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undergone major face-lifts
in a branding campaign
with beautiful tropical
murals painted on the
walls to be seen from the
street. All of the properties
have attractive white
pebbles where some ugly
grass, dirt and mud used
to be. “I like things neat
and clean,” said Ross,
who allows his tenants to
keep pets.
Fort Pierce Mayor Linda
Hudson liked the transformations
so much she
gave three of them Golden
Hammer awards in the
residential improvement
category. The program’s
GREG GARDNER
Sea House received the Golden Hammer
Award from Fort Pierce Mayor
Linda Hudson in 2014. Two of Ricky
Ross’ other apartment buildings on
South Beach, Ocean House and River
House, also received the same award in
the residential improvement category.
sponsor, East Coast Lumber, only gives out one sign, but
Ross couldn’t wait to buy more signs to display at his other
properties. “He’s very talented that way,” Hudson said of
Ross’ redevelopment efforts. “The properties are absolutely
adorable, very refreshing. The beach scene murals are so
much fun. They make you feel like life is a beach.”
Island House (11 units), Ocean House (8), and Sea House
(12) are on Ocean Drive while River House (4) is on Seaway
Drive. The “house” theme comes from the three apartment
buildings Ross’ father developed in Hartford, where he
learned the business. “I didn’t go to college,” Ross said. “My
father was my education. I went to the University of Larry
Ross. I shampooed carpets, took out the trash, cleaned refrigerators
and painted apartments.”
Rosco Development is a third-generation family affair with
Ross and his son, Harrison, working together. “You have to
be hands-on and we are,” Ross said.
“As soon as you call, he comes out and fixes it,” said twoyear
tenant Michael Vanderpoole. “He put up a new fence,
moved the mailbox and now we have a laundry room,” he
said. Ross made sure all of his properties had coin-operated
laundry facilities.
Charlie Hayek is a Fort Pierce contractor who nominated
Ross’ properties for the Golden Hammer Awards. “They look
like dynamite,” he said. “Each one has his signature look
with the murals, the same color paint and the white rocks
around them. Before, they were run down and deplorable.
When you drive around South Beach, you know those buildings
are his. They (Ross and son) look after them and don’t
let them become rundown. He has that pride of ownership.”
An American Flag and a POW-MIA flag hang at all of his
properties. Ross replaces them three to four times a year as
they fade and tear from the salty sea air and winds on South
Beach. He calls it public relations, but the effort stems from
two years at military school and in respect for friends he lost
in the Vietnam War. Ross also switched out all of the exterior
lights with blue bulbs to show support for police officers.
“He is the best landlord I ever had and I used to be an
apartment manager so I know what he has to deal with in
handling problems and maintenance issues,” said tenant
Mark Donnelly, a sound engineer. “He is not an absentee
landlord. He’s accessible. Rick has a wonderful reputation.
He treats you like family and that’s a big deal,” he said.