Page 7 - Florida Sentinel 9-4-18

Local
Author Chronicles Story Of North Boulevard Homes
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
A few years ago, Dr. Hazel Har- vey decided to write about the place she spent her childhood. She has fond memories of growing up in the North Boulevard Homes, a public housing complex.
After making her decision, she set about committing her thoughts and ideas to paper. She never thought the project would take as long as it did. But, two years and four months later, “The Story of North Boulevard Homes 1937-2017,” is complete.
Dr. Harvey said she is sharing au- thorship with her son, Dr. Maurice Harvey because he was responsible for handling the technology required for its completion.
She said this is not her first book, but it is the first of this size. It includes photographs and showcases the mem- ories of about 125 former residents.
Dr. Harvey said “The Story of North Boulevard Homes 1937- 2017,” “Offers a sense of richness of the Black residents who were a part of the community of Blacks that once lived in the North Boulevard Homes. It is a labor of scholarship, life and love.”
She remembers families helping each other and neighbors not minding lending a helping hand to another.
After becoming widowed, her mother was suddenly transformed into a single parent and placed in a difficult
DR. HAZEL HARVEY
financial situation. However, Dr. Harvey enjoyed her childhood and never knew of the “stigma” placed on living in public housing. Her memories are of a positive place growing up with the residents working towards self suf- ficiently.
As a result of her upbringing, Dr. Harvey has become a respected mem- ber of the community, an educator, community activist, and “the author of this remarkable history of the people who left public housing and did many significant things in their lives for their families and our entire community,” she said.
DR. MAURICE HARVEY
History Of Public Housing
In 1937, the Tampa Housing Au- thority was incorporated. That same year, the organization began construc- tion on a government subsidized pub- lic housing complex.
The structure was named the North Boulevard Homes and covered several blocks in West Tampa. It replaced the substandard shotgun houses in the area known as Roberts City.
It contained 670 units, ranging from 1 to 5 bedrooms and was the first of its kind to be built in Tampa. The
complex has since been demolished and new buildings will stand in its place.
About The Authors
Dr. Hazel S. Harvey was the first to integrate the School system at the instructional and Supervisor Level. Presently, she serves as a Commis- sioner of the Tampa Housing Author- ity and has served as chairperson of the board. Dr. Harvey worked as an ad- junct professor at Nova University and the University of South Florida as an intern supervisor. She serves as a Di- rector of ENCORE which is a mixed housing developed. The writer is a member of the Tampa Alumni Chapter of Links Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, Tampa Tuskegee Alumni Association and for- mer member of the Board of Girl Scouts West Central Florida Suncoast Scouts.
Dr. Maurice R. Harvey, Sr., is currently a faculty member with the Donald R. Tapia, School of Business, Graduate Business Studies, at Saint Leo University.
In addition, presently working with the University of South Florida, Insti- tute on Black Life and the Center for Africa and the Diaspora School of In- terdisciplinary Global Studies in cap- turing the history of Black neighborhoods in Hillsborough County.
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