenant relationship between the Port of Tampa and the operator of Channelside Bay Plaza has drifted into choppy waters, with the port seeking better maintenance of the premises and nearly $200,000 in overdue payments, primarily on a parking contract.

"We have asked them to maintain the facility in better condition, and they seem to have been reluctant to do so," port counsel Charles Klug said after the monthly port authority meeting Tuesday.

In addition, Channelside Bay Mall LLC, which leases the 4.5-acre property from the port and subleases it to tenants, owes the port $227,672.51 in unpaid bills, nearly $200,000 of which has been in arrears for more than a month, port records show.

And Tampa Fire Rescue, in a Sept. 1 inspection, noted five issues, four of which involve signage and fire department access.

A fifth issue was valet parking. It states that it should be allowed only when the number of cars waiting to be parked does not exceed the number of valet drivers. The report states that unattended parking is not allowed.

"There have been active discussions that have been a bit contentious, but we are trying to work things out with them," Klug said.
Channelside Bay Mall officials in Tampa could not be reached for comment.

The port does not track the financial performance of Channelside Bay Plaza or individual businesses.

Two years ago, word had spread among tenants that the retail, entertainment and restaurant complex was up for sale, but no deal materialized.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT