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Owners yet to get offers for Johnson Building

Re: 95-year-old hotel in city is history worth saving, editorial, Jan. 13, and City looking to perform CPR, story, Jan. 1.

After your recent editorial on the Johnson Building in Largo, I feel it is only fair that you give me a chance to respond with my side of the story. This letter is in response to recent articles in the St. Petersburg Times regarding the Johnson Building.

At least the previous reporter to write an article on the building, Lorri Helfand, attempted to contact me, although I was out of town. I have to conclude that you, the editor, did not contact her, as I had e-mailed her informing her that the city of Largo had never attempted to contact me with any offers to buy the building. I do not know whether there is a lack of communication in your newsroom or if it makes a better story with me as the bad guy.

The owners have repeatedly been characterized quite negatively as resisting multiple attempts by the city of Largo to help them restore the building or buy the property. This is patently untrue! The city has never contacted the owners with any offers of support or purchase. The city has published pictures of its vision for the building and surrounding area, all without requesting input or even notifying the owners of its plans.

The only contact city of Largo has made with me is when it perceives code violations have occurred. The city never contacted me in a collegial manner to see what could conceivably be done in any rehabilitation efforts. The owners have not "turned aside offers from the city to help them with the property," as none have been made.

The owners view the recent articles as personal attacks and find it hard to trust the newspaper, which has yet to verify the owners' assertion that they have not been contacted by the city. You report that City Manager Steve Stanton has "been working to build connections to the hotel's owners...." One would expect the first step would be to call or write them, which has never occurred. If the city of Largo and Steve Stanton had been making all these attempts, ask them to show some sort of documentation. You will find they have none, as no contact has ever been attempted.

Take into account family's connection with building

Re: 95-year-old hotel in city is history worth saving, editorial, Jan. 13.

As someone who knows a small part the history of the building, I wish to speak up. The Johnsons do not, as the writer states, wish to see the building "fall into ruin." They just do not wish to see it fall into the hands of someone who will not respect it for what it is and what it meant to the city of Largo long before there even was a city of Largo.

The building has been a sentinel over this area for a great many years, and it, at the very least, deserves the respect they have given other buildings taken into protective custody at Heritage Park. Even the Largo Feed store was treated with better care, and although a great building, it only held cattle food. The Johnson Building held lives. People came there and started their lives in here from that very spot. They got off the train and began anew.

The Johnsons just don't bend to the will of the high and mighty and that rubs some people the wrong way, and that's the way things go sometimes. That building was built by their family and run by their family and was the heart of their family for many years, and the city is asking them to just hand it over.

At the very least, please look into your own hearts and see if you could give up your home as easily.

Belleview hotel's fate not same as Largo landmark

Re: 95-year-old hotel in city is history worth saving, editorial, Jan. 13.

I am a native of Largo and am well aware of the plight of the Johnson Building in Largo.

Although I share the writer's concerns about the building and have myself written to the city in the past (and even suggested to my Boy Scout troop that we take on the building as an Eagle project), I do think there is a distinction to be drawn between the Johnson Building and the threatened Belleview Biltmore Resort & Spa, about which I've written before.

The Johnson Building might be in sore need of renovation, but it is not in danger of either falling down or being razed. What's more, everyone's aware of it, and I would be very surprised if the city of Largo would let anything happen to it.

The Belleview Biltmore is an entirely different matter. Urdang & Associates will try, and have been trying, anything to succeed in destroying this irreplaceable piece of state history. No matter how many times the town of Belleair denies their demolition permit, Urdang gets a continuance and delays again until its circle of charlatans (legal team) come up with a new strategy. And the town seems to be too impotent to do anything permanent to stop them.

It is as if we have a grand dame in our midst with no one to defend her. That's why local preservationists have focused their efforts on the hotel. To borrow from the founder of my alma mater, we have "nailed our colors to the mast, and if she sinks, we will go down with her."

Regarding the Johnson Building, I would suggest the writer contact the Largo Historical Society. Not only is the society in your own back yard, it should be intricately involved in any plans to save and restore the structure.

And once the Belleview Biltmore is forever safe from the wrecking ball, I personally pledge to you my support for the restoration and renovation of the Johnson Building.

Brooker Creek Preserve should be open to dogs

After driving for over an hour recently in heavy traffic, I pulled into the gate at Brooker Creek Preserve only to find it closed. I couldn't believe it. Why close on a Tuesday? All we wanted to do was take a look at the trail and drive back on the roadway to check out nature.

Also, we had our toy poodle with us and saw that even if it was open, dogs are not allowed. Horses and every other animal on the planet that might want to wander in and make the preserve their home can. But no dogs?

We take very good care of our pup. He is like a child to us. We pick up after him. He stays on a leash. But in the vast acreage of Brooker Creek Preserve that belongs to all of us Pinellas County taxpayers, no dogs. Shame on them.

[Last modified January 23, 2006, 00:59:12]