Detours: a country in search of direction
On the eve of the election, a reporter and photographer set out for Washington, via America. We tell stories from seven towns, touching on seven issues from politics and real life.
Friday Night Rewind It doesn't matter which team you cheer for. We've got video previews of every high school football program in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando County.
Game show themes
These themes are probably going to make some of you have flashbacks to wasted mornings or afternoons spent sprawled in front of the TV.
Clearwater leaders hope to turn a $700,000 loan into a $7-million affordable housing development inside one of the city's most drug-ridden, prostitution-filled areas.
The move, they say, should help revitalize the East Gateway, a main passage to the downtown. But the outcome won't be immediate.
"To fix that area, you basically have to go block by block and make incremental improvements," Mayor Frank Hibbard said. "Once other property owners and developers see what's happening, they'll be more willing to stick their toe in the water."
The 175-acre East Gateway has been a blight on Clearwater for more than a decade, city officials say. It's depressing and dilapidated and 77 percent of the housing are rentals.
City leaders have created a five-year plan to rehabilitate the area, which is bordered by Court and Cleveland streets and Missouri and Highland avenues. A main component to success is affordable housing.
That's where South Port Financial Services comes in.
"We're very concerned that Pinellas County is overlooking a lot of itself by not looking at doing these projects that are close to employment areas, especially with the gas and transportation problems," said Peter Leach, senior vice president of the company, which has done similar projects in New Jersey and New York.
South Port Financial Services several years ago built 10 townhouses on Ewing Street, but those sold at market value.
The Clearwater-based company now plans to buy Verizon's vacant 2-acre parking lot on Drew Street between N Betty Lane and Fredrica Drive. The city has agreed to put up $700,000 in federal funding it received for such projects.
If the development goes as planned, the city's loan becomes a grant. If not, the city gets the land.
The developer plans to build 36 townhomes, a pool, Jacuzzi, clubhouse and exercise room. The homes, which include three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and two-car garages, are expected to sell for about $165,000.
The total project, called Country Club Homes, will cost about $7-million to build.
"We think home ownership will help stabilize the area," said Geri Lopez, the city's economic development director.
Plus, she said, it's necessary to clean up the area before some of the problems spill into other parts of Clearwater, which some nearby residents say is already happening.
The developer expects to close on the land in the next few weeks. Then site plans are due by the end of October, and development must start by Dec. 31, 2009.
Leach said that because the market is in a slump, his company decided on developing something more affordable to lure buyers.
Since fall 2006, the city has engaged residents and businesses, seeking input to find out just what they need to clean up the East Gateway and make it safer. The city's economic and development department's five-year plan pinpointed these key issues: safety, appearance, business environment, economic growth and housing and integrating the Hispanic community.
East Gateway by the numbers
175 acres
3,000
area population
49 percent of the population that is white
38 percent of the population that is Hispanic
10 percent of the population that is black
77 percent of the houses that are rentals
Revitalization efforts
In 2005, the East Gateway area generated more calls to police than any other part of the city. It's not the city's most troublesome spot anymore, but close to it. Police still routinely investigate burglaries, muggings, rapes and assaults. But the area has pockets of stability. Here's a snapshot:
• Police calls: Most occur in the heart of the East Gateway, and where much of the activity occurs is near where Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard and Cleveland Street are split by Evergreen Avenue.
• Hotels: The area is dotted with rundown motels where visitors mostly pay by the week.
• Businesses: Although the area is distressed, many businesses here are thriving, including an exotic auto dealer, a Mexican restaurant, an ice cream shop, a saloon and organic health food store and restaurant.
>>If you go
Meeting Tuesday
Clearwater officials will host a community meeting about the East Gateway neighborhood for residents, business owners and others at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Clearwater Main Library, 100 N Osceola Ave. The meeting will focus on the East Gateway revitalization effort, efforts to address neighborhood issues and ways for residents and businesses to get involved. Part of the meeting also will concern safety, security and summer recreational opportunities. Call (727) 562-4047.
[Last modified: Jun 20, 2008 11:57 AM]
Comments on this article
by Pam
Jun 20, 2008 11:57 AM
165K for that neighborhood? Ha ha good luck!
by Candi
Jun 20, 2008 11:57 AM
Jim, were do you want are homeless to go? There is no decent housing for them. Every city has shelter's. My god, what would he say? You need to have compassion for your fellow man Just might be you some day in the same situation No job is safe today
by Candi
Jun 20, 2008 11:57 AM
So the proublem will not go away it will just move down the street a little. And nothing will be resulved building condo's for 165,000. Unreal! how we try to fix a proublem. Build for low income and give someone a roof over there head. Compassion ???
by Candi
Jun 20, 2008 11:57 AM
If the goverment is paying for this to be built it won't be the lower income that will be able to afford 165,000 for a condo. Let's get real, this won't change the problem. Cheaper housing will. We don't help are own less fortunite . Shame on us.
by Sunset Sam
Jun 19, 2008 5:52 PM
This is a fine example on goverment trying to correct something that is driven by the private sector. This area needs strict code enforcment. Almost 25% of Clearwater is in the same condition. What about Skycreast, S. Greenwood, Woodvalley, etc?
by jim
Jun 19, 2008 9:47 AM
First the city leaders create the problem by building the homeless shelter, where, surprise, much of the crime "occurs ... near where Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard and Cleveland Street are split by Evergreen Avenue." Now we suffer more tax funded subsidies.
by Satchel
Jun 19, 2008 9:47 AM
38 percent plus 10 percent plus 77 percent equals...fuzzy math.
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