Neighborhood notebook

By RON MATUS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 30, 2002

Children's group in the works

DAVIS ISLANDS -- Kids, there's more to life than Nintendo.

A children's community group, Young Islanders, is being formed to do cleanups, take field trips and maybe even raise money for charity.

Organizers want to "start them young, make them see that they can make a difference," said Jackie Saldanha, who cooked up the plan with fellow islander Karen Abberger.

Membership is limited to children younger than 12. Group activities could include planting trees, visiting elderly residents or holiday caroling.

Organizers also envision workshops on neighborhood safety and courtesy, and field trips to places like the firehouse or Coast Guard station.

An initial get-together for interested children and adults is set for noon to 2 p.m. on Sept. 14, at Java and Cream on E Davis Boulevard. For more information, send e-mails to youngislanders@yahoo.com.

New urbanism development approved

PORT TAMPA -- Tampa City Council gave its thumbs-up last week to a housing project that will bring 45 townhomes and 40 single-family homes to Port Tampa.

The council agreed to rezone 11 acres for the development, which some residents fear will put too much traffic on narrow Shamrock Road.

Developer Carter McCain changed the design several times in an effort to satisfy neighbors. The Port Tampa Civic Association voted to support the plan, but some Shamrock residents continued to oppose it.

The development is designed to promote pedestrian and bicycle traffic by including porches in front, garages in back and homes closer to the street.

McCain said work will begin within 60 days. The first phase of homes should be ready for occupancy by late spring.

The City Council is scheduled to give final approval Sept. 5.

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