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Dedicated To Drew Park

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By JOSE PATINO GIRONA

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 12, 2008

DREW PARK - Randy Coen has a long connection to this neighborhood.

As a youngster, he traveled its streets, visited its stores and attended first through sixth grades at Lois Elementary, which is now a school district maintenance facility, at Lois and Crest avenues.

His family lived in three homes in Drew Park. He even survived a childhood accident at Lois and Osborne avenues when a car struck him and knocked him into a ditch.

"It was a true community," Coen said. "You went to church there. You went to school there."

Coen, 56, remains hopeful for the area, which is trying to shake the stigma of blight and adult businesses.

He recently was elected chairman of the Drew Park Community Redevelopment Area's community advisory committee. The volunteer committee of residents, business representatives and civic leaders is a voice for the neighborhood and helps the city budget money raised from lo cal property taxes.

The redevelopment area was created in 2004. Its 2009 projected budget is $1.4 million.

The money is used for infrastructure improvements, such as roads, lighting and stormwater drainage. This year, it also is helping pay for police to investigate illegal activity at adult-themed businesses in Drew Park. As of June 13, police had arrested 104 people in the operation that started May 4.

The tax money and the city's renewed interest give the area a fighting chance, Coen said.

The community redevelopment area's mission, he said, is "to make Drew Park a better place to work and live."

Coen, who lives in the West Shore area, is president of Coen & Co., a transportation and land-use planning business at 4121 W. Cypress St. He serves on the advisory board as a representative of the Westshore Alliance business group, which has a seat on the board along with Tampa International Airport and Hillsborough Community College Dale Mabry Campus.

Drew Park, an industrial area with some housing, is bordered by Tampa Bay Boulevard, Dale Mabry Highway, Hillsborough Avenue and TIA.

Coen, who is serving a two-year term, said the area will remain mostly industrial.

Recently, the committee voted to ask the city council to eliminate a proposal to rezone property east of Lois to attract housing and offices. Opponents fear the plan would encroach on property rights and could bury the industrial businesses. The council is expected to vote on the issue July 31.

Jeanette LaRussa Fenton, the city's Drew Park and West Tampa manager, said Coen brings much knowledge to the position, including his background in transportation and land use and his experiences in Drew Park.

"He is going to do a great job," she said.

Coen said the city needs to make enhancements such as road resurfacing and street lighting, stormwater and traffic safety upgrades. The advisory committee also is looking at creating a building façade program to assist businesses.

He expects significant changes within three to five years. Tampa International will complete Cargo Road next year, which will attract businesses to the west of Drew Park. Eventually, more housing may come to the area.

"I want to help the folks in Drew Park get what services they need, the improvements they need," Coen said.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Drew Park community advisory committee
WHEN: Meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday; future meetings will be on the first Thursday of the month.

WHERE: Tampa Police Department District I, 3818 W. Tampa Bay Blvd.

CALL: Jeanette LaRussa Fenton, (813) 274-7427

Reporter Jose Patino Girona can be reached at (813) 259-7659 or jpatino@tampatrib.com.

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