Eviction notices have Hyde Park businesses scrambling

HYDE PARK — Several Hyde Park Village businesses are scrambling to find new homes after receiving 30-day eviction notices last week.

The eight shops in the Snow Avenue building include longtime anchor boutique Georgette's, the Tampa Artist Emporium and Nature's Table Cafe. Talbot's on Swann Avenue must also eventually move to make way for developer David Wasserman's redevelopment plans to turn some of the property into condos.

The affected business owners, who were on month-to-month leases, were all aware that plans for construction were upcoming. But most of them thought they'd have the holidays to sell their inventory and plan for an early 2009 move, said Tampa Artist Emporium owner Shelby Boggs.

"We were verbally told the beginning of the year, so we thought we'd have more time," Boggs said.

Many store owners were offered other vacant spots within the village, though in Boggs' case, none are large enough for her gallery. Charlie Purcell of Green Fish Greetings said he may move to another space in the village.

Representatives from Wasserman Real Estate Capital, which owns the Village, did not return calls by press time.

Wasserman faced resistance from Hyde Park neighbors when he brought the $100-million redevelopment before the City Council late last year, but the rezoning plans were approved in January. The plans include two mid-rise condo towers and 90,000 square feet of retail space.