Rutland Northeast Storage needs approval for the zoning change to continue operating.
By ANDREW MEACHAM
Published October 31, 2004
ST. PETERSBURG - The boundaries of four neighborhoods intersect where Rutland Northeast Storage sits. The location means everything, if only because the mini-warehouse at 898 30th Ave. N will need a zoning change to continue to operate the former Social Security building as a storage facility.
In recent weeks, Hubert Rutland has sought the support of several neighborhood associations in rezoning the property from residential-office retail to commercial general. Tuesday, he will ask the Planning Commission for the change. Neighbors can also weigh in.
One of the neighborhoods abutting the site, Five Points, seldom meets. After hearing Tuesday from Rutland and his daughter, Melissa Rutland, Magnolia Heights voted to support the request. Farther to the south, Euclid Heights also agreed to support Rutland.
The boards of both Crescent Heights and Greater Woodlawn have voted to oppose the change for the property only, which Rutland needs to continue operating the business. Residential office-retail does not allow for mini-storage, city planner Dave Goodwin said.
Rutland bought the building in February 2002 for $577,000. Its use for storage has attracted codes investigators.
Crescent Heights president Stephanie Pitts said that nothing has changed since October 2003, when her board voted against the zoning change.
"This isn't like putting a porch on your house or a swimming pool in your back yard," Pitts said.
Greater Woodlawn heard from Melissa Rutland but voted against the change. Maureen Eppley, Greater Woodlawn's president, said members are worried about the long-term effect of rezoning on the property.
"If there wasn't as big a deal about the intensity of the type of businesses that fall under the general commercial category, then there wouldn't be a separate category," Eppley said.
The Planning Commission meets at 4 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 175 Fifth St. N.
Historic Kenwood opens bungalows to visitors
Each year, one neighborhood makes sure that no one forgets the homes that helped put it on the National Register of Historic Places: Historic Kenwood. This Saturday 15 of its homes will be open to the public. Buyers have come to the neighborhood between Central and Ninth Avenue N, from Interstate 275 to 34th Street and renovated homes in the past decade.
Bungalowfest 2004 takes visitors through trademark homes featuring spacious front porches, fireplaces and wood floors. Two gardens and St. Petersburg High School are included in the tour. "Bungalow guru" Jane Powell will be there to sell and sign copies of her new book, Bungalow: The Ultimate Arts and Crafts Home. Powell has defined "bungalow" as "a one or 11/2-story house built between 1900 and 1930, usually for middle- and working-class people." A bus and trolleys will chauffeur visitors between locations.
Bungalowfest runs from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. You can pick up $10 tickets the tour is free for children younger than 16 and register at the neighborhood park between 29th and 30th Street on Third Avenue N. Call Sue or Bill Heyen, 323-8441, or by e-mail, 37tudor@tampabay.rr.com
Leadership program accepting applications
A one-of-a-kind class about how the city works will begin in January and run through early May. Every day is a field trip in the Council of Neighborhood Association's Neighborhood Leadership Program. The program meets twice a month on Monday nights, usually from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
The 10 meetings at various locations cover city government, the police, media, ethnic diversity and how to navigate quasijudicial hearings. Tuition for the course is $60 for residents and $75 for non-residents. The fee includes an historic Saturday bus tour (but not the buffet luncheon on that day) and a graduation dinner.
"I would recommend it to anybody," said Lee Krueger, 59, a 2003 CONA graduate. "I have lived here for nine years, and I learned more in that four months than all of the years I've been here."
To apply, call Ingrid Comberg, 821-2192. Application deadline is Nov. 30.
City ceremony recognizes neighborhoods' efforts
The city's Neighborhood Partnership on Tuesday recognized outstanding neighborhoods in a ceremony at City Hall. Historic Uptown took home a "sense of community" award plus the overall prize, Neighborhood of the Year.
Presenters, including City Council member Virginia Littrell, cited a spirit of resurrection in Uptown, as demonstrated by four movie screenings in Historic Round Lake Park. Organizers said at the time that neighbors could enjoy an outdoor event while discouraging prostitution traffic in and around the park - a park neighbors renamed after winning recognition on the National Register of Historic Places.
Jungle Terrace won for Best Newsletter, while Historic Kenwood came home with Best Web site recognition. Tom Barrett and Len Johnson, renovators in Historic Roser Park, won the Neighborly Neighbor award. David Hoover, president of Riviera Bay Civic, was named Best President after helping to organize a joint picnic with Fossil Park, which raised money for hurricane victims and honored police and fire fighters.
The city applauded three businesses or institutions for cooperating with neighborhoods. The Mayor's Community Partnership Initiative Award went to Edward White Hospital, for years of collaboration with North Kenwood; Mount Vernon Elementary School, for agreeing to share its playground with the community; and 34th Street businesses that have cooperated with the anti-crime efforts of neighborhoods.
DISSTON HEIGHTS CRIME WATCH: 7 p.m. Thursday. Gladden Park Recreation Center, 3901 30th Ave. N. Neighborhood planner Andy Garr.
EUCLID-ST. PAUL: 7:30 p.m. Thursday (7 p.m. social). St. Paul's Catholic Church school cafeteria, 1900 12th St. N. Florida Metro Crime Prevention.
FOSSIL PARK: Postponed until Nov. 16 because of elections.
HIGHLAND GROVE: 7 p.m. Thursday. The Bridge, 2525 30th Ave. N. Progress Energy representative; Jungle Terrace president Tom Killian on the CONA Neighborhood Leadership Program.
HISTORIC KENWOOD: 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Albright United Methodist Church, 2750 Fifth Ave. N. Finishing plans for Bungalowfest; author Jane Powell.
MANGROVE BAYOU: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (7 p.m. social). Shore Acres Recreation Center, 4230 Shore Acres Blvd. NE. Florida Metro Crime Prevention.
SNELL ISLE: 7:30 p.m. Thursday (7 p.m. social). St. Petersburg Woman's Club, 40 Snell Isle Blvd. Developer Tony Fernandez, on revised plans for the Stovall's Landing property.
