Civic Association February letter
Dear Fellow Islanders:
Our commitment is to maintain Davis Islands as a safe, beautiful, healthy, and fun community. I would like to share a few updates with you on our work and concerns. Charner Reese, immediate past president, chairs the community plan implementation committee. She recently met with City personnel for a status report on programs and projects on Davis Islands, and we will be making that information available on our website. Also, Charner reports that the Parks and Recreation Department has decided at this point not to lease the main area of the Marina building for commercial retail space, which is good news. The retail activity will probably be confined to one of the smaller rooms. We have asked the City to assure that the attractive larger main room will continue to be available for community gatherings such as the Spring Ice Cream Social.
Jeffrey Siewert is chairing our traffic safety committee. In January, the City Public Works Department repaired a gas line that went under the bridge and along the sidewalk, causing significant traffic delays in leaving the islands. The City also replaced some mis-aligned panels and put new sod in near Bayshore. Hopefully, this project has been completed on schedule. We are asking the City, however, if in future they will let DICA and residents know ahead of time about the nature and duration of any projects that will cause such serious traffic delays.
Denise Cassedy, another past president, is chairing the Social Committee, and is planning the Spring Ice Cream Social. This is a fun event for all ages. If you would like to work on this committee, please let us know.
A final concern continues to be the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA) plan to construct additional hangars and runway pavement at Peter O. Knight Airport (POK). DICA opposes the POK expansion plans, based on our research and the concerns of many residents. We want to make it clear that we value and support the airport, and want to see it continue to be an asset for pilots and residents. We also hope that all DI residents will have respect and forbearance when the views of their neighbors differ, and not let this become a contentious issue. As this letter goes to press, the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority vote on the POK expansion is scheduled for February 7, 2008.
For more about on-going projects, if you have an issue, or to sign up for a committee, visit www.davisislandscivic.com or call me at 259-9744.
Sincerely,
Lisa K. DeVitto, President
Davis Islands Civic Association
February 12th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Regarding Marjorie Park Marina, how is it good news that the marina building will remain underutilized.
The marina should be developed as much as possible to draw boaters and their business to Marjorie Park. As of now, the marina sits idle most of the time. The only reason boaters have to stop by now is fuel, which the City of Tampa sets at extremely high prices to help offset the lack of income at the marina. This is the only marina in our area that is barren when it comes to a retail opreation…they don’t even sell ice! The only other income the marina has comes from leasing boat slips, and this side of their operation is only half developed.
If given the opportunity, the marina could be an asset to the city and community. Perhaps the beloved "ice cream social" could be held at one of the neighboring "social" organizations in order for the marina to become a marina.