Their street now far more than an address

It started out as a community improvement project, but to the families there, something else happened along the way.

By JON WILSON

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 4, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- It was a very grown-up project, almost certain to make youngsters tune out.

But Shirley Gipson's grandchildren liked seeing their block in 13th Street Heights take on a new look, and they liked the way a months-long remodeling project brought together their neighborhood's adults.

So Brandon Gipson, 14, Brennan Williams, 11, Brejon Fowler, 10, and Bria Miller, 8, got busy thinking up names for 12th Avenue S between 14th and 16th streets.

Hollywood Street. The Love Street. The Family Street. The Adventure Street. Sunshine Street.

"I just wanted to get them involved, too," said Shirley Gipson, who has lived on 12th Avenue since 1963.

The children's interest was an unforeseen spinoff of a Front Porch Florida effort designed to produce neighborhood changes people can see.

The younger generation's attitude mirrored that of the adults, many of whom cited getting to know their neighbors as being as rewarding as the remodeling.

"It's like one family," said Faye Jackson, a volunteer community organizer based at the Bartlett Park Resource Center. "They're so supportive of each other."

Front Porch is Gov. Jeb Bush's proposal to get neighborhoods involved in their own revitalization. About a dozen houses on 12th Avenue were chosen for the first "model block beautification project" because most of the residents are elderly and own their homes.

The project involved more than $100,000 in government funding and in-kind contributions. Part of the funding came through Project Impact, a state project coordinated through the regional planning council that bolstered the 12th Avenue houses against storm-force winds. Upgraded, strapped-down roofs, shutters and braced gable ends were among the storm-resistant measures houses received.

But work on the block went beyond that.

Rotted trees were taken out of yards. Weather stripping went in. Even such details as locking mailboxes, front porch lights and security lights were installed. Students from the University of South Florida, Campbell Park Elementary School and John Hopkins Middle School were asked to come up with landscaping plans.

The 12th Avenue residents began meeting in May, at first gathering in a vacant lot.

Since then, Jackson has met with the group more than 30 times, often at members' houses.

In a sense, 12th Avenue has become a neighborhood within a neighborhood.

During a meeting at Gipson's house two weeks ago, residents discussed starting a Crimewatch. They talked about a 16th Street S median they believe is awkwardly placed at 12th Avenue, making left turns dangerous.

Speeding motorists drew the most commentary, as is the case in many neighborhoods. Residents wonder whether a digital speed monitor might be placed on the avenue, or perhaps even devices such as speed bumps.

And signage to help give the avenue an identity was a hot topic. That's where the names Gipson's grandchildren suggested may get some use.

A block party will probably be scheduled when the project is finished later this year. It will be both a celebration of completion -- and another chance to socialize.

Betti Johnson is a Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council coordinator who oversaw her agency's involvement.

"It's rewarding when you get to know people. It gets to be very personal," Johnson said. "Usually I'm doing studies and we're doing things regionally, and you don't get down to a block basis."

When the group began meeting outside, it attracted attention from others in the 13th Street Heights neighborhood, which Jackson thinks was a good sign. She believes the model block effort can be replicated in other neighborhoods.

"This was definitely a learning process for all of us," Jackson said. "Due to all the activity on the block, there have been requests from many in the community to see an initiative such as this continue throughout the community."

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright