Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association

I currently have not formed an opinion of the CVS plan because like most residents of the neighborhood, and quite frankly, most of my fellow Web site posters, I have yet to hear all of the facts regarding this issue:

However, I do have several comments...
- Of all the postings on this Web site,I am curious to know how many writers reside NORTH of 14th Avenue? This unique and diverse community requires representation from all sections of the neighborhood, and for all residents - not just by a VERY VOCAL minority that resides in a certain portion of the neighborhood.

Who comprises our Design Review committee of (at least) 22 members whose vote has been made so very public in the St. Pete Time Neighborhood News today? These on-going headlines appear to be a part of a well-organized PR campaign whose goal is to sway less than fully informed "voters" to the anti-CVS plan.

Admittedly, and unfortunately, I have limited knowledge of the design review committee's activities and on-going representation of all neighborhood residents. We all need to be more informed via committee reports provided at the General Membership meetings and via written updates published in the NSNA monthly newsletter. Even after attending most General Membership meetings over the last three years, I had no idea there were 22 active "voters" and/or volunteers representing our interests on this committee!

None the less, I must ask - where was our Design Review committee when the 1925 historic home at 2001 Coffee Pot Bayou was demolished last year? You all know the one?…it's where the unkempt vacant lots still sit today! I don't recall any PR campaign to stop demolitions started at that time!

?…Or how about the new "pseudo-Victorian" at 2714 Coffee Pot Bayou that should have been reviewed and "disapproved" by this committee. It's the one with two sets of single pane sliding glass doors prominently displayed on the front fa?§ade?

?…Or the new apple-green stucco home with single pane unfinished aluminum trimmed windows and flush steel front door that should have been reviewed and "disapproved" by this committee at 326 16th Avenue NE?

?…Or even the completely out-of-scale addition looming over the once-beautiful Colonial-Revival showplace at 556 21st Avenue NE?

These poor design decisions and lack of enforcement of our neightborhood guidelines affect neighborhood residents as well!

Furthermore, the reality is that if an individual chooses to purchase a residence adjacent to an airport runway or to railroad tracks, and then complains that the location is too noisy, dirty, or unkempt, we all would say "too bad - poor decision"! Same response applies here....

Fourth Street is zoned COMMERCIAL and has been for decades. In addition, the specific area targeted by CVS has been openly designated by the city as a COMMERCIAL REDEVELOPMENT zone for years. If one chooses to purchase adjacent to that type of zoning (and at the resulting reduced financial cost, of course) they as a result, run a greater risk of these events occurring! That's the trade-off!

And finally, as far as the potential of so-called "celebrity" endorsements of the anti-CVS plan that were noted in the Times article today - if these celeb's do not live in North Shore, or if they cannot provide proof of relevant participation in neighborhood planning or active involvement on historic neighborhood boards, they are not experienced enough to add any value to this discussion!!






By John Mitrovka

some answers

I do not live in the area affected by the CVS proposal but I consider those who do live there MY NEIGHBORS.
Your "vocal minority" resides all the way into Granada Terrace.

Who composes the Design Review Committee? According to the by-laws, any member may be a part of any committee. The vast majority of the 22 people who voted at the NDR meeting had attended at least three meetings concerning this issue, sitting through hours of discussion with the developer. Many of them had also done independent research to find out more facts about the rezoning process, etc. If you had attended, you could have voted, too. You chose not to get involved.

As current editor of the newsletter you should be well aware that at most times committees exist of just a few individuals. When a controversial issue comes forth, the committee ranks swell. In this particular instance, had information about CVS been forthcoming through the newsletter, perhaps things would be going quite differently. You need to ask yourself if you were supplied with that very important information, or was it withheld to prevent publication?

The true reality is that many people cannot afford to purchase homes in the heart of, much less the more affluent areas, of our neighborhood.
In good faith, they pruchased homes they could afford, in many cases pouring a lot of renovation money into them. They felt reassured that the 150 foot commercial guidelines would be observed. Are the property rights of the these homeowners less important than your property rights?

Further, the people living near the proposed site had good reason to believe that the NorthShore Association would protect them from
encroachment : it had in the past.
Now what these people have learned is not to not trust anyone but themselves.

The redevlopment zone was intitiated to attract residential, not commercial, redevelopment. So, these people might expect a townhouse development or condos to be built near them, but not an 11,000 square foot commercial establishment with
an anticipated 900 customers a day !

As for your cruel comment about "too bad- poor decision" - I can't believe you said it ! Many of these people, like most of us, have made the largest single investment of their lives in their homes. Where is your compassion?

The Facts...

The FACTS, John, are: Many residents of North Shore who reside below 14th are the vocal opponents of the CVS rezoning application. Your assumption that a vocal minority, perhaps residing above 14th, is false. I can name many residents on 13th, 12th, 9th, and 8th, who attended the May 31 NDR meeting where the room was packed with concerned residents. FACT: There were 3 NDR meetings where MetroGroup-CVS presented THE FACTS of their proposal, and residents did not in knee-jerk fashion oppose the project--they posed intelligent questions, expressed concerns, and proposed alternatives that would allow them to support the project. Many of us would love to have a convenient neighborhood drugstore, but not at any cost. Don't criticize responsible residents who take an interest in the development of their comunity--your attitude that promotes "shut up and accept" is the kind of attitude that leads to apathy and deteriorated communities. The FACTS behind the lack of formal opposition to the houses you referred to is that we are not a DESIGNATED HISTORIC DISTRICT yet, so people can build and paint to suit their tastes as long as they are not in violation of codes, permitting, or zoning regulations. However, the CVS proposal does require rezoning, and there is a process for concerned residents to object. The FACT is, that if the application is approved, a door will be opened for any business on 4th Street North bordering our neighborhood to ask to encroach at least 250 feet into our residential neighborhood. And how long will it take for someone to request more? If we followed your logic, we'd say to hell with the residential block between 3rd and 4th Street. As for the "celebrity" you say has no right to be involved, the rep. from the National Register was simply pointing out that the NSNA applied for designation on the register as a Historic District and the demolition of historic structures in the neighborhood jeopardizes the approval. Are you concerned that the NSNA membership learned about the CVS project at the 11th hour, almost too late to get the facts, John? Attend the Special meeting, call your board members, and get some facts.

Facts on CVS Discussion

Well, let's see--you're resentful of residents who reside north of 14th who participate in the process, inform themselves, and voice their opinions, and you have no regard for the quality of life or property rights of those who live between 3rd Street and 4th Street. HMMMM...The fact is that the NSNA membership and board is charged with the responsibility to represent all members equally and without prejudice or favor regardless of address! Why would you be so outraged at those who are actively seeking information, formulating their opinions and voicing them? The fact is that we live in a democracy where people can freely debate issues and disagree, and the course is often determined by those who participate and vote, whether we're electing a President or determining the course of our neighborhood. Re: your allegation of a "well-organized PR campaign...", if you'd be swayed by others' ideas or opinions without critically thinking the facts through, then you've got the problem, not those who are currently exploring, thinking, and speaking. Want the facts? Question neighbors and board members who attended the NDR meetings. Look at the CVS proposal--Jim Martin's discussion contains a ref. to a website that shows the site plan, etc. Attend the Special Meeting.

By South of 14th, East of 4th!