South Tampa News and Events

At a neighborhood meeting Monday night at the Kate Jackson Community Center residents and business owners voted to support a proposed parking plan for the South Howard area. The plan still has to go before the City Council, some of whose members attended the community meeting. Tampabay.com describes it:

“The plan would create 454 parking spaces for an estimated 600 residents in the SoHo area. Some areas will either allow no parking at all on the street or resident-only parking. Residents will get one guest parking pass and can buy additional guest passes at $3 per day.”

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I’ve been seeing this story float around the local sites and I finally got around to reading it. Forbes Magazine has chosen Tampa as the worst city in the U. S. for young professionals. Reports like this tend to be less than scientific. A bit like the “best beach in the world” kind of thing. But it brings up some valid issues that Tampa should look at.

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I don’t think anyone wants Howard Avenue to become the next Bourbon Street, but I don’t understand this decision. The Tampa City Council rejected The Lime’s request to stay open later, until 2:00 on some nights. South Tampa should be more urban. It’s not a sleepy bedroom community. If you want that, go north. It’s not like they’re asking to serve alcohol until six in the morning.

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I don’t know if people aren’t aware of the rule or that they just don’t care about it, but the one day a week watering limit is still in effect. When you drive around South Tampa you can see someone watering on any day. Maybe they think that it’s worth the $100 to $450 fine for the sake of their green lawn. I guess it is cheaper than replacing the dead grass and plants.

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Tampa Solid Waste will be announcing changes to the trash pickup for the Hyde Park area. The presentation will be at the Kate Jackson Community Center on Thursday may 15, at 6:30 PM. Topics will include:

• Volume based garbage fees
• Curb/Alley pickup
• Trash related code enforcement

The Tampa City Council first approved a proposed beer and wine license for a beer garden in Hyde Park Village and then reversed its decision. Apparently some residents who moved into an “urban” community just realized that they are not the only residents around. How do you buy a condo above a store front and then whine about the potential noise and “food smell”? That’s what Tampa Palms is for. Where you have to drive 20 minutes to buy food and necessities. (more…)

Mayor Pam Iorio has named Thom Snelling as “Green Officer” for the city of Tampa. The focus of the position will be on the city’s goal of becoming a Certified Florida Green Local Government, and on the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement.

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I received an email with a request for support for a petition to create a safe access for wheelchairs and pedestrians from the sidewalk near Publix to Bayshore. The email follows:

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The developer who plans to build a 346-foot condo tower on DeSoto and Bayshore Blvd. has won an appeal and it seems unlikely that the city can stop them, unless they try to take it to the Florida Supreme Court. (more…)