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THE SUNCOAST NEWS

Published: March 18, 2009

We can sympathize with the people who have been struggling for years to pump life into New Port Richey's downtown. Exhibit A in their tale of woe is Main Street Landing, the mixed-use project that during the Florida property boom of the early part of this decade appeared to be the kick start downtown had needed.

Soon, however, costs for materials and insurance began to put strains on Main Street Landing's finances. Then the bottom fell out of the property boom and Main Street Landing ground to a halt that continues to this day.

Last week, Ken McGurn, the Gainesville-based developer who is a Main Street Landing principal, gave City Council three options on what to do next. Council had no interest in buying the property and it didn't want McGurn to turn the project's unfinished shell into a mural-covered wall.

Council was slightly less dismissive of idea three, loaning McGurn $1.45 million to finish construction on the shell.

We would like to see Main Street Landing finished, in some form or other. On the other hand, given the current nasty economic realities in and out of government, maintaining the admittedly unattractive status quo probably is the best course of action. Perhaps next year, when, according to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke an economic recovery should be under way, would be a better time to plot an end game for Main Street Landing.

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