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Tampa Palms balks at price of Reserve fixes
By JOHN BALZ, Times Staff Writer
TAMPA PALMS -- The taxing district in Tampa Palms will pay for improvements on the Reserve's entrance, but nothing close to the nearly half-million dollars quoted by a landscape architect last month. The Community Development District's board of supervisors approved $75,000 in additional improvements Wednesday to repair fountains, alter landscaping and remove disease-ridden trees at Tampa Palms' residential crown jewel. As of now, the board has spent $7,500 on fountain repair, bringing the total expenditure to $82,500. "We had $560,000 of repairs and we're going to spend significantly less than that," said supervisor Mark Fitzpatrick, addressing the shock some residents had felt after seeing such a high initial price tag. Slightly less than half of the money will be used to fix leaking water pumps and loose bricks at the fountain. The board rejected the option for an elegant center fountain buffered by planters, new lights and additional architectural work. The rest of the money will be spent on removing some of the diseased Canary Island date palms near the Reserve gate. Supervisors ordered the removal of nine of the 32 to 34 trees. Because of the high cost, $5,000-$6,000 apiece, and their inability to adapt to the Florida climate, they won't be replaced. Additional holly plants and "DD Blanchard" magnolia trees would be planted instead near the entrance. Supervisors hope they won't need to spend any more. The Reserve, they said, is welcome to pay for additional improvements to the entrance. They also approved plans to beautify the entrance and exit of Area 2 near the Publix shopping center. -- John Balz can be reached at (813) 269-5313 or at balz@sptimes.com
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