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Neighborhood report
Neighborhood news: Historic preservation meeting precedes report
By JANET ZINK and SHERRI DAY
Published July 1, 2005
BAYSHORE BEAUTIFUL - More than 40 people turned out to learn more about historic preservation at a June 22 meeting at the Jan Platt Library.
The meeting was scheduled in response to debate over a proposal to turn two blocks of Harbor View Avenue between Bayshore Boulevard and Lynwood Avenue into a historic district.
About half the people who live in the neighborhood want the designation to protect the houses, most of which were built before 1920. Two homes have been torn down in recent months.
Others consider historic status an infringement on property rights or oppose having to answer to an architectural review board in order to make alterations to their homes.
"The meeting went very well in that it delivered the information that was needed for the neighbors to make their decision," said Dennis Fernandez, the city's administrator for historic preservation. "Even people who opposed it thanked me and said I had cleared up some issues."
Fernandez will present a report on the issue to the Historic Preservation Commission on July 12. At that time, the HPC will decide whether to proceed with turning the two blocks into a historic district.
Mixed-income housing set for S Lois Avenue
SUN BAY SOUTH - A 216-unit mixed-income housing development will soon rise on 10 acres at S Lois Avenue near Pearl Street.
More than 100 onlookers, politicians and public officials attended the Tampa Housing Authority's groundbreaking of the Gardens at SouthBay last week. The development will replace the existing Rembrandt Gardens public housing development.
The Gardens at SouthBay will have about 196 units for public housing and Section 8 and 20 market-rate apartments.
The entire project should be completed in 14 months, said Leroy Moore, the Housing Authority's senior vice president and chief development officer. The first tenants could start moving in by spring, Moore said.
The $20-million project will include nine three-story walk-up apartment buildings with Mediterranean-style architecture. The complex will have one- to four-bedroom units. Amenities include a pool, community room, exercise room and a carwash.
"It's been two years in planning," Moore said. "It's an awesome sight to see the heavy equipment there starting to prepare the land."
Once the Gardens are built and Rembrandt residents have relocated, the Hillsborough County Housing Authority will take ownership of the vacant public housing complex. Once the complex is demolished, Robinson High School will take over the site, officials said.
[Last modified June 30, 2005, 09:10:08]
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