Page 9 - Florida Sentinel 10-16-15 Edition

Local
Progress Continues On Relocation Of Presbyterian Village Residents
Although all of the residents haven’t left yet, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has already started the next phase of the I-275 expansion project that will impact Tampa Presbyterian Village Apartments on North Boule- vard and Main Street.
According to FDOT officials, the complex is 60% vacant, and they will not begin the demoli- tion of any units until the entire complex has been relocated.
West Tampa residents who live close to the complex are also concerned about the future of the Oakhurst Square Apartments just south of the Presbyterian Village units.
The new owners of that complex, the Soho Group, has assured residents in the area and liv- ing at the complex that they have no radical plans to relocate any residents at this time, but they are still planning to completely renovate the com- plex.
The West Riverfront Neighborhood Associa- tion is concerned about a larger invasion of stu- dents from the University of Tampa as rental units in the area going as far west as Armenia Av- enue, are now being occupied by the students.
The West Riverfront group, and other com- munity-based organizations, are monitoring the project at the Oakhurst Square, and are also in contact with officials from the University of Tampa to keep up with the influx of students into the community.
Residents in the area said they are most con- cerned about the weeks when the students are on break and tend to stage parties at some of the rental properties.
“We’ve heard complaints about loud music, too much traffic, public urination, trash on the
DEE JACKSON
streets, and rudeness to the homeowners in the area,” said Dee Jackson, Vice President of the West Tampa Alliance Group.
“We take all of these things seriously, and we will work closely with the West Riverfront group and other organizations to make sure the resi- dents, especially the retired residents, aren’t dis- turbed or their property destroyed by these rampaging students.”
As far as the Presbyterian Village area is con- cerned, Jackson said his group wants to make sure that FDOT doesn’t hand the unused prop- erty over to a private developer without allowing the residents to have a voice.
“The issue of the Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park isn’t over, because we still would like to see a senior center become part of the project. There are also other features we’d like to see at the park, so it’s important that residents understand the last meeting held at Blake High School wasn’t the final stamp of approval on the project.”
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 9-A