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Community Roadblock

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By JANIS D. FROELICH, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 8, 2007

YBOR CITY - Retired Army officer William Schiller, 88, likes to exercise.

'Walk, walk, walk,' he said. 'I wear out shoes like crazy.'

But the street across from his apartment of 18 months is barricaded and has been since Sept. 11, 2001, by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Schiller, who walks to a small shop where he whittles wood and then to his son's restaurant and bar, Gaspar's Grotto, doesn't feel comfortable walking around the concrete blocks, so he takes a detour.

On the other hand, Eric Schiller is none too happy about having to take a detour to bypass the barricade on 20th Street at Palm Avenue to visit his father.

Since May, Eric Schiller and Thomas Knueppel, past secretary of the Historic Ybor Village Civic Association, have protested the blockade on the 20th of each month. They stand at the barricades with signs such as Free 20th Street.

Sheriff's office spokesman J.D. Callaway said 20th Street is blocked to protect the hundreds of law enforcement personnel who use the Ybor City operations center, 2008 E. Eighth Ave. The alley on Ninth Avenue between 19th and 20th streets, which has been county property since the 1970s, also was blocked after the Sept. 11 attacks.

'We have vital personnel in this office who safeguard the entire county,' Callaway said.

Also, since 2005, the sheriff's office has owned the former Environmental Protection Commission building at 1900 Ninth Ave.

Callaway said the sheriff's office initially got written approval from the city to block 20th Street. He said that approval expired but the sheriff's office then got verbal approval from the city; Callaway said he's unsure of the dates.

'We would like the barricades to stay,' he said. 'We realize we need the city's blessing. But we're sure they will listen to reason and continue to give us permission.'

On Aug. 17, city council members received a memo from city attorneys stating that the sheriff's office had requested 90 days to provide clarification and other proposals regarding the 20th Street closure.

On June 7, the council had requested the legal department provide a report on 'how to ensure that the historic grid of Ybor City remains intact.' The council also asked for information on the street closures.

After waiting months for action, Eric Schiller said he doesn't understand why the sheriff's office needs until November to deal with an issue that has been a problem for six years. He questions why a closure is needed, since Eighth Avenue remains open.

He said the brick streets and granite curbs help form the personality of the historic district.

Vince Pardo, manager of the Ybor City Development Corp., said a six-floor garage planned for a county-owned parking lot next to the former EPC building would accommodate about 700 vehicles.

'We have a commitment from the county and sheriff that our plan is OK,' Pardo said. 'The sheriff's office would use the garage and have its own secure levels and the rest would go to the public.'

Pardo said he would rather not take sides on the 20th Street roadblock.

'I think the sheriff's office is working on providing what kind of approval was initially given,' he said.

Reporter Janis D. Froelich can be reached at (813) 835-2104 or jfroelich@tampatrib.com.

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