BY LEON B. CREWS
Sentinel Staff Writer
A vital piece of real estate that lies between downtown Tampa and Tampa International Airport is being looked at as a possible location for a major mass transit hub.
Carver City-Lincoln Gardens Civic Association President, Dr. Maurice Harvey, said they are trying to schedule a meeting with the Westshore Alliance Group to discuss a better location for the proposed transportation hub.
“When it came up a few years ago, it was put aside,” said Dr. Harvey.
“When Governor Rick Scott said no to the rail when he took office, everything was put on hold. Now, it’s surfacing again, and we’re trying to get it headquartered at Westshore Plaza.”
Dr. Harvey said Westshore Plaza is already set up to accommodate a mass transit system.
“It was originally targeted for Carver City, but that land was sold for construction of a huge apartment complex.
“We knew this area would be impacted negatively if the mass transit headquarters was in our community. We’re already experiencing a traffic overload with the reconfiguration of the interstate, and other projects in the area.”
Dr. Harvey said the original plan was designed to go down the middle of I-275, and the roadway is still designed to accommodate that.
“Apparently, something is going on now we don’t have all of the information about. We’ve only gotten bits and pieces of information, but nothing is carved in stone.
“Right now, everything is fragmented. There are a lot of players involved in this. Without any funds appropriated, it’s just a discussion right now. I think they have bigger issues to deal with right now.”
Dr. Harvey said adding to their traffic woes will be the construction of three huge apartment complexes in the community.
“That’s where all of the attention is right now. We’ve had meetings with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and other transportation officials, and everything is just proposed right now.
“There are a lot of people targeting this community, and to facilitate the increase in traffic we’re already experiencing, Spruce Street will have to be widened between Himes Avenue and Lois Avenue. That is a vital stretch of road, and property acquisitions have to be made before that is possible.”
Dr. Harvey said it’s possible that with so much interest being given to the Carver City-Lincoln Gardens area, a lot of developers have simply run out of space for their projects.
“Right now, our attention is pointed toward how much additional traffic will be flowing through this area after the three new apartment complexes are completed.”
