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Redevelopment in Midtown!

Talk of reclaiming williams park, but what about redevelopment in Midtown!?

Here our city goes again, "Let's clean up William's Park!"  What about Midtown?  Remember that the Sweetbay just closed?  No more talk about bringing another grocery store there yet, that has probably been put on hold.  Just like all of the empty, boarded up buildings on 22nd Street South, this is another one.  Let's not forget that funding has just stopped for the Job Corp!  So guess what will happen to that next?  Yep, lay offs and it will become another abandoned building.  Oh, and the Manhattan Casino that is supposed to bring in Sylvia's Soul Food restaturant, when is that gonna happen?  That building has been abandoned for FOREVER!!!  Then they want to bring in a restaurant that won't last long because who will pay $8 for a breakfast when you can go and support your LOCAL mom and pop's that will charge half of that and you will still get good, quailty food.  The City and the so called local leaders have their OWN agenda's!  If it's not benefiting them or putting money in their pockets, they don't care!  This is a voting year and the community MUST get out to VOTE in order to change things in our community, starting with the LEADERSHIP!!!

KurtInStPete February 19, 2013 at 02:38 pm
Don't hold back, what do you really feel? What are the Deuces up to? Aren't they the economic development program for 22nd street?
Justice February 19, 2013 at 03:10 pm
Yes, there is a group called Deuces Live, this group is apparently getting money from the City to pay a program manager (I think that's the title) in order to redevelop Midtown. This group has been around for atleast three years and I can't show you ONE redevelopment that they have done!!!
Lauren Berns February 19, 2013 at 08:12 pm
I think Midtown is a great example of the unintended negative consequences of an otherwise VERY good thing (de-segregation and anti-discrimination laws). African American business districts nationwide were decimated when white shopping districts were (rightfully) opened for African Americans to patronize. Re-invigorating those districts has been a major struggle for 40-50 years.
Bill H. February 19, 2013 at 09:26 pm
So, how does the area get turned around? The "If you build it, they will come" didn't work for Sweetbay. So, maybe you get the people to come first. But what are they to come for? The only thing I see happening is the Warehouse Arts district. Those people are making things happen. Now what's needed is a "food district". Maybe on the Deuces. What if there were a parking lot and there was a food truck rally one or more days a week/month? Would enough people come? Are there enough people close by?
Patriot February 19, 2013 at 09:37 pm
Bottom line....you can't have complete separate societies with contrary values co-exist! Either get busy with living the American dream, or get busy being the contrary!
Patriot February 19, 2013 at 09:39 pm
The answer is simple...inspiration! Those that have it, get it done....those that don't ...don't!
Tom Tito February 20, 2013 at 06:07 am
Thanks for calling attention to this injustice. Police have been reassigned from the southside to work downtown. Williams Park needs help but we in south St. Pete have been waiting for decades for equal treatment.
Sweetbay was poorly planned and did not fail because of the neighborhood. A discount store would have thrived. A farmers market was proposed for the site and could have been built for a fraction of the $7 million wasted on Sweetbay.
Tom Tito February 20, 2013 at 06:10 am
I see people from the southside buying food at the Mustang Flea Market on Park Blvd. A parking lot is about all they have.
Tom Tito February 21, 2013 at 02:50 am
Here is a report on the winners and losers in the city plan for Midtown. http://sunbeamtimes.com/2013/02/20/midtown-businesses-harmed-by-sweetbay-deal-for-seven-years.aspx
Justice February 21, 2013 at 03:16 am
Thanks for sharing Tom!

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Jerry Kendall April 2, 2013 at 11:59 pm
I love Kahwa coffee and the nice folks that own and run it. They have been great citizens of St.Read More Pete. If you have not tried it, you should do so.