TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Suncoast Pinellas News

Tarpon to study buying land for parking

ADVERTISEMENT

BY MARK SCHANTZ

THE SUNCOAST NEWS

Published: October 31, 2009

TARPON SPRINGS - Is adding a small parking lot along Tarpon Avenue the answer to downtown's woes?

For a second time, several downtown property owners attended last week's City Commission meeting to ask the city to purchase or even use eminent domain to acquire two parcels in the middle of Tarpon Avenue for additional parking. Several months ago they made the same request.

The properties, an empty lot and building next to Faklis' Department Store, have been on and off the market for years.

John Tarapani, owner of several properties along Tarpon Avenue, said acquisition of the property would complete a downtown parking plan started 10 years ago when the city constructed a municipal lot on Orange Street. The City Commission decided not to buy the Tarpon Avenue parcels when the Orange Street parcels were purchased after the city was told they would be developed.
Property owners foresee the Orange Street parking lot linked to the Tarpon Avenue parcels through an alley. It would be landscaped with benches.

Under one plan, the building that houses Antiques Forever, at 143 E. Tarpon Ave., would be demolished to provide room for handicapped parking, a pass-through for motorists and green space.

Doubt was cast on that plan Tuesday after a would-be downtown retailer told commissioners he has his eye on the Antiques Forever building. He wants to open an ice cream shop, Scott Robinson said.

If that is the case, why would the city want to buy and raze a commercial structure and take it off the municipal property tax roll, Commissioners wondered.

Mayor Beverley Billiris said the city manager should report back to the commission on feasibility of the city acquiring the property. Everyone is receiving mixed signals about its availability and price, she said.

Several months ago the Garden Fairies gardening group and Tarpon Springs Chamber of Commerce offered to spruce up the vacant lot into a garden with benches that would be locked at night to prevent vagrants from sleeping there. That project never got off the ground. Sue Thomas, president and chief operating officer of the Tarpon Springs Chamber of Commerce, would only say "no good deed goes unpunished." She said she even had artists willing to paint a mural to adorn an exterior wall. She is now thinking of suggesting the mural just be placed somewhere else.

Peter Dalacos said downtown needs much more than this parking area if it is going to be revitalized. He said building facades need to be spruced up and property owners attract more variety of retail shops that locals want, not just antique shops visited by tourists.

Commissioner Chris Alahouzos agreed that for revitalization to take place downtown needs more than just this parking area.

City Manager Mark LeCouris said he will give his report at the Tuesday, Nov. 3, meeting.

Mark Schantz can be reached at 727-815-1075 or mschantz@suncoastnews.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT