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Commission approves 6‑story International Swimming Hall of Fame west building with parking reduction
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Summary
After an extensive public hearing and developer testimony on financing and parking, the commission approved a site‑plan Level 4 development for a 6‑story multipurpose West Building at the International Swimming Hall of Fame, including an approved parking reduction and conditions.
The City Commission voted March 3 to approve a six‑story, roughly 203,900‑square‑foot site plan for the International Swimming Hall of Fame West Building at 501 Seabury Boulevard, authorizing museum, aquarium, event and restaurant uses and granting a requested parking reduction.
Supporters, including Bill Brown of the Central Beach Alliance, described the project as the culmination of a long planning process and said the design compromises (height reductions requested by the swim community and neighbors) make the proposal more compatible with the area. “I strongly encourage you to pass this and move forward so they can start putting shovels in the ground,” Brown said.
Developer representatives and the project team answered commissioner questions about financing, lease finalization, insurance and parking. The applicant’s shared‑parking analysis concluded the site will provide 259 on‑site spaces while a site‑use calculation would otherwise require about 405 spaces; the developer argued shared and staggered uses (aquatic center, museum, aquarium, restaurants) reduce the number of unique parking demands.
Commissioners pressed for clarity on lease details, potential shuttle service options to nearby garages, and monitoring of operational impacts (including pool maintenance complaints raised during the hearing). Developer Mario Caprini indicated rate‑lock negotiations and insurance adjustments were near resolution and staff said remaining adjustments were minor and likely resolvable in coming days.
The commission closed the public hearing and approved the site plan and associated parking reduction by roll call; the approval included standard site‑plan conditions and a requirement that outstanding conditions and any final modifications be resolved in coordination with city staff before full sign‑off.
The decision allows the project to advance to final entitlements and construction planning, with the city and developer expected to finalize financing and lease terms in short order.
