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Neighborhood report

Entryway to grace Town 'N Country

By JACKIE RIPLEY
Published January 13, 2006

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - A 1-mile stretch of W Hillsborough Avenue is slated to become this community's designated entryway. It's a notion some seem leery of while others are eager to see occur.

"Once people see it, they will say, "Wow, let's do more,' " said Bill Browne, president of the Town 'N Country Alliance. "This is a good thing for Town 'N Country."

The plan is to turn the portion of Hillsborough between Hanley and Webb roads into a "main street." It would have slightly more narrow traffic lanes as well as bicycle lanes to calm traffic. It would have wider sidewalks, landscaping, special street lighting and textured crosswalks. And as money becomes available, those beautification efforts would be extended in both directions.

"This would be a pilot project," consultant Gary Warner said. "Once we start the ball rolling, there's grant money out there."

The beautification includes replacing grassy medians with shrubbery that would require less maintenance. Palm trees would be planted at the entrance to the gateway, and shade trees as well as ornamental trees, such as crepe myrtle, would create tree-lined sidewalks.

The changes are part of the Town 'N Country Community Plan's "overlay district," an area from the Veterans Expressway to Rocky Creek.

Hillsborough County commissioners approved the plan in 2003. It includes a town center at Paula and Ambassador drives, just south of that portion of Hillsborough.

Only the north side of Hillsborough, however, will get the beauty treatment, "so we can get more bang for our buck," Warner said.

Last year, the county set aside $400,000 for the beautification project. Community leaders have asked state lawmakers to match that amount.

More than 50 people attended a meeting of the Town 'N Country Alliance on Monday night to hear about the proposed changes, part of which includes new street lighting along that stretch of road.

"Lighting is too expensive, so we plan to lease the lights from TECO," Warner said. "The cost of electricity will be passed on to businesses along the road."

Jerry Keegan, who lives near the proposed town center, wondered what would happen if business owners were unwilling, or unable, to pay for the additional lighting.

"Some of those businesses are barely surviving," he said. "Where is the money going to come from if they can't pay for it?"

Gene Szereni, who has lived in his home near Johns Road for more than 50 years, questioned the narrowing of traffic lanes to make room for bicycle lanes on a major highway.

"I'm not sure that should be done on a major thoroughfare," Szereni said. "Two big trucks with mirrors will clip each other."

Despite some of the concerns, many residents were enthused, eager to know when the changes would occur.

Warner explained that once the plan is approved, the design could get under way. Construction would start in about two years.

"It's true we're not going to reduce the volume of traffic, but we can create an aesthetic identity along the road," Warner said. "We hope to beautify it and make it safer for pedestrians."

- Jackie Ripley can be reached at 813 269-5308 or ripley@sptimes.com

[Last modified January 12, 2006, 08:39:04]