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Decision on property gives Seffner a chance to build community

 
Published April 16, 2015

As a resident of Seffner, a suburban enclave halfway between Tampa and Plant City and just north of Brandon, I hold one certainty.

We can be more.

We can be — a place.

We can be a place where we ask the county government to do more than just fill potholes, collect trash and provide public safety.

We can be a place where we gather to bond and share fellowship. We can be a place that holds character and possesses a defining quality. We can be a place where we do more than just let the days go by.

And now the possibility to take a step in that direction exists.

County Commissioner Victor Crist wants Seffner residents to offer suggestions about a county-owned piece of property next to the Seffner Library on Kingsway Road. At the Seffner Chamber of Commerce Luncheon last week, Crist spoke about the potential for creating a community gathering spot on the land.

"I've gotten five or six ideas on what the community would like to envision happening there at that site," Crist told the group. "I want to help you do something, but I need you to help me understand what should be done there.

"From your perspective as a resident and a business owner, what would render the greatest impact to the community?"

A band shell, a gazebo, an expansion to the library or an enhanced athletic park have been suggested. A band shell could host concerts featuring local symphonies or even the Florida Orchestra. A gazebo could be a centerpoint for a park with an exercise trail and a library expansion could create added meeting space for the community.

The possibilities can go beyond that, but they need to be explored. Crist noted that any idea would have to emerge from a competing list of ideas around the county, and that he would have to argue the merits before the board.

But he also succinctly defined the opportunity that could arise.

"We can work with you to develop a theme — a look, a feel that is uniquely yours," Crist said. "Develop it so whatever we build, it becomes a visible icon for your community so it's more than a usable stand, it's a trademark."

Crist asked the chamber (info@seffnerchamber.com) to organize a subcommittee to discuss the possibilities. Chamber officials plan to invite key stakeholders, including the Friends of the Seffner Library, nearby residents and really anyone who has an interest. Initial ideas would be forwarded to Crist's aide, Craig Jewesak (JewesakC@hillsboroughcounty.org).

Clearly this is just a seedling of an idea. Even if we can get it to grow into something more, there will be challenges. As we've seen with the St. Petersburg Pier, bringing together a project of any magnitude can pose stumbling blocks when you have to build a consensus from varied opinions.

But as noted community development consultant Peter Kageyama writes in his book Love Where You Live, such efforts are important to the progress and health of a community.

"The first step in the process for most of us is to believe that we are capable of doing it and that we cannot and should not wait for permission to act," Kageyama writes.

He's right. If we're weary of looking at empty storefronts and if we long for more dining options, we have to create a place that's more inviting.

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Even on a small scale, the project next to the library could spark a creative drive so great we wouldn't have to explain to people where Seffner is located.

We can be more.

We can be a place.

That's all I'm saying.