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.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Rumor Mill
An uncomfirmed, unsubstantiated, unverified rumor heard this morning at breakfast at Nicko's. Due to parking issues, Cappy's will close November 1.
It's a rumor, the guy at Cappy's laughed when I asked him about the possible closing. Let's use our brain for a second, with the amount of people who go their daily do you really think they would close because of parking????
It really would not matter how many people went there every day if the code/zoning decided to close them down for insufficient parking then it would happen......which would then beg the question - if parking was an issue to begin with then how did they get their permits and signoffs to open?
The city would have never given them the business license and construction permits if they could not have opened...........oh wait, we are talking the city of Tampa right?
we all know that code and police are the only departments that talk to each other (as of last week) so what difference would it make to construction services if the zoning would not allow the business because of parking and why would business services care if a permit was pulled for remodeling - what does that have to do with the business licenses??
It's kinda like Moe and Larry - wok, wok, wok - who's on first?????
Disclaimer: I don't anything about Cappy's specific situation. I only recall what Rigo had to go through on Knollwood, which I think might apply here.
Rigo's on Knollwood opened as a "Deli" which is a take-out restaraunt with only a few tables. This and a waiver that let him assume two parking spaces (that didn't really exist) made it possible for him to open. The side parking on the gravel, similar to what Cappy's has, wasn't considered real parking because a car had to back out into the street.
Now if Cappy's applied as a take-out restaraunt, it has sufficient parking and that may be how they opened. They may have also applied for some sort of variance.
I hope they can resolve their parking issue without having to close. I do like their pizza.
If anyone complained it would not be OSHNA - techinically the business is in South Sem Hts so a complaint from OSHNA would not hold water as it's not in their boundary.
Maybe it was you deflecting the blame for the complaint!
I like their pizza, too. It would pain me grealy to find out that there was some other entity that wanted Cappy's building for their own business - something like another ugly used car lot or auto repair shop - and was using code enforcement to get it on the cheap instead of buying the owners out at a fair price.
shawn, I've been in Cappy's. There aren't enough tables to hold enough people to need 70 parking spaces. This sounds like the same kind of games the city played with Viva la Frida's a few years back.
If the city tries to close them down without first approaching the Civid Associations, they will have the largest and loudest protest on their hands!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ranbar, if and when that happens please get one of this site's bloggers to post it. We'll pack that meeting to the rafters (figuratively speaking, of course).
This worked for Starbucks. I can guarantee at least two more people will show up. If we have to mob the council chambers to make our point for every business that has to arm-wrestle with poorly-written code, we will. Every time.
In fairness, Viva la Frida is a great comparison to Cappy's in that both opened without the necessary permits. However, my current impression is that Angelica then complained a lot about the treatment she received and Cappy's isn't complaining, just trying to get themselves in the right. At this point, I personally wouldn't hold up Viva la Frida's as a rallying cry or an example of a city council out of touch. I'm far more inclined to support Cappy's simply because they're a bit more honest about their own errors.
Maybe the can put a used car lot in its place. We could really use another.
ReplyDeleteKidding aside, that is sad to hear. It sounded like Cappi's was going to a be a Seminole Heights success story.
It's a rumor, the guy at Cappy's laughed when I asked him about the possible closing. Let's use our brain for a second, with the amount of people who go their daily do you really think they would close because of parking????
ReplyDeleteAnon 8:34
ReplyDeleteIt really would not matter how many people went there every day if the code/zoning decided to close them down for insufficient parking then it would happen......which would then beg the question - if parking was an issue to begin with then how did they get their permits and signoffs to open?
That is a really good question. Did they get them?
ReplyDeleteThe city would have never given them the business license and construction permits if they could not have opened...........oh wait, we are talking the city of Tampa right?
ReplyDeletewe all know that code and police are the only departments that talk to each other (as of last week) so what difference would it make to construction services if the zoning would not allow the business because of parking and why would business services care if a permit was pulled for remodeling - what does that have to do with the business licenses??
ReplyDeleteIt's kinda like Moe and Larry - wok, wok, wok - who's on first?????
It could be that someone from the OSHNA complained.
ReplyDeleteWhats up with this place. I heard a couple of antique stores and a sign shop are closing.
ReplyDeletemaybe they could have valet parking and use the vacant lot across from Mega Mart.
ReplyDeleteDisclaimer: I don't anything about Cappy's specific situation. I only recall what Rigo had to go through on Knollwood, which I think might apply here.
ReplyDeleteRigo's on Knollwood opened as a "Deli" which is a take-out restaraunt with only a few tables. This and a waiver that let him assume two parking spaces (that didn't really exist) made it possible for him to open. The side parking on the gravel, similar to what Cappy's has, wasn't considered real parking because a car had to back out into the street.
Now if Cappy's applied as a take-out restaraunt, it has sufficient parking and that may be how they opened. They may have also applied for some sort of variance.
I hope they can resolve their parking issue without having to close. I do like their pizza.
anon 12:58
ReplyDeleteIf anyone complained it would not be OSHNA - techinically the business is in South Sem Hts so a complaint from OSHNA would not hold water as it's not in their boundary.
Maybe it was you deflecting the blame for the complaint!
I like their pizza, too. It would pain me grealy to find out that there was some other entity that wanted Cappy's building for their own business - something like another ugly used car lot or auto repair shop - and was using code enforcement to get it on the cheap instead of buying the owners out at a fair price.
ReplyDeleteI think Cappy's is renting
ReplyDeleteWe all know that code enforcement is corrupt, but I don't think they are smart enough to pull this off.
ReplyDeleteCappy's opened without getting parking permits and having only one legal parking space. The city wants them to have 70 spaces to remain open.
ReplyDeleteshawn, I've been in Cappy's. There aren't enough tables to hold enough people to need 70 parking spaces. This sounds like the same kind of games the city played with Viva la Frida's a few years back.
ReplyDeleteIf the city tries to close them down without first approaching the Civid Associations, they will have the largest and loudest protest on their hands!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteranbar, if and when that happens please get one of this site's bloggers to post it. We'll pack that meeting to the rafters (figuratively speaking, of course).
ReplyDeleteThis worked for Starbucks. I can guarantee at least two more people will show up. If we have to mob the council chambers to make our point for every business that has to arm-wrestle with poorly-written code, we will. Every time.
ReplyDeleteIn fairness, Viva la Frida is a great comparison to Cappy's in that both opened without the necessary permits. However, my current impression is that Angelica then complained a lot about the treatment she received and Cappy's isn't complaining, just trying to get themselves in the right. At this point, I personally wouldn't hold up Viva la Frida's as a rallying cry or an example of a city council out of touch. I'm far more inclined to support Cappy's simply because they're a bit more honest about their own errors.