This was the original Seminole Heights blog with commentary about life in and around the urban neighborhood of Seminole Heights in Tampa, Florida. Musings about other topics as my mood permits. The blog is essentially inactive since I moved to Lutz. Go to The Official Unofficial Seminole Heights Blog - www.seminoleheightsblog.com for active content.
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Starbucks is coming!
Hot news! According to Randi Baron " The ARC approved the final Certificate of Appropriateness by a vote of 4-1. Starbucks is moving forward!"
I need more details - even the TampaTrib's article didn't tell me what I wanted to know... What were the results of the "sign" decision? Are they (Starbucks) putting in the bigger sign they wanted, or did they agree to make the smaller sign we wanted? Did Starbucks give in to all of our demands?
Reuse of the existing sign posts for the Starbucks sign was granted in the PD over a month ago. The sign will be exactly as Starbucks wanted it to be: the typical disk logo with a small "drive-thu" monicer below. The sign is said to be fairly small as such tall signs are measured.
The other "sign" is the "welcome to old seminole heights" sign. That is to be placed on the corner of Central and Hillsborough. There was controvery over that?
OSHNA worked closely with Starbucks. I attended a few of the meetings myself. The Starbucks developer was very attentive to the neighborhood's requests and bent over backwards to garner our support. I would not characterize anything the neighborhood requested as a "demand" nor the developers reactions to requests as "giving in." Aside from their poor choice of architects (no one with historic district experience until the end.) this developer was great to work with. There's an old gas station on the corner of Idlewild and Nebraska I'd like them to look at.
People with dogs can thank me for suggesting a dog watering station on the outdoor patio. Unless, of course, it goes awry in which case I have no idea how it got there. [grin]
I forget the guy's name (sorry), but he didn't give a reason, not even to the other commissioners. However, Greg Barnhill (a commissioner and Hampton Terrace resident) mentioned that he was the guy who brought a bunch of pictures of Starbucks in other historic districts and thought they could have done much better architecturally. It may have simply been a protest vote.
Keith Richards recused himself over an OpEd he had published in the Trib. Otherwise, there might have been two "no" votes.
The sign on the corner will only say "Welcome to Seminole Heights" not "old Seminole heights". Since Starbucks is serving ALL of the three areas, it was considered PC to leave off the Old.
oh goodie! Can we get back to our regularly scheduled SANE lives?
As someone who's been here awhile- time will tell what this establishment does.
I will go on record here and now and tell you for a FACT- that I give the place one week open and the neighbors directly around the place (esp. those on Central who have lobbied for it, and will immediately throw up for sale signs and get out of Dodge)- will BE BITCHING UP A STORM ABOUT THE TRAFFIC AT THE CORNER OF HILLS AND CENTRAL.
please don't jump on me about the starbucks (pant, pant- heavy breathing, heavy breathing) It has been absolutely laughable to see the cabal of activity and people acting like a stupid coffee shop is equivalent to the Second Coming of Christ! (as if one coffee shop will turn around Seminole Heights commercial issues)
but- whatever. It will make people *happy!* (apparently)
What will not, is how absolutely *F***ed up!* that intersection will be. No left turn lead arrow, drive through traffic flying out of there, cutting across Central to try and turn back through the intersection and get right back on the Interstate. (that business is exactly why Starbucks picked that location)
That intersection is already a mess, and DOT has never timed the lights right yet...whoo! boy. I know I will NEVER drive through that intersection again....
I guess I will have to resort to "cut through traffic" driving! haha- SH cracks me up
I need more details - even the TampaTrib's article didn't tell me what I wanted to know... What were the results of the "sign" decision? Are they (Starbucks) putting in the bigger sign they wanted, or did they agree to make the smaller sign we wanted? Did Starbucks give in to all of our demands?
ReplyDeleteReuse of the existing sign posts for the Starbucks sign was granted in the PD over a month ago. The sign will be exactly as Starbucks wanted it to be: the typical disk logo with a small "drive-thu" monicer below. The sign is said to be fairly small as such tall signs are measured.
ReplyDeleteThe other "sign" is the "welcome to old seminole heights" sign. That is to be placed on the corner of Central and Hillsborough. There was controvery over that?
OSHNA worked closely with Starbucks. I attended a few of the meetings myself. The Starbucks developer was very attentive to the neighborhood's requests and bent over backwards to garner our support. I would not characterize anything the neighborhood requested as a "demand" nor the developers reactions to requests as "giving in." Aside from their poor choice of architects (no one with historic district experience until the end.) this developer was great to work with. There's an old gas station on the corner of Idlewild and Nebraska I'd like them to look at.
People with dogs can thank me for suggesting a dog watering station on the outdoor patio. Unless, of course, it goes awry in which case I have no idea how it got there. [grin]
woo hoo!
ReplyDeleteThe ARC meeting the other day was the first I had been to so far. Who was the guy who voted against Starbucks and why?
ReplyDeleteI forget the guy's name (sorry), but he didn't give a reason, not even to the other commissioners. However, Greg Barnhill (a commissioner and Hampton Terrace resident) mentioned that he was the guy who brought a bunch of pictures of Starbucks in other historic districts and thought they could have done much better architecturally. It may have simply been a protest vote.
ReplyDeleteKeith Richards recused himself over an OpEd he had published in the Trib. Otherwise, there might have been two "no" votes.
The sign on the corner will only say "Welcome to Seminole Heights" not "old Seminole heights". Since Starbucks is serving ALL of the three areas, it was considered PC to leave off the Old.
ReplyDeleteBEST NEWS EVER!!!!
ReplyDeleteStarbucks is serving the freeway. The neighborhood just happens to be along for the ride.
ReplyDeleteoh goodie! Can we get back to our regularly scheduled SANE lives?
ReplyDeleteAs someone who's been here awhile- time will tell what this establishment does.
I will go on record here and now and tell you for a FACT- that I give the place one week open and the neighbors directly around the place (esp. those on Central who have lobbied for it, and will immediately throw up for sale signs and get out of Dodge)- will BE BITCHING UP A STORM ABOUT THE TRAFFIC AT THE CORNER OF HILLS AND CENTRAL.
please don't jump on me about the starbucks (pant, pant- heavy breathing, heavy breathing) It has been absolutely laughable to see the cabal of activity and people acting like a stupid coffee shop is equivalent to the Second Coming of Christ! (as if one coffee shop will turn around Seminole Heights commercial issues)
but- whatever. It will make people *happy!* (apparently)
What will not, is how absolutely *F***ed up!* that intersection will be. No left turn lead arrow, drive through traffic flying out of there, cutting across Central to try and turn back through the intersection and get right back on the Interstate. (that business is exactly why Starbucks picked that location)
That intersection is already a mess, and DOT has never timed the lights right yet...whoo! boy. I know I will NEVER drive through that intersection again....
I guess I will have to resort to "cut through traffic" driving! haha- SH cracks me up