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By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 10, 2001
LEALMAN -- Residents who attended the Lealman Revitalization Kickoff meeting in November were asked to answer four questions about living in the area. Here are the questions and some of their answers.
Q. Why did you choose to live or operate a business in Lealman?
A. Good people, friendly atmosphere, working community, born in the area, affordable housing, code enforcement is less restrictive than in cities, beautiful and quiet, well-kept neighborhood, safe area (refers to 20 or 30 years ago, when they first moved to the area), close to shopping and beaches, high elevation.
Q. What do you see as the Lealman community's greatest assets?
A. The people, affordable housing, Joe's Creek, beautiful trees, central to everything.
Q. What are the biggest challenges facing Lealman?
A. Speeding cars, non-responsiveness by Sheriff's Office, drugs, prostitution, no one listens to residents, 18-wheelers parked in neighborhoods, animal control needed, no place for kids to play, getting kids off streets at night, no supervised activities for youths, Lealman Park deteriorating, trash on properties, dumping at Joe's Creek, lack of and inconsistent code enforcement, no sidewalks, open ditches, railroad crossing at 58th Avenue needs repair, no street lights, streets torn up by county vehicles need to be repaired, more unified trash pickup needed, area needs recycling center, lack of local organization, no grocery store within walking distance, tax base becoming eroded by annexations.
Q. What changes would make Lealman a better place to live or operate a business?
A. Community center, activities for kids, additional sidewalks, better drainage, covered ditches, receive more concerns, and a fire station at Lealman Park.