By: JULIANA A. TORRES, TBNweekly.com

LARGO – Gateway North, the first luxury apartment community built in Largo in about 20 years, celebrated its grand opening Dec. 10.

Residents began moving into the three-story, 342-unit development at 2681 Roosevelt Blvd. last month. The complex includes a lake with a walking trail, a resort-style clubhouse with a water-scaped pool, cabanas, a fitness center, a business center and outdoor grilling and entertainment areas.

It’s a project that has been a long time in coming, explained Anthony Everett, Central Florida director of the Pollack Shores Real Estate Group, during his comments Dec. 10.

“In fact, I have been trying to bring multifamily housing to this site for more than 15 years with three different master developers,” he said. “Needless to say, I am thrilled to be attending a grand opening today.”

There was always some factor that prevented the project from becoming a reality – either the land or construction costs were too high, the rental rates too low or the city’s own impact fees were costly, he explained. However, Everett said he spoke with Largo’s Community Development Director Carol Stricklin and Economic Development Manager Teresa Brydon about the impact fee problem.

In April 2012, the Largo Commission passed a two-year moratorium to waive fees for multifamily projects, enabling the project to move forward. The moratorium was extended in November 2013.

Everett called the city “forward-thinking” for their dedication to smart growth and fiscal management.

“This moratorium not only assured that this project could be built, but also primed the pump for several other large-scale projects that followed,” he said. “This was unprecedented, and the job creation and increase in tax base that is resulting from this moratorium will give great returns to the city for decades to come.”

Other projects that have benefited from the moratorium include the Pinellas Heights senior housing project and the apartment complex at the former Briarwood RV Park. The moratorium waived about $1 million in impact fees for the Gateway North project specifically.

“This is an extremely important project for Largo Town Center,” Stricklin said as the project was breaking ground last fall. “It brings a new residential character to the area. It’s also a very important catalyst for redevelopment.”

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