Sidewalks set for Skyview

By Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 11, 2000

PINELLAS PARK -- Residents in Skyview Terrace recently got reclaimed water lines, and now some of them will be getting sidewalks. It's part of Pinellas Park's annual sidewalk program.

Each year the city spends $80,000 to build sidewalks in some portion of Pinellas Park. The idea is to eventually have a sidewalk at least on one side of every street in the city, beginning with residential neighborhoods.

Skyview Terrace was chosen this year because the neighborhood has no sidewalks, and the recent installation of reclaimed water lines makes this a good time to put in sidewalks, said Scott Pinheiro, engineering services director.

Construction should begin in mid to late August and take about 60 days.

Home for mentally ill men cannot change its zoning

PINELLAS PARK -- City Council members unanimously turned down a request to rezone property housing a residential program for 39 paranoid schizophrenic men.

The Country Inn has been in business at 7600 78th Ave. N at least since the mid 1980s. It was annexed into Pinellas Park in the late '80s but was zoned farmland. The Country Inn stayed open because it had been a residential treatment program before the annexation.

New owners purchased the property this year and asked the city to rezone it institutional to reflect the actual use of the property. But neighbors complained, saying such a change could harm their residential property values. The council agreed Thursday, saying the area is in flux with many new businesses and developments planned. It was not clear, council members said, that zoning the land institutional would be best for the property.

The council's decision will not affect the operation of the Country Inn.

Broderick Park upgrades will happen later this year

PINELLAS PARK -- Neighbors will be getting their tennis court and walking trail when Broderick Park is renovated later this year.

Pinellas Park council members unanimously agreed Thursday to spend about $2.2-million for the project, which includes a 10,000-square-foot recreation center with rooms for games, exercise equipment, arts and crafts. Other additions include basketball and sand volleyball courts.

The future of the tennis courts and walking/roller skating trail came into doubt last month after Pinellas Park officials opened the bids for the project. The lowest bid of $2.5-million was about $500,000 more than the budgeted amount of $1.9-million.

Much of the increased cost was to make sure the recreation center would withstand a severe hurricane. Officials want to use the center, 6755 62nd St. N, as an emergency hurricane shelter for employees and their families.

Council members demanded city employees cut the price back until it was no more than 10 percent above the budgeted amount. But doing so meant that the tennis court and walking trail would have to be eliminated or postponed until later.

In the end, council members decided not to make such drastic cuts and agreed to build the park with the tennis court and walking trail.

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