Design Award winners must meet the following guidelines in order to be considered for the Citizens' Master Plan Awards:

• To further the vision of the Citizens' Master Plan
• To exhibit excellence in architecture, landscape or site design, which are the three awards presented each year, if applicable.
• To receive a Certificate of Occupancy by July 31 of the award year, and will be eligible to be considered for up to three years from the date of occupancy.

Any establishment wishing to be considered can obtain applications from the TEAM Punta Gorda office. Winners of this award are presented this plaque, which they proudly display on their wonderful buildings.

As our memories of Hurricane Charley’s destructive rampage fade, the voids the storm left are being filled by new projects that trumpet the city’s physical renewal. TEAM wants to applaud those who are building, in mortar and stone, the pieces of a vision of Punta Gorda’s future – the vision of the Citizens’ Master Plan.

The award is being given to those who are building their new projects consistent with the principles of that plan.

Here is a brief rundown on each of the projects which have received awards to date.

Charlotte High School - 2011

The 2011 TEAM Punta Gorda CMP Design award was given to Charlotte High School.  After sustaining extensive damage from Hurricane Charley in 2004, the reconstruction of the high school focused on providing a state-of-art educational facility while respecting the historic nature of the site and the character of the surrounding neighborhood. The façade of the existing 3-story building, built in 1926, was restored to its original neo-classic architecture.   Functionally and aesthetically, this building was restored as the iconic symbol for both the school and the community.  The design of the facility incorporates numerous  sustainable features which have resulted in reduced water consumption and improved indoor air quality.

Gulf Breeze Apartments 2009

The excellence in Site Design award was presented to Gulf Breeze apartments because of their cozy hometown setting and old-Florida charm. The community is rich in diversity and opportunity and is close to all that downtown Punta Gorda has to offer.

The Wyvern Hotel 2009

Herald Court Centre 2009

Four Points by Sheraton 2009

Trabue Woods Estates

Trabue-Woods Estates is an affordable-living facility built by the Trabue-Woods Economic Development LLC in East Punta Gorda at the corner of East Virginia Avenue and Milus Street. It features two one-bedroom apartments and three two- and three-bedroom townhouses. The beautifully-designed, old-Florida-style building has covered porches that provide a social gathering place for family and friends.

The plans for Trabue Woods Estates have been in progress for nearly four years. After Hurricane Charley visited our city and took away much of our affordable housing, Trabue Woods Economic Development LLC began formulating plans to respond to a strong community need. According to Board President Anna Callwood, the Trabue Woods Economic Development LLC is committed to the Citizens’ Master Plan and has begun working toward implementing Phase II of its community development goal. This includes building a soul-food restaurant with apartments housed upstairs. A pre-construction timeline for Phase II has been set for 2010.

Dean’s Tex-Mex South of the Border Cantina

Former TEAM CEO Judy Brentano presents a Citizens' Master Plan Design Award to Dean Stainton owner of Dean’s South of the Border Restaurant.

Owners Dean and Sandy Stainton have some finishing touches to add to their restaurant – a wrought-iron fence around the patio and a gazebo. The brightly colored restaurant/bar/sports bar behind Laishley Park Marina at East Retta Esplanade and Route 41 northbound is the culmination of a lengthy struggle to first rebuild the original restaurant that sat a half block away. But it was too badly damaged by Charley. The Stainton’s managed to save a few things from the original nearly 100-year-old building – nearly century-old beams that form a trellis over the outdoor dining section and a 7-ton fireplace. The new renovated building used to house an auto parts store. It now can accommodate 200 diners.

Laishley Park Marina

Laishley Park reopened its boat ramp in December 2006, and the remainder of the project is coming along nicely with a building to house the harbormaster, ship’s store, and other amenities, new floating docks, and more. Completion of this first phase is expected in early spring, 2007. The city is negotiating with a private concern which will add another building to the site, housing a restaurant on its top floor.

Sunloft Center

This four-story, mixed-use project replaces the old Professional Center on Marion Avenue. Developers Ann and Martin Schulz are developing the project through their Florida Insel Properties group. Their original plan was to add to and rebuild, in some form, the old building. A variety of events sent the Schultz’s back to the drawing board of architect William Pantsari and now Punta Gorda can look forward to a new structure in the style and spirit of new urbanism – at considerably more expense to its European owner. The Schulz’s had toured the Seaside area in Florida’s Panhandle region and were smitten with its new urbanism design and use. They were referred to architect Pantsari, who had designed elements of Rosemary Beach, not far from and much like Seaside. When complete, Sunloft’s exterior will boast 24 facades, five different types of glass, and three different types of brick. An interior courtyard, accessed from Marion Avenue, will grace the lowest level while a terrace with palm trees and other plantings will crown the building. Retail establishments, including a yet-to-be chosen eclectic restaurant and two other small eateries, will inhabit the ground level. Offices will be sandwiched between the ground level and condominiums on the upper level. The Schultz’s hope Sunloft will contribute to a lively downtown street scene. Jennifer Schoultz, a designer at Pantsari Architecture and William Pantsari’s wife, is designing the building’s interior. Ken Dunn of Punta Gorda Construction Management is the general contractor. The project was completed in late 2008.

Swiss Connections

Swiss Chocolates and an art gallery are housed in this multi-use project, situated at the corner of Sullivan and West Virginia streets, as well as two other office spaces. The top floor is the new living quarters for Franz and Maria von Atzigen, who hail from, yes, Switzerland. Franz is retired from a 31-year career with the Swiss Foreign Service. His last assignment was acting ambassador at the Swiss Embassy in Singapore. The von Atzigens have owned a seasonal home in PGI since 2002. Swiss Chocolate Plus (the plus meaning coffee and other treats) and the art gallery Joe Mathis are their enterprises. Many of the works displayed in the art gallery are the product of Maria’s artist father, who passed away in 2002. The Mediterranean-style building was designed by Teresa Scott of the George Palermo architectural firm in Sarasota. It was built by Taylor Contractors of Florida in Punta Gorda.

Old Town Development’s Jim Westmoreland envisions a one-stop shopping venue for builders and rehabbers at his 21-unit office/industrial complex on Acline Road between U.S. 41 and Taylor Street. The U-shaped, old-Florida style structure is architecturally attractive, something, Westmoreland says, that new construction in Punta Gorda should be. Old Town is now up and running.

Isles Yacht Club

Our first award recipient, the new Isles Yacht Club is another old-Florida style building. The new 14,000-square-foot clubhouse is completed. Thanks to Commodore Fred Dawson, Fleet Captain Dick Condon, and member John Bush for tramping through the construction site with us and, along with other members, for their enthusiasm and hospitality. The building’s architect is ADP Group of Sarasota. The builder is WG Mills of Fort Myers.

St. Mary's Primitive Baptish Church

St. Mary's Primitive Baptish Church.

Thomas Ryan Realty

The original structure was built around the turn of the 20th century, with additions being made to the building until around 1912. The Thomas Ryan Associates offices were opened in 2000. In 2004, the entire building was demolished after Hurricane Charley, and in 2005 a bigger and better building was erected in the perfect downtown location.  Now, many share the use of this great building, including the TEAM Punta Gorda office and the Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce office.