new tampa cares
Joel permalink | categories: development, neighborhood, politics, tampa, transportationby Joel @ 11:37 am
No one is going to confuse New Tampa with Haight-Ashbury. But I am now prepared to say that my neighbors are a bit more proactive than I first gave them credit. Maybe I’ll eat a little sourdough with my crow for effect.
When I headed for work on Monday morning I was faced with heavier than normal congestion on Bruce B Downs. Not aware of any special events, I figured traffic accident or cows (just because it’s fully suburbanized doesn’t mean the Downs is completely immune to some country antics - trust me, it’s happened). Lo and behold the hold up was a direct result of a small group of people with signs on the median between 42nd and Skipper.
Signs on Bruce B Downs usually mean condo sales or a new development, but these signs were political in nature. The signs were protesting, well, gridlock.
Well, actually it was a little of both. From a Tribune article:
…plans were forged for a third ad hoc committee of residents to battle the proposal to rezone one of the last undeveloped tracts in New Tampa for 1,500 condominiums.
That’s right - a third ad hoc committee. This has happened before, and successfully - once to prevent a Walgreen’s from being built, another to keep a billboard from the Downs.
I can’t say whether New Tampa residents simply did not have the energy to fight the endless previous developments in the area or if someone decided that once they reach 499,328 (number to be verified), it’s time for the brakes.
Cynicism aside, I was prepared to give them points for trying, but I didn’t have the time on Monday or Tuesday. I haven’t seen them out there since Tuesday; it may have been a short-lived demonstration.
If you read this and were a part of the activity out there, we’d certainly love a comment with further explanation of the situation.
As for those New Tampa residents that just drove on past: don’t let these good people down. Regardless of which way you feel about this issue, say something! At the very least you’ll give the county commissioners something to do, hopefully taking time away from their usual commission activities.
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