Buses get access to posh mall

After a negative public reaction, International Plaza's developer changes plans and seeks a stop.

By AMY HERDY

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 6, 2001

TAMPA -- After sharp negative reaction, the developer of International Plaza has decided to allow a bus stop at the upscale mall.

"We are meeting with HARTline to urge them to reconsider their previously approved plan and to have a bus stop on our ring road," wrote Bruce Heckman, vice president of developer Taubman Co., in a letter to city and county officials dated Sept. 5.

Until the arrangement can be worked out, Heckman wrote, International Plaza will have a shuttle service linking bus stops on the perimeter of the property to the mall itself. A previous plan had the nearest bus stop about a quarter-mile from the mall, and would have forced some bus riders to cross busy thoroughfares.

Sharon Dent, executive director of HARTline, or Hillsborough Area Regional Transit, said she was delighted with the decision and credited it to the outrage within the community about the situation.

"I think it's wonderful," Dent said. "It wasn't precisely what we asked for years ago, but it certainly is a much better position than we had before."

"They were blindsided," Dent said of Taubman officials. "They had no idea the community, and the press voicing their concerns, had such strong feelings about it."

Heckman could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Louis Miller, executive director of the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, which leases land to the mall, said he was heartened at the news.

"They responded? That's great," Miller said.

Miller, who also serves on the Metropolitan Planning Organization board, said the transportation board had been prepared to ask Taubman Co. to reconsider its position.

The mall opens Sept. 14 and is targeting upper-income shoppers with stores such as Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom. Mall officials initially said they were concerned about heavy buses damaging parking lot pavement, gobbling up parking spaces and creating possible liability for the mall.

Following growing criticism about the absence of bus stops, the mall's managers decided late Friday to start a free shuttle service between the mall and nearby bus stops.

An 18-passenger, handicapped-accessible van will shuttle continuously between one of two mall entrances on the south side and bus stops on both sides of two busy nearby intersections: West Shore and Boy Scout boulevards, and Lois Avenue and Spruce Street.

But on Wednesday, mall officials sent the letter to local officials saying they would go even further and allow a bus stop. Its location was not clear Wednesday.

- A note to readers: In June, the St. Petersburg Times signed a five-year marketing and sponsorship agreement with International Plaza. While the agreement makes the Times the "official newspaper" of International Plaza, it also contains provisions emphasizing that the business relationship will have no effect on the newspaper's coverage of the mall.

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