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It's official: All of route to be Bryan Dairy Road
By MAUREEN BYRNE AHERN
Homeowners on 102nd Avenue in Seminole and businesses on 118th Avenue in St. Petersburg will have a new address. "It's all right with me as long as they pay for new labels," said John Crandall, 79, who's had the same address since 1969, the year he and his wife, Wilma, moved to a home on 102nd Avenue near Oakhurst Road in the Seminole area. It's highly unlikely the government will reimburse folks, but county officials will answer their questions at public workshops. None have been scheduled yet, but meetings probably will take place in a couple of months, said Sarah Ward, a transportation administrator for the Metropolitan Planning Organization. The MPO is compiling a database of all properties on the corridor. Ward said she didn't know yet how many properties would be affected by the name change. "The transition period could take up to a year," she said. By then, the Crandalls could be in a new home, possibly in Pasco County. The couple plan to move to a retirement community. The one-name plan surfaced in October with the opening of the corridor's missing link -- a 2-mile stretch of pavement from 66th Street to U.S. 19. Pinellas Park officials asked the MPO if the road could have the same name. The MPO sent letters to the four jurisdictions to see if they'd support the plan. Elected officials in Seminole, Pinellas Park and St. Petersburg as well as the County Commission approved the name change. "I think it makes a lot of sense," said St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker. "I haven't really heard any opposition to it." In St. Petersburg, the corridor is called 118th Avenue N. Head west into Pinellas Park and the name changes to Bryan Dairy Road. Drive into Seminole and unincorporated Pinellas County, it's 102nd Avenue. County officials also call it County Road 296, although few residents know that one. The 10-mile road begins at Hamlin Boulevard near the Intracoastal Waterway and ends at Interstate 275, where motorists can enter the highway. The west end is residential, the center section has corporate business parks and the east side is mostly light industrial and wholesale businesses. Ward said the name change could be beneficial to businesses on 118th Avenue because signs on the interstate would direct motorists to Bryan Dairy Road. "I think the businesses are looking at the fact that they now have direct access to and from the interstate," she said. Beth Sisson, a receptionist at A Christian Glass & Mirror on 118th Avenue, said the name change was a good idea. "I think it will make it easier for people to find us," she said. Russell C. Profitt agrees, but he's not looking forward to buying new business cards and company stationery. "It will cost me a fortune to change all of my literature," said Profitt, owner of St. Pete Auto Aids on 118th Avenue. "But I agree with it, even though it will cost me money." Seminole City Council member Carol Hajek says the address change will be a hardship for residents. Many will need to inform credit card companies and get a new driver's license. "Once it's done, it will be okay, but I feel sorry for the people who have to change everything," Hajek said. Baker says now is a good time to explore changing another major road that has multiple names. County Road 694 is called Gandy Boulevard in the east side of the county and Park Boulevard on the west end. Park also in known as 74th Avenue and as 78th Avenue. "I just think it ought to be Gandy all the way to Boca Ciega Bay," Baker said. -- Times researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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From the Times South Pinellas desks |
