TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The South Howard Flood Relief project is moving forward.
For Harry Coleman who lives in Parkland Estates, it’s a relief.
“We’re glad the city moved forward,” he said. “Doing the right thing and doing the easy thing aren’t always the same thing, and I think they did the right thing today.”
Anneliese Meier on Bristol Avenue disagrees.
She’s worried the history and character of the area will soon cease to exist.
“All of this is going to be lost,” she said. “I don’t think people understand the massiveness of this project.”
“I don’t think they understand what this is going to do to the character of the neighborhood,” she continued. “It will ruin it forever.”
This is a $65M project no one can agree on.
Some city council members wanted to move forward with the project.
“I am asking the engineers to determine the best route to move the greatest amount of stormwater in the shortest amount of time,” Tampa City Council member Lynn Hurtak said. “I do not want the engineers to consider traffic, utilities, businesses, houses, trees, or anything else.”
Others wanted to get questions answered before approving it.
“Not everybody is going to be happy,” Tampa City Council member Guido Maniscalco said. “People are going to sue.”
“People are going to fight,” he continued. “This is the most divisive issue I’ve ever seen.”
“It’s going to be $65M, maybe more; I know we’re only at $7.7M today,” Maniscalco explained. “Before we spend this money, let’s look at every single option on the table.”
Nonetheless, the motion passed 5-2.
That means whether those questions get answered or not, this project is moving forward.
Victor DiMaio represents some of the businesses along South Howard Avenue.
“Although they think they can change it, it’s set in stone,” he explained. “It’s Howard, Howard, Howard.”
DiMaio’s concern?
An economic impact study hasn’t been done.
Tampa’s Mobility Director Vik Bhide said he’s confident he and his team will do right by the businesses.
“We know we’ll be able to do well by the community with the team that we have,” he explained.
News Channel 8 reporter Nicole Rogers asked, “What do you say to the business owners who say that’s not enough, and they’re worried their entire business could be gone?”
“I would say 2 things,” Bhide responded. “I don’t know their businesses of course and what barriers they have, but we know what they need.”
“We’ve considered this,” he continued. “We’ve given a lot of thought to it and we have partners who have tremendous experience working in urban environments.”
As for what comes next?
“Get the designers to work and we are going to hit the ground running,” Bhide explained.
And for the people opposed to the project?
“We’ll have to convene with the property owners,” SoHo Business Alliance General Manager Steve Michelini explained. “They’ve already engaged with a series of law firms with all of the businesses on South Howard and see what they want to do.”
Thursday’s vote is not the end all be all.
What happens now is the builders and designers can begin working on this project.
It’s leaving some saying there’s still wiggle room to get this plan on another road while others say Thursday’s stamp of approval just all but ensured South Howard Avenue will not have even one full lane open for at least two years.
