Neighborhood politics seem to be the most contentious, huh?
For ten years or so, the Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association wanted to form a separate (but related) not-for-profit group in order to solicit donations for neighborhood improvements. But they never took the necessary steps to do so.
Another group came along, jumped through those necessary hoops, and started the Seminole Heights Foundation.
But this group used to be on the board of the aforementioned OSHNA, and so the current leaders of OSHNA accused SHF of stealing the idea. OSHNA even hired a lawyer to send ‘em a threatening letter.
And the blogs were on fire.
The three Seminole Heights neighborhoods (OSHNA, the South Seminole Heights Civic Association, and the Southeast Seminole Heights Civic Association [we may as well include the Business Guild of Seminole Heights]) seem to be some of the most connected neighborhoods, with several blogs and websites set up to help residents communicate. In fact, the original Seminole Heights Blog was one of the earliest blogs dedicated to neighborhood news, and it was done so well, that it now seems as if everyone in Seminole Heights has at least one blog.
And where there are blogs, there are opinions. Life in Seminole Heights addresses the SHF a couple times, as does the Official Unofficial Seminole Heights Blog (search for “foundation”). Don’t skip the comments – that’s where you will find the best conversations.
Anyway, OSHNA held a meeting on Tuesday where they discussed their next steps, and it seems as if the Great Foundation Tiff of 2009 may be over.
But not to worry. There’s another, uh, “discussion” looming.
Hampton Terrace (an area within OSHNA) is under consideration to become a historic district, but not all Hampton Terrace residents are in agreement, and some are talking about seceding from OSHNA.
Look for an uptick in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome over there.
Richard
1 year ago
I did not read the other posts, but it seems like stealing concepts is all anyone does anymore. How can OSHNA do much if this non profit group wasn’t trademarked or even established yet?
Denis Baldwin
1 year ago
I wish Ybor would have that kind of blog community. You’d think with a lot of hipsters around, it would happen… but I guess not.
Droopy
1 year ago
This was intersting this morning when I read it in the Tribune. Now not so much.
Meredith
1 year ago
I was involved with a Tampa neighborhood association that was primarily dormant and sparked up only when conditions grew unbearable (traffic, development). It was difficult to get people involved in activities unless they were pissed off. I can’t imagine that splintering off into competing neighborhood groups is going to help Seminole Heights, financially or otherwise. I’m guessing that when things settle down, groups will wither and die, and eventually someone will say, “Hey, let’s combine for greater impact,” and they’ll be back to one main entity again. Maybe I’m wrong and Seminole Heights people will stay motivated — that would be great — but I think it might all blow over within a year.
GKR
1 year ago
“Seminole Heights residents in uproar over neighborhood improvement foundation”
http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/article996776.ece