Senior Home Improvement Program (SHIP)

This was part of recent an email conversation. As I mention in a prior article, SHIP may be coming to Seminole Heights. Actually they have already been in SH, helping our Seniors Fix up their homes.

. . . . But it IS getting better, and it will continue to get better.

For instance, I know some people are disappointed that we are getting SHIP, yet another social service organization, on a parcel that could have been developed in a way more consistent with the Business Strategic Plan. But what they fail to see is 1) a socially responsible, cream of the crop service that 2) employs people that will have to eat somewhere (Cappy's, Stephano's, Martha's, Coffee Bean, Blue Sea, Westshore Pizza, Nicko's, Abuela's, and a few I missed...the list gets longer all the time) and that 3) will not need all the parking that the parcel provides and who may be willing to offer it as shared parking. Could something "better" have gone in there? Possibly. But as it turns out, SHIP can be a pretty good use for that parcel.

Yes, there are obstacles (our FDOT superspeedways...err...streets), hurdles (zoning regulations inappropriate to urban neighborhoods) and disappointments (the closings of Ashley's and Viva's). But there are also successes and opportunities. The naysayers need to understand that the change will not happen overnight. And they need just a little bit of vision to see the potential and faith that investors/developers will too. And maybe some desire to help those of us working to improve the neighborhood instead of sitting on the sidelines and sniping at our efforts. As the old saying goes, be part of the solution, not part of the problem.