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Palm Harbor Downtown Looking For A Year Of Growth

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: January 3, 2009

PALM HARBOR - In 2009 Palm Harbor promises to be the little unincorporated area that could. Community leaders plan to continue striving to incorporate into a city and the area is likely to undergo further changes as a result of growth.

The start of the New Year will see the opening of a remodeled Palm Harbor Library. It features a more spacious design and separate areas devoted to teens, younger children, business and reference.

On the political front, a coalition of residents and business people promise to make a second attempt to persuade the Legislature to allow voters to decide whether they want to create the city of Palm Harbor. Lawmakers refused to place the incorporation issue on their agenda during the 2008 legislative session.

Local supporters recently had a new feasibility study conducted and will try again in 2009 to get a referendum on the ballot. This time, however, they will leave the East Lake area out of the incorporation discussion.

Realignment of west Florida Avenue, at Alt. 19, has begun. The roadwork should be concluded in 2009, providing motorists with a safer route across Alt. 19, to Pop Stansell Park.

Old Palm Harbor Main Street, the group that oversees the historic downtown district, will continue to ramp up the area's cultural opportunities. This year, the Main Street group initiated art exhibitions at Harbor Hall. The program proved popular and will continue.

The Main Street organization, in conjunction with the Palm Harbor Historical Society, will kick off a Sunday Farmer's Market. It will be held on grounds of the North Pinellas Historical Museum, at the corner of Curlew and Belcher roads, starting Jan. 11.

In the coming year, downtown Palm Harbor will continue to present a growing variety of festivals along Florida Avenue.

The Taste of Palm Harbor will be held in February this year rather than October. The Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce returned its Fine Art Show downtown, after a few years at the Tarpon Springs Campus of St. Petersburg College.

Parrot Head Day, Bike Fest and St. Patrick's Day events promise to keep Florida Avenue hopping with events.

Mark Schantz can be reached at 727-915-1075 or mschantz@suncoastnews.com.

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