DUNEDIN — The Dunedin Boat Club and Sailing Center will rise again on its original site, city commissioners decided Sept. 4, approving an agreement to rebuild the historic structure destroyed by recent hurricanes.
The timeline depends on private fundraising efforts over the next three to four years, with the city contributing a $100,000 grant for restrooms, City Manager Jennifer Bramley told commissioners.
The former clubhouse at 49 Marina Plaza, on the western end of the peninsula, suffered substantial damage during hurricanes Helene and Milton last fall. The building was demolished in May.
The club’s storied history dates to 1929, when it was founded, and members eventually built the original clubhouse starting in 1936 after the city marina was established. Members constructed the building with their own hands and financial contributions on land leased from the city in 1938, according to the club’s website.
Early members “built the very foundation of the club,” personally financing and constructing pilings, bulkheads, walkways, channel markers, and utilities through fish fries, dances, raffles and personal loans. Until its destruction, the clubhouse held the distinction of being the oldest boat club on Florida’s west coast and one of Dunedin’s oldest buildings.
Following the demolition, boat club board members have met regularly with city administration to plan reconstruction on the same site, Bramley said. Before launching an extensive fundraising campaign, staff requested city commission endorsement for rebuilding on the peninsula and a timeframe for fundraising.
To manage the effort, the Pinellas Community Foundation will hold, manage and disburse funds for the project, similar to the successful approach used for Gladys Douglas Park, Bramley said.
The rebuilt facility will serve as a multiuse, city-owned building housing the Dunedin Youth Sailing Association, Dunedin Windlasses and Dunedin Boat Club. The city will own and maintain the building, while the boat club manages daily operations.
The new facility will mirror the design and color of the former clubhouse but feature an open ground level for water views, as requested by the city. Architectural plans are underway, and fundraising targets will be based on cost estimates from the boat club’s architect or engineer, subject to city review. The club and partners have three years to raise sufficient funds, with a possible one-year extension subject to commission approval.
Plans require review by the Architectural Review Committee and Development Review Committee. Upon completion, the city will enter a 50-year use agreement with the boat club, renewable in perpetuity, for $1 per year.
During the Sept. 4 meeting, commissioners praised the club’s resilience and commitment. Commissioner Tom Dugard congratulated club members, saying, “Every sailor worth their salt knows that they’re not tested until they hit a storm, and when they hit a storm, they know how good they are. We hit a storm; we know how good you are.”
Commissioner Robert Walker praised the club’s response to devastation. “What’s been remarkable is the energy, and the enthusiasm and just the pure commitment of the Boat Club,” he said. “It’s nothing different than what’s going on in our entire community.”
Mayor Maureen Freaney emphasized the importance of design quality while expressing her support. “You better make it look good,” she said. “It will be part of the new picture, and that’s really important.” The mayor noted the project reflects communitywide evolution following the storms, adding, “I give you guys so much credit, your passion for the Boat Club. The Boat Club is just a huge part of our history, so I think that passion is going to take us to the finish line.”
The project was approved unanimously, with Freaney concluding, “Let’s go get the money.”