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Letter to the editor

Ward St. could close soon

beach park Some neighbors are upset with the council's vote.

By Brendan Watson Times Staff Writer
Published November 2, 2007

The controversy has centered on S Ward Street where a Goodyear tire business sits near the intersection at W KennedyBoulevard.

Less Porter of Porter Development wants to replace Goodyear with a multistory building, including a grocery store. To win their support, the association's board told Porter, he'd have to petition the city to close Ward between Cleveland Street and Kennedy.

Council members voted 4-3 last week to grant the request, and the ordinance comes before them for a second reading and final vote Thursday. The street could close in three to six months, Porter said.

Beach Park Homeowners Association President Emmy Purcell Reynolds hopes that it doesn't take that long to repair the rift that situation has caused between neighbors.

"I hope we can move forward and that the neighborhood will pull back together," Reynolds said.

But some who opposed the street's closing are still incensed. They point to four other streets that have been closed off at Cleveland and say their neighborhood is slowly being choked off.

Two residents, Peggy Curlin and Michelle Williers, contacted attorneys who they hoped could help keep Ward open.

"I'm sick and tired of people saying they represent me when they don't ask me my opinion, and when I tell them, they don't listen," said Curlin, whose write-in candidacy for the association board in October was unsuccessful.

"We need to do something so we have a voice," she said.

But Williers said she hasn't found an attorney to help the cause. She plans to address the City Council during the public hearing on Thursday.

Reynolds said the silver lining of this debate is that the board has heard from new voices. As a result, the association's board is creating a Web site and improving its e-mail database to better communicate with residents.

But she added the fact that the association officers were soundly re-elected in the midst of this debate sends a strong message:

"The majority of the association supports what the board is doing and supports our position on closing Ward," Reynolds said.

Brendan Watson can be reached at bwatson@sptimes.com or 226-3302.

.if you go

Final vote

The ordinance closing S Ward Street will come before the City Council for a second reading and final vote Thursday at 6 p.m., City Hall, 315 E Kennedy Blvd. The public will have an opportunity to speak.

[Last modified November 1, 2007, 07:17:41]