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Group To Support Sangria's Request

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By KATHY STEELE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 28, 2007

Updated: 11/26/2007 11:11 pm

SEMINOLE HEIGHTS - The owners of a South Tampa restaurant hoping to open in this neighborhood have picked up a valuable endorsement.

The executive board of the Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association voted to support their request for a license to sell beer, wine and liquor. That translates to a letter favoring the license and an all-important neighborhood turnout at the city council hearing Dec. 20.
Victor Perez and John Obediente of Sangria's Spanish Tapas Bar & Restaurant, 315 S. Howard Ave., spoke to the executive board last week about plans to open a Sangria's in a remodeled auto repair shop at 512 E. Hillsborough Ave., next to Starbucks.

The alcohol license is a make-or-break deal for them. To win approval, the council must agree to waivers because the restaurant would be within 1,000 feet of a church, several residences and a gas station that sells beer and wine.

For some neighbors, the project is a redevelopment dream come true.

"It's like the sky opened up and out fell a restaurant," said former association President Randy Baron. That it is a "home-grown" business, not a chain, is a plus.

"It's what we'd been asking for," chimed in President Susan Long.

The board's vote came with a stipulation; the owners agreed the license would be limited to restaurant use only. The association does not favor a bar opening there, Long said.

The board's vote drew one dissenter.

Steve Gluckman said he was not against the restaurant but thinks a letter of support was "too hasty" without reviewing site plans.

"I'm uncomfortable with the lack of information," Gluckman said. "This is going to add rather significant traffic."

Other board members said the site plan and alcohol sales are separate issues.

"If they don't get a wet zoning, they're not going to get a restaurant," Long said.
Initial plans are to remodel the repair shop of about 7,000 square feet. About 2,500 square feet would be for Sangria's, with indoor seating for about 100 and an outdoor patio for about 20.

Obediente said the remainder of the building would be offices or "some other type of business."

Site plans, which will be filed with the city, are being prepared by Hyde Park architect and historic preservationist Roger Grunke.

Sangria's owners will seek to vacate an alley between Starbucks and the proposed restaurant and add landscaping.

"We are going to make the place look very tropical with a lot of plants," Perez said.

They also would like city approval to close a portion of Mohawk Avenue where it dead-ends behind the repair shop. Ginger Morgan, who owns Ginger Snips hair salon at Central Avenue and Mohawk, said she had no objection to closing Mohawk.

Obediente said the closure would not affect residents' access to their homes. The area would be used for parking.

Perez and Obediente said they would come back to the neighborhood once the site plans are ready.

"We want to have neighborhood support," Perez said. "If we have a disagreement with you, it's not in our best interest."

Reporter Kathy Steele can be reached at (813) 835-2103 or ksteele@tampatrib.com.

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