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Iorio hears worries about pricey condos

The mayor also listens to concerns about rental options, SoHo Square and Harbor View Avenue.

By RICK GERSHMAN
Published October 21, 2005

Shrinking rental options, growth management and historic preservation. These were some of the issues on residents' minds at Mayor Pam Iorio's town hall meeting Tuesday evening.

The assembly at Jefferson High School attracted about 200 residents, most of whom were cordial and often even complimentary in addressing their concerns to the mayor. Rental properties are being converted to condominiums in South Tampa at an alarming rate, several speakers noted, effectively pushing out anyone who can't afford such pricey properties.

"Not everyone can afford a $250,000 condo," said Vicki Pollyea, president of the Bayshore Gardens Neighborhood Association. That is prompting South Tampa to become less diverse, she said.

"I, too, am concerned about the rental units going away, that there are so many conversions going on," Iorio replied.

Cindy Miller, director of the city's Department of Business and Housing Development, said the administration is looking at whether it can create incentives to prompt the development of more rental properties. Prospective homeowners generally need to be able to rent before they can buy. One topic of concern among audience members was SoHo Square, a four-story, 248-unit condo complex Post Properties plans to build at Swann and Howard avenues. The site currently houses the Whiskey Park Soho bar and other businesses.

Walter Crumley, who lives nearby, called it a "fiasco." And Pollyea said "it's ridiculous that we're letting this go on. Tell me that's not going to have an impact" on traffic through the busy intersection.

Iorio reminded the speakers that as mayor, she does not vote on rezonings. The City Council does. However, "your concerns are one of the reasons why I promote smart growth."

Several people who reside along Harbor View Avenue, off Bayshore Boulevard, told Iorio they object to Harbor View's being considered for historic district designation. One speaker said: "A majority of us said no. Why does this process continue?"

Patricia Hall contended that 67 percent of neighbors do not want the designation. "And majority rules," she said. "Or at least it should."

Many of the homes were built before 1920. If the city's Historic Preservation Commission approves the designation, people who live in the area would have to answer to an architectural review board to make alterations to their homes.

"We consider this a property rights issue," Hall said. "We do not want someone telling us which doors to put on our homes."

[Last modified October 20, 2005, 09:03:09]