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Historical Discussion A Bumpy Road

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By KATHY STEELE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 30, 2008

Updated: 01/28/2008 07:56 pm

SEMINOLE HEIGHTS - Preservation and property rights are at the center of a dispute over the possibility of making Hampton Terrace a local historical district.

Opponents, who have formed the Hampton Terrace Property Rights Organization, say their opinions are being discounted by the temporary committee exploring the historical designation.

"Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association doesn't speak for everyone in Seminole Heights," said Gail Davis, who recently brought the Hampton Terrace group's concerns to the association's executive board.

Davis and two other Hampton Terrace residents, Nancy Walsh and Wesley Warren, asked the board to formally recognize their group as a second local historical district committee. They also asked that a letter be sent to the city's Historic Preservation Commission to clarify a letter from former association President Randy Baron that they said appeared to endorse the historical district.

The board refused both requests but approved a motion that minutes of all meetings including the historical district committee reflect everyone's views.
Association President Susan Long said it makes no sense to have two committees.

"Both sides can be heard at the same committee," she said.

Baron said his letter was written at the preservation commission's request to "trigger a process. This letter was not an official position saying we want the district."

"Clearly we support the process," Baron said. "That's all we support. We want to make sure everyone is equally educated."

A decision probably is two years away, preservation commission manager Dennis Fernandez said.

"Nothing is predetermined at this point," he said.

Davis, who attends the temporary committee's meetings, said that's too long to wait to hear from residents.

"We don't want to go that far," she said.

Though the city sometimes hires research companies to collect data, including the history and architectural styles of a neighborhood, Hampton Terrace's research is being done by volunteers on the neighborhood association's committee.

"We will not present anything to the city that we have not presented to the neighborhood," committee member Ann McDonald said.

Supporters of local districts say they preserve history, stabilize neighborhoods and increase property values. Critics say property rights are taken away and regulations are a financial burden on seniors and people on fixed incomes.

In 1999, Hampton Terrace was designated a national historical district, which is largely symbolic. Boundaries generally are Hanna and Mohawk avenues, and Ninth and 13th streets, but they zigzag through the neighborhood, leaving out some houses.

The proposed local district is expected to expand the boundaries and make them more uniform, Fernandez said.

The city council controls whether the local district is created. If the district is approved, local guidelines, written into city code, would govern construction or significant exterior alterations to structures as a way to protect the neighborhood's character.

Preservation commission staff would review the proposal and make a recommendation to the council, Fernandez said. The Hillsborough Planning Commission also reviews the proposal.

Public meetings and hearings are held to gauge support among residents within the proposed boundaries. But no vote of residents is taken, Fernandez said.

"We get feedback during the public process," he said.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Hampton Terrace Local Historical District committee meeting

WHEN: 7 p.m. Tuesday, and first Tuesday of each month

WHERE: Seminole Heights Branch Library, 4711 N. Central Ave.

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

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