Whitney Beach Plaza renovations begin

Construction on a new roof for Whitney Beach Plaza on Longboat Key has begun.

Rich Juliani, principal of the Boston-based JKI Investment Capital LLC, has promised a $2 million renovation and overhaul of the entire interior and exterior of the plaza.

Town Building Official Wayne Thorne says the roof permit has been approved and he is in discussions with Juliani and other partners for additional permits for renovations at the plaza.

Bradenton attorney Ryan Snyder, along with Juliani and some other undisclosed investors, say they are pulling permits for up to $2 million to complete renovation of the plaza and already have plans for a liquor store and other interested tenants.

Snyder, now listed as a managing member for a new limited liability corporation formed for the plaza, says the group plans “to inject about $1 million in the next three to six months.”

— reporting by Kurt Schultheis, correspondent