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Dade City might take over Seventh Street

Control of the stretch downtown would let the city maintain it as part of a pedestrian-friendly area.

By MOLLY MOORHEAD
Published December 14, 2005

DADE CITY - The city will consider taking control of Seventh Street through downtown, which would open up options for street lighting, landscaping and parking.

As a state-controlled portion of U.S. 301, the busy downtown thoroughfare is subject to tough standards not intended for a pedestrian-friendly downtown. The Department of Transportation is moving ahead with plans for resurfacing and redesigning some intersections, which would result in the loss of more than 100 downtown parking spaces.

City Manager Harold Sample met with DOT representatives Tuesday morning in Tampa to discuss concerns about parking. Then, Sample said, someone suggested making it a local street.

If the city assumes jurisdiction of the road, those and other decisions would be handled at City Hall. But the costs of maintenance would fall there too.

"If it's ours, it's ours," Sample told city commissioners in a meeting Tuesday evening.

The benefits are numerous, Sample said. Truck traffic through downtown could be limited. More elaborate streetscaping could be implemented. The parking spaces would be preserved.

"I think the benefits are going to outweigh the disadvantages," he said.

Commissioners agreed to further explore the possibility but made no commitment.

"Whether we do it, that's another matter," Commissioner Bill Dennis said. "It's going to depend on the costs."

Sample offered a preliminary estimate of $25,000 to $30,000 annually to pay for sweeping, traffic light maintenance and storm drain upkeep.

If the plan goes through, the County Road 35A bypass that connects north of town to U.S. 98 would become the new U.S. 301 under state control. Sample said DOT representatives indicated that plans to widen the bypass could be expedited if the city takes over Seventh Street.

In addition, the state still would proceed with resurfacing Seventh next year and repairing sidewalks before turning it over, which would mean a significant cost saving for the city.

Such a turnover already is in the works for Meridian Avenue - the stretch of State Road 52 that runs through the city. Sample said if Clinton Avenue is extended east toward Interstate 75, that would likely become the new SR 52, making Meridian a city street.

David Hevia, owner of Kiefer Village Jewels downtown, said he was uncertain about how a plan that diverts traffic out of downtown would affect his business.

"It's kind of a gamble that you can't go back if you're wrong," he said after the meeting.

Dennis Alfonso, a member of the Main Street organization, said the question of cost is two-sided. If Seventh becomes a city street, more grant money might be available for its maintenance. And if it doesn't, the city would probably have to buy property to replace the lost parking.

"It's going to cost the city in a capital improvement, an investment," he said.

Molly Moorhead can be reached at 352 521-6521 or toll-free 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6521. Her e-mail address is moorhead@sptimes.com

[Last modified December 14, 2005, 00:15:15]