Developer Draws Another Line In The Sand

Consider plopping a 7,000-square-foot, two-story condominium right in the middle of your own front yard.

Developer and restaurateur Joe Chapman, long known for his controversial construction efforts along Sanders Beach, is doing just that. He has a $315,000, three-unit condominium going up in the middle of the front lawn of his home, on the north side of the 1200 block of East Lakeshore Drive.

The hole for the foundation appears to have been dug and the concrete footings poured.

Chapman started trying to obtain a building permit for the condos in 1996. His original application was denied by the city building department, on the grounds that the zoning didn’t allow the additional residences on the lot.

The city council later overturned that decision, saying the zoning hadn’t been changed to a more restrictive status until after Chapman applied to build the condominiums.

In 1996, Chapman wanted to build condominiums on the south side of East Lakeshore, along Sanders Beach. That building permit was denied.

A year later, Chapman obtained permit to begin building a two-bedroom home on the beach. The city initially granted permission, then rescinded the building permit after being sued by the Sanders Beach Preservation Association.

That prompted Chapman to file a $235,000 suit against the city. He has twice offered to settle the suit by giving the city his portion of Sanders Beach in return for real estate and cash.