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Signs of progress in the Deuces
© St. Petersburg Times ST. PETERSBURG -- At a quick glance, the Midtown section of 22nd Street S looks much like it did a year ago: a gritty strip with vacant lots, boarded storefronts and, with a couple of exceptions, no noticeable business surge. But new projects suggest the historic African-American main street known as the Deuces is progressing in its quest for survival and revival. Most notable is construction on the Center for Achievement, a 10,000-square-foot structure bursting out of the ground at 1000 22nd St. S. The project began in late October and the building's outer walls and facade are taking shape. It could open by early spring, said Goliath Davis, deputy mayor for Midtown. It will offer job skills training, home ownership counseling and business development. Three blocks south, ground is expected to be broken soon on the old Mercy Hospital site, where a health clinic will be developed. Education and the arts also are finding a niche. A dual credit class St. Petersburg College offered at the 22nd Street Main Street office this fall was so popular that three courses are scheduled for the term starting in January. Meanwhile, renovations soon will start at the Southside branch of Boys and Girls Clubs of the Suncoast. The Quonset-style building, which once housed the Royal Theater, will get a $389,000 remake and become a community art center, said Carl Lavender, Boys and Girls Clubs director. The club will continue to offer its typical after-school programs for youngsters but also will become a venue for music, dance and theater. On the strip's northern reaches, the old Manhattan Casino building is vacant as city officials seek grants to remodel it. Property has been cleared, and sidewalks and lighting are appearing in an area that will become the Dome District Industrial Park's pilot project. And just across Fifth Avenue S, the St. Petersburg Clay Co. has opened and has offered its space for several community events.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
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From the Times South Pinellas desks 2002: The Year in Review |
