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Sellers Want Rezoning For Sports Center

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By JOSE PATINO GIRONA, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 26, 2007

DREW PARK - Travis Allred and his partners have been purchasing property in this industrial neighborhood since the 1970s.

Now they want to sell 1.3 acres to a group of Tampa investors planning to build a sports complex. First, the owners must rezone the property from residential to commercial intensive.

'If we want to make it more attractive, we rezone it to their needs,' said Allred, president of Brisco Bros. Body Shop, 4315 N. Hubert Ave.

The city council is set to consider the request Thursday night.

Changing the zoning to commercial intensive could also allow for a bar, crematorium or adult use with special permit, said Jeanette LaRussa Fenton, the city's West Tampa and Drew Park manager.

Allred said the zoning change is part of the negotiation with the buyer. He wouldn't name the investors but said they plan an indoor and outdoor facility with batting cages, pitching mounds, tennis courts and basketball courts.

Allred said a sports complex would be appropriate for the area near Raymond James Stadium and Legends Field.

'We are at the retirement age,' said Allred, 67. 'This is going to be a part of our retirement.'

He said he plans to continue running the body shop and mechanic business, which has been in Drew Park for 35 years and is across the street from the property that is for sale.

The property, mostly vacant except for a Brisco mechanic shop and three houses owned by Allred and his partners, is bordered by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to the north, Coolidge Avenue to the west, Hubert to the east and houses to the south.

At the Sept. 17 meeting of the Drew Park Community Redevelopment Area Advisory Committee, members approved supporting the zoning change. But they raised questions about the sports complex, increased traffic and the potential for a buyer to build a different project once the property is rezoned.

The committee includes residents, property owners, business owners and employees in Drew Park.

Reporter Jose Patino Girona can be reached at (813) 835-2110 or jpatino@tampatrib.com.

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