FloridaFuture
August 19th, 2007, 04:16 AM
Iorio Discusses East Tampa Projects
By KATHY STEELE, The Tampa Tribune
Published: August 18, 2007
EAST TAMPA - When the city paved 80 streets in Grant Park, residents living on about five blocks within the county missed out.
The city is now pursuing moving those residents into the city limits. On Oct. 1, at the Grant Park Civic Association's monthly meeting, residents can discuss the pros and cons of annexation.
Mayor Pam Iorio announced the proposal Tuesday during her fourth annual State of East Tampa address to the East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership. More than 80 people attended the event at the Cyrus Greene Community Center, 2101 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
'If it looks like a majority wants it, we'll hold a referendum,' Iorio said. 'Ultimately, it's up to the people in the community.'
Association President Ralph Johnson said he broached the subject with Iorio about a year ago and believes most people would favor annexation.
Iorio touched on several brick and mortar projects finished or nearly finished in 2007, as well as plans for next year's $6.3 million budget for the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Area. A portion of taxes collected within the community, bordered by Interstates 275 and 4, Hillsborough Avenue and the city limits, must be reinvested there.
Despite a property tax rollback and other budget cuts, East Tampa's 2008 reinvestment budget is about 17 percent higher than 2007, Iorio said.
The mayor's accomplishment list for 2007 includes the District 3 police headquarters at 22nd Street and 31st Avenue, across from Belmont Heights Estates. The city's East Tampa development team has relocated from Nebraska Avenue to the new headquarters, and the building will be open to community meetings.
An open house will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.
The station will bring residents and police together in a community and take some of 'the mystery out of police officers,' Iorio said. 'We think a lot of good can come out of the facility.'
Other projects completed in 2007 include: resurfacing and landscaping Lake Avenue from 22nd to 29th streets; opening affordable rental apartments at Park Terrace on 43rd Street and Brandywine Apartments on 40th Street; and the purchase of Gene's Bar on 22nd for redevelopment.
About $800,000 is set aside in 2008 for land purchases to spur development.
'One of the difficulties of East Tampa, there is not large acreage of undeveloped land,' Iorio said.
Some residents recently raised concerns that major corridors such as 22nd and 34th streets are being neglected. Iorio said 22nd should be an East Tampa gateway.
'It really needs to look a lot better and be something special, so we're going to work on a plan,' she said. 'I think that's going to be in our future in the next two years.'
Iorio acknowledged some projects have not happened as quickly as she hoped, including development of a strategic plan for East Tampa and the makeover of the Fair Oaks retention pond.
A community workshop for the strategic plan, hosted by consultants from URS Corp., will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the community center. Work on the Fair Oaks pond is slated to begin in the next weeks.
Businessman Leerone Benjamin asked Iorio about opportunities for East Tampa businesses during the 2009 Super Bowl in Tampa.
'We'd like to be at the table when that happens,' Benjamin said. 'We'd like to see our businesses involved.'
Iorio liked the idea and suggested the partnership form a Super Bowl subcommittee to work with the city.
Reporter Kathy Steele can be reached at (813) 835-2103 or ksteele@tampatrib.com.
http://southtampa2.tbo.com/content/2007/aug/18/st-iorio-discusses-east-tampa-projects/?news
By KATHY STEELE, The Tampa Tribune
Published: August 18, 2007
EAST TAMPA - When the city paved 80 streets in Grant Park, residents living on about five blocks within the county missed out.
The city is now pursuing moving those residents into the city limits. On Oct. 1, at the Grant Park Civic Association's monthly meeting, residents can discuss the pros and cons of annexation.
Mayor Pam Iorio announced the proposal Tuesday during her fourth annual State of East Tampa address to the East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership. More than 80 people attended the event at the Cyrus Greene Community Center, 2101 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
'If it looks like a majority wants it, we'll hold a referendum,' Iorio said. 'Ultimately, it's up to the people in the community.'
Association President Ralph Johnson said he broached the subject with Iorio about a year ago and believes most people would favor annexation.
Iorio touched on several brick and mortar projects finished or nearly finished in 2007, as well as plans for next year's $6.3 million budget for the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Area. A portion of taxes collected within the community, bordered by Interstates 275 and 4, Hillsborough Avenue and the city limits, must be reinvested there.
Despite a property tax rollback and other budget cuts, East Tampa's 2008 reinvestment budget is about 17 percent higher than 2007, Iorio said.
The mayor's accomplishment list for 2007 includes the District 3 police headquarters at 22nd Street and 31st Avenue, across from Belmont Heights Estates. The city's East Tampa development team has relocated from Nebraska Avenue to the new headquarters, and the building will be open to community meetings.
An open house will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.
The station will bring residents and police together in a community and take some of 'the mystery out of police officers,' Iorio said. 'We think a lot of good can come out of the facility.'
Other projects completed in 2007 include: resurfacing and landscaping Lake Avenue from 22nd to 29th streets; opening affordable rental apartments at Park Terrace on 43rd Street and Brandywine Apartments on 40th Street; and the purchase of Gene's Bar on 22nd for redevelopment.
About $800,000 is set aside in 2008 for land purchases to spur development.
'One of the difficulties of East Tampa, there is not large acreage of undeveloped land,' Iorio said.
Some residents recently raised concerns that major corridors such as 22nd and 34th streets are being neglected. Iorio said 22nd should be an East Tampa gateway.
'It really needs to look a lot better and be something special, so we're going to work on a plan,' she said. 'I think that's going to be in our future in the next two years.'
Iorio acknowledged some projects have not happened as quickly as she hoped, including development of a strategic plan for East Tampa and the makeover of the Fair Oaks retention pond.
A community workshop for the strategic plan, hosted by consultants from URS Corp., will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the community center. Work on the Fair Oaks pond is slated to begin in the next weeks.
Businessman Leerone Benjamin asked Iorio about opportunities for East Tampa businesses during the 2009 Super Bowl in Tampa.
'We'd like to be at the table when that happens,' Benjamin said. 'We'd like to see our businesses involved.'
Iorio liked the idea and suggested the partnership form a Super Bowl subcommittee to work with the city.
Reporter Kathy Steele can be reached at (813) 835-2103 or ksteele@tampatrib.com.
http://southtampa2.tbo.com/content/2007/aug/18/st-iorio-discusses-east-tampa-projects/?news