City Council approves Hyde Park rezoning

By Times Staff Writer
Published December 21, 2007

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TAMPA

The return of an absent City Council member brought an end to the waiting on Thursday as officials voted 4-2 to approve a controversial rezoning for the $100-million redevelopment of historic Hyde Park Village.

Plans include two condo towers and 90,000 square feet of retail and office space.

The decision came after the council was unable to reach a four-vote majority following six hours of public debate at the first hearing on Dec. 13. Council members Tom Scott, Gwen Miller and Joseph Caetano voted yes, and Linda Saul-Sena and Mary Mulhern voted no. John Dingfelder recused himself from the vote because his law office is in Hyde Park, posing a possible conflict of interest, and Charlie Miranda was absent because of health reasons.

SEMINOLE

R. Warren Andrews, Largo ex-mayor, dies

R. Warren Andrews, who served as Largo's mayor from 1973 to 1979, died early Thursday (Dec. 20, 2007) under the care of Hospice House Woodside. He was 87.

Although Mr. Andrews left office almost three decades ago, former Mayor Bob Jackson said Andrews' influence still lives on.

"He did an awful lot for the community," said Jackson, 74, who called Mr. Andrews his mentor. "He always rose to the occasion."

Mr. Andrews' wife Caroldine, 85, said her husband of 65 years suffered a stroke about two weeks ago.

Funeral services are set for 4 p.m. Sunday at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Largo. Public visitation will precede the service by an hour. Moss-Feaster Funeral Home Serenity Gardens Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.