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City Asked To Help Fix Up, Promote Sponge Docks
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Published: July 19, 2008
TARPON SPIRNGS - Members of the Sponge Docks Merchants Association told city officials the municipality needs to focus on its main tourist area that has started to look sad and shabby.
At Tuesday night's City Commission meeting, they pleaded with the city to form a committee and work with the Merchant's Association in a unified effort to restore the docks to its former grandeur.
We have to stop "a downhill roll" that finds some shops closing and others looking shabby, said Jim Skaroulis, owner of the Sponge Factory and officer with the Sponge Docks Merchants Association.
Visitors to the docks should not find vacant shops when they visit during next winter's tourist season, he said.
The city has allowed the Sponge Docks to become shabby, tired and worn-looking, said David Gauchman, another Merchants Association official, who owns the Five Fish shop at the Sponge Exchange.
He added he would like to see streets at the docks cleaned and the cultural district landscaped with shade trees.
Public restrooms at the Sponge Docks are shameful and unattractive, he added.
Empty storefronts do not encourage tourists to visit, he added.
He asked why the city is not encouraging investors, small business and other merchants to fill store vacancies.
The city needs to encourage more entertainment and special events at the Sponge Docks, he said.
Gauchman and Skaroulis came to Tuesday night's City Commission meeting to ask commissioners to hold a work session and form a committee to work Sponge Dock revitalization.
They ask:
•What happened to the city's plan to provide cultural music that blends in with the Hellenic character of the district over loadspeakers?
•Why can't the city have attractive trashcans at the docks?
•Whatever happened to sponge auctions at the docks, that at one time were a tourist attraction?
•Is the city looking into acquiring grants to help improve the docks and foster tourism?
Interim City Manager Mark LeCouris said he is forming committees to work with merchants groups at both the docks and downtown.
Commissioner Chris Alahouzos liked the idea of the city forming a committee to help improve the docks.
Commissioner Susan Slattery has been a vocal proponent of economic redevelopment of the city's commercial areas. At several commission meetings, she said the city needs to focus on economic development to attract new investors and shop keepers.
Mayor Beverley Billiris, who owns a gift shop and St. Nicholas tour boat at the docks, said she favors the city working with merchants.
However, she added, assistance has to be a two-way street. Several years ago when the city promoted a building facade improvement program at the docks, less than a handful of business people showed interest in applying for the city's matching grants.
Mark Schantz can be reached at 727-815-1075 or mschantz@suncoastnews.com.
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