In the late 1950s, Pinellas County developer Howard Burkland envisioned an ambitious waterfront community called Flor-A-Mar in West Pasco County. The original plan included up to 3,600 acres and 60 miles of canals with as many as 7,500 homes along the Gulf of Mexico. After initial approval from the county commission, legal challenges and public objections led to a scaled-back project focusing on submerged seabed purchase. Construction began despite financial hurdles including unexpected hard limestone beneath soft sand that increased dredging costs significantly. The project eventually faced foreclosure in 1963 before being taken over by Robert Crown who renamed it Gulf Harbors. Over the following decades, Gulf Harbors evolved into an exclusive residential area with high-value homes and modern amenities like Sea Castle condominiums. Today the community stands as one of Pasco County’s most prestigious neighborhoods fulfilling much of Burkland’s original vision for waterfront living.
Facts
- The original Flor-A-Mar plan included up to 3,600 acres and 60 miles of canals with potential for 7,500 homes
