Ghost Town
An area ripe for development is what Susan and I call Ghost Town. This is the collection of buildings at Osborne and Nebraska. These buildings could be a commercial center for SE Seminole Heights. There could be some interesting stores there, antique places, boutiques, a cafe and etc. However each of the buildings is owned by a different owner. And parking is a large problem. If I were King I would buy up all of the places, make the weed and junk filled back yards one large common parking area. People could then park in the back or on the side next to Ybor Pizza and shop at all of the stores, just like at Osborne and Florida Avenue. Hmmmm. Maybe this is a project we could get Central City CRA involved in.
13 comments:
I simply cannot understand why used car lots, pawn shops, etc can cost SO MUCH in this area. The only reason I can think of is speculation. The land owners are all expecting Nebraska and Florida to eventually explode with commercial activity. They want to turn that 80K lot into 500K.
All over the area you can find buildings and clusters of buildings that scream for resident-serving commercial business. North of Hillsborough on Nebraska, we have that wonderful asian bungalow that says "sushi bar" to me. Nebraska Hardware could become a hardware store. (evil grin) The brick strip mall is in serious need of clean-up. The Royal Palm motel is really a lake-front apartment building. Family Dollar is a neighborhood-sized gym.
And then I wake up, and our neighborhood is still surrounded by blight.
i've noticed some "sprucing" up at some of those storefronts. i was hoping something of value was moving in. i'd also LOVE someone to buy that building at neb. and ida (site of the lovely Dis n Dat "boutique"). someone with vision (i.e. $$) could do something cool there.
i've noticed some "sprucing" up at some of those storefronts. i was hoping something of value was moving in. i'd also LOVE someone to buy that building at neb. and ida (site of the lovely Dis n Dat "boutique"). someone with vision (i.e. $$) could do something cool there.
i've noticed some "sprucing" up at some of those storefronts. i was hoping something of value was moving in. i'd also LOVE someone to buy that building at neb. and ida (site of the lovely Dis n Dat "boutique"). someone with vision (i.e. $$) could do something cool there.
Funny, though not as trendy as some of the boutiques you seem to covet, I think of a business that's been in the area for over ten years, supporting the area for over ten years as valuable. I also think of a frame shop as valuable. I also think the fact that an art studio was housed for quite some time in the same strip of buildings is valuable. But then again, running around snapping pictures of weeds, rather than really know what is going on in your neighborhood seems to be your m.o.
I guess it depends on how one defines "valuable" as it applies to a neighborhood.
I would submit that a variety of businesses is a good thing. So certainly even a pawn shop or frame shop can fit into a successful commercial district.
I thought it might be interesting to to brainstorm out a +/- value list. Certainly this is subjective and I'd say loosely based on the notion that "value" implies providing some benefit to the area at large (residents, businesses, and passers-by.)
so...
+ Variety
+ Clean and Welcoming appearance
+ provides jobs to SH residents
+ resident-focused
+ draws customers to nearby businesses
+ actively supports business district improvements.
+ actively discourages nearby crime (well lit)
- unkempt appearance
- boarded over windows (Ugly & Unwelcoming)
- chain link fences (U&U)
- barbed wire (U&U and Illegal)
- stripping historic detail from facade
- crime-enabling
- lack of variety
Other than Ybor Pizza, what does the rest of this strip look like? Who does it attract? Who does it employ? Are they clean? Do they take measures to discourage crime (hookers)?
The bottom line is, that group of buildings is well-suited to the types of business the area is lacking. Having a clean, well-lit, attractive historic shopping area would be valuable to the area.
Right now it's a well known place to find a hooker. The darkness, protection from rain, and proximity to the Osborne stoplight make it ideal.
Does anyone know what the deal is with the empty retail space on the corner of Central and Hanna? That corner space could be really cool, but it has sat empty forever. Is it cost?
The corner of Central and Hanna was supposed to be the location of a coffee shop. The owner of the property, with the support of the neighborhood association, got city council to change the zoning and reduce the parking requirements, but the two women opening the shop never went forward and are now in litigation with the owner, as is the owner of the pet grooming shop. Oaks at Riverview (i.e. the former projects at Florida and Broad) had a rental office there for a bit. The problem is that it is a tough location because of parking. Also it is impossible to wetzone (school and church across the street) so attracting a little neighborhood serving lunch/dinner cafe is difficult.
I don't think wetzoning really has that much of an effect here. Rigos and other similar businesses do quite fine without serving alcohol. Also, wetzoning rules are different for restaraunts. If a restaraunt cannot server beer if it's near a church, school, or residence, there's be nowhere in Seminole Heights you could HAVE such a place. (aside from a handful of grandfathered locations.)
And quite frankly, something close to a church or school seems ideal for certain types of service businesses. Large groups of people congregate in these places on a regular basis. This presents an opportunity to create "habit" shoppers that come in whenever they're around.
Caldwjan, I disagree with your statement that finding a place to drink in Seminole Heights isn't a problem. Actually, I think it IS.
The only full bar type businesses that exist are grandfathered. There can be no new ones. If any close and lose their grandfather status they can never re-open. Our commercial lots are so small that the 500-foot to a residence rule will kill every single parcel. Of those few that currently exist, zero of them are "nice" places. And yeah, I do understand that my idea of "nice" isn't universal but don't assume it means "yuppy martini bar" either. ;-)
That leaves restaraunt/bars. We have exactly two: Viva la Fridas, and the Front Porch. And really, as a "bar only" visit, only the Porch qualifies. And as I've vocally stated in the past, its atmosphere is "Urban Blight"; it can't even claim "quaint dive" status. (I have hope for it though...)
When the folks I hang with talk about going out for drinks, the closest place that qualifies is in Ybor.
Neighborhood trivia: The beer/wine only bar caled the Corner Club on Sligh and 15th is a filthy little hole that does manage the "quaint dive" status--somehow. Though I heard someone may have cleaned it up, which could have ruined things. I recommend it for Karioke night. Also note that cell phones ONLY work in the men's john; the rest of the building is shielded or something.
Caldwjan (And Scott?),
Maybe it would be helpful to list the places that serve and sell liquor/hard alcohol in the greater Seminole Heights area? (I distinquish between "serve" and "sell" on purpose. Consumption on premises vs package sales to take home.)
For starters there is the famous (and quite nice) Alpine Liquors on Nebraska and Broad. Package sales only.
There is a dive bar across the street from the Sulpher Springs post office on Nebraska. (name?)
I can think of no other place between hillsborough river and MLK on Nebraska where one can buy liquor.
On Florida Avenue there is the Front Porch. (I don't think Frida's can sell liquor, only beer/wine.) Also, near Knollwood there's the spanish "soccer" bar which has a 4cop license (package and consumption on premises.)
Hillsborough West from 275 there is nothing. East to 15th there is nothing. Beyond that to 20th?
So far, I count 4 places, two require consumption on premises, one requires consumption off premises, and the last does both.
Can anyone add to this list of places that sell hard alcohol in Seminole Heights?
Add a 5th place: The American Legion on Florida. I had no idea they served liquor in there!
Party Liqours sells only and is on Florida at Bird. There seems to be a combo bar and store on the corner of North Street and Flordia, where the Liars Club and Spinnaker Lounge used to be.
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