Page 8 - 6-19-15 Friday's Edition

Local
Community Center Threatened By Interstate Project
Meeting Scheduled To Discuss The Transformation Of West Tampa
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
On Monday, June 29th, a meeting will be held at the West Tampa Library at 12:30 p. m. The meeting is being held to discuss the transformation of West Tampa and what the community will look like in the next 3-to-5 years.
The public is invited to come out and hear about up- dates on projects with the Re- development of North Boulevard Homes, West Tampa Community Redevelop- ment Plan, Randy Goers, City of Tampa Urban Planning Coordinator on Presbyterian Village and other projects, and the City of Tampa Annual Re- port
“We need to look at what resources we currently have, and what the priorities are, es- pecially with the CRA coming,” said West Tampa CDC Eco- nomic Development Manager, Michael Randolph.
“Before any plans are made, we first have to deal with the social issues of West Tampa. The CRA is not going to resolve all the problems in West Tampa, but it will be a great place to start.”
Randolph said people liv- ing on fixed or low incomes in West Tampa may soon find themselves without a place to
MICHAEL RANDOLPH
call home, because they will be priced out of the area.
“That’s why it’s important we help stabilize these resi- dents so they can stay and make a difference.
“We need jobs and a for- mula to direct people into be- coming property and business owners.”
Randolph said in the West Tampa CDC’s plan, they want to focus on residents be- coming self sufficient, and cre- ating a financial base to make that happen.
“Our strategic plan is part of the city’s overall plan and that means our CDC will be in a position of gaining a lot of revenue.
“We need a substance abuse program in West Tampa, and we’re sending out a mes- sage to developers that a new day has come for the residents of West Tampa, and a radical approach is not going to be ac- cepted.”
LENA YOUNG-GREEN
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
As part of its Interstate Ex- pansion Project, in 2006 the Florida Department of Trans- portation (FDOT) bought property on Palm Avenue that was formerly known as Faith Temple Church.
Because of its historic des- ignation, the church couldn’t be demolished, but it has re- mained vacant for decades and had become a haven for home- less people and others.
Ms. Lena Young-Green, Board President of the Tampa Heights Junior Civic Associa- tion, said the building had be- come an eyesore, but they thought it would be a great place to create a community center.
“We needed a place for our kids and we went to FDOT. In 2008, we started working to get the building from FDOT and it took two years for the city and FDOT to donate it to us.
“In taking over the build- ing, we had to sign an agree- ment that we understood that
Tampa Heights Youth Community Center
in 20 years or more, more work was going to be done on the interstate, and the building would have to be vacated. They told us we would get a 60-day notice before we had to leave.”
Ms. Young-Green said in January 2010, they started working to renovate the build- ing and it’s just about ready to open.
“We thought the FDOT plan was a 20-year plan, and in that time span, we could get the kids in there and turn it into a community center.
“Now suddenly, we found out about an express lane proj- ect.”
Ms. Young-Green said she attended a workshop in January of this year and asked about the express lane project.
“We thought we had plenty of time, but now we’re hearing they are combining their 20- year plan with their current projects.
“Our community center is really important, and once again, we don’t have a place for our kids to go. When does
FDOT stop? They’ve already destroyed southern Tampa Heights and our urban core. We need to say enough is enough and do what we need to do to stop this process.”
Ms. Young-Green said no one knows at what point FDOT will stop doing this, and everyone impacted by this ex- pansion project needs to join hands and put pressure on FDOT to stop tearing our urban core apart.
“This could be a civil rights issue as well as a human rights issue. We have to join with our elected officials to at least put up a fight.
“Right now, the status of the community center is un- certain, and FDOT said they will work with us.”
The City Council is sup- porting the Tampa Heights community in opposing the $2.5 billion project that will add express toll lanes to Inter- states 275 and 4 in an effort to bring an end to decades of gridlock through the down- town corridor.
Ms. Young-Green and other Tampa Heights residents have asked city attorneys to ex- plore filing a Title VI com- plaint with the Federal Highway Administration, ar- guing the project would harm a mainly minority population living in the area. Title VI pro- hibits discrimination in pro- grams that receive federal funding.
PAGE 8-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015