Page 10 - Florida Sentinel 4-19-16 Edition

Local
Unrelated Fires Destroy Church And Home
Community Center Sucker-Punched By Interstate Plan Saved By State Legislators
This is what’s left of a house that was being used as the home for Celestial Church of Christ.
At the press conference last week were from left: Lena Young- Green, State Rep. Ed Narain, Commissioner Les Miller, and State Senator Tom Lee, who is also Appropriations Chair for the Florida Senate. (Photo by BRUNSON)
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Staff Writer
It isn’t a question of if an interstate improvement proj- ect will displace the Tampa Heights Junior Civic Associa- tion, but when.
While the Florida Depart- ment of Transportation has yet to set a date to continue the project, the fate of the building that houses the civic association appears to be se- cure, thanks to a $1.2 million appropriation in the 2016- 2017 budget dedicated to its relocation.
State Rep. Ed Narain, state Sen. Tom Lee, R- Brandon, and Hillsborough County Commissioner Les Miller joined civic associa- tion leader Lena Young- Green at a press conference last week to talk about the funding and the building’s fu- ture.
What’s not certain is ex- actly where the building will be moved, although it’s ex- pected to stay within close range of its current location, said Rep. Narain.
It’s critical that the build- ing – a former church that’s more than 100 years old – and the youth programs it supports remain in the area, he said.
“We’re talking about mov- ing it a block or two blocks,” Rep. Narain said in a tele- phone interview.
Residents, community ac- tivists, and business owners are opposed to a DOT road project that would widen I- 275 and add express toll
lanes, saying it’s unnecessary and would change drastically the historic neighborhood.
Additionally, the $750,000 renovation project that would outfit the civic as- sociation building with a new roof, new flooring, and elec- trical and mechanical sys- tems currently is underway.
Expanding the interstate at the expense of displacing longtime residents and cul- tural institutions isn’t the right solution to the back-ups on the highway, Mrs. Green said.
“It was a time, 20 or 30 years ago, when everyone was running from the urban area,” she said.
Today, because of efforts of those who really believe in the neighborhood and worked to improve condi- tions, people are again at- tracted to living and setting up business in Tampa Heights, she said.
“There’s a change in the air...more roads is not the so- lution,” she said.
In a separate interview,
Commissioner Miller
concurred.
“These projects are divid-
ing neighborhoods,” he said. “This building brings pro- grams that are much- needed.”
At the press conference, Commissioner Miller said he’s committed to find money in the county’s budget to con- tinue the renovation and preservation of the building.
“It’s too important,” he said.
This home on 29th Street and 18th Avenue was destroyed by a fire where one occupants was able to es- cape.
Tampa Fire Rescue per- sonnel found themselves re-
sponding to a pair of fires within blocks of each other
early Monday.
Firefighters were called
out to the Celestial Church of Christ, 2802 North 34th Street, at 1:45 a.m.
When units arrived, they found the house converted to a church building fully en- gulfed in flames.
At 5:31 a.m., units were called back out to attend to some hot spots before the fire was completely extinguished.
Tampa Fire Rescue in- spectors said the fire was likely caused by an electrical malfunction.
There were no injuries, but the 1,400-square-foot wood- frame building sustained ex- tensive damage.
Just before 7 a.m., Tampa Fire Rescue received a call of another fire at 2716 North 29th Street, a few blocks west of the church fire.
When units arrived, they found the house 50% en- gulfed in flames, and said the fire spread fast across the house.
A neighbor alerted fire- fighters that a man was in- side the home. He managed to make it to a window where firefighters helped him es- cape. He was taken to a local hospital and is reported to be in critical condition.
Officials said two dogs were also rescued from the home.
PAGE 10 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016