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Neighborhood Officers Face Tough Issues

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By KATHY STEELE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 27, 2007

Updated: 10/25/2007 10:44 pm

SEMINOLE HEIGHTS - With new officers elected to the neighborhood association, residents should look for a campaign to make Florida Avenue two-way, renewed efforts to bridge the divide between business owners and neighbors, and surveys to poll residents.

Those were the themes touched on by candidates and outgoing President Randy Baron during Tuesday night's vote for the Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association's executive board.

Most positions were unopposed, including Susan Long for president, Helen Kynes for secretary and Carlos Gomez for treasurer. Jeff Harmon won the vice president's slot over Evan St. Ives.

Eight residents, including write-in candidate Rick Fifer, competed for five trustee slots. Doreen DiBona, Steve Gluckman, Stuart Hess, Bill Hunter and Eric Krause were chosen.

More than 70 residents attended the monthly meeting.

A brief question-and-answer segment prompted questions regarding businesses and a simmering dispute over whether Hampton Terrace should be designated as a local historic district. The neighborhood is a national historic district, and an association committee is reviewing criteria for local designation.

A report, including a map and geographical and historical data, has to be given to the city's Historic Preservation Commission and public hearings would be held. The city council decides whether to initiate the process and also has the final vote.

The process generally takes several years.
Hampton Terrace resident Mike McConnell, who opposes a local district, asked candidates whether they support Hampton Terrace residents' property rights. Opponents say local designation would impose strict and sometimes costly rules on home repairs.

Supporters say the local district would preserve the neighborhood's historical character and increase property values.

Long, who does not live in Hampton Terrace, said she does not have the right to dictate what that neighborhood chooses.

Harmon, a Hampton Terrace resident, said some protections are needed but he hopes a 'happy ground' could be found.

'Nothing is going to be forced on residents,' he said. 'If that's been conveyed to anyone, that's wrong.'

Gail Davis, whose husband owns a boat machine repair shop, asked what candidates would do to reduce friction between business owners and residents.

The two have sometimes been at odds about how to redevelop the neighborhood's major corridors of Florida and Nebraska avenues.

'We are a neighborhood association, not a residents association,' said Baron, and it is important to bring everyone together to redevelop Seminole Heights.

Baron said the association is committed to pushing state highway and city officials to two-way Florida to slow traffic and make the road more business and pedestrian friendly.

He urged residents to send forms, provided by the association, to elected officials to 'let them know that road is a serious problem in our neighborhoods.'

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

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