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Letter to the editor

Identifying blight aims to revive Lealman

Designating "brownfields" would make developers eligible for incentives under a state initiative.

By ANNE LINDBERG
Published May 8, 2005

LEALMAN - In a move that could expand Lealman redevelopment, Pinellas County wants to designate portions of the unincorporated area as environmentally blighted to encourage businesses to move in.

The proposal is to designate as "brownfields" about two-thirds of the eastern portion of Lealman. That would entitle developers to receive incentives under a state environmental cleanup initiative known as the Brownfields Redevelopment Act.

Brownfields are those areas that are known or perceived to be contaminated. The known or perceived contamination hinders the use or redevelopment of property within the brownfields.

The proposal, which must go through public hearings and a vote from the County Commission, would include the area north of 40th Avenue N between 49th Street on the west and I-275 on the east. A small portion of Lealman to the east of I-275 also would be included. The northern boundary of the brownfields area is generally 62nd Avenue N, but a portion extends almost to Gandy Boulevard.

The proposed area includes the Joe's Creek Industrial Park.

If declared a brownfield, it would be the first areawide designation in the unincorporated county, said Teri Hasbrouck, a business development manager in the county's economic development office.

St. Petersburg used the designation to improve the area around Tropicana Field. Clearwater used it for all of its downtown.

The goal is to encourage businesses to move in and create jobs and improve housing, Hasbrouck said.

County officials have worked for several years to redevelop the Lealman area. Thus far, the county's efforts have been concentrated in the central portion of east Lealman. But the request for brownfield designation increases that area to include the easternmost portion of the area.

[Last modified May 8, 2005, 00:45:19]