<![CDATA[Venetian Isles Homeowners Association (VIHA) - Beautification Corner]]>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 17:33:49 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[New Beautification Projects]]>Thu, 10 May 2018 20:55:25 GMThttps://www.ourvi.org/beautification-corner/may-10th-2018As you drive, walk, run or bike through Venetian Isles over the coming weeks, you’ll notice work underway .Thanks to the V.I.H.A.'s Beautification Committee, spearheaded by Lisa Schwartz, numerous enhancements and maintenance projects are now underway in Venetian Isles. Picture
Entrance Monuments
Venetian Isles has been awarded a matching grant from the City of St. Petersburg to replace the monuments at all 3 entrances to Venetian Isles (Overlook Drive, Montana Avenue and Mermaid Point).  The existing monuments are 10 years old and are starting to deteriorate.  Construction of the new monuments, which will require less maintenance than the current designs, will commence as soon as permits are approved.
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​Overlook Drive
 As you may have noticed, the grass by the bridge on Overlook is brown.  This is intentional as the City has just installed an updated sprinkler system and will be replacing all the existing grass with Bitter Blue sod.  The City will also be trimming the hedges, removing weeds and dead vegetation and replacing several green ficus plants.  Once the work is completed, we will be hiring a company to maintain the new landscaping on Overlook Drive as well as Grand Canal Boulevard.  In addition, we are in the process of installing new electrical service in order to power the irrigation system and light the palm trees with new LED lighting.  
​Grand Canal Boulevard
The Beautification Committee is replacing the dead / missing bougainvilleas along Grand Canal Boulevard and installing additional sprinklers in the causeway planter beds.
 
Grand Canal Causeways and Bridges
The City of St. Petersburg and Duke Energy have recently completed the following work:
  • Trim sidewalk overhangs from seagrape trees
  • Repair the underground wiring between light poles (corner of Overlook Drive & Grand Canal and Massachusetts Ave South)
In addition, the following maintenance work has been requested by the Beautification Committee:
  • Replace loose / damaged bricks on bridges
  • Clean algae along the Grand Canal and Kansas Ave bridges
  • Repair damage caused by sinking bricks and cracks in the seawalls
  • Straighten leaning street signs resulting from Hurricane Irma or vehicle collisions
Paint transformers (Point Overlook Drive and Hawaii Avenue North)
]]><![CDATA[POST IRMA UPDATE]]>Wed, 20 Sep 2017 10:41:55 GMThttps://www.ourvi.org/beautification-corner/post-irma-update​Thankfully Hurricane Irma passed as a Cat 1 and didn't produce the storm surge we all feared.
 
Now, we are left with the cleanup.
 
Two Foxtail Palms along GCB were beheaded. They will be removed and replaced.
 
We are also rethinking the Dwarf Helen Johnson Bougainvilleas and are looking at options for alternative hedges around the Foxtails.
 
The only other damage was to the Mangrove on the west side of Overlook Drive. This too will be taken care of.
 
We just finished our annual mangrove trimming before the Hurricane.
 
The south side canal between Michigan and Montana has had some of its view restored by trimming up the Seagrape Tree.

]]><![CDATA[City's Schedule for Seawall Repairs in VI]]>Tue, 08 Aug 2017 11:11:43 GMThttps://www.ourvi.org/beautification-corner/citys-schedule-for-seawall-repairs-in-viAnticipated Schedule for the repair of the city seawalls within Venetian Isles:

July 13, 2017 – Council approved award of contract
Anticipated schedule for the city seawall repairs in Venetian Isles

July 13 – August 11, 2017 – Contractor working on creating conformed copies of the contract. [Note: A conformed copy of a contract is a signed document in which all signatures and other handwritten amendments (for example, any dates, amounts and last-minute changes) are recorded in typed form. Conformed copies of the main documents signed in a deal are sometimes included in the bound set for ease of reference.]

We anticipate giving the Contractor a Notice to Proceed (NTP) by the close of August.

Start of construction in September

Completion of construction by the end of Feb 2018.

 Scope of work:

Simplest:    The work includes restoration of the seawall for stability and safety.
More detailed: The work includes the addition of seawall anchors, rebuilding the seawall caps, repairing cracks in the seawall, adding drains to the existing walls, installing some new vinyl seawall and adding stress beams to support the existing seawall in areas.   

Complex:    The work includes: Installing about 60 linear feet of ESP 8.5 x 14’ vinyl sheeting with cap, rebar, mantra ray anchors, French drain and drains, 245 linear feet sealing slab cracks, 285 PVC drain installation, 17 slab joint re -grouting, 72 linear feet of concrete cap replacement, 45 tie back rod, 53 linear feet of sealing cap cracks, 195 linear feet of installing concrete stress beam, 1 installing of concrete filled vinyl sheet pile, and repairing 2 cap spall.]]><![CDATA[Seawall Repair Update]]>Tue, 01 Aug 2017 14:51:19 GMThttps://www.ourvi.org/beautification-corner/seawall-repair-updateYour VIHA has worked tirelessly to improve and enhance our wonderful neighborhood. Through deed restrictions, beautification efforts, city grants and city partnerships we are very proud of where we are today and where we are going in the future.
 
After several years of continually reporting to the city about the condition of the brick walkways and city seawalls within Venetian Isles...we have finally been approved for over a quarter of a million dollars in repairs!!!
 
The seawall repairs include Mermaid Point as well as all seawalls/walkways along Grand Canal Blvd.
 
A few weeks ago, the city did complete repairs that we found along Overlook Drive. These issues were discovered when the invasive trees were removed.
 
When we have more information , it will be posted to this page. 
 
Thanks for your for support and interest.
 
Sincerely,  

The Venetian Isles Homeowners Association (VIHA)]]><![CDATA[Latest Beautification Update!]]>Sat, 22 Jul 2017 20:11:56 GMThttps://www.ourvi.org/beautification-corner/latest-beautification-updateOverlook Drive:

Two additional Royal Palm Trees were installed. One on either side of the roadway.
When the sprinkler update is completed, the rest of the landscaping will be installed around the palm trees.

Working with the city to possibly replace all the Bahia grass with St Augustine. If we can work out a deal, VIHA would then take over the maintenance of the lawn as well as fertilizing, trimming and weeding Overlook Drive.

Awaiting the cost from the Landscaping company that does Grand Canal Blvd. to see if this is feasible.

Also, early stages of investigating landscaping lighting along Overlook.

Grand Canal Blvd:

Met with the landscaping company that takes care of Grand Canal Blvd and pointed out all the Helen Johnson Bougainvilleas that aren't up to par. Most were recent replacements that have not taken and hopefully, replacement will be of little to no cost to VI.

Venetian Isles:(GCB,Mermaid Pt, Overlook Dr)

Obtaining bids for our annual Mangrove Trimming

Monument Grant:

Awaiting site plans for the three monuments so the city can advise us on moving forward]]><![CDATA[Beautification Update!]]>Fri, 30 Jun 2017 12:16:48 GMThttps://www.ourvi.org/beautification-corner/beautification-update Overlook Drive:

At our request, the City of St Pete removed miscellaneous plants and evasive trees along the east side of Overlook Drive. After the clearing took place, two sections of the seawall were determined to be in need of major repairs.  Those repairs have now started .  When the fixes are finished, we will add two additional Royal Palms.

Future plans could see the HOA taking over the landscaping maintenance along both sides of Overlook. We will also explore re-sodding the area with St Augustine vs the existing Bahia.

Grand Canal Blvd:
 
Continuing to work with the City Engineering Department to put pressure on Duke Energy to reinstall a light post on the south side of the newly repaired seawall along Mass Ave.
 
Also, staying informed about the bidding and expected awarding of the contract to fix all the seawall's along Grand Canal Blvd and Mermaid Point.
 
Reported various overhanging trees impeding the walkways along Grand Canal Blvd. All have thus been trimmed.
 
Stump removal and brick replacement is now completed by the Lift Station at Illinois Ave and Grand Canal.


City Grants:
 
Will be obtaining site plans for the three replacement monuments.  Once we have those we will work with City Engineering on the specifics.  After everything is approved we will begin the bidding process so we can apply for a matching grant. ]]>