Bon Air: Townhomes may be in future for busy corner
There could be 20 townhouses at Kennedy and Dale Mabry if the developer can combine parcels and get a change in the comprehensive plan.
By RON MATUS
Published January 9, 2004
A new chain drugstore might not be the only change coming to Kennedy Boulevard and Dale Mabry Highway, one of South Tampa's busiest intersections.
Developer Jim Mikes is fine-tuning plans to build an office and retail complex on Kennedy, on the site of the Faith Cafe soup kitchen and Potter's House church, just east of the future CVS.
One block south of Kennedy, property owners on Roland Street - who include Mikes - want a comprehensive plan amendment that could pave the way for townhouses.
The townhouse proposal involves 11 lots totaling 2.4 acres on both sides of Roland, between Dale Mabry and Sterling Avenue. The request: Change the land-use designation to allow up to 20 residential units per acre, instead of 10.
The Planning Commission will hear the request Monday at 5:30 p.m. at the County Center, 601 E Kennedy Blvd., on the 18th floor.
South Tampa resident Jana Goodman, who filed the request on behalf of the property owners, owns one of six parcels on the south side of Roland that are part of the proposal. She is talking with the other owners about buying their properties but so far hasn't finalized any deals, she said.
Goodman said townhouses are in the picture, but declined to be more specific.
Based on the acreage, up to 20 townhouses might be possible if all six parcels could be consolidated into one development.
Mikes, who owns some of the five lots on the north side of Roland, said his land will be used for parking and stormwater retention related to the office complex on Kennedy - not for townhomes.
He said he agreed to have his Roland properties be part of Goodman's application because her request would not likely fly unless both sides of the street had a consistent land use designation. Changing the designation would not affect his project.
Mikes bought the Faith Cafe and Potter's House property in 2001. He's also seeking to buy the defunct furniture store next door - a move that would give him control of virtually the entire block beyond CVS.
The upscale office and retail complex Mikes envisions - dubbed Mergaz Pointe - will be at least 40,000 square feet, he said. He expects to submit plans to the city by early spring.
As for Faith Cafe, he has promised supporters he will find them a new home for feeding the homeless.
It's unclear how neighbors will react to the new developments, but at least one Bon Air resident is optimistic.
The neighborhood definitely prefers upscale businesses over a soup kitchen, said Mike Scionti, past president of the Gray Gables/Bon Air/Southern Pines Civic Association.
As for townhouses, he said, it depends.
"If they were nice condo townhouses, I'd be all cool about it," Scionti said.
