TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

City Votes To Purchase Drew Park Land

ADVERTISEMENT

By JOSÉ PATINO GIROÑA

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 4, 2008

DREW PARK - The city council unanimously approved on Thursday spending more than $400,000 to purchase two adjoining parcels in Drew Park that could be used to build homes.

The city plans to buy the parcels at 4106 and 4108 N. Hubert Ave. at a cost of $402,800. The money to purchase the properties will come from the Drew Park Community Redevelopment Area fund.

Drew Park is one of several neighborhoods in the city where a portion of the property taxes are reinvested in the area for infrastructure improvements, such as roads, sidewalks, street lights and to purchase property to meet neighborhood goals.

If the property is purchased, the city will ask developers to propose development plans. The city would like to see workforce housing built on the 1.3 acre lots for people who earn a modest income, such as police officers and teachers, said Jeanette LaRussa Fenton, the city's Drew Park and West Tampa manager.

"That is good for the neighborhood and provides something that is in demand," Fenton said.

The lots are located on the southwest residential neighborhood of Drew Park, an industrial area adjacent to Tampa International Airport that is also home to many adult businesses. The lots allow for 16 units to be built on the property, but the city estimates because of the lot configuration only 12 units can be built, Fenton said.

The city is also looking at buying two adjoining parcels in Drew Park at 4221 N. Coolidge Avenue and 4224 N. Hubert Ave. The price of the parcels is estimated at $90,000.

The city is doing an environmental study on the lots. If the city staff decides it wants to buy the land, the city council must first approve it.

Reporter José Patiño Girona can be reached at (813) 259-7659.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT