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Letter to the editor

Leaders home in on goals

By Times Staff Writer
Published January 4, 2008

Don't know about you, but we've tired of short-lived new year's resolutions about losing weight, going green and keeping in touch. So we asked a few community leaders to tell us their goals for Tampa neighborhoods in 2008. These are the resolutions that could have an impact on where we live. Check out what they had to say.

East Ybor Historic and Civic Association

Fran Costantino, president

Keep our crime rate down and our neighborhood clean, and fill our East Ybor Park with healthy and happy children. We resolve to strengthen our relationship with the Ada T. Payne Friends of the Urban Libraries so that we can bring lots of books to our children, and it is also our resolve to associate ourselves with Pastor Coverson of the House of Prayer Missionary Baptist Church so that our children will have a choice for some hope and spiritual guidance.

The park was truly a wonderful gift from Mayor Iorio to the children of East Ybor and we hope that our new year's resolution includes producing our third annual Spring Fling with the Easter Bunny, third National Night Out to fight crime, third Back to School Bash where we provide backpacks and school supplies, and our third annual Christmas in the Park with Santa and the Rough Riders and lots of food, toys and beads.

This is a heck of a new year's resolution, and with the continued help of our generous members, with hope we can provide these spectacular functions to our less fortunate and underprivileged children.

Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association

Susan Long, president

- Try desperately to fill a small part of the gap that has been left by the passing of Dr. Steve Gluckman, our chairman of historic preservation and a longtime board member. I know we can't replace him, but maybe a large group of people can fill some of the huge hole his passing has created.

- Increase membership and members' involvement.

- Improve our commercial corridors so we do not have to leave the neighborhood to go to dinner, shop, etc. Sangria's will help but it is only the beginning.

If I can make a small dent in these three goals, I will consider it a successful year.

Northeast Macfarlane Neighborhood and Crimewatch Association

Marge Hart, president

For 2008, I would like to effectuate neighborhood synergy. There is lots to be done and many issues that we need to be aware of. Working together, we can have a voice in what happens in our neighborhood and our town.

Historic Ybor Neighborhood Civic Association

Tony LaColla, president

HYNCA will continue building strong connections with numerous neighborhood organizations in order to create a safe, attractive, mixed-use neighborhood for all residents, businesses and visitors to enjoy.

We will work to ensure that redevelopment is sustainable and historic in nature. Above all, HYNCA is committed to ensuring that Ybor City is known not as an entertainment district, but as the National Landmark Historic District it really is.

Ybor City has faced many challenges in recent years, struggling through tough times. We are now on our way back and once again a destination for everyone. The year 2008 is looking bright, and we hope to see everyone from the Tampa Bay area in our unique and historic neighborhood. Ybor City is flavored to suit any taste.

East Tampa Business and Civic Association

Marc Hamburg, president

The East Tampa community is populated by a diverse and dedicated group that I believe is destined to achieve great things in 2008.

With the help of John Baumann and the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce Urban Enterprise Initiative Committee in a collaborative effort with the city of Tampa, we hosted a Tour of East Tampa. This tour exposed a whole new group of investors and developers to the exciting opportunities in East Tampa. I expect that the seeds planted on that tour will grow into new projects in 2008 and beyond.

In the new year we expect to see the completion of the Fair Oaks pond project and groundbreaking on a neighborhood commercial project on 34th Street. We hope to have the first- ever approved townhouse project for East Tampa, a revitalized hotel at 50th Street and I-4. We will push to improve the 22nd Street streetscape and road, sidewalk and lighting upgrades throughout our area.

We plan to work hard to get our business and resident community ever more engaged and involved in the coming year. We will be "Great in 2008!"

Hyde Park North Neighborhood Association

Enza Aiello, president

My vision for Hyde Park in 2008 is a New Hyde Park Village!

Please don't get me wrong. I have had a 25-year love affair with the old one. Over the years during the holidays, Hyde Park Village was filled with children riding ponies and telling Santa that they had been very, very good! It is the Santa my daughter has known all her life.

I want so much to walk through New Hyde Park Village and see the shops full of customers again. This New Hyde Park Village will have customers walking to it, not driving past it to go to International Plaza.

Folks are using mass transit to get to their jobs downtown, and stopping by the new specialty market to buy dinner on the way home. It's a place to meet for a meal, a glass of wine and some dessert and to watch the children play around the magnificent fountain. Toss a coin in, and make a wish for world peace. Today when I walk to that same fountain, I'll have my own wish, that someday my grandchildren can run around it and make a wish, too.

Davis Islands Civic Association

Lisa DeVitto, president

In 2008, the Davis Islands Civic Association resolves to maintain the character of our community as a safe, healthy and beautiful place to live.

We will work with the city to assure that the recreation trail for South Davis moves to completion. The trail will give a safer alternative for walkers, joggers, baby strollers, etc., who now have to choose between the street and the grass. There is currently no sidewalk on the length of South Davis, which is popular throughout the city for recreation.

Also on the list are continuing traffic-calming efforts, participating in the city's tree program, and improving our Web site. Volunteers are welcome. Contact us via www.davisislandscivic.com.

Civic Association of Port Tampa

Tom Vento, president

My new year's vision for our neighborhood includes seeing that new development is done in a thoughtful, sustainable manner addressing the impacts on transportation, infrastructure, livability, history and character of our neighborhood. Developments need to take into account the cumulative impacts of their projects. I'd like to see some new neighborhood-serving businesses that give the opportunity to live and work in the neighborhood and help keep some traffic localized.

Continued progress on upgrades to the Kwane Doster Recreation Center and to the Spanish American War Memorial Park are part of the vision.

I believe we'll see our community spirit of cooperation and respect continue to grow.

Tampa Downtown Partnership

Christine Burdick, president

The year 2008 will be downtown Tampa's first year of at least three to shine! With construction of at least two new museums, at least two new parks, new "way-finding" signs, the first new office building in more than a decade, an exciting schedule of performances at both the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and St. Pete Times Forum, at least two giant sports events (the Women's Final Four and the NCAA men's basketball first and second rounds) at the Times Forum, new retailers, restaurants and residents, our resolution is that 2008 is the year that Tampa Bay will discover the treasure that is downtown Tampa.

As for changes, we hope for more efficient and affordable ways than conventional automobiles to get around in downtown Tampa - expanded trolley and streetcar service, alternative vehicle transportation and improved "walkability."

Channel District

Chris Smith, vice president of public policy with the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce

As Channelside goes, we're looking at the broader overall business and economic picture for the Tampa and Hillsborough County area. In a general sense, we'd love to see the continued success of businesses here. The year 2008 looks like it's finally the year we will start seeing the net benefit of Channelside's growth.

When I leave the office at night, it's pretty cool that you are seeing lights on up and down the new condo towers. People are coming home from work and are sitting out on their decks. People are actually living there. I'll just be glad when the concrete dust stops falling into the parking garage and on my car.

Bayshore Gardens Neighborhood Association

Vicki Pollyea, president

As our neighborhood abuts Bayshore Boulevard - Tampa's unique and valued park, road and newly recognized scenic corridor and regional attractor - we look forward to working with the city, the owners of the stately homes and the developers to enact overlay guidelines to preserve this treasure.

Overlays are a higher standard of design guidelines. By getting these standards codified, we will ensure that Bayshore's vistas, sweeping lawns, sidewalks and other unique attributes are protected for future generations.

Bayshore Gardens is unique in the diversity of housing options - from 1920s apartments and bungalows to newer townhomes and the high-rises along Bayshore. This blend of housing types also facilitates a blend of economic diversity. Protecting the few remaining blocks of historic single-family homes will continue to be a goal for the board and many residents.

Having more neighbors willing to share the load would, of course, be a great fulfillment of the dreams of the dedicated board of directors, who all agree that this little neighborhood is worth protecting.

[Last modified January 4, 2008, 07:06:21]