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Drew Park Plan Moving Forward

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By JOSE PATINO GIRONA

jpatino@tampatrib.com

Published: January 21, 2009

DREW PARK - The goal of redeveloping and attracting businesses and residents to Drew Park is making headway.

Tampa police and city staffers on Thursday announced that a six-month undercover investigation on adult businesses was successful.

The investigation focused on regulated adult businesses and unregulated ones that offered adult-themed services.

Police said the nine unregulated businesses, which were lingerie shops, have closed. Police made 163 arrests in the investigation that ended in November.

Police also made arrests at regulated adult businesses. For instance, police arrested 22 people at the Playhouse Theatre, 4421 N. Hubert St., and 21 people at Fantasy Land, 4715 N. Lois Ave.

Jeanette LaRussa Fenton, the city's Drew Park and West Tampa manager, said the success can be a boost to the industrial area that is bordered by Tampa Bay Boulevard, Dale Mabry Highway, Hillsborough Avenue and Tampa International Airport.

"And it improves the quality of life of those already there - the businesses and the residents," said Fenton, who made a presentation to city council members last week.

Authorities launched the investigation after the neighborhood's community redevelopment agency asked for more enforcement on the adult entertainment businesses in the area.

The agency, which is made up of residents and business owners, voted to spend $132,000 to help pay for police overtime and enforcement of laws pertaining to adult businesses.
Drew Park is one of several neighborhoods designated as blighted in the city where property taxes raised above a designated amount are returned to the area for improvements, such as lighting, sidewalks, acquiring property and marketing.

Fenton said the police department spent $74,000 of the money targeted for the project. It planned to monitor crime in the area and possibly allocate more money to law enforcement there as needed, Fenton said.

Reporter Jose Patino Girona can be reached at (8130 259-7659.

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