BY LEON B. CREWS
Sentinel Staff Writer
Linda Dixon is fully aware of what the City of Tampa paid businessman Gene O’Steen for his property, the now demolished Gene’s Bar, and what they recently agreed to pay for a house for a roundabout.
Ms. Dixon said when she was first approached by an official from the city, she was offered $21,000 for her double corner lot that sits one block away from the old bar location.
“Two weeks ago, I was offered $80,000, and I still feel my property is worth more. I don’t understand how they can pay so much for the other properties, but not offer me a fair price for mine.
“I remember when they made their first offer, I was also threatened with eminent domain if I didn’t agree to what they were offering. I considered that a threat, and that made me hold on even tighter to my property.”
Ms. Dixon said the owner of the house behind hers said he had been approached by someone who offered to take him out to dinner to discuss the sale of his property.
“I also got a call from someone who claimed they had worked for the city in the past, and could get me $115,000 for my property. He didn’t give me any contact information, and he never showed me any identification. He even knew about another piece of property I own in the area.”
Ms. Dixon’s property is being sought as part of a proposed project by the CDC and the city’s East Tampa Manager, Ed Johnson, to build a U-Save Supermarket.
Ernest Coney, Jr., C.O.O. of the CDC of Tampa, Incorporated, said he can’t get into specifics about the proposed supermarket right now.
“I’m not prepared to discuss that project right now, but we have secured a federal grant for $759,000 to help bring healthy foods to areas that are considered food deserts (not a lot of healthy foods readily available).
“Within the grant are some economic development projects that will provide jobs for residents.”
Coney said the grant is for 3 years, and he’s excited about the jobs that will be created, and the fact they will be within walking distance of residents in the area.
“We also want to insure small businesses and minority owned companies be able to take advantage of the construction projects.”
