Home Care In Clearwater, FL

CLEARWATER, Fla. — A proposed 35-story twin condo complex in Clearwater has nearby residents asking city leaders to take a look at the potential environmental impacts it could cause.

Though, the developer says it’s too soon to criticize the plans since this is only a proposal.

What You Need To Know

The property is located at 432 Bay Avenue in Clearwater.

Maryellen Gordon lives at the Prelude 80 condo complex, right next to where the proposed development would be located. She originally moved in the condo complex because of the waterfront view. But it’s the work that’s being proposed outside that caught her eye.

“We knew this would get developed at some point, we just never expected it would be able to come that close to the coast line, and we never thought that it would go as ridiculously and inexplicably tall as it is going,” she said.

Gordon said residents in her complex learned that a developer is proposing to build twin towers, 35 stories high, on the water, right next to her condo complex.

“Just to give you neighborhood context. Our building is about 13 stories, the assisted living facility right there is about 15 stories. I believe the tallest building in Clearwater is probably that white high rise and that’s 23 to 25 stories,” Gordon said. “There are plans to put in an underground parking garage facing the coastline. So the questions about sustainability and resiliency of that are also a huge issue.”

It’s huge for Jeffrey Denis. He’s the president of the Prelude 80 condo complex’s association. He says the proposed building makes him think of tragedy.

“We think of Surfside definitely,” Denis said of the 2022 building collapse there. “This building is built on the same bedrock as they’re gonna be drilling and we’re worried about what is that going to do to our foundation.”

Valor Capital is the development company in charge of the proposed project. The company submitted documents to the City of Clearwater about the project. But officials with the development firm say the renderings and plans are just conceptual and proposals.

The company is currently doing Geotech work on the property, using rock and soil mechanics to investigate the subsurface geologic conditions.

Representatives from the company said they’re in the beginning stages of the long process to figure out if city leaders think the proposal is even possible. The final design process is still another year and a half out.

So, nothing is set in stone and the worries of residents like Denis and Gordon will be considered in community meetings before any foundation is laid, according to the development firm.

Florida and other southeastern states are bracing for impact as Hurricane Idalia nears the coast between Tampa Bay and Panama City, with an expected landfall around Wednesday morning.

You can watch livestream coverage of the storm from USA TODAY at the embed at the top of the page or on USA TODAY's YouTube channel.

The storm is expected to be a major hurricane with "life-threatening storm surge and dangerous winds," according to the National Hurricane Center.

A hurricane warning has been issued for hundreds of miles of Florida's coastline as Idalia, with max winds of 130 mph. As of 5 a.m. Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center said the storm's center was forecast to reach the Big Bend coast of Florida this morning. After landfall, Idalia is expected to turn toward the northeast and east-northeast, moving near or along the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina later Wednesday and Thursday.

Live updates:Florida braces for 'extremely dangerous' storm as Hurricane Idalia closes in

Live webcams that may be in Hurricane Idalia's path

Hurricane Idalia is moving into the Gulf of Mexico, forecast to hit Florida's west coast on Wednesday morning. According to the National Hurricane Center, life-threatening flooding, a massive storm surge and strong winds are expected along Florida's Gulf Coast.

The storm is expected to then travel north, hitting the Florida-Georgia border and along the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.

Hurricane Idalia's path:Maps show powerful storm as it approaches Florida and Georgia

Some beaches and other areas have livestreams that may catch the impact of the storm as it moves through Florida. You can watch some of those livestreams here.

Sandestin, Florida

Sandestin is in Florida's panhandle along the Gulf of Mexico, located about 36 miles northwest of Panama City Beach.

Clearwater Beach, Florida

Clearwater Beach is located on the west-central coast along the Gulf of Mexico, around 25 miles west of Tampa.

Tampa, Florida

Tampa is along the Gulf of Mexico, and is projected to be directly in the path of Hurricane Idalia. It is about 23 miles north of St. Petersburg and 25 miles east of Clearwater Beach.

St. Petersburg, Florida

St. Petersburg is on Florida's west coast along the Gulf of Mexico and the Tampa Bay, around 23 miles west of Tampa.

St. Augustine, Florida

St. Augustine is along Florida's east coast on the Atlantic side, around 40 miles south of Jacksonville.

We’ve come to expect a lot from Florida weather.

Sweltering heat — sure. Severe thunderstorms — been there, done that. Meteotsunami — I’m sorry, what?

That’s right, a meteotsunami. Last week the weather phenomenon formed on Clearwater Beach as a line of severe weather rolled in from the west. Water levels rose about 2 ½ feet higher than what would have been normally expected, according to water level data.

While the term may be unfamiliar, it’s not uncommon for our area. Just a week prior, a meteotsunami also occurred on Clearwater Beach.

What is a meteotsunami?

A meteotsunami produces a similar wave to a tsunami, however the cause of this wave is different. Seismic activity causes a tsunami, while a meteotsunami is caused by weather (meteorology, get it?). A disturbance in air pressure often coupled with fast-moving severe storms can produce these waves, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“The storm generates a wave that moves toward the shore, and is amplified by a shallow continental shelf and inlet, bay or other coastal feature,” the administration said.

The meteotsunami on Clearwater Beach occurred just before 2 p.m. Wednesday as storms marched toward shore. Preliminary data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows water levels peaked at about 5 ½ feet.

“A lot of times when that happens — you get squall lines like that or there’s a big cluster of storms that come in — they produce so much wind that you end up with a little push of a foot or two ... of extra water on top of the tide briefly,” said Paul Close, a senior meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Tampa Bay office.

How common is a meteotsunami?

They happen more often than you think. Close said he noticed a meteotsunami a week prior on June 17 on Clearwater Beach, the same day a waterspout cropped up injuring two people. Preliminary water level data shows the tide peaking at about 5 feet, about 2 feet above the anticipated water level that day.

A meteotsunami can happen when a line of storms (not just a single storm) rolls in from the west, Close said. However, storms forming in the west are unusual for our area. An average summer afternoon thunderstorm, which often start to the east, won’t produce a meteotsunami, he said.

Conditions for a meteotsunami are most favorable along the East Coast, Gulf of Mexico and the Great Lakes, according to the National Weather Service.

Research from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration suggests about 25 meteotsunami occur along the East Coast a year. A vast majority are small, meaning less than a foot and a half.

How dangerous are these waves?

Damage from the meteotsunami Wednesday was isolated to some flooding on the beach, according to photos Close saw.

Waves can be higher in other areas of the world. Meteotsunamis have been recorded to reach heights of 6 feet or more, the administration said.

In 1992, for instance, Daytona Beach recorded a 10-foot meteotsunami that crashed onto shore, injuring 75 people and damaging 100 cars, according to the weather service.

Close said regardless of whether a meteotsunami is headed your way or not, you shouldn’t be on the beach during a storm anyway. Gusty winds and lightning pose serious threats. And let’s not forget about waterspouts.

When the sky darkens and you hear rumblings of thunder, Close said, it’s time to hightail it off the beach and seek cover.

CHICAGO and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RISE Dispensaries, a rapidly growing cannabis retail chain owned by Green Thumb Industries Inc. (“Green Thumb” or “the Company”) (CSE: GTII) (OTCQX: GTBIF), today announced that RISE Dispensary Clearwater, the Company’s 11th retail location in Florida and 87th nationwide, will open on November 10. RISE Dispensary Clearwater will welcome patients with a grand opening celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 17, where profits from the day will be donated to Minorities for Medical Marijuana (M4MM). M4MM is a purpose-driven nonprofit organization that provides education and programs to build a more accessible and equitable cannabis industry.

“As we continue to expand our footprint in Florida, we are thrilled to join the Clearwater community,” said Green Thumb President Anthony Georgiadis. “We look forward to introducing more patients to the RISE experience and providing access to high-quality cannabis products that will help improve their well-being."

Green Thumb joined the Florida community in 2018 and operates two production facilities in Ocala and Homestead where the Company produces its branded products. Green Thumb’s cultivation and manufacturing practices reflect the highest quality standards to ensure all its products offer a true-to-plant, consistent experience. The Company’s retail brand, RISE Dispensaries, is committed to expanding access to well-being through cannabis and making a positive impact on the communities it serves. In addition to RISE Clearwater, there are ten other RISE Dispensaries in Florida, including locations in Bonita Springs, Brandon, Deerfield Beach, Fruitland Park, Hallandale Beach, Kendall, Oviedo, Pinellas Park, Sun City Center and West Palm Beach, with delivery services available at each location. All RISE Dispensaries in Florida offer products from Green Thumb’s award-winning family of brands, including RYTHM premium flower and full spectrum vapes, Dogwalkers pre-rolls, Good Green flower, and &Shine flower, pre-rolls, vapes and chews.

Located at 1724 Gulf to Bay Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33755, RISE Dispensary Clearwater is open on Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Minutes away from Clearwater Beach, the dispensary offers a range of high and low-potency THC and CBD products perfect for beginners and cannabis connoisseurs.

For information on how to become a medical cannabis patient, email [email protected]. For more information on RISE Dispensaries' locations, product offerings or other services, visit www.risecannabis.com.

Hurricane Idalia made landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast Wednesday morning with the National Weather Service warning of a "life-threatening, dangerous situation."

USA TODAY is providing live coverage of the storm as it makes landfall in Florida. You can watch the coverage at the top of the page or on USA TODAY's YouTube channel.

A hurricane warning has been issued for hundreds of miles of Florida's coastline as Idalia has become Category 3 storm, with sustained winds of 125 mph.

As of 5 a.m. Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center said the storm's center was forecast to reach the Big Bend coast of Florida this morning. After landfall, Idalia was expected to turn toward the northeast and east-northeast, moving near or along the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina later Wednesday and Thursday.

At a briefing Tuesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said highway tolls were being waived, shelters were opening and hotels were prepared to take evacuees. More than 30,000 utility workers were preparing to repair outages once the storm passes.

Maps:Hurricane Idalia's path as powerful storm approaches Florida and Georgia

Webcam livestreams

Webcams are planted at beaches along Florida's Gulf Coast, with some in Hurricane Idalia's potential path. See what the scene in Florida looks like:

Clearwater Beach, Florida

Clearwater Beach is located on the west-central coast along the Gulf of Mexico, around 25 miles west of Tampa.

Tampa, Florida

Tampa, along the Gulf of Mexico, is south of where Idalia's eye was projected to make landfall, but flooding in the Tampa Bay area had already begun by Wednesday morning and the city could still face high winds. It is about 23 miles north of St. Petersburg and 25 miles east of Clearwater Beach.