Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood News - June 2008
Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Newsletter published by the Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association (HONNA).
Content
Historic
St. Pete’s Jewel on Tampa Bay
Old Northeast Neighborhood News
Published Quarterly
Volume 35 Issue 2
www.honna.org
June 2008
The President’s Perspective
Mary Alice Lange
Association President
Spring Garden Stroll Blossoms
by Craig Hyde, Suzanne Laurencell, Robin Reed and Barb Spofford
much-loved neighborhood Spring tradition, The Old Northeast Neighborhood Association Garden Stroll, begun in 2001, made its comeback on Sunday, May 4th. It was directed by a team of four neighbors who got together last January determined to streamline the organization of the event and make it happen again, after a lapse and no Stroll in 2007. Under the direction of Craig Hyde, Suzanne Laurencell, Robin Reed and Barb Spofford, the event was a tremendous success — financially, socially, and esthetically. A net profit of over $8,600 was raised through sponsorships [see box] and ticket sales. These funds go into the Neighborhood Association’s treasury and will be used in part for beautification of the neighborhood and to help finance the Neighborhood Plan. On a picture perfect day, almost 600 folks visited nine charming private gardens, in addition to Sunken Gardens. Every garden uniquely reflected the owners’ love of plants and enthusiasm for outdoor living. There were exotic tropical plants co-mingled with old favorites. Elegant water features and novel garden ornaments were in abundance. Over 50 volunteers spent two hours each at a garden, working as so-called Garden Attendants, greeting visitors and monitoring the flow of traffic. Sunken Gardens’ very affable and knowledgeable, Bill O’Grady, circulated around the various gardens answering specific gardening questions. The volunteer Garden Attendants got to visit the other gardens when they were “off duty.” When the Stroll concluded, garden owners and volunteers alike gathered at the beautiful garden of Ken and Linda Garrity for light refreshments and a glass of Sangria to toast the success of the Stroll. An estimated 100 neighbors, businesses and organizations deserve a huge round of applause for their contributions to the Stroll’s success. Burt and Carol Kline continued on page 12
Summer Plans, Neighborhood Plan
Summer begins in June with a burst of colorful foliage and long, warm days tempting us into planning outside activities with family and friends. The passage of time graciously moves us in cycles through the seasons enjoying our wonderful city. Each season represents change and rebirth in nature as time represents opportunity and renewal in our neighborhood. At the May general membership meeting HONNA presented the Pictorial Survey created in 2002 which had offered all neighborhood residents and property owners with an opportunity for involvement and discussion of renewal in the neighborhood. The Pictorial Survey identified 12 categories which included: green space/open space, streetscape, landscape, traffic, utilities, quality of life, zoning/use of property, code enforcement, commercial/ multifamily residential/single family residential and historic preservation/design review. The survey used “before” and “after” photos to represent the kinds of building design and landscape elements, which had improved or not changed since the early ‘90s when the Neighborhood Plan was originally created. continued on page 2
A
IN THIS ISSUE
4 of July Parade ...................... Page 7
th
UPCOMING MEETINGS
HONNA Neighborhood Meetings are held the third
Monday of each month (except August and December) at “Letting Go” .............................. Page 18 Westminster Presbyterian Church 126 11th Avenue NE Spring Walking Tour .................. Page 20 HISTORIC6:45pm, SocialNEIGHBORHOOD NEWS OLD NORTHEAST • 7pm, Business
Sign Warz ................................. Page 10
calenda r June 16th r! Preserve Our Wallets and Waterfront Group, Downtown Baseball Stadium July 21st To be announced No Meeting in August Page 1
Mark yo u
President’s Perspective
from page 1
The “neighborhood planning” process allows residents within each City neighborhood the chance to identify the important issues and development patterns throughout their neighborhood such as: safety concerns including traffic or street lighting; improvement projects such as City parks or street repairs; identification elements such as streetscape or signage along with neighborhood characteristics such as block patterns and architectural styles essential to preserve, protect and enhance the neighborhood. Residents will be working together to update our Neighborhood Plan originally created in 1990. Committee members will seek resident input and statistical information to be used in any revisions that will be presented to neighborhood residents for their review. Over the next several months all neighborhood residents and property owners, whether or not HONNA members, will have an opportunity to participate at committee meetings, provide valuable input, review proposed revisions and voice their opinions about Neighborhood Plan revisions. Proposed plan revisions will be presented by section at noticed HONNA general membership meetings. If you would like to participate on the committee, please contact Robin Reed by telephone at 825-0480 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Thank you for giving your time and talents to the neighborhood. I look forward to seeing you soon at a neighborhood meeting and the Children’s 4th of July Parade.
The Historic Old Northeast
[found on the City of St. Petersburg’s web site]
Amenities/character/etc.
The historic elements which characterize our neighborhood are brick streets with granite curbs, a mix of concrete and hexagon block sidewalks, a grid network of streets, avenues and alleys and its proximity to the waterfront known as Tampa Bay. The large oaks, jacarandas, pines, palms, maples and magnolias provide lush overhanging canopies in the landscape. The Historic Old Northeast enjoys an almost unique quality being adjacent to downtown St. Petersburg. North Shore Park runs along the entire eastern boundary. This park offers the neighborhood large open spaces, a large public pool, tennis courts, a baseball field, bike trails, long continuous sidewalks for leisurely strolls, a children’s playground and a beach with white sand. Along Coffee Pot Bayou are privately owned docks which house colorful boats and provide the opportunity to fish, sail and boat in protected waters. The Bayou is known for the manatees which feed in its shallow waters. The historic Snell Isle Bridge crosses the Bayou to link North Shore and Snell Isle.
Architecture
The Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood was the first established neighborhood within the City of St. Petersburg. Many of the original homes of the era still exist. The architecture in the Historic Old Northeast area is dominated by a wonderful mixture of predominately Mediterranean Revival, Colonial Revival, Bungalow Styles, Prairie, Williamsburg as well as vernacular style homes. As a result of this mix, combined with the age of the neighborhood, The Historic Old Northeast enjoys a residential character which sets it apart. Many of the homes sport front porches, horizontal wood siding, large casement windows, columns, white picket fences, fireplaces with large looming chimneys, as well as steeply pitched roofs with an assortment of roofing materials. Always a part of the architecture, landscaping makes a dramatic statement in The Historic Old Northeast with numerous and rich combinations of foliage throughout. From azaleas of all kinds to flowering crepe myrtles, dogwood, tree of gold, hibiscus, bird of paradise, firecracker, giant liriope, gardenias, roses and all types of annuals, flowers are always in bloom somewhere. The residential flavor is so different from what one might expect for Florida; however, when taken into consideration that the early settlers here in The Historic Old Northeast emigrated from mostly northern states, perhaps it is not strange at all.
Mary Alice
The Newsletter of the Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association
Published quarterly – March, June, September and December and mailed to all households in The Old Northeast P.O. Box 76324, St. Petersburg, FL 33734 e-mail [email protected]
Editor Rick Carson Columnists and Reporters Peter Stanhope Mike Dailey Susan Alderson David Forman John Gee Yvonne Swanson Chuck Lindeen Linda Dobbs Circulation Contributors Newsletter Layout & Design Advertising Information
Keaton Green Barbara Rhode Amy Labie Jill McGrath
Cathy Leonard and Joe O’Connor All our Old Northeast neighbors Sharon Bond: [email protected] Rachel Sartain: [email protected]
AD RATES
AD SIZE
Business card 1/4 page (4.75" x 3.5") 1/2 page (9.5" x 3.5") Full page Single page insert* 1Qtr 50 100 200 400 300 2 Qtrs 93 186 372 744 600 3 Qtrs 128 256 512 1024 900 1 Year 160 320 640 1280 1200
Have you been to a
*Preprinted inserts that you provide are delivered within the newsletter. Due to delivery restrictions, inserts are available on a limited basis. The newsletter quarterly publication dates are March, June, September, and December. The deadline for accepting new ads and ad changes is three weeks prior to the publication month. The next deadline is August 9th. Payment for new ads should be submitted at the same time that the ad layout is provided and should be addressed to “HONNA Advertising.” The newsletter is distributed by mail to all homes in The Old Northeast (boundaries are 5th Ave N to 30th Ave N, and 4th St N to North Shore Dr/Coffee Pot Bayou Blvd). There are approximately 2,800 active home mailing addresses. Contact Rachel Sartain: [email protected] Ad space is limited so please make arrangements early.
Porch Party
See page 16 for the upcoming schedule
LY L A T E LY ?
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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Association News & Activities
Committee Reports
Neighborhood Design Review
Rick Field, Chair
The Neighborhood Design Review Committee worked with City Planning and Zoning staff to resolve a number or zoning and building permit issues. These issues involved side, rear and front yard setback variances, cut curb permits, height requirements, warehousing buffer and off-site storage. Areas involved were 17 th Avenue NE, Beach Drive, 15th Avenue NE, 13 th Avenue NE, 14th Avenue NE and 4th Street N. Most often issues are brought to our attention by our review of City Agenda items, City staff contacts and concerned residents’ calls and emails. City staff has been very good about following up concerns and working with us on resolving questionable changes. If you see changes happening in the form or remodeling, additions or new construction and you have questions or concerns, please contact us through the HONNA web site; click on “contact us,” fill in the appropriate boxes and let us hear from you.
The February monthly meeting provided a “checklist” of the many steps homeowners can take to secure their homes and personal safety, including a demonstration of items which can be purchased for such purposes. Matt Silverman and Bill Walsh, representatives of the Rays ball team ownership, made a presentation at the March meeting, outlining their proposals for a new waterfront baseball stadium to replace Tropicana Field, and they took questions from the audience. [See page 5 for related information.] The April meeting was devoted to the latest roofing regulations which have gone into effect for new residential structures or replaced roofs on existing structures. For more information about these rules and how they may affect you (including tips on how to avoid unlicensed contractors and “hurricane-proof” scams), go to www.pcclb.com, the web site for the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board. Attendees also heard from a representative of the state’s Department of Financial Services about homeowner’s insurance coverage (e.g., where to go if you can’t find coverage; 1-800/524-9023) and a free wind inspection program (My Safe Florida Home) offered by the state, which also can provide qualified homeowners matching grants to make recommended improvements to strengthen homes against hurricanes (www.mysafefloridahome.com). May’s meeting brought residents up-to-speed on the Neighborhood Plan and HONNA’s efforts to revise earlier versions to better reflect current realities post-new Land Development Regulations and the on-going changes taking place downtown and in adjoining neighborhoods. [See below, Planning/Historic Preservation Committee.] Board member Secretary and former HONNA president Cathy Martin submitted her resignation from the Board citing time demands but offering to assist with projects as she is able.
Crime and Safety
Ron Magray, Chair
Crime Watch Development: I need one more section captain to meet the St. Petersburg Police Department requirements for official recognition, and the scheduling of the required organizational meeting. Local Crime; There have been three home burglaries on the 100 and 200 blocks of 17th Avenue N. All incidents occurred during the day. District 2 has had surveillance in the area. I attended the Sunshine State Crime Prevention Conference May 7th-9th at the Hilton St Pete. The conference was presented by the Regional Community Policing Institute (RCPI) at St Petersburg College. Most of the sessions are designed for law enforcement but all round-table topics were open to registered attendees. The session on “Internet Safety: Your child, the Internet and Online Predators” was an excellent presentation by Deputy Thomas Kelley of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s office. Deputy Kelley will be scheduled for a neighborhood members meeting in the fall. This meeting will be a must attend for all parents and grandparents in our community. Based on some of the law enforcement models I heard discussed at the conference the police have effectively reduced our crime rate to what is, for them, acceptable. But we will have crime, and it is our responsibility to try not to be the one who is the victim. The police and our Neighborhood Association (HONNA) are aware that there is an individual or individuals targeting our homes during the daytime. The SPPD is working to catch this guy. Involvement in a Crime Watch community will help residents be more responsible by promoting increased awareness and communication. [See page 5 for Crime Watch sign-up.] Final thoughts from a conference session; “The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.” Albert Einstein
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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Planning/Historic Preservation
Robin Reed, Chair
At its April meeting, the Committee discussed a number of topics and exciting ideas for future projects. The Neighborhood Association has hired the firm, My Town Team, led by Bob Jeffrey and Mike Dove, to review and complete the Neighborhood Plan update. The Planning Committee completed much of the preliminary work for the update in 2002/2003, and a Neighborhood Profile was compiled by a consultant at that time. This document will be an official version of what the neighborhood wants for itself in the coming years. The development of the Plan will be coordinated with the City’s Planning Department, which will lend the resulting document credibility with City agencies and commissions. The Book Committee made a presentation about the Children’s Education Project, a book entitled Souvenir of St. Petersburg: Views from the Vinoy, which HONNA is planning to publish. Copies of the book Mockup of draft book cover
will be given to all elementary schools in the City; the remaining books will be sold to fund additional neighborhood preservation initiatives. The book has generated a lot of excitement. The St. Petersburg Museum of History has offered to monitor the program in the schools and Sunken Gardens will use activities from the book at the Gardens. St. Petersburg Preservation and Great Explorations are also enthusiastic about the project. In April, HONNA received a most generous grant of $20,000 from the Verizon Foundation towards funding. Discussion of the book project brought forth an offer from Mary Dowd to show her short film of the Vinoy Hotel when it was empty and deserted. The Committee also talked about the new Seminole Heights (Tampa) historical movie, which was recently sold out for opening night at the Tampa Theater. Long range, the Committee is thinking that this would make a wonderful project for The Old Northeast! All agreed the next meeting would be “movie night.” Popcorn anyone? Also under discussion were neighborhood plaques identifying The Old Northeast as a National Register Historic District and Granada Terrace as a Local Historic District. Additional research will be needed before the Committee can move forward with this much-needed recognition of our historic status. The April Walking Tour was a great success. Rob Wertz and Mike Dailey took participants through Granada Terrace and the northwestern area of the neighborhood above 22nd Avenue. A variety of architectural styles was pointed out and refreshments, compliments of Rob and Mike, were served midway through the tour. Go to the HONNA web site, www.HONNA.org, to see photos. [See article about the tour on page 20.] The Committee plans to pursue having the tours (three in the last two years) put on
Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association Membership
The Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association was founded in 1974 to promote civic improvement of our neighborhood. We invite and welcome all residents of the Old Northeast to join the association and become involved. Annual membership dues are $30 per household.
JOIN OUR COMMITTEES
Your volunteer involvement in one of our committees will help enhance your neighborhood and our association. Please contact any committee chair for information.
Candlelight Tour of Homes (December): Co-Chairs Julia Brazier, 403-2237 Anne-Marie Stephenson, 897-9398 C.O.N.A. Rep: Maureen Stafford, 488-8154 Crime & Safety: Ron Magray, 502-9065 Membership: Douglas Haan, 488-5514 Neighborhood Design Review: Rick Field, 744-6697 Newsletter: Rick Carson, 898-7834 Planning/Historic Preservation: Robin Reed, 825-0480 Programs: Susan Lahey 368-8419 Traffic: Bob Watts, 821-8997 Website: Nona Peebles 894-3529
Send this completed form to:
Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association P.O. Box 76324 St. Petersburg, FL 33734
Name(s): ________________________ Address: ________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ Phone: __________________________ E-Mail: __________________________
When did you move into the neighborhood (month and year)?: _______________ $30 ANNUAL DUES ENCLOSED
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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
disk, so that friends and neighbors can walk, bike, or drive the itineraries on their own. Carol and Burt Kline continue to document our community by taking photographs of every home in the neighborhood. If you see them on the sidewalk, take a few minutes to chat. They tell us they are meeting new friends every time they head out to take pictures! The 4th of July Children’s Parade is being planned for Friday, the 4th, from 9:30-11:30am. This year the venue is changing. Coffee Pot Park will be the staging ground for the parade; the route will follow Coffee Pot Boulevard from the park to 28th Avenue NE and back again. If you would like to join this two-fold committee or help out on parade morning, please contact Robin Reed, 825-0480, or [email protected].
Whether or not you choose to volunteer, go ahead and mark your calendar for the 11th Annual Historic Old Northeast Candlelight Tour of homes on December 7th from 3-8pm. And dream of the day when A/C system falls blissfully silent!
Council of Neighborhood Associations
Maureen Stafford, HONNA Representative
The CONA Historic Resources and Lane Development Committee was requested by the CONA Board to review the Rays proposal for building a new stadium at the Al Lang Waterfront Park and redeveloping Tropicana Field. The Committee divided itself into three subcommittees: Downtown Impact, Redevelopment of Tropicana Field and Financing. Recommendations (summarized) of April 9th report: 1) The city should not approve a referendum to lease the Al Lange site for construction and use of a new stadium; 2) The City should complete a thorough analysis of alternatives to the waterfront for a new stadium; 3) Even if a new stadium is not pursued at Al Lang, the City should continue to explore the advantages of redeveloping the Trop site at some future date; 4) With respect to pursuing redevelopment of the Trop site at some level, the City should reject all bids previously received and issue a new RPF. Should the City decide to pursue relocation of the stadium and/or a referendum regarding the Waterfront Park site: 1) The City should request a significant share of naming rights revenue and profit sharing generally and require payment of significant rent…; 2) The City should clearly state in the ballot language the full cost of its contribution to a new stadium, including financing costs; 3) CONA previously recommended and reaffirms that the Al Lang and Mahaffey portions of WaterCLIP AND MAIL
Historic Old Northeast Candlelight Tour of Homes
Julia Brazier, Co-Chair
Leading experts agree (not really, but they should) that the best way to beat the summer heat is to get involved in The Historic Old Northeast Candlelight Tour of Homes. Shift your focus from the incessant buzz of your air conditioner, that wilting garden and sticky clothing to cooler weather, holiday cheer, community ambiance and the opportunity to benefit both a worthy local charity and neighborhood improvements. A highlight of the holiday season, the Candlelight Tour of Homes draws a thousand visitors to our lovely community, providing an inside view of diverse architectural and decorating styles. The 2008 tour is currently in the germination stage and volunteers, whether long-time residents – haven’t you always been curious? — or newcomers – what better way to meet your neighbors? — are encouraged to get involved. Your talents are welcome! And don’t forget the perk of a private tour and party on the evening prior to the tour. If you’re interested in helping out or if you’re a principal in a business and would like to discuss advertising or sponsorship opportunities, please contact one of the co-chairs: Julia Brazier at 895-4443 or Anne-Marie Stephenson at 897-9398.
Crime Watch Fact Sheet
Name _____________________________________ Address ___________________________________ City/State: St. Petersburg, FL Zip: _____________
Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association
OFFICERS and BOARD
President Mary Alice Lange Vice President Maureen Stafford Secretary vacant Treasurer Douglas Haan Directors Julia Brazier Rick Carson Rick Field Susan Lahey Ron Magray Robin Reed Anne-Marie Stephenson Bob Watts 251-2034 488-8154 [email protected] [email protected]
Home Phone: ______________________________ Office Phone: ______________________________ Cell Phone: ________________________________ E-mail: ____________________________________ Emergency Contact Person ___________________
488-5514 403-2237 898-7834 744-6697 368-8419 502-9065 825-0480 897-9398 821-8997
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Contact’s Phone # ___________________________ HONNA Member: Yes____ No____ Would like more info on membership Yes___ No___
Signed: ___________________________________
HONNA Board meetings are held the second Monday of each month at 6:30pm and are open to the public. Check with HONNA for the location.
HONNA
PO Box 76324, St. Petersburg, FL 33734
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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Ponderings
Baseball, Coffee and Freedom
by John Gee
John and his wife Kathy moved to St. Pete from New Mexico four years ago, and he currently teaches history at a Sarasota high school. He has served on the HONNA Board where he co-chaired its Historic Preservation Committee. You can also read more from John in the Northeast Journal. Al Lang Field sits on the bay looking every bit the dormant, meticulously maintained but often ig- nored museum piece it has become. Lying amidst our new examples of clinically designed modernity, its historical relevance is mostly unknown by the newly arrived demographic of our community. Our beautiful symbol of St. Pete’s baseball history has become an anachronism doomed by our constant need to reinvent ourselves, but this is America and this is what we do. With this in mind, my wife and I took a walk downtown one
Committees
from previous page
front Park be placed under the downtown Waterfront Park zoning and received the full protection of that zoning. The committee’s full report may be viewed at www.conastpete.org.
Newsletter
Rick Carson, Editor
If you’ve wandered lately past HONNA’s kiosk next to the tennis courts in North Shore Park you may have noticed that the display has been spiffed up a bit and its contents updated. Thanks go to Bea Paris who volunteered to replace the embarrassingly-outdated material with articles and info from the March issue. Look for selections from this issue to be posted there shortly. Anyone interested in learning about and becoming involved with the preparation of this newsletter is invited to contact me at [email protected].
clear and cool morning to witness what the stadium was built for — everyday people watching an affordable baseball game in a beautiful Florida setting — and pay our respects. We had our dogs so we couldn’t go in, but we did sit outside the fence and watched as the players warmed up for a game with Toronto. Although the Canadians must have been grateful for such a beautiful and intensely green spring day, spectators on both sides of the fence were just as happy to be there. While watching the players warm up, we engaged in some casual banter and wished them luck with the new season. Leaving the field, a player lobbed a ball over the fence to a passing kid whose face lit up at acquiring such a lucky and unexpected prize. Welcome back Rays, and I hope your perseverance finally pays off with a winning season. Is there any more room for another coffee shop? We have a new one on the edge of the neighborhood, and if you haven’t been to the Kahwa take some time to visit because it is different from the others. The French owners have brought to our town the European experience of high- end coffee (not served in cardboard cups) in a quiet and customer-friendly space. I like sitting at a small table while listening to the French conversation and sipping a Café Americano in a ceramic coffee cup. The owners import the beans worldwide and then roast them here in St. Pete so this is a local, not corporate, business. Try the pastries -- they are homemade and, of course, very French. Kahwa Coffee: 475 2nd Street N. Democracy is a messy business where all points of view have to be aired to formulate a consensus we all have to live with. Is it always fair? No. Is it always successful in reaching the right decisions? Not always. Is it the best way to run a country? A better way has not been discovered. One of the positive points of living in our neighborhood is the fact that people are patiently democratic about all the opinions we love to share. Whenever there is some controversial issue, the yard signs grow like kudzu and neighbor’s opinions are freely posted for all to see. The problem is that some people don’t agree with you and will take such a strong exception that some signs will disappear. The person who took our sign did not pay attention in his or her high school civics class. The right to express opinions is guaranteed and you cannot change that fact. You can, however, change your attitude about free speech and do the right thing by returning the sign… but if not, try learning something about this basic right. It’s not always pleasant, but the right to speak freely is an important part of our history. Have a nice summer.
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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Eggcellent Eggstravagnza Eggstrordinaire
If there’s any doubt that The Historic Old Northeast has experienced a rebirth in terms of becoming home to families with younger children, all you have to do is drop by one of the familyoriented holiday events sponsored by The Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association. The most recent evidence of this kiddie-explosion was the annual Easter Egg Hunt held Saturday morning, March 22nd, at Coffee Pot Park. Scores of tots and youngsters scrambled throughout the park loading their baskets with brightly colored eggs (the plastic squirrel-proof variety) filled with candy and enjoying a visit from an eight-foot tall Easter bunny. Prizes were awarded to those lucky enough to discover the “special” eggs as well as those judged best-dressed. While their children were dashing about, parents socialized with old friends and discovered new ones. Many residents devoted hours preparing for the event, and special thanks are reserved for Cynthia Serra and Smith & Associates Real Estate, along with
Albertson’s Supermarket on 4th Street N, for their contributions to the fun time. As one neighbor commented about the morning, “It was wonderful, and it makes me happy and proud to live in this delightful neighborhood.” [For more photos of the Easter Egg Hunt, go to www.honna.org.] Next on tap: the annual 4th of July Kid’s Parade.
Renewing a Tradition in Renewing an Old Tradition in The Historic Old Northeast Old Northeast The Historic
Neighborhood Children’s Parade Neighborhood Children’s Parade
Meeta
Friday, July 4th, 9:30-11:30am
Bring kids and/or grandkids with decorated bikes,
Parade will start at 10a.m. SHARP! Meet at Coffee Pot Park, Coffee Pot Boulevard, 30th Avenue NE
Bring kids and/or grandkids with decorated bikes, tricycles, scooters, wagons, Family, friends, neighbors aelcome strollers, buggies, the route ( to set up chairs along rollerskates, pedal cars and their the parade! to watch favorite music-makers!
Family, friends, neighbors and visitors are welcome to set up chairs along the route to watch the parade!
and most musical. FunACTIVITIES FOR the Children to Enjoy . activities for THE CHILDREN TO ENJOY FUN
Check www.honna.org and click on Community Calendar Community Calendar for updated information for updatedabout the paradethe parade. information about
Check www.honna.org and click on
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Page 7
“What Is That Stuff?”
by Jill McGrath
Working along the sidewalk garden brings many native plant and flower inquiries from passers-by. But, all too often, the question, while pointing to trees overhead, “What is that stuff?” is the one most asked. The referred to “stuff” is Spanish Moss. The droll sage of The Old Northeast groaned, “It’s NOT Spanish and it is NOT moss.” That protestation aside, what we call Spanish Moss happily grows rootless all over the southeastern states of the USA. At night, against the evening blue, the gray Spanish Moss looks very eerie and perhaps that is why it has perpetrated frightening tales of witches hair and pirate beards. A tourist claimed that, “The gray stuff is strangling the trees and should be removed.” Spanish Moss is a welcome guest of its hosts for it never drains the cupboard but, instead, makes its own food. The moss strands contain their own drinking cups to collect the rain. When there is no moisture, the moss collectors go
into hibernation until the rains return. Birds and bats collect the moss to line their living rooms. In earlier days, the moss was used to stuff furniture and the stems are sometimes harvested for today’s upholstery needs. Be grateful for feather and foam cushions. Florists and greenhouses use the moss for mulch for special plants such as Amaryllis, especially around Christmas. A neighbor sent a large box of Spanish Moss, collected from a Live Oak tree, to his daughter, a florist in Ohio. She reported that she zapped bunches of the moss in her microwave and used it for arrangements, as well as for plant mulch, in her store. The fear of chiggers is often expressed, but those pesky red, biting bugs are found in moss which has left the tree and lies on the ground, according to the University of Florida, so it is best to leave sleeping moss lie. Seeds propagate the moss, which is very prolific in the treecovered Old Northeast, especially the older trees like the Live Oaks. In Florida, some oaks are 2,000 years old. With age comes wisdom, or so they say, so if the oaks can play the part of where the Spanish Moss prefers to inhabit, we should not argue. Be not leery of the gray beards — guest and host are content. And “No, madam, you don’t have to be afraid of what might be lurking amongst the scale-like stems,” and, “No, sir, not to worry, that stuff is not strangling the tree.” “And you, miss, may think the stuff is ugly, but it is part of the southern heritage and, thus, we are quite fond of the gray stuff.” With thanks to Photo Ed and Betsie Blodgett at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Jill and Ed McGrath (who grew up together in the Hudson River Valley of New York) are restoring a 1910 cottage on the corner of Bay Street and 6th Avenue NE. This is Jill’s fifth (Ed’s third) complete house restoration project and they have promised each other that it will be their last.
Street Light Out?
Do yourself and your neighbors a favor and phone Progress Energy at 800/ 228-8485 to report it (provide them the location and the ID number on the pole’s base). Don’t make things easy for the burglars and car thieves. Page 8
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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Designing Outbuildings for Historic Homes
by Jo-Anne Peck of HistoricShed.com
There is a seemingly endless list of accessory buildings that have been used in conjunction with residences throughout history, including carriage houses, barns, tool sheds, potting sheds, detached kitchens, garages and privies. While the original uses may no longer always be relevant, these often-simple structures can be adapted to serve a multitude of modern uses beyond traditional garden and tool storage including personal home offices, workout rooms, media rooms, pool cabanas and art studios. If you are not lucky enough to have a historic outbuilding in your yard, you may be considering purchasing a ready-made shed from a home improvement store. However, these T1-11 or vinyl-sided sheds are rarely compatible with the style of historic homes and may even be prohibited by local historic preservation design guidelines. For historic homeowners, a custom-designed outbuilding may be the better answer to meet storage and additional space needs, possibly even providing an affordable alternative to building an addition to a home. When planning an outbuilding to complement a historic home, there are several basic design principles to consider: • Keep the outbuilding visually subordinate to the main building. This means that the outbuilding should complement the main building but not overshadow it in size or detail. • Make sure the size of the outbuilding will both meet your intended use and look appropriate in your yard. • The outbuilding should mimic the overall form of the main building. This is most easily done by using a compatible roof shape, slope, and soffit overhang. • Consider the sizes and placement of doors and windows to ensure that you have room to move equipment in and out, have adequate light and ventilation and allow wall space for shelving or other storage. In addition, consider how the doors and windows will look on the most visible elevations of the building. • Duplicate finishes and details from the main building such as siding type, roofing materials, soffit details and window and door type and trim. However, duplicating elaborate details and columns from the main building should generally be avoided due to the less public, more utilitarian nature of outbuildings. • Keep colors of the main building and accessory building compatible. Paint with either the same paint scheme or a complementary palette. • Plan the outbuilding location carefully. Make sure the building will not block desirable views (or will block undesirable ones), is not in a flood prone part of the yard, is easily accessible for the intended use and does not interfere with mature trees and landscaping. A carefully designed and placed outbuilding can be a focal point in the yard, providing an attractive backdrop for landscaping as well as meet many uses. For more information about planning an outbuilding, go to www.historic shed.com. * When planning an accessory building always check local zoning and building codes.
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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Over The Back Fence
by
S
and
S
…is a collection of what we’ve heard exchanged in the aisles of the supermarkets, shared waiting in line to pick up the kids from school, read in the papers, overheard in the pew behind us in church and, yes, even passed over the back fence. If you have something you’d like to share about a special recognition, award received, birth, graduation, gooddeed-done or observation around the neighborhood please pass it along to the Editor. “Over the Back Fence” is only going to be interesting if we hear from you!
Nice going…Neighbor Chris Lenz was recently promoted to Sign Warz…It wasn’t that Director of Sales and Marketing at Strobel Design Build, a comlong ago that neighbor-foughtpany owned by Old NE resident Don Strobel. Chris is a nationneighbor with signs in front ally certified remodeler with more than 15 years of experience in lawns proclaiming YES or NO the business. positions on the Local Historic District designation. Pretty soon Vacation Bible School…Our friends over at Westminster Presit will be presidential candidate byterian Church are offering a Vacation Bible School for all ages, signs vying for our attention. But at the moment it seems to be beginning Sunday evening, June 9th, and running through June the placards for and against a downtown ballpark. And it appears 13th. The gatherings run from 6:30-8:30pm. Contact the church the battle is getting nasty as we’ve heard that hundreds of signs for more info (821-5259). And we welcome Rev. Bob Findlay, have disappeared from yards during the dark of night in our neighthe Interim Pastor, as the congregation is in its search-and-call borhood as well as Snell Isle, the Jungle area and elsewhere. process to locate a permanent minister. One Step Up From Homelessness?...Is it a sign of the times Hip Hairdresser…That’s what the St. Pete Times calls new that it seems more folks are living out of their automobiles and Old NE resident Albie Mulcahy. The newspaper ran a feature on using our neighborhood as their overnight the “celebrity” hairdresser (3/30) who address? Some of the side streets between works out of Salon Lofts on 4th Street N. The Ba Fen ence Ov e r The Back Fence is a Beach and North Shore seem to be popular The 56 year old regularly flies to seven and have been home to several “guests” redifferent cities every two months tending cently — and one gentleman recently passed to the tresses of celebs and notables, and his four week stay. he has called New York, London, Paris, STEP ON UP Tokyo and LA home over the years. These 99 Bottles of Beer on the Lawn…Do the and days he focuses much of his time on police cruise through the North Shore Poolteaching other stylists. “I want to put St. Arboretum parking lot late at night, especially on weekends? If they did, maybe there Petersburg on the map for the hair industry to learn,” he says. wouldn’t be so many parties going on. On the-morning-after all the empty beer bottles Noise Pollution…Tired of getting and cans on the ground are evidence someblasted out of your seat by boomcar e-mail: [email protected] body was having a good time. noise? Now there is a way legally to fight Yard Sale! Neighborhood-wide Yard Sale! loud car stereo noise, that which is prohibited by Florida statute (noise from a car that is audible at 25ft We want a Yard Sale!!...The neighbors are getting restless. We’re or more). You can fill out a “citizen noise complaint” form (phone getting some inquiries whether HONNA plans to coordinate an460-1586 or e-mail [email protected]). The form other neighborhood-wide yard sale any time soon. We’d like to, provides instructions on how to safely obtain car tag numbers but we need one or two folks who will step forward to coordiand so forth. The form is returned to the City’s Neighborhood nate it. There’s not that much to it and HONNA would be glad to work with organizers. So if you’re at all interested in volunteerPartnership (you do not have to provide your name) and the police will follow up with a warning letter to the vehicle’s owner. ing in some capacity, send an e-mail to [email protected].
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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
ver notice how much varied activity is taking place in our neighborhood on a daily basis? At just about any time during the daylight hours you’ll spot someone jogging along the waterfront, single bike riders or packs cycling down North Shore or Beach, fishermen on the seawall along Coffee Pot, boaters off the shore, kids in the playgrounds at Coffee Pot and Vinoy parks, swimmers heading to the pool, sun bathers at North Shore beach, hotel guests coming and going from the Vinoy, dogs being walked or allowed to run in their own special space, customers patronizing businesses along 4th Street and the sounds of power saws and tennis balls being whacked back-and-forth across the nets. On special weekends our streets are the “parking lot” and staging grounds for big events like the Festival of States or St. Anthony’s Triathlon. Never a dull moment. And amidst all the bustle, there are always opportunities to take some time out and just enjoy the tranquility of the surroundings. One of a Kind…Our own columnist John Gee (“Ponderings”) was the subject of a min-feature on the “Neighborhood Life” page in the St. Petersburg Times 5/14 “Neighborhood” section. John’s quirky perspective on life was under the spotlight, particularly his fondness for traversing The Old NE’s alleys. As noted in the profile, John is the kind of person who, presented with a glass of wat e r , would not contemplate if it were half full or half empty but rather would meditate whether it was really a glass…or even contained water, for that matter. Hex Blocks!…HONNA often receives requests for hex blocks which the City once had to make available but no longer seems to (even though you’ll see stacks of them piled high in the City’s storage area under I275). If for some reason you have any hex blocks you do not need and they are taking up space in your garage or yard, please contact this newsletter ([email protected]) so we can find a home for your not-needed pavers. Lost Kayak….Anyone seen a missing orange single-person kayak, perhaps in the possession of someone who didn’t have one a couple weeks ago? “Disappeared” from the launch area off Coffee Pot. A neighbor would like it back – no questions asked. Contact [email protected]. Garden Envy…The lushly landscaped garden and yard of Linda and Ken Garrity was featured in the “Garden” section of April 26th’s St. Petersburg Times – a tempting teaser for HONNA’s Spring Garden Stroll which took place the following week; the Garrity’s bit of outdoor paradise was one of the showcase displays [see related article on page 1].
E
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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Garden Stroll from page 1
were responsible for advance ticket sales and the solicitation of sponsors, with the assistance of Lea Ann Biafora, Cathy Leonard and Peg Silvergleid. Anne Shumate and Nona Peebles took charge of the financials. Westminster Presbyterian Church once again provided the venue for ticket sales and much-appreciated refreshments on the day of the event. Cathy and Jim Leonard organized the festive post-stroll gathering. M.J. and Jerry Robinson of Robinson BrandBuilders gave the Stroll’s promotional materials their “new look” – an elegant floral design, much-admired by everyone. And Sunken Gardens donated free admission for the day to Stroll ticket holders. THANK YOU! Finally, in the words of one neighbor and veteran Garden Stroll volunteer, Edy Finefrock, “Each garden was a jewel of combined human effort and nature’s beauty. The Garden Stroll was a great success in so many ways: the generosity of the owners to share theirJill McGrath by gardens, the appreciation of all the strollers viewing the gardens, and the love and friendship that each one who organized and volunteered had in making it such a success.”
[Editor’s Note: Modesty kept Suzanne, Craig, Barb and Robin from saying this in their recap but it needs saying. There wasn’t a Garden Stroll in 2007 because no one person or group of people stepped forward to volunteer to do what needed doing if there were to be an event. And then, this year, four of our neighbors – Craig, Robin, Barb and Suzanne – said that wasn’t acceptable. So they rounded up a group of willing residents and organized them with no titled “leaders” or lots of subcommittees and meetings. Their mantra: keep it simple and economical. They did, and it worked. Thanks to their initiative, there was a profitable and fun event, showcasing our neighborhood at its best, and putting much-needed dollars in HONNA’s treasury to fund projects benefiting the entire neighborhood. Tell them you appreciate what they did for us all.]
Hidden Gems in
Garden Owners
The Old Northeast
Clients are not the only ones who choose us first for remodeling
2008 AWARD RECOGNITIONS Chrysalis Awards Regional Winner
Whole House Renovation over $500,000
Craig Hyde (1st Street N) – “a tropical explosion of plants” Helga Hoppes (Walnut Street NE) – a space “for many different moods…beauty, peace, harmony.” Cynthia and Don Silvestri (16th Avenue NE) – “ever-changing objets d’art… in an urban retreat” Linda and Ken Garrity (15th Avenue NE) – “a relaxing haven…an eclectic garden” Marcia and John Piacentino (1st Street N) – a garden for “lush plantings and relaxing under the custom pergola” Monica and Garth Vernon (17th Avenue NE) – “an oasis of dappled sunlight and the quiet sounds of babbling water” Alice and Dennis Crowley (9th Avenue NE) – “plenty of beauty in a small space…set up to be homey and useable” Maggie and Kent Mitchell (9th Avenue NE) – “a magical outdoor maze of rooms” Tonya and Jim Strubbe (Cherry Street NE) – “every useable square inch of space wrapping around the house is the canvas”
Thanks
To those businesses which served as Ticket Outlets: Bloom Garden Shop – 3005 S. MacDill Avenue, Tampa Dolin’s Garden Center – 801 62nd Avenue N Jene’s Tropical Fruit Trees – 6831 Central Avenue Marion’s – 1301 4th Street N Savannas Nursery – 2601 34th Street S Twigs and Leaves – 1031 MLK, Jr, Street S
NARI Regional Contractor of the Year Awards-Region II
1st Place Residential Interior Remodeling over $100,000
NARI Florida West Coast Remodeling Awards
1st Place Residential Kitchen $30,000-$60,000 1st Place Residential Bath $30,000-$60,000 1st Place Residential Interior Over $100,000
While winning awards is nice, it is the satisfaction of every customer that means the most to us. www.strobeldesignbuild.com 727.321.5588
STROBEL
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DESIGN. BUILD.
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
STROLL SPONSORS
Please tell them you know they were a sponsor and thank them for their support of our neighborhood.
Platinum
RE-Max Metro Real Estate 201 2nd Avenue N, 896-1800
Gold
Alpine Tree Service 895-8733 Pondscapes 4213 Manhattan Avenue S, Tampa, 813/839-8062 Sekas Custom Pools 4635 4th Street N, 522-2300 Tommy Todd Landscape & Design 5017 Haines Road, 526-6459 Yutzy Tree Service 541-5616
Silver
Alternative Therapy 2525 4th Street N, 822-9220 Bloom Garden Shop 3005 S. McDill Avenue, Tampa, 813/805-2151 Bob Lee’s Tire Company 1631 4th Street N, 822-3981 Dolin’s Garden Center 801 62nd Avenue N, 525-3434 Fourth Street Shrimp Store 1006 4th Street N, 822-0325 Gas Plant Antique Arcade 1246 Central Avenue, 894-8611 Gulf Coast Garden Center 4355 Haines Road, 522-3074 Homes by Helen 656 15th Avenue NE, 895-4353 Interior Motives 1110 Central Avenue, 898-6061 Joe Taylors Oriental Rugs & Antiques 1032 4th Street N, 822-7900 LightScape Landscape Lighting 527-1817 Mariner Car Wash 3338 4th Street N, 895-9274 Northeast Animal Hospital 1401 4th Street N, 822-8501 Northeast Chiropractic Center 4200 4th Street N, 521-0236 Paciugo Gelati 300 Beach Drive, 209-0298 PCM Construction Management 813/282-0726 RoCo Traders - Home & Garden Decor 2115 Central Avenue, 895-8922 Salon Jim Botts 2401 4th Street N, 896-0412 Savannah’s Café 1113 Central Avenue, 388-4371 The Treehouse Gallery 2835 22nd Avenue N, 328-3606 Uncorked Fine Wines & Accessories 2706 4th Street N, 892-9463 Vernon & Vernon Accountants 424 22nd Avenue N, 393-1922
Individual and Business Tax Returns Small Business Accounting & Consulting
Monica M. Vernon • Garth A. Vernon
St. Petersburg 424 22nd Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33704 Seminole 7700 Seminole Blvd, Ste 200, Seminole, FL 33772
(727) 393-1922 office • (727) 392-3266 fax
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Page 13
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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Spring Stroll
SNAPSHOTS
with thanks to Susan Alderson
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Page 15
PORCH
PAR ARTIES PARTIES
Porch Parties are held the third Friday of the month from 7:30-10pm (except December). Porch Parties are strictly social and provide and informal and fun way to mix and mingle with your neighbors. Bring your own beverage. Cups, ice and light snacks are provided. Ask a neighbor to ride or walk over with you. For more info, contact Julie Feeley (822-4969; [email protected]).
ou’re Y d Invite
June 20th Drexey Smith and Carlton Rowell 1101 11th Avenue N July 18th Jay and Barbara Marshall 225 8th Avenue NE August 15th Bob and Linda Dobbs 2296 Coffee Pot Boulevard NE (Corner of 23rd Avenue)
Maybe It’s Time for You to Throw a Block Party!
Back in April over 100 residents (and nearby neighbors and invited guests) on 14th Avenue NE between Cherry and Poplar gathered for what was their seventh annual April block party. Meg Earle organized it, and the affair was BYOB with everyone asked to bring a dish or snacks to share. Come Halloween they’ll do it again. Also in April, neighbors around 11th and Beach Drive NE enjoyed a “verandah” party at the Wm Gordon House. Organized by host Gordon Powers, it was a slight variation on the block party he threw a few years ago that was held on the street between Beach and Cherry. If you decide you’d like to throw a block party and want to block off your street, you’ll have to go through the Police Department to get a permit and pay a small fee. If that sounds like too much trouble, then consider using your front porch and lawn area (and maybe the next door neighbor’s) as the staging area. Either way, it’s a great way to put some meaning behind the concepts of “neighborhood” and “community.”
Property Transfers
Following is a listing of recent property transfers in our North Shore neighborhood. The individuals listed are new owners of the properties cited but not necessarily the residents of those properties. The properties are listed in chronological avenue and chronological and alphabetical street order. If any of these folks live near you, make sure you welcome them to the neighborhood.
237 7th Avenue N 157 8th Avenue N 351 10th Avenue NE Christa Traviesa Frank Cowan Glenn Mitchell and Gaye Bosley-Mitchell 120 11th Avenue N Jeffrey and Debra Mossoff 605 14th Avenue NE Kevin and Jeanne Milkey 546 15th Avenue NE David Crippen 636 18th Avenue NE Joan Parish 806 18th Avenue NE Angela Landers 195 20th Avenue N Lynn Wolf 207 28th Avenue N C.Guy and Carol Hancock 2130 Cherry Street NE John and Kirsten Miller 2514 Coffee Pot Blvd NE Alan and Beatrice French
Compiled from records by the Florida New Business Report.
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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Let There Be... Acorn Street Lighting
HONNA invites you to drive down 1st Street from 21 Avenue to 10th Avenue N/NE to enjoy the decorative acorn street lighting which provides additional lighting and historic character to the our neighborhood. Street lighting improvements were identified in HONNA’s 2002 Pictorial Survey of The Old Northeast as a neighborhood priority and then pursued through City of St. Petersburg’s Neighborhood Partnership Grants program. City grants along with credited service hours contributed by residents involved in neighborhood projects plus cash matches from HONNA have made these acorn lights possible. The final segment of this project along 1st Street N/NE from 10th Avenue to 9th Avenue will require an additional $9,700, which the association unfortunately is unable to fund at this time. If you have any information about a funding source or would like to make a donation toward this, please contact Mary Alice Lange at 251-2034 or [email protected]. Plan a drive along this stretch of 1st Street after dark and notice the wonderful difference made by this special lighting.
st
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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Thinking in
Purple
“What the caterpillar thinks is the end of the world, the butterfly knows is only the beginning.”
Anonymous refusing to relinquish control as your child matures can cause problems. As children grow up, they want and deserve incremental amounts of autonomy. But some parents, out of fear, refuse to make the shift, creating problems for everyone. When acting as authority figures, we tell our children what to do and we expect their compliance. We’re expected to have the answers, and in the event that we don’t, we seek out an expert to advise us. This parenting style includes giving orders and is built on the dynamics of control and power. We act as our children’s “boss,” and they listen to us because we know better. If you’ve used this style for most of your child’s life, take some time to evaluate how well this has worked. Systematic Training for Effective Parenting by Don Dinkmeyer and Gary McKay is a valuable resource if you need some assistance in this area. A parental coaching style evolves from the belief that the power in the relationship should be shared. This doesn’t mean that the parent loses all authority. You can still set limits and boundaries, but you treat your young adult as a young adult, with all the respect and autonomy she deserves. The parent as coach is an empathetic mentor, making suggestions, sharing information and listening to your young person’s concerns and issues. You can admit to him that the two of you do not agree on a particular issue. You can point out the pros and cons and then step back while he tries to sort through this. You are there to give advice, not to be “the one with all the answers”! This style of parenting teaches the young person to think on his own and to take responsibility for his actions. The parent is there, like the mother bird, to perform damage control and maximize the young one’s ability to survive and thrive. The young person, not the parent, is responsible for the outcome. Contact Barbara or Annette at Transitions and You, Inc. 727/ 826-6807 or visit their website at www.transitionsandyou.com. Read their blog – transitioningparents.blogspot.com
by Barbara Rhode, LMFT
Barbara Rhode is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who provides trainings and workshops to corporations and nonprofits on wellness and life balance. She lives in a very purple house in The Old Northeast, a place where she contemplates in shades of “purple.”
Navigating the “Letting Go” Path
An excerpt from Blast Off – Launching your Child to College & Beyond by Barbara Rhode, L.M.F.T. & Annette Reiter, LMFT
Launching your child won’t be the easiest journey you ever take, but we can offer a few tips to smooth the way. Resist the urge to control. The nature of the parenting process turns most adults into authority figures. Raising young children puts you in the driver’s seat, a necessary position for their survival and well-being. But
Renewing a Tradition in Renewing an Old Tradition in The Historic Old Northeast Old Northeast The Historic
Neighborhood Children’s Parade Neighborhood Children’s Parade
Friday, July 4th 9:30-11:30am
Meeta
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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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Preserving the Character of Old Northeast Houses
by Mike Dailey
Spring Historic Walking Tour
Under cloudy April skies and with rain threatening, Rob Wertz led a walking tour of about 20 people — and one Welsh Corgi — through Granada Terrace and The Old Northeast, looking at classic examples of Mediterranean Revival, Monterey and modern style houses. We started our tour at the “Venetian Docks” at 23rd Avenue NE and Coffee Pot Boulevard. Before we started our walk, Rob spoke to the group about house styles and about the history of Granada Terrace and its founder, North Shore developer C. Perry Snell, who strived to build an exclusive waterfront subdivision of Italian, Spanish and Moorish-style houses. These styles are now categorized as Mediterranean Revival, or “Med Rev,” and feature eclectic details such as plaques, medallions, cast concrete columns, stucco walls and flat roofs mixed with pitched red tile sections. Many Med Rev houses show lavish attention to the front entry. After listening to Rob speak about the history of Granada Terrace, we headed across Coffee Pot Boulevard to our first stop, the Louis I. Raquet house (Photo 1). Also called “Granada Gables,” this house is considered by some architectural historians to be the finest example of Med Rev architecture in the Granada Terrace Local Historic District and is undergoing a thorough restoration by its owner, one that includes the reconstruction of its original steel casement windows. After taking a peek at the fountain inside the home’s courtyard adjacent to the entry tower and admiring the round stair tower on the side of the house, we trooped off to our next stop, passing by several old and
Photo 1
new imposing Med Rev houses on the way. Plaza Andalusia, at the intersection of 23rd Avenue NE and Andalusia Way, is composed of four pergola-type structures in a cruciform shape with a false well at the center, decorated with the signs of the zodiac. (Photo 2) Rob explained that the structure was designed as a picturesque addition to the neighborhood, not an actual working well. We waited out a brief rain shower under the heavy bougainvillea draping the pergola’s rafters, then looked at a series of smaller Med Rev homes on Andalusia Way that displayed excellent proportion and detailing. A brand new Med Rev house with a Realtor’s sign in front recently replaced a historic house that reportedly had fallen into disrepair and had to be demolished. At Plaza Valencia (Andalusia Way at 25th Avenue NE), a large white urn on a stepped base was built as a focal point for nearby houses. From this intersection we saw our first modern home, a low-slung ranch with a rakish two-story section at the rear, peeking over the ridgeline. A quick trip down Brevard Road from Plaza Valencia to 23rd Avenue yielded an impressive collection of Med
Photo 2
Photo 3
Rev homes, including one that belonged to Lillian Snell, one of Perry Snell’s ex-wives. Back on 23rd Avenue NE we headed west from Plaza Andalusia
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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
and viewed a series of excellent Med Rev houses lining both sides of the broad street. Near 1st Street a Moorish-style house, complete with gold-domed roof, captured our attention and provoked some discussion about the originality of its color scheme while we enjoyed a break with snacks and beverages provided by the tour committee. (Photo 3) After our refreshments, Rob led the group across 1st Street, out of Granada Terrace and into the tree-shaded streets of the surrounding Old Northeast to look at a couple of examples of Monterey and modern-style houses. The streets in this part of
Photo 5
right across from each other. A Monterey is easily spotted by its second floor hanging balcony flanked at one end by a wing. (Photo 5) This style was popular here from the 1930s to the ‘50s and is named for the Spanish Colonial houses in California. Our examples in The Old Northeast tend to look more Colonial Revival in their details. The Old Northeast Walks historic walking tours are free and organized twice per year, in the spring and fall. You can see pictures from our latest tour online at www.flickr.com/photos/ oldnortheastwalks or a slideshow of the tour at www.honna.org. We hope to see you for our next walk.
Photo 4
Mike, an Old Northeast resident since 1996, holds a Master of Architecture degree from the University of South Florida. the neighborhood aren’t as historically consistent, but with their overhanging tree canopies they do make for a pleasant walk. Here we saw mostly Craftsman and Ranch-style houses, and an intriguing two-story brick house with a green tiled roof that displayed a number of stylistic influences in one house. (Photo 4) We walked up to 4th Street to take a look at the historic Fire Station No. 4, a fine example of Streamline Moderne style built in 1947. An addition built in the ‘90s is practically indistinguishable from the original. Heading down 26th Avenue N we finally got our chance to see the elusive Monterey-style — there are two on that street,
New Members
Wendy and John Accardi .................. 15th Avenue NE John and Susan Arsenault .................. 7th Avenue NE Gaye Bosley-Mitchell and Glenn Mitchell ............................... 10th Avenue NE Vince Bowen and Rebecca Lemmon ............................. 1st Street N Bob Flannery ........................................ 6th Avenue N Sally Knox .......................................... 28th Avenue N Mark and Julie Lawson ....................... 16th Avenue N Frank Lewis and Susan Lewis ........... 15th Avenue NE Tracey and Kenny Locke .................. 15th Avenue NE Tonya and James Strubbe ............. Cherry Street NE Frances Wilson ................................ 19th Avenue NE
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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A Work In Progress
Each issue of this newsletter introduces you to a neighborhood house which has recently or is presenting undergoing a major renovation. Perhaps some of the trials and tribulations (and joys!) experienced by these homeowners will give you ideas and inspiration as you consider a renovation or your present home. Maybe you’ll be motivated to bite the bullet and purchase that next house you’ve been thinking about. If you’d like to share your renovation story or know of a neighbor with a good one, let us hear from you.
This Old House… or This New House??
by Peter Stanhope
One of my favorite memories was watching PBS with my folks. Our favorite show, “This Old House,” was produced in Boston. Over a series of weeks, we enjoyed watching the evolution of a house restoration. I loved the history, and was fascinated by the craftsmanship employed preserving these wonderful northeastern properties. I was reminded of this memory as I spent an afternoon visiting with Maureen Stafford. She is restoring the property located at 756 Bay Street NE. This property is significant to the history of St. Petersburg. Built in 1913, it was the home of Aymer and Stella Laughner. Mr. Laughner was responsible for developing many of the properties in The Historic Old Northeast as well as the Vinoy Hotel. Essentially the home had remained intact. It had gone through several modifications over the years with additions added in the 1920s as well as a carriage house. At some point, the lot was subdivided and the portion on the south side was sold. When Maureen purchased the house it had been empty for several years and suffered from deferred maintenance and neglect. It also had been condemned. While most people would buy it for the corner lot and demolish it, Maureen had the vision of what the house could be if restored to its original grandeur. She gutted it to the studs. This enabled her to do forensic research on the property and replace the structural integrity of the building. Most of the original floors were saved. The foundation and piers were reworked with original materials. Maureen Above: Before restoration began Below: A work in progress... salvaged floors, joists, windows, and fixtures from period homes that have been destroyed. She remilled the wood and was able to use it in this property. The period brick used for the foundation, chimney and front porch was salvaged from another site. She blended it with the original onsite to create a seamless look. She restored all the windows and replaced the sills that were cut off for aluminum siding. No expense was spared to make this property historically accurate. However, I was fortunate to see it before the walls went up, and it revealed modern technology as well. New wiring and a central vacuum system on all floors, cable for television, the Internet and a sound system, thermostatically controlled heating and air conditioning with separate zones, new plumbing throughout and foam insulation are all hidden behind the walls and ceilings. The fireplaces were all rebuilt. Luxurious bathrooms were added as well as laundry facilities. With the use of recycled materials and the implementing the best practices of green technology, this preservation is historic and energy efficient. In addition to the main house, the carriage house has been
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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
restored. This was the first item completed so Maureen was able to live in the carriage house while overseeing the preservation of the main house. This charming space is filled with light from its many windows. The open floor plan of the kitchen, dining room and living room is reminiscent of a cabin in the sky. Just off the kitchen a small private deck offers a place for enjoying the outdoors with a cup of tea. This “Work in Progress” has been ongoing for three years and the end date is fast approaching. For those of us who enjoy the evolution of property preservation, the end result is bittersweet. It means this series will end, but the prospect of a new beginning remains exciting.
Peter and his partner Marc moved to Florida in 1997 from their home in the historic German Village section of Columbus, OH. Peter offers renovation and interior design services. He may be contacted at PeterStanhope.com
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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“Just “Jus t The Right Number”
Here are some phone numbers you may need in order to make your life a little easier: City Hall ............................................................. 893-7171 Mayor’s Office .................................................... 893-7201 Mayor’s Action Center ......................................... 893-7111 City Council ....................................................... 893-7117 Police (non-emergency) ..................................... 893-7780 Community Police Officer ................................... 892-5933 Codes compliance/enforcement/ assistance .......................................................... 893-7373 Remodeling permits ............................................ 893-7231 Fence permits .................................................... 893-7231 Neighborhood Design Review ............................. 893-7257 Historic Preservation/Urban Design . 894-7491 or 893-7153 Planning/zoning .................................................. 893-7471 Neighborhood traffic/parking ............................... 893-7843 Junk/debris/brush collection (alley) .......................... 893-7398 Overgrown property ............................................ 893-7373 Water/sewer problems ........................................ 893-7261 Street maintenance ............................................. 893-7421 Sidewalk repair .................................................. 893-7850 Tree removal/trim (on city property) ........................ 893-7298 Graffiti ................................................................ 893-7394 Mulch (free) ........................................................ 893-7398 Rodent control (free) ........................................... 893-7360 Animal services (loose dogs) ............................. 582-2600 Street Light Out (Progress Energy) ..................................... 800/228-8485 Park Light Out .................................................... 893-7335 Bus schedules .................................................... 530-9911 Senior services .................................................. 893-7101 Library (main) ..................................................... 893-7724 Mirror Lake branch ........................................... 893-7268 County Commissioners ....................................... 464-3000 County building department ................................. 464-3241 Property taxes .................................................... 582-7771 Senator Mel Martinez .................................... 407/254-2573 Senator Bill Nelson ...................................... 407/872-7161 Congressman Bill Young ..................................... 893-3191
ON THE DOCKET:
Some Upcoming Events In and Nearby Our Neighborhood
For a current and more detailed listing go to the City’s website at www.stpete.org
June 6 June 6 June 7 June 7 June 8 June 11 June 14 June 14 -15 June 14 June 15 St. Pete Shuffle Shuffleboard Courts; 822-2083. Get Downtown Music Series Central b/w 2nd-3rd; 393-3597 AWAPS Pancake Breakfast Albert Whitted Airport; 822-1532 ROV Workshop - FISH-ful Saturday The Pier; 895-7437. Music Fest on the Water The Pier; 631-6443. Oldies But Goodies Dance The Pier; 631-6443. Gallery Walk Downtown galleries; 821-6767 Tampa Bay Caribbean Carnival Vinoy Park; 327-1277. International Young Eagles Day Albert Whitted Park; 822-1532 Music Fest on the Water The Pier; 631-6443 JUNE 16 NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING June 19 Juneteenth Candlelight Vigil in observance of African-American Emancipation Day Spa Beach; 743-6792 JUNE 20 PORCH PARTY (see p. 16) June 21 Hurricanes - FISH-ful Saturday The Pier; 895-7437 June 22 Music Fest on the Water The Pier; 631-6443 June 25 Oldies But Goodies Dance The Pier; 631-6443 June 27 4th Fridays in Grand Central 1st Ave N-1st Ave S from 19th-31st Street; 328-7086 June 28 St. Pete GLBT Pride Grand Central District, Central b/w 21st-28th Streets; 388-9435 June 29 Music Fest on the Water The Pier; 631-6443 July 5 Survey Mark Hunting - FISH-ful Saturday The Pier; 895-7437. July 6 Share the Road Ride (for bicycle awareness and safety) North Shore Pool; 582-1910. July 17 35th Anniversary Sunrise Sale Throughout downtown; www.stpetedowntownbiz.com JULY 18 PORCH PARTY (see p. 16) July 19 Boat Building - FISH-ful Saturday The Pier; 895-7437 JULY 21 NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING July The Vans Warped Tour 2008 Vinoy Park; 896-2276. Aug.13 Old Salt Loop Billfish Tournament -17 Off Spa Beach; 497-1060 AUGUST 15 PORCH PARTY (see p. 16) Aug.22 4th Fridays in Grand Central 1st Ave N-1st Ave S from 19th-31st Street; 328-7086
Check out our newly revamped website www.honna.org
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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
In Case You Missed It: Updates and Follow Ups
Keeping You Current on Some Neighborhood Stories That Have Been in the News
First Presbyterian Church now has a new pastor – Rev. David Hosick. Coming to St. Pete from North Carolina, he is set to begin his ministry here on June 1st. He is succeeding Rev. Chuck Jones, who left in June 2005 after 10 years of service here. [source: St. Petersburg Times, 4/20] The Rally service station at 22nd Avenue N and 4th Street – also known as the Old Northeast Garage – was under the Times’ spotlight for its institution of a $3 fee for pulling up to its fullservice pumps. Drive up, honk your horn and someone will rush out to take care of you. Down the street at Bob Lee’s Tires three full-time employees are ready to pump gas and check tires for no extra fee even though, as one of the owners notes, they make maybe 10 cents a gallon profit on gasoline sales. [source: St. Petersburg Times, 4/11] If you haven’t seen any of the missing dog signs for Pooh Bear, neighbor Patricia Bonati’s lost bichon frise, then you really haven’t been paying any attention to your surroundings. Over 600 small signs and 15 large ones have dotted the neighborhood and beyond, offering a reward of $5,000 for her return. Patricia lost the dog during an early morning walk in Vinoy
Park in April. The City has removed some of the signs because they were placed on city land, which is a no-no….even for a beloved lost pooch. As one reader wrote to the newspaper (5/7), dog owners really need to keep their pets on leashes, which is City law. [source: St. Petersburg Times, 4/30, 5/6, 5/7]
TIM RHODE
HONNA Board Meetings
are held the second Monday of each month at 6:30pm and are open to the public.
A R C H I T E C T
Specializing in Residential Design Renovations, Additions and New Homes
Call for a Consultation visit to your home.
Web Site trhode.com 727-823-1566
AR12159
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Page 25
How Does Your Garden Grow?
by Yvonne Swanson -- Master Gardener
short, they can easily burn in the summer. Make sure mower blades are sharp. 3. Don’t fertilize or use chemical herbicides, especially when there isn’t ample rainfall. Your plants will need more water. Use organic fertilizer or compost and spray plants with a strong blast of water to remove pests. 4. Mulch garden beds and remove weeds. Mulch up to three inches thick in garden beds, but away from plant stems and trunks. Recycled mulch is free at several Pinellas County recycling centers, and many gardeners claim it’s superior to bagged mulch from the garden center. 5. Consider watering alternatives, including a low-volume irrigation system, rain barrels to collect rain from gutter downspouts and polymer-based additives mixed into the soil. There are addons for irrigation systems to reduce water use, including timers that analyze weather data and adjust water flow, sensors that measure soil moisture and Internet-enabled systems that analyze water use, weather and individual plant needs. 6. Eliminate the No. 1 culprit in mosquito infestations — standing water (where they lay their eggs). If you can’t dry it up, add cooking oil or B.t.i. (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis), a naturally occurring bacteria (Mosquito Dunks are one brand name), to standing water to kill mosquito larvae. Don’t spray with an allpurpose bug killer; you’ll not only kill mosquitoes, but all beneficial bugs, too. Experts say your best defense is to run an outdoor-rated fan that creates enough of a breeze to blow mosquitoes away (they are notoriously poor fliers). If they’re still a problem, use a repellant containing DEET (30% concentration for adults and 10% for children), Picaridin (such as Cutter Advanced) or oil of lemon eucalyptus (Repel). 7. Prepare your yard for hurricane season. Remove hazardous trees and properly prune others by thinning out thick canopies and removing dead wood and unsafe branches. Never “top” a tree the way a hedge is cut and don’t give palms a “hurricane cut.” Only fronds that are completely brown or pose a safety risk should be cut. Remove dead limbs from shrubs and other plants. Clean gutters and downspouts. Remove debris from your yard 8. Be a smart consumer. If you need to hire professional help, get written bids from several contractors. Check references and ask to see certificates of personal and property liability insurance and worker’s compensation. Avoid contractors who advertise “hurricane cuts” and “tree topping.” Usually you get what you pay for, so don’t hire a contractor based on price alone. Always pay by check or credit card, and never pay for the entire job up-front.
Yvonne Swanson is a Master Gardener for Pinellas County. She also writes a garden column for the St. Petersburg Times.
Summer Checklist
Summer’s almost here and that means plenty of heat, humidity, scorching sun, summer rains and the potential for mosquito infestations. For those who like to spend time outdoors gardening, that scenario is less than appealing. You can make the most of summer if you tackle outdoor jobs the smart way and are prepared for whatever Mother Nature has in store. Here’s a summer gardening checklist to keep you busy – even during the dog days of summer: 1. Help your stressed yard survive our recent drought. As we go to press, it’s been weeks since we’ve had rainfall. Until regular rainfall begins, water deeply so that plants develop a strong root system. The general rule of thumb is one inch of water per week, but some plants and containers may require more. 2. Mow lawns at the highest setting. If grass blades are too
The Old Northeast Garden Club
meets the first Friday of each month
For information please contact Marilyn Johnson at 553-9155 or e-mail: [email protected]
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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Remodeling • Residential & Commercial Construction
2350 26th St. North • St. Petersburg, FL 33713-4329 (727) 327-3366 • FAX (727) 327-9211 [email protected] • www.herrcontracting.com Lic. CG-C058023
Kathe B. Bierhoff
“WE WILL REACH YOUR FITNESS GOALS” ANY CONVENIENT LOCATION: HOME, OFFICE, GYM OR PARK
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Page 27
Next Neighborhood Meeting: Monday, June 16th, at 7pm
All neighborhood residents invited
Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association P.O. Box 76324 St. Petersburg, FL 33734
www.honna.org PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ST. PETERSBURG FL PERMIT #1020
IN THIS ISSUE
• Garden Stroll • Neighborhood Plan • Out Buildings • Block Parties
...and much more
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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
St. Pete’s Jewel on Tampa Bay
Old Northeast Neighborhood News
Published Quarterly
Volume 35 Issue 2
www.honna.org
June 2008
The President’s Perspective
Mary Alice Lange
Association President
Spring Garden Stroll Blossoms
by Craig Hyde, Suzanne Laurencell, Robin Reed and Barb Spofford
much-loved neighborhood Spring tradition, The Old Northeast Neighborhood Association Garden Stroll, begun in 2001, made its comeback on Sunday, May 4th. It was directed by a team of four neighbors who got together last January determined to streamline the organization of the event and make it happen again, after a lapse and no Stroll in 2007. Under the direction of Craig Hyde, Suzanne Laurencell, Robin Reed and Barb Spofford, the event was a tremendous success — financially, socially, and esthetically. A net profit of over $8,600 was raised through sponsorships [see box] and ticket sales. These funds go into the Neighborhood Association’s treasury and will be used in part for beautification of the neighborhood and to help finance the Neighborhood Plan. On a picture perfect day, almost 600 folks visited nine charming private gardens, in addition to Sunken Gardens. Every garden uniquely reflected the owners’ love of plants and enthusiasm for outdoor living. There were exotic tropical plants co-mingled with old favorites. Elegant water features and novel garden ornaments were in abundance. Over 50 volunteers spent two hours each at a garden, working as so-called Garden Attendants, greeting visitors and monitoring the flow of traffic. Sunken Gardens’ very affable and knowledgeable, Bill O’Grady, circulated around the various gardens answering specific gardening questions. The volunteer Garden Attendants got to visit the other gardens when they were “off duty.” When the Stroll concluded, garden owners and volunteers alike gathered at the beautiful garden of Ken and Linda Garrity for light refreshments and a glass of Sangria to toast the success of the Stroll. An estimated 100 neighbors, businesses and organizations deserve a huge round of applause for their contributions to the Stroll’s success. Burt and Carol Kline continued on page 12
Summer Plans, Neighborhood Plan
Summer begins in June with a burst of colorful foliage and long, warm days tempting us into planning outside activities with family and friends. The passage of time graciously moves us in cycles through the seasons enjoying our wonderful city. Each season represents change and rebirth in nature as time represents opportunity and renewal in our neighborhood. At the May general membership meeting HONNA presented the Pictorial Survey created in 2002 which had offered all neighborhood residents and property owners with an opportunity for involvement and discussion of renewal in the neighborhood. The Pictorial Survey identified 12 categories which included: green space/open space, streetscape, landscape, traffic, utilities, quality of life, zoning/use of property, code enforcement, commercial/ multifamily residential/single family residential and historic preservation/design review. The survey used “before” and “after” photos to represent the kinds of building design and landscape elements, which had improved or not changed since the early ‘90s when the Neighborhood Plan was originally created. continued on page 2
A
IN THIS ISSUE
4 of July Parade ...................... Page 7
th
UPCOMING MEETINGS
HONNA Neighborhood Meetings are held the third
Monday of each month (except August and December) at “Letting Go” .............................. Page 18 Westminster Presbyterian Church 126 11th Avenue NE Spring Walking Tour .................. Page 20 HISTORIC6:45pm, SocialNEIGHBORHOOD NEWS OLD NORTHEAST • 7pm, Business
Sign Warz ................................. Page 10
calenda r June 16th r! Preserve Our Wallets and Waterfront Group, Downtown Baseball Stadium July 21st To be announced No Meeting in August Page 1
Mark yo u
President’s Perspective
from page 1
The “neighborhood planning” process allows residents within each City neighborhood the chance to identify the important issues and development patterns throughout their neighborhood such as: safety concerns including traffic or street lighting; improvement projects such as City parks or street repairs; identification elements such as streetscape or signage along with neighborhood characteristics such as block patterns and architectural styles essential to preserve, protect and enhance the neighborhood. Residents will be working together to update our Neighborhood Plan originally created in 1990. Committee members will seek resident input and statistical information to be used in any revisions that will be presented to neighborhood residents for their review. Over the next several months all neighborhood residents and property owners, whether or not HONNA members, will have an opportunity to participate at committee meetings, provide valuable input, review proposed revisions and voice their opinions about Neighborhood Plan revisions. Proposed plan revisions will be presented by section at noticed HONNA general membership meetings. If you would like to participate on the committee, please contact Robin Reed by telephone at 825-0480 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Thank you for giving your time and talents to the neighborhood. I look forward to seeing you soon at a neighborhood meeting and the Children’s 4th of July Parade.
The Historic Old Northeast
[found on the City of St. Petersburg’s web site]
Amenities/character/etc.
The historic elements which characterize our neighborhood are brick streets with granite curbs, a mix of concrete and hexagon block sidewalks, a grid network of streets, avenues and alleys and its proximity to the waterfront known as Tampa Bay. The large oaks, jacarandas, pines, palms, maples and magnolias provide lush overhanging canopies in the landscape. The Historic Old Northeast enjoys an almost unique quality being adjacent to downtown St. Petersburg. North Shore Park runs along the entire eastern boundary. This park offers the neighborhood large open spaces, a large public pool, tennis courts, a baseball field, bike trails, long continuous sidewalks for leisurely strolls, a children’s playground and a beach with white sand. Along Coffee Pot Bayou are privately owned docks which house colorful boats and provide the opportunity to fish, sail and boat in protected waters. The Bayou is known for the manatees which feed in its shallow waters. The historic Snell Isle Bridge crosses the Bayou to link North Shore and Snell Isle.
Architecture
The Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood was the first established neighborhood within the City of St. Petersburg. Many of the original homes of the era still exist. The architecture in the Historic Old Northeast area is dominated by a wonderful mixture of predominately Mediterranean Revival, Colonial Revival, Bungalow Styles, Prairie, Williamsburg as well as vernacular style homes. As a result of this mix, combined with the age of the neighborhood, The Historic Old Northeast enjoys a residential character which sets it apart. Many of the homes sport front porches, horizontal wood siding, large casement windows, columns, white picket fences, fireplaces with large looming chimneys, as well as steeply pitched roofs with an assortment of roofing materials. Always a part of the architecture, landscaping makes a dramatic statement in The Historic Old Northeast with numerous and rich combinations of foliage throughout. From azaleas of all kinds to flowering crepe myrtles, dogwood, tree of gold, hibiscus, bird of paradise, firecracker, giant liriope, gardenias, roses and all types of annuals, flowers are always in bloom somewhere. The residential flavor is so different from what one might expect for Florida; however, when taken into consideration that the early settlers here in The Historic Old Northeast emigrated from mostly northern states, perhaps it is not strange at all.
Mary Alice
The Newsletter of the Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association
Published quarterly – March, June, September and December and mailed to all households in The Old Northeast P.O. Box 76324, St. Petersburg, FL 33734 e-mail [email protected]
Editor Rick Carson Columnists and Reporters Peter Stanhope Mike Dailey Susan Alderson David Forman John Gee Yvonne Swanson Chuck Lindeen Linda Dobbs Circulation Contributors Newsletter Layout & Design Advertising Information
Keaton Green Barbara Rhode Amy Labie Jill McGrath
Cathy Leonard and Joe O’Connor All our Old Northeast neighbors Sharon Bond: [email protected] Rachel Sartain: [email protected]
AD RATES
AD SIZE
Business card 1/4 page (4.75" x 3.5") 1/2 page (9.5" x 3.5") Full page Single page insert* 1Qtr 50 100 200 400 300 2 Qtrs 93 186 372 744 600 3 Qtrs 128 256 512 1024 900 1 Year 160 320 640 1280 1200
Have you been to a
*Preprinted inserts that you provide are delivered within the newsletter. Due to delivery restrictions, inserts are available on a limited basis. The newsletter quarterly publication dates are March, June, September, and December. The deadline for accepting new ads and ad changes is three weeks prior to the publication month. The next deadline is August 9th. Payment for new ads should be submitted at the same time that the ad layout is provided and should be addressed to “HONNA Advertising.” The newsletter is distributed by mail to all homes in The Old Northeast (boundaries are 5th Ave N to 30th Ave N, and 4th St N to North Shore Dr/Coffee Pot Bayou Blvd). There are approximately 2,800 active home mailing addresses. Contact Rachel Sartain: [email protected] Ad space is limited so please make arrangements early.
Porch Party
See page 16 for the upcoming schedule
LY L A T E LY ?
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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Association News & Activities
Committee Reports
Neighborhood Design Review
Rick Field, Chair
The Neighborhood Design Review Committee worked with City Planning and Zoning staff to resolve a number or zoning and building permit issues. These issues involved side, rear and front yard setback variances, cut curb permits, height requirements, warehousing buffer and off-site storage. Areas involved were 17 th Avenue NE, Beach Drive, 15th Avenue NE, 13 th Avenue NE, 14th Avenue NE and 4th Street N. Most often issues are brought to our attention by our review of City Agenda items, City staff contacts and concerned residents’ calls and emails. City staff has been very good about following up concerns and working with us on resolving questionable changes. If you see changes happening in the form or remodeling, additions or new construction and you have questions or concerns, please contact us through the HONNA web site; click on “contact us,” fill in the appropriate boxes and let us hear from you.
The February monthly meeting provided a “checklist” of the many steps homeowners can take to secure their homes and personal safety, including a demonstration of items which can be purchased for such purposes. Matt Silverman and Bill Walsh, representatives of the Rays ball team ownership, made a presentation at the March meeting, outlining their proposals for a new waterfront baseball stadium to replace Tropicana Field, and they took questions from the audience. [See page 5 for related information.] The April meeting was devoted to the latest roofing regulations which have gone into effect for new residential structures or replaced roofs on existing structures. For more information about these rules and how they may affect you (including tips on how to avoid unlicensed contractors and “hurricane-proof” scams), go to www.pcclb.com, the web site for the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board. Attendees also heard from a representative of the state’s Department of Financial Services about homeowner’s insurance coverage (e.g., where to go if you can’t find coverage; 1-800/524-9023) and a free wind inspection program (My Safe Florida Home) offered by the state, which also can provide qualified homeowners matching grants to make recommended improvements to strengthen homes against hurricanes (www.mysafefloridahome.com). May’s meeting brought residents up-to-speed on the Neighborhood Plan and HONNA’s efforts to revise earlier versions to better reflect current realities post-new Land Development Regulations and the on-going changes taking place downtown and in adjoining neighborhoods. [See below, Planning/Historic Preservation Committee.] Board member Secretary and former HONNA president Cathy Martin submitted her resignation from the Board citing time demands but offering to assist with projects as she is able.
Crime and Safety
Ron Magray, Chair
Crime Watch Development: I need one more section captain to meet the St. Petersburg Police Department requirements for official recognition, and the scheduling of the required organizational meeting. Local Crime; There have been three home burglaries on the 100 and 200 blocks of 17th Avenue N. All incidents occurred during the day. District 2 has had surveillance in the area. I attended the Sunshine State Crime Prevention Conference May 7th-9th at the Hilton St Pete. The conference was presented by the Regional Community Policing Institute (RCPI) at St Petersburg College. Most of the sessions are designed for law enforcement but all round-table topics were open to registered attendees. The session on “Internet Safety: Your child, the Internet and Online Predators” was an excellent presentation by Deputy Thomas Kelley of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s office. Deputy Kelley will be scheduled for a neighborhood members meeting in the fall. This meeting will be a must attend for all parents and grandparents in our community. Based on some of the law enforcement models I heard discussed at the conference the police have effectively reduced our crime rate to what is, for them, acceptable. But we will have crime, and it is our responsibility to try not to be the one who is the victim. The police and our Neighborhood Association (HONNA) are aware that there is an individual or individuals targeting our homes during the daytime. The SPPD is working to catch this guy. Involvement in a Crime Watch community will help residents be more responsible by promoting increased awareness and communication. [See page 5 for Crime Watch sign-up.] Final thoughts from a conference session; “The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.” Albert Einstein
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Page 3
Planning/Historic Preservation
Robin Reed, Chair
At its April meeting, the Committee discussed a number of topics and exciting ideas for future projects. The Neighborhood Association has hired the firm, My Town Team, led by Bob Jeffrey and Mike Dove, to review and complete the Neighborhood Plan update. The Planning Committee completed much of the preliminary work for the update in 2002/2003, and a Neighborhood Profile was compiled by a consultant at that time. This document will be an official version of what the neighborhood wants for itself in the coming years. The development of the Plan will be coordinated with the City’s Planning Department, which will lend the resulting document credibility with City agencies and commissions. The Book Committee made a presentation about the Children’s Education Project, a book entitled Souvenir of St. Petersburg: Views from the Vinoy, which HONNA is planning to publish. Copies of the book Mockup of draft book cover
will be given to all elementary schools in the City; the remaining books will be sold to fund additional neighborhood preservation initiatives. The book has generated a lot of excitement. The St. Petersburg Museum of History has offered to monitor the program in the schools and Sunken Gardens will use activities from the book at the Gardens. St. Petersburg Preservation and Great Explorations are also enthusiastic about the project. In April, HONNA received a most generous grant of $20,000 from the Verizon Foundation towards funding. Discussion of the book project brought forth an offer from Mary Dowd to show her short film of the Vinoy Hotel when it was empty and deserted. The Committee also talked about the new Seminole Heights (Tampa) historical movie, which was recently sold out for opening night at the Tampa Theater. Long range, the Committee is thinking that this would make a wonderful project for The Old Northeast! All agreed the next meeting would be “movie night.” Popcorn anyone? Also under discussion were neighborhood plaques identifying The Old Northeast as a National Register Historic District and Granada Terrace as a Local Historic District. Additional research will be needed before the Committee can move forward with this much-needed recognition of our historic status. The April Walking Tour was a great success. Rob Wertz and Mike Dailey took participants through Granada Terrace and the northwestern area of the neighborhood above 22nd Avenue. A variety of architectural styles was pointed out and refreshments, compliments of Rob and Mike, were served midway through the tour. Go to the HONNA web site, www.HONNA.org, to see photos. [See article about the tour on page 20.] The Committee plans to pursue having the tours (three in the last two years) put on
Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association Membership
The Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association was founded in 1974 to promote civic improvement of our neighborhood. We invite and welcome all residents of the Old Northeast to join the association and become involved. Annual membership dues are $30 per household.
JOIN OUR COMMITTEES
Your volunteer involvement in one of our committees will help enhance your neighborhood and our association. Please contact any committee chair for information.
Candlelight Tour of Homes (December): Co-Chairs Julia Brazier, 403-2237 Anne-Marie Stephenson, 897-9398 C.O.N.A. Rep: Maureen Stafford, 488-8154 Crime & Safety: Ron Magray, 502-9065 Membership: Douglas Haan, 488-5514 Neighborhood Design Review: Rick Field, 744-6697 Newsletter: Rick Carson, 898-7834 Planning/Historic Preservation: Robin Reed, 825-0480 Programs: Susan Lahey 368-8419 Traffic: Bob Watts, 821-8997 Website: Nona Peebles 894-3529
Send this completed form to:
Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association P.O. Box 76324 St. Petersburg, FL 33734
Name(s): ________________________ Address: ________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ Phone: __________________________ E-Mail: __________________________
When did you move into the neighborhood (month and year)?: _______________ $30 ANNUAL DUES ENCLOSED
Page 4
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
disk, so that friends and neighbors can walk, bike, or drive the itineraries on their own. Carol and Burt Kline continue to document our community by taking photographs of every home in the neighborhood. If you see them on the sidewalk, take a few minutes to chat. They tell us they are meeting new friends every time they head out to take pictures! The 4th of July Children’s Parade is being planned for Friday, the 4th, from 9:30-11:30am. This year the venue is changing. Coffee Pot Park will be the staging ground for the parade; the route will follow Coffee Pot Boulevard from the park to 28th Avenue NE and back again. If you would like to join this two-fold committee or help out on parade morning, please contact Robin Reed, 825-0480, or [email protected].
Whether or not you choose to volunteer, go ahead and mark your calendar for the 11th Annual Historic Old Northeast Candlelight Tour of homes on December 7th from 3-8pm. And dream of the day when A/C system falls blissfully silent!
Council of Neighborhood Associations
Maureen Stafford, HONNA Representative
The CONA Historic Resources and Lane Development Committee was requested by the CONA Board to review the Rays proposal for building a new stadium at the Al Lang Waterfront Park and redeveloping Tropicana Field. The Committee divided itself into three subcommittees: Downtown Impact, Redevelopment of Tropicana Field and Financing. Recommendations (summarized) of April 9th report: 1) The city should not approve a referendum to lease the Al Lange site for construction and use of a new stadium; 2) The City should complete a thorough analysis of alternatives to the waterfront for a new stadium; 3) Even if a new stadium is not pursued at Al Lang, the City should continue to explore the advantages of redeveloping the Trop site at some future date; 4) With respect to pursuing redevelopment of the Trop site at some level, the City should reject all bids previously received and issue a new RPF. Should the City decide to pursue relocation of the stadium and/or a referendum regarding the Waterfront Park site: 1) The City should request a significant share of naming rights revenue and profit sharing generally and require payment of significant rent…; 2) The City should clearly state in the ballot language the full cost of its contribution to a new stadium, including financing costs; 3) CONA previously recommended and reaffirms that the Al Lang and Mahaffey portions of WaterCLIP AND MAIL
Historic Old Northeast Candlelight Tour of Homes
Julia Brazier, Co-Chair
Leading experts agree (not really, but they should) that the best way to beat the summer heat is to get involved in The Historic Old Northeast Candlelight Tour of Homes. Shift your focus from the incessant buzz of your air conditioner, that wilting garden and sticky clothing to cooler weather, holiday cheer, community ambiance and the opportunity to benefit both a worthy local charity and neighborhood improvements. A highlight of the holiday season, the Candlelight Tour of Homes draws a thousand visitors to our lovely community, providing an inside view of diverse architectural and decorating styles. The 2008 tour is currently in the germination stage and volunteers, whether long-time residents – haven’t you always been curious? — or newcomers – what better way to meet your neighbors? — are encouraged to get involved. Your talents are welcome! And don’t forget the perk of a private tour and party on the evening prior to the tour. If you’re interested in helping out or if you’re a principal in a business and would like to discuss advertising or sponsorship opportunities, please contact one of the co-chairs: Julia Brazier at 895-4443 or Anne-Marie Stephenson at 897-9398.
Crime Watch Fact Sheet
Name _____________________________________ Address ___________________________________ City/State: St. Petersburg, FL Zip: _____________
Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association
OFFICERS and BOARD
President Mary Alice Lange Vice President Maureen Stafford Secretary vacant Treasurer Douglas Haan Directors Julia Brazier Rick Carson Rick Field Susan Lahey Ron Magray Robin Reed Anne-Marie Stephenson Bob Watts 251-2034 488-8154 [email protected] [email protected]
Home Phone: ______________________________ Office Phone: ______________________________ Cell Phone: ________________________________ E-mail: ____________________________________ Emergency Contact Person ___________________
488-5514 403-2237 898-7834 744-6697 368-8419 502-9065 825-0480 897-9398 821-8997
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Contact’s Phone # ___________________________ HONNA Member: Yes____ No____ Would like more info on membership Yes___ No___
Signed: ___________________________________
HONNA Board meetings are held the second Monday of each month at 6:30pm and are open to the public. Check with HONNA for the location.
HONNA
PO Box 76324, St. Petersburg, FL 33734
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Page 5
Ponderings
Baseball, Coffee and Freedom
by John Gee
John and his wife Kathy moved to St. Pete from New Mexico four years ago, and he currently teaches history at a Sarasota high school. He has served on the HONNA Board where he co-chaired its Historic Preservation Committee. You can also read more from John in the Northeast Journal. Al Lang Field sits on the bay looking every bit the dormant, meticulously maintained but often ig- nored museum piece it has become. Lying amidst our new examples of clinically designed modernity, its historical relevance is mostly unknown by the newly arrived demographic of our community. Our beautiful symbol of St. Pete’s baseball history has become an anachronism doomed by our constant need to reinvent ourselves, but this is America and this is what we do. With this in mind, my wife and I took a walk downtown one
Committees
from previous page
front Park be placed under the downtown Waterfront Park zoning and received the full protection of that zoning. The committee’s full report may be viewed at www.conastpete.org.
Newsletter
Rick Carson, Editor
If you’ve wandered lately past HONNA’s kiosk next to the tennis courts in North Shore Park you may have noticed that the display has been spiffed up a bit and its contents updated. Thanks go to Bea Paris who volunteered to replace the embarrassingly-outdated material with articles and info from the March issue. Look for selections from this issue to be posted there shortly. Anyone interested in learning about and becoming involved with the preparation of this newsletter is invited to contact me at [email protected].
clear and cool morning to witness what the stadium was built for — everyday people watching an affordable baseball game in a beautiful Florida setting — and pay our respects. We had our dogs so we couldn’t go in, but we did sit outside the fence and watched as the players warmed up for a game with Toronto. Although the Canadians must have been grateful for such a beautiful and intensely green spring day, spectators on both sides of the fence were just as happy to be there. While watching the players warm up, we engaged in some casual banter and wished them luck with the new season. Leaving the field, a player lobbed a ball over the fence to a passing kid whose face lit up at acquiring such a lucky and unexpected prize. Welcome back Rays, and I hope your perseverance finally pays off with a winning season. Is there any more room for another coffee shop? We have a new one on the edge of the neighborhood, and if you haven’t been to the Kahwa take some time to visit because it is different from the others. The French owners have brought to our town the European experience of high- end coffee (not served in cardboard cups) in a quiet and customer-friendly space. I like sitting at a small table while listening to the French conversation and sipping a Café Americano in a ceramic coffee cup. The owners import the beans worldwide and then roast them here in St. Pete so this is a local, not corporate, business. Try the pastries -- they are homemade and, of course, very French. Kahwa Coffee: 475 2nd Street N. Democracy is a messy business where all points of view have to be aired to formulate a consensus we all have to live with. Is it always fair? No. Is it always successful in reaching the right decisions? Not always. Is it the best way to run a country? A better way has not been discovered. One of the positive points of living in our neighborhood is the fact that people are patiently democratic about all the opinions we love to share. Whenever there is some controversial issue, the yard signs grow like kudzu and neighbor’s opinions are freely posted for all to see. The problem is that some people don’t agree with you and will take such a strong exception that some signs will disappear. The person who took our sign did not pay attention in his or her high school civics class. The right to express opinions is guaranteed and you cannot change that fact. You can, however, change your attitude about free speech and do the right thing by returning the sign… but if not, try learning something about this basic right. It’s not always pleasant, but the right to speak freely is an important part of our history. Have a nice summer.
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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Eggcellent Eggstravagnza Eggstrordinaire
If there’s any doubt that The Historic Old Northeast has experienced a rebirth in terms of becoming home to families with younger children, all you have to do is drop by one of the familyoriented holiday events sponsored by The Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association. The most recent evidence of this kiddie-explosion was the annual Easter Egg Hunt held Saturday morning, March 22nd, at Coffee Pot Park. Scores of tots and youngsters scrambled throughout the park loading their baskets with brightly colored eggs (the plastic squirrel-proof variety) filled with candy and enjoying a visit from an eight-foot tall Easter bunny. Prizes were awarded to those lucky enough to discover the “special” eggs as well as those judged best-dressed. While their children were dashing about, parents socialized with old friends and discovered new ones. Many residents devoted hours preparing for the event, and special thanks are reserved for Cynthia Serra and Smith & Associates Real Estate, along with
Albertson’s Supermarket on 4th Street N, for their contributions to the fun time. As one neighbor commented about the morning, “It was wonderful, and it makes me happy and proud to live in this delightful neighborhood.” [For more photos of the Easter Egg Hunt, go to www.honna.org.] Next on tap: the annual 4th of July Kid’s Parade.
Renewing a Tradition in Renewing an Old Tradition in The Historic Old Northeast Old Northeast The Historic
Neighborhood Children’s Parade Neighborhood Children’s Parade
Meeta
Friday, July 4th, 9:30-11:30am
Bring kids and/or grandkids with decorated bikes,
Parade will start at 10a.m. SHARP! Meet at Coffee Pot Park, Coffee Pot Boulevard, 30th Avenue NE
Bring kids and/or grandkids with decorated bikes, tricycles, scooters, wagons, Family, friends, neighbors aelcome strollers, buggies, the route ( to set up chairs along rollerskates, pedal cars and their the parade! to watch favorite music-makers!
Family, friends, neighbors and visitors are welcome to set up chairs along the route to watch the parade!
and most musical. FunACTIVITIES FOR the Children to Enjoy . activities for THE CHILDREN TO ENJOY FUN
Check www.honna.org and click on Community Calendar Community Calendar for updated information for updatedabout the paradethe parade. information about
Check www.honna.org and click on
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Page 7
“What Is That Stuff?”
by Jill McGrath
Working along the sidewalk garden brings many native plant and flower inquiries from passers-by. But, all too often, the question, while pointing to trees overhead, “What is that stuff?” is the one most asked. The referred to “stuff” is Spanish Moss. The droll sage of The Old Northeast groaned, “It’s NOT Spanish and it is NOT moss.” That protestation aside, what we call Spanish Moss happily grows rootless all over the southeastern states of the USA. At night, against the evening blue, the gray Spanish Moss looks very eerie and perhaps that is why it has perpetrated frightening tales of witches hair and pirate beards. A tourist claimed that, “The gray stuff is strangling the trees and should be removed.” Spanish Moss is a welcome guest of its hosts for it never drains the cupboard but, instead, makes its own food. The moss strands contain their own drinking cups to collect the rain. When there is no moisture, the moss collectors go
into hibernation until the rains return. Birds and bats collect the moss to line their living rooms. In earlier days, the moss was used to stuff furniture and the stems are sometimes harvested for today’s upholstery needs. Be grateful for feather and foam cushions. Florists and greenhouses use the moss for mulch for special plants such as Amaryllis, especially around Christmas. A neighbor sent a large box of Spanish Moss, collected from a Live Oak tree, to his daughter, a florist in Ohio. She reported that she zapped bunches of the moss in her microwave and used it for arrangements, as well as for plant mulch, in her store. The fear of chiggers is often expressed, but those pesky red, biting bugs are found in moss which has left the tree and lies on the ground, according to the University of Florida, so it is best to leave sleeping moss lie. Seeds propagate the moss, which is very prolific in the treecovered Old Northeast, especially the older trees like the Live Oaks. In Florida, some oaks are 2,000 years old. With age comes wisdom, or so they say, so if the oaks can play the part of where the Spanish Moss prefers to inhabit, we should not argue. Be not leery of the gray beards — guest and host are content. And “No, madam, you don’t have to be afraid of what might be lurking amongst the scale-like stems,” and, “No, sir, not to worry, that stuff is not strangling the tree.” “And you, miss, may think the stuff is ugly, but it is part of the southern heritage and, thus, we are quite fond of the gray stuff.” With thanks to Photo Ed and Betsie Blodgett at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Jill and Ed McGrath (who grew up together in the Hudson River Valley of New York) are restoring a 1910 cottage on the corner of Bay Street and 6th Avenue NE. This is Jill’s fifth (Ed’s third) complete house restoration project and they have promised each other that it will be their last.
Street Light Out?
Do yourself and your neighbors a favor and phone Progress Energy at 800/ 228-8485 to report it (provide them the location and the ID number on the pole’s base). Don’t make things easy for the burglars and car thieves. Page 8
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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Designing Outbuildings for Historic Homes
by Jo-Anne Peck of HistoricShed.com
There is a seemingly endless list of accessory buildings that have been used in conjunction with residences throughout history, including carriage houses, barns, tool sheds, potting sheds, detached kitchens, garages and privies. While the original uses may no longer always be relevant, these often-simple structures can be adapted to serve a multitude of modern uses beyond traditional garden and tool storage including personal home offices, workout rooms, media rooms, pool cabanas and art studios. If you are not lucky enough to have a historic outbuilding in your yard, you may be considering purchasing a ready-made shed from a home improvement store. However, these T1-11 or vinyl-sided sheds are rarely compatible with the style of historic homes and may even be prohibited by local historic preservation design guidelines. For historic homeowners, a custom-designed outbuilding may be the better answer to meet storage and additional space needs, possibly even providing an affordable alternative to building an addition to a home. When planning an outbuilding to complement a historic home, there are several basic design principles to consider: • Keep the outbuilding visually subordinate to the main building. This means that the outbuilding should complement the main building but not overshadow it in size or detail. • Make sure the size of the outbuilding will both meet your intended use and look appropriate in your yard. • The outbuilding should mimic the overall form of the main building. This is most easily done by using a compatible roof shape, slope, and soffit overhang. • Consider the sizes and placement of doors and windows to ensure that you have room to move equipment in and out, have adequate light and ventilation and allow wall space for shelving or other storage. In addition, consider how the doors and windows will look on the most visible elevations of the building. • Duplicate finishes and details from the main building such as siding type, roofing materials, soffit details and window and door type and trim. However, duplicating elaborate details and columns from the main building should generally be avoided due to the less public, more utilitarian nature of outbuildings. • Keep colors of the main building and accessory building compatible. Paint with either the same paint scheme or a complementary palette. • Plan the outbuilding location carefully. Make sure the building will not block desirable views (or will block undesirable ones), is not in a flood prone part of the yard, is easily accessible for the intended use and does not interfere with mature trees and landscaping. A carefully designed and placed outbuilding can be a focal point in the yard, providing an attractive backdrop for landscaping as well as meet many uses. For more information about planning an outbuilding, go to www.historic shed.com. * When planning an accessory building always check local zoning and building codes.
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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Over The Back Fence
by
S
and
S
…is a collection of what we’ve heard exchanged in the aisles of the supermarkets, shared waiting in line to pick up the kids from school, read in the papers, overheard in the pew behind us in church and, yes, even passed over the back fence. If you have something you’d like to share about a special recognition, award received, birth, graduation, gooddeed-done or observation around the neighborhood please pass it along to the Editor. “Over the Back Fence” is only going to be interesting if we hear from you!
Nice going…Neighbor Chris Lenz was recently promoted to Sign Warz…It wasn’t that Director of Sales and Marketing at Strobel Design Build, a comlong ago that neighbor-foughtpany owned by Old NE resident Don Strobel. Chris is a nationneighbor with signs in front ally certified remodeler with more than 15 years of experience in lawns proclaiming YES or NO the business. positions on the Local Historic District designation. Pretty soon Vacation Bible School…Our friends over at Westminster Presit will be presidential candidate byterian Church are offering a Vacation Bible School for all ages, signs vying for our attention. But at the moment it seems to be beginning Sunday evening, June 9th, and running through June the placards for and against a downtown ballpark. And it appears 13th. The gatherings run from 6:30-8:30pm. Contact the church the battle is getting nasty as we’ve heard that hundreds of signs for more info (821-5259). And we welcome Rev. Bob Findlay, have disappeared from yards during the dark of night in our neighthe Interim Pastor, as the congregation is in its search-and-call borhood as well as Snell Isle, the Jungle area and elsewhere. process to locate a permanent minister. One Step Up From Homelessness?...Is it a sign of the times Hip Hairdresser…That’s what the St. Pete Times calls new that it seems more folks are living out of their automobiles and Old NE resident Albie Mulcahy. The newspaper ran a feature on using our neighborhood as their overnight the “celebrity” hairdresser (3/30) who address? Some of the side streets between works out of Salon Lofts on 4th Street N. The Ba Fen ence Ov e r The Back Fence is a Beach and North Shore seem to be popular The 56 year old regularly flies to seven and have been home to several “guests” redifferent cities every two months tending cently — and one gentleman recently passed to the tresses of celebs and notables, and his four week stay. he has called New York, London, Paris, STEP ON UP Tokyo and LA home over the years. These 99 Bottles of Beer on the Lawn…Do the and days he focuses much of his time on police cruise through the North Shore Poolteaching other stylists. “I want to put St. Arboretum parking lot late at night, especially on weekends? If they did, maybe there Petersburg on the map for the hair industry to learn,” he says. wouldn’t be so many parties going on. On the-morning-after all the empty beer bottles Noise Pollution…Tired of getting and cans on the ground are evidence someblasted out of your seat by boomcar e-mail: [email protected] body was having a good time. noise? Now there is a way legally to fight Yard Sale! Neighborhood-wide Yard Sale! loud car stereo noise, that which is prohibited by Florida statute (noise from a car that is audible at 25ft We want a Yard Sale!!...The neighbors are getting restless. We’re or more). You can fill out a “citizen noise complaint” form (phone getting some inquiries whether HONNA plans to coordinate an460-1586 or e-mail [email protected]). The form other neighborhood-wide yard sale any time soon. We’d like to, provides instructions on how to safely obtain car tag numbers but we need one or two folks who will step forward to coordiand so forth. The form is returned to the City’s Neighborhood nate it. There’s not that much to it and HONNA would be glad to work with organizers. So if you’re at all interested in volunteerPartnership (you do not have to provide your name) and the police will follow up with a warning letter to the vehicle’s owner. ing in some capacity, send an e-mail to [email protected].
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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
ver notice how much varied activity is taking place in our neighborhood on a daily basis? At just about any time during the daylight hours you’ll spot someone jogging along the waterfront, single bike riders or packs cycling down North Shore or Beach, fishermen on the seawall along Coffee Pot, boaters off the shore, kids in the playgrounds at Coffee Pot and Vinoy parks, swimmers heading to the pool, sun bathers at North Shore beach, hotel guests coming and going from the Vinoy, dogs being walked or allowed to run in their own special space, customers patronizing businesses along 4th Street and the sounds of power saws and tennis balls being whacked back-and-forth across the nets. On special weekends our streets are the “parking lot” and staging grounds for big events like the Festival of States or St. Anthony’s Triathlon. Never a dull moment. And amidst all the bustle, there are always opportunities to take some time out and just enjoy the tranquility of the surroundings. One of a Kind…Our own columnist John Gee (“Ponderings”) was the subject of a min-feature on the “Neighborhood Life” page in the St. Petersburg Times 5/14 “Neighborhood” section. John’s quirky perspective on life was under the spotlight, particularly his fondness for traversing The Old NE’s alleys. As noted in the profile, John is the kind of person who, presented with a glass of wat e r , would not contemplate if it were half full or half empty but rather would meditate whether it was really a glass…or even contained water, for that matter. Hex Blocks!…HONNA often receives requests for hex blocks which the City once had to make available but no longer seems to (even though you’ll see stacks of them piled high in the City’s storage area under I275). If for some reason you have any hex blocks you do not need and they are taking up space in your garage or yard, please contact this newsletter ([email protected]) so we can find a home for your not-needed pavers. Lost Kayak….Anyone seen a missing orange single-person kayak, perhaps in the possession of someone who didn’t have one a couple weeks ago? “Disappeared” from the launch area off Coffee Pot. A neighbor would like it back – no questions asked. Contact [email protected]. Garden Envy…The lushly landscaped garden and yard of Linda and Ken Garrity was featured in the “Garden” section of April 26th’s St. Petersburg Times – a tempting teaser for HONNA’s Spring Garden Stroll which took place the following week; the Garrity’s bit of outdoor paradise was one of the showcase displays [see related article on page 1].
E
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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Garden Stroll from page 1
were responsible for advance ticket sales and the solicitation of sponsors, with the assistance of Lea Ann Biafora, Cathy Leonard and Peg Silvergleid. Anne Shumate and Nona Peebles took charge of the financials. Westminster Presbyterian Church once again provided the venue for ticket sales and much-appreciated refreshments on the day of the event. Cathy and Jim Leonard organized the festive post-stroll gathering. M.J. and Jerry Robinson of Robinson BrandBuilders gave the Stroll’s promotional materials their “new look” – an elegant floral design, much-admired by everyone. And Sunken Gardens donated free admission for the day to Stroll ticket holders. THANK YOU! Finally, in the words of one neighbor and veteran Garden Stroll volunteer, Edy Finefrock, “Each garden was a jewel of combined human effort and nature’s beauty. The Garden Stroll was a great success in so many ways: the generosity of the owners to share theirJill McGrath by gardens, the appreciation of all the strollers viewing the gardens, and the love and friendship that each one who organized and volunteered had in making it such a success.”
[Editor’s Note: Modesty kept Suzanne, Craig, Barb and Robin from saying this in their recap but it needs saying. There wasn’t a Garden Stroll in 2007 because no one person or group of people stepped forward to volunteer to do what needed doing if there were to be an event. And then, this year, four of our neighbors – Craig, Robin, Barb and Suzanne – said that wasn’t acceptable. So they rounded up a group of willing residents and organized them with no titled “leaders” or lots of subcommittees and meetings. Their mantra: keep it simple and economical. They did, and it worked. Thanks to their initiative, there was a profitable and fun event, showcasing our neighborhood at its best, and putting much-needed dollars in HONNA’s treasury to fund projects benefiting the entire neighborhood. Tell them you appreciate what they did for us all.]
Hidden Gems in
Garden Owners
The Old Northeast
Clients are not the only ones who choose us first for remodeling
2008 AWARD RECOGNITIONS Chrysalis Awards Regional Winner
Whole House Renovation over $500,000
Craig Hyde (1st Street N) – “a tropical explosion of plants” Helga Hoppes (Walnut Street NE) – a space “for many different moods…beauty, peace, harmony.” Cynthia and Don Silvestri (16th Avenue NE) – “ever-changing objets d’art… in an urban retreat” Linda and Ken Garrity (15th Avenue NE) – “a relaxing haven…an eclectic garden” Marcia and John Piacentino (1st Street N) – a garden for “lush plantings and relaxing under the custom pergola” Monica and Garth Vernon (17th Avenue NE) – “an oasis of dappled sunlight and the quiet sounds of babbling water” Alice and Dennis Crowley (9th Avenue NE) – “plenty of beauty in a small space…set up to be homey and useable” Maggie and Kent Mitchell (9th Avenue NE) – “a magical outdoor maze of rooms” Tonya and Jim Strubbe (Cherry Street NE) – “every useable square inch of space wrapping around the house is the canvas”
Thanks
To those businesses which served as Ticket Outlets: Bloom Garden Shop – 3005 S. MacDill Avenue, Tampa Dolin’s Garden Center – 801 62nd Avenue N Jene’s Tropical Fruit Trees – 6831 Central Avenue Marion’s – 1301 4th Street N Savannas Nursery – 2601 34th Street S Twigs and Leaves – 1031 MLK, Jr, Street S
NARI Regional Contractor of the Year Awards-Region II
1st Place Residential Interior Remodeling over $100,000
NARI Florida West Coast Remodeling Awards
1st Place Residential Kitchen $30,000-$60,000 1st Place Residential Bath $30,000-$60,000 1st Place Residential Interior Over $100,000
While winning awards is nice, it is the satisfaction of every customer that means the most to us. www.strobeldesignbuild.com 727.321.5588
STROBEL
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DESIGN. BUILD.
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
STROLL SPONSORS
Please tell them you know they were a sponsor and thank them for their support of our neighborhood.
Platinum
RE-Max Metro Real Estate 201 2nd Avenue N, 896-1800
Gold
Alpine Tree Service 895-8733 Pondscapes 4213 Manhattan Avenue S, Tampa, 813/839-8062 Sekas Custom Pools 4635 4th Street N, 522-2300 Tommy Todd Landscape & Design 5017 Haines Road, 526-6459 Yutzy Tree Service 541-5616
Silver
Alternative Therapy 2525 4th Street N, 822-9220 Bloom Garden Shop 3005 S. McDill Avenue, Tampa, 813/805-2151 Bob Lee’s Tire Company 1631 4th Street N, 822-3981 Dolin’s Garden Center 801 62nd Avenue N, 525-3434 Fourth Street Shrimp Store 1006 4th Street N, 822-0325 Gas Plant Antique Arcade 1246 Central Avenue, 894-8611 Gulf Coast Garden Center 4355 Haines Road, 522-3074 Homes by Helen 656 15th Avenue NE, 895-4353 Interior Motives 1110 Central Avenue, 898-6061 Joe Taylors Oriental Rugs & Antiques 1032 4th Street N, 822-7900 LightScape Landscape Lighting 527-1817 Mariner Car Wash 3338 4th Street N, 895-9274 Northeast Animal Hospital 1401 4th Street N, 822-8501 Northeast Chiropractic Center 4200 4th Street N, 521-0236 Paciugo Gelati 300 Beach Drive, 209-0298 PCM Construction Management 813/282-0726 RoCo Traders - Home & Garden Decor 2115 Central Avenue, 895-8922 Salon Jim Botts 2401 4th Street N, 896-0412 Savannah’s Café 1113 Central Avenue, 388-4371 The Treehouse Gallery 2835 22nd Avenue N, 328-3606 Uncorked Fine Wines & Accessories 2706 4th Street N, 892-9463 Vernon & Vernon Accountants 424 22nd Avenue N, 393-1922
Individual and Business Tax Returns Small Business Accounting & Consulting
Monica M. Vernon • Garth A. Vernon
St. Petersburg 424 22nd Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33704 Seminole 7700 Seminole Blvd, Ste 200, Seminole, FL 33772
(727) 393-1922 office • (727) 392-3266 fax
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Page 13
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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Spring Stroll
SNAPSHOTS
with thanks to Susan Alderson
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Page 15
PORCH
PAR ARTIES PARTIES
Porch Parties are held the third Friday of the month from 7:30-10pm (except December). Porch Parties are strictly social and provide and informal and fun way to mix and mingle with your neighbors. Bring your own beverage. Cups, ice and light snacks are provided. Ask a neighbor to ride or walk over with you. For more info, contact Julie Feeley (822-4969; [email protected]).
ou’re Y d Invite
June 20th Drexey Smith and Carlton Rowell 1101 11th Avenue N July 18th Jay and Barbara Marshall 225 8th Avenue NE August 15th Bob and Linda Dobbs 2296 Coffee Pot Boulevard NE (Corner of 23rd Avenue)
Maybe It’s Time for You to Throw a Block Party!
Back in April over 100 residents (and nearby neighbors and invited guests) on 14th Avenue NE between Cherry and Poplar gathered for what was their seventh annual April block party. Meg Earle organized it, and the affair was BYOB with everyone asked to bring a dish or snacks to share. Come Halloween they’ll do it again. Also in April, neighbors around 11th and Beach Drive NE enjoyed a “verandah” party at the Wm Gordon House. Organized by host Gordon Powers, it was a slight variation on the block party he threw a few years ago that was held on the street between Beach and Cherry. If you decide you’d like to throw a block party and want to block off your street, you’ll have to go through the Police Department to get a permit and pay a small fee. If that sounds like too much trouble, then consider using your front porch and lawn area (and maybe the next door neighbor’s) as the staging area. Either way, it’s a great way to put some meaning behind the concepts of “neighborhood” and “community.”
Property Transfers
Following is a listing of recent property transfers in our North Shore neighborhood. The individuals listed are new owners of the properties cited but not necessarily the residents of those properties. The properties are listed in chronological avenue and chronological and alphabetical street order. If any of these folks live near you, make sure you welcome them to the neighborhood.
237 7th Avenue N 157 8th Avenue N 351 10th Avenue NE Christa Traviesa Frank Cowan Glenn Mitchell and Gaye Bosley-Mitchell 120 11th Avenue N Jeffrey and Debra Mossoff 605 14th Avenue NE Kevin and Jeanne Milkey 546 15th Avenue NE David Crippen 636 18th Avenue NE Joan Parish 806 18th Avenue NE Angela Landers 195 20th Avenue N Lynn Wolf 207 28th Avenue N C.Guy and Carol Hancock 2130 Cherry Street NE John and Kirsten Miller 2514 Coffee Pot Blvd NE Alan and Beatrice French
Compiled from records by the Florida New Business Report.
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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Let There Be... Acorn Street Lighting
HONNA invites you to drive down 1st Street from 21 Avenue to 10th Avenue N/NE to enjoy the decorative acorn street lighting which provides additional lighting and historic character to the our neighborhood. Street lighting improvements were identified in HONNA’s 2002 Pictorial Survey of The Old Northeast as a neighborhood priority and then pursued through City of St. Petersburg’s Neighborhood Partnership Grants program. City grants along with credited service hours contributed by residents involved in neighborhood projects plus cash matches from HONNA have made these acorn lights possible. The final segment of this project along 1st Street N/NE from 10th Avenue to 9th Avenue will require an additional $9,700, which the association unfortunately is unable to fund at this time. If you have any information about a funding source or would like to make a donation toward this, please contact Mary Alice Lange at 251-2034 or [email protected]. Plan a drive along this stretch of 1st Street after dark and notice the wonderful difference made by this special lighting.
st
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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Thinking in
Purple
“What the caterpillar thinks is the end of the world, the butterfly knows is only the beginning.”
Anonymous refusing to relinquish control as your child matures can cause problems. As children grow up, they want and deserve incremental amounts of autonomy. But some parents, out of fear, refuse to make the shift, creating problems for everyone. When acting as authority figures, we tell our children what to do and we expect their compliance. We’re expected to have the answers, and in the event that we don’t, we seek out an expert to advise us. This parenting style includes giving orders and is built on the dynamics of control and power. We act as our children’s “boss,” and they listen to us because we know better. If you’ve used this style for most of your child’s life, take some time to evaluate how well this has worked. Systematic Training for Effective Parenting by Don Dinkmeyer and Gary McKay is a valuable resource if you need some assistance in this area. A parental coaching style evolves from the belief that the power in the relationship should be shared. This doesn’t mean that the parent loses all authority. You can still set limits and boundaries, but you treat your young adult as a young adult, with all the respect and autonomy she deserves. The parent as coach is an empathetic mentor, making suggestions, sharing information and listening to your young person’s concerns and issues. You can admit to him that the two of you do not agree on a particular issue. You can point out the pros and cons and then step back while he tries to sort through this. You are there to give advice, not to be “the one with all the answers”! This style of parenting teaches the young person to think on his own and to take responsibility for his actions. The parent is there, like the mother bird, to perform damage control and maximize the young one’s ability to survive and thrive. The young person, not the parent, is responsible for the outcome. Contact Barbara or Annette at Transitions and You, Inc. 727/ 826-6807 or visit their website at www.transitionsandyou.com. Read their blog – transitioningparents.blogspot.com
by Barbara Rhode, LMFT
Barbara Rhode is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who provides trainings and workshops to corporations and nonprofits on wellness and life balance. She lives in a very purple house in The Old Northeast, a place where she contemplates in shades of “purple.”
Navigating the “Letting Go” Path
An excerpt from Blast Off – Launching your Child to College & Beyond by Barbara Rhode, L.M.F.T. & Annette Reiter, LMFT
Launching your child won’t be the easiest journey you ever take, but we can offer a few tips to smooth the way. Resist the urge to control. The nature of the parenting process turns most adults into authority figures. Raising young children puts you in the driver’s seat, a necessary position for their survival and well-being. But
Renewing a Tradition in Renewing an Old Tradition in The Historic Old Northeast Old Northeast The Historic
Neighborhood Children’s Parade Neighborhood Children’s Parade
Friday, July 4th 9:30-11:30am
Meeta
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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Your Home Companion
Professional Dependable Compassionate Providing companionship and non-medical services to adults, at-risk elders and the physically challenged to remain at home comfortably and independently.
You’re just a stroll from a wonderful worship experience!
Join us Sunday mornings:
Communion Worship 8:00 a.m., Sanctuary Wrestling with God— Transformational Worship 9:01 a.m. Fellowship Hall Church School for All Ages 9:45 a.m., classrooms Worship with Choir 11:00 a.m., Sanctuary
Professional child care available all morning The mission of First Presbyterian Church is to equip God's people to know, love and serve God as revealed in Jesus Christ.
You may contact us via phone (727) 388-1698 fax (727) 388-6679 or inline at www.yourhomecompanion.com
701 Beach Drive N.E. St. Petersburg (727) 822-2031 www.fpc-stpete.org
(727) 895-4353
Cell: (727) 480-0916 Fax: (727) 895-3242 E-mail: [email protected]
www.homesbyheleninc.com "From the Bay to the Gulf, from listing to closing, I will be there every step of the way to ensure that your buying or selling experience is a great one."
Helen Torres
Licensed Real Estate Broker
GRI-CRS-SRES-LTG
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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Preserving the Character of Old Northeast Houses
by Mike Dailey
Spring Historic Walking Tour
Under cloudy April skies and with rain threatening, Rob Wertz led a walking tour of about 20 people — and one Welsh Corgi — through Granada Terrace and The Old Northeast, looking at classic examples of Mediterranean Revival, Monterey and modern style houses. We started our tour at the “Venetian Docks” at 23rd Avenue NE and Coffee Pot Boulevard. Before we started our walk, Rob spoke to the group about house styles and about the history of Granada Terrace and its founder, North Shore developer C. Perry Snell, who strived to build an exclusive waterfront subdivision of Italian, Spanish and Moorish-style houses. These styles are now categorized as Mediterranean Revival, or “Med Rev,” and feature eclectic details such as plaques, medallions, cast concrete columns, stucco walls and flat roofs mixed with pitched red tile sections. Many Med Rev houses show lavish attention to the front entry. After listening to Rob speak about the history of Granada Terrace, we headed across Coffee Pot Boulevard to our first stop, the Louis I. Raquet house (Photo 1). Also called “Granada Gables,” this house is considered by some architectural historians to be the finest example of Med Rev architecture in the Granada Terrace Local Historic District and is undergoing a thorough restoration by its owner, one that includes the reconstruction of its original steel casement windows. After taking a peek at the fountain inside the home’s courtyard adjacent to the entry tower and admiring the round stair tower on the side of the house, we trooped off to our next stop, passing by several old and
Photo 1
new imposing Med Rev houses on the way. Plaza Andalusia, at the intersection of 23rd Avenue NE and Andalusia Way, is composed of four pergola-type structures in a cruciform shape with a false well at the center, decorated with the signs of the zodiac. (Photo 2) Rob explained that the structure was designed as a picturesque addition to the neighborhood, not an actual working well. We waited out a brief rain shower under the heavy bougainvillea draping the pergola’s rafters, then looked at a series of smaller Med Rev homes on Andalusia Way that displayed excellent proportion and detailing. A brand new Med Rev house with a Realtor’s sign in front recently replaced a historic house that reportedly had fallen into disrepair and had to be demolished. At Plaza Valencia (Andalusia Way at 25th Avenue NE), a large white urn on a stepped base was built as a focal point for nearby houses. From this intersection we saw our first modern home, a low-slung ranch with a rakish two-story section at the rear, peeking over the ridgeline. A quick trip down Brevard Road from Plaza Valencia to 23rd Avenue yielded an impressive collection of Med
Photo 2
Photo 3
Rev homes, including one that belonged to Lillian Snell, one of Perry Snell’s ex-wives. Back on 23rd Avenue NE we headed west from Plaza Andalusia
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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
and viewed a series of excellent Med Rev houses lining both sides of the broad street. Near 1st Street a Moorish-style house, complete with gold-domed roof, captured our attention and provoked some discussion about the originality of its color scheme while we enjoyed a break with snacks and beverages provided by the tour committee. (Photo 3) After our refreshments, Rob led the group across 1st Street, out of Granada Terrace and into the tree-shaded streets of the surrounding Old Northeast to look at a couple of examples of Monterey and modern-style houses. The streets in this part of
Photo 5
right across from each other. A Monterey is easily spotted by its second floor hanging balcony flanked at one end by a wing. (Photo 5) This style was popular here from the 1930s to the ‘50s and is named for the Spanish Colonial houses in California. Our examples in The Old Northeast tend to look more Colonial Revival in their details. The Old Northeast Walks historic walking tours are free and organized twice per year, in the spring and fall. You can see pictures from our latest tour online at www.flickr.com/photos/ oldnortheastwalks or a slideshow of the tour at www.honna.org. We hope to see you for our next walk.
Photo 4
Mike, an Old Northeast resident since 1996, holds a Master of Architecture degree from the University of South Florida. the neighborhood aren’t as historically consistent, but with their overhanging tree canopies they do make for a pleasant walk. Here we saw mostly Craftsman and Ranch-style houses, and an intriguing two-story brick house with a green tiled roof that displayed a number of stylistic influences in one house. (Photo 4) We walked up to 4th Street to take a look at the historic Fire Station No. 4, a fine example of Streamline Moderne style built in 1947. An addition built in the ‘90s is practically indistinguishable from the original. Heading down 26th Avenue N we finally got our chance to see the elusive Monterey-style — there are two on that street,
New Members
Wendy and John Accardi .................. 15th Avenue NE John and Susan Arsenault .................. 7th Avenue NE Gaye Bosley-Mitchell and Glenn Mitchell ............................... 10th Avenue NE Vince Bowen and Rebecca Lemmon ............................. 1st Street N Bob Flannery ........................................ 6th Avenue N Sally Knox .......................................... 28th Avenue N Mark and Julie Lawson ....................... 16th Avenue N Frank Lewis and Susan Lewis ........... 15th Avenue NE Tracey and Kenny Locke .................. 15th Avenue NE Tonya and James Strubbe ............. Cherry Street NE Frances Wilson ................................ 19th Avenue NE
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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A Work In Progress
Each issue of this newsletter introduces you to a neighborhood house which has recently or is presenting undergoing a major renovation. Perhaps some of the trials and tribulations (and joys!) experienced by these homeowners will give you ideas and inspiration as you consider a renovation or your present home. Maybe you’ll be motivated to bite the bullet and purchase that next house you’ve been thinking about. If you’d like to share your renovation story or know of a neighbor with a good one, let us hear from you.
This Old House… or This New House??
by Peter Stanhope
One of my favorite memories was watching PBS with my folks. Our favorite show, “This Old House,” was produced in Boston. Over a series of weeks, we enjoyed watching the evolution of a house restoration. I loved the history, and was fascinated by the craftsmanship employed preserving these wonderful northeastern properties. I was reminded of this memory as I spent an afternoon visiting with Maureen Stafford. She is restoring the property located at 756 Bay Street NE. This property is significant to the history of St. Petersburg. Built in 1913, it was the home of Aymer and Stella Laughner. Mr. Laughner was responsible for developing many of the properties in The Historic Old Northeast as well as the Vinoy Hotel. Essentially the home had remained intact. It had gone through several modifications over the years with additions added in the 1920s as well as a carriage house. At some point, the lot was subdivided and the portion on the south side was sold. When Maureen purchased the house it had been empty for several years and suffered from deferred maintenance and neglect. It also had been condemned. While most people would buy it for the corner lot and demolish it, Maureen had the vision of what the house could be if restored to its original grandeur. She gutted it to the studs. This enabled her to do forensic research on the property and replace the structural integrity of the building. Most of the original floors were saved. The foundation and piers were reworked with original materials. Maureen Above: Before restoration began Below: A work in progress... salvaged floors, joists, windows, and fixtures from period homes that have been destroyed. She remilled the wood and was able to use it in this property. The period brick used for the foundation, chimney and front porch was salvaged from another site. She blended it with the original onsite to create a seamless look. She restored all the windows and replaced the sills that were cut off for aluminum siding. No expense was spared to make this property historically accurate. However, I was fortunate to see it before the walls went up, and it revealed modern technology as well. New wiring and a central vacuum system on all floors, cable for television, the Internet and a sound system, thermostatically controlled heating and air conditioning with separate zones, new plumbing throughout and foam insulation are all hidden behind the walls and ceilings. The fireplaces were all rebuilt. Luxurious bathrooms were added as well as laundry facilities. With the use of recycled materials and the implementing the best practices of green technology, this preservation is historic and energy efficient. In addition to the main house, the carriage house has been
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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
restored. This was the first item completed so Maureen was able to live in the carriage house while overseeing the preservation of the main house. This charming space is filled with light from its many windows. The open floor plan of the kitchen, dining room and living room is reminiscent of a cabin in the sky. Just off the kitchen a small private deck offers a place for enjoying the outdoors with a cup of tea. This “Work in Progress” has been ongoing for three years and the end date is fast approaching. For those of us who enjoy the evolution of property preservation, the end result is bittersweet. It means this series will end, but the prospect of a new beginning remains exciting.
Peter and his partner Marc moved to Florida in 1997 from their home in the historic German Village section of Columbus, OH. Peter offers renovation and interior design services. He may be contacted at PeterStanhope.com
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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“Just “Jus t The Right Number”
Here are some phone numbers you may need in order to make your life a little easier: City Hall ............................................................. 893-7171 Mayor’s Office .................................................... 893-7201 Mayor’s Action Center ......................................... 893-7111 City Council ....................................................... 893-7117 Police (non-emergency) ..................................... 893-7780 Community Police Officer ................................... 892-5933 Codes compliance/enforcement/ assistance .......................................................... 893-7373 Remodeling permits ............................................ 893-7231 Fence permits .................................................... 893-7231 Neighborhood Design Review ............................. 893-7257 Historic Preservation/Urban Design . 894-7491 or 893-7153 Planning/zoning .................................................. 893-7471 Neighborhood traffic/parking ............................... 893-7843 Junk/debris/brush collection (alley) .......................... 893-7398 Overgrown property ............................................ 893-7373 Water/sewer problems ........................................ 893-7261 Street maintenance ............................................. 893-7421 Sidewalk repair .................................................. 893-7850 Tree removal/trim (on city property) ........................ 893-7298 Graffiti ................................................................ 893-7394 Mulch (free) ........................................................ 893-7398 Rodent control (free) ........................................... 893-7360 Animal services (loose dogs) ............................. 582-2600 Street Light Out (Progress Energy) ..................................... 800/228-8485 Park Light Out .................................................... 893-7335 Bus schedules .................................................... 530-9911 Senior services .................................................. 893-7101 Library (main) ..................................................... 893-7724 Mirror Lake branch ........................................... 893-7268 County Commissioners ....................................... 464-3000 County building department ................................. 464-3241 Property taxes .................................................... 582-7771 Senator Mel Martinez .................................... 407/254-2573 Senator Bill Nelson ...................................... 407/872-7161 Congressman Bill Young ..................................... 893-3191
ON THE DOCKET:
Some Upcoming Events In and Nearby Our Neighborhood
For a current and more detailed listing go to the City’s website at www.stpete.org
June 6 June 6 June 7 June 7 June 8 June 11 June 14 June 14 -15 June 14 June 15 St. Pete Shuffle Shuffleboard Courts; 822-2083. Get Downtown Music Series Central b/w 2nd-3rd; 393-3597 AWAPS Pancake Breakfast Albert Whitted Airport; 822-1532 ROV Workshop - FISH-ful Saturday The Pier; 895-7437. Music Fest on the Water The Pier; 631-6443. Oldies But Goodies Dance The Pier; 631-6443. Gallery Walk Downtown galleries; 821-6767 Tampa Bay Caribbean Carnival Vinoy Park; 327-1277. International Young Eagles Day Albert Whitted Park; 822-1532 Music Fest on the Water The Pier; 631-6443 JUNE 16 NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING June 19 Juneteenth Candlelight Vigil in observance of African-American Emancipation Day Spa Beach; 743-6792 JUNE 20 PORCH PARTY (see p. 16) June 21 Hurricanes - FISH-ful Saturday The Pier; 895-7437 June 22 Music Fest on the Water The Pier; 631-6443 June 25 Oldies But Goodies Dance The Pier; 631-6443 June 27 4th Fridays in Grand Central 1st Ave N-1st Ave S from 19th-31st Street; 328-7086 June 28 St. Pete GLBT Pride Grand Central District, Central b/w 21st-28th Streets; 388-9435 June 29 Music Fest on the Water The Pier; 631-6443 July 5 Survey Mark Hunting - FISH-ful Saturday The Pier; 895-7437. July 6 Share the Road Ride (for bicycle awareness and safety) North Shore Pool; 582-1910. July 17 35th Anniversary Sunrise Sale Throughout downtown; www.stpetedowntownbiz.com JULY 18 PORCH PARTY (see p. 16) July 19 Boat Building - FISH-ful Saturday The Pier; 895-7437 JULY 21 NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING July The Vans Warped Tour 2008 Vinoy Park; 896-2276. Aug.13 Old Salt Loop Billfish Tournament -17 Off Spa Beach; 497-1060 AUGUST 15 PORCH PARTY (see p. 16) Aug.22 4th Fridays in Grand Central 1st Ave N-1st Ave S from 19th-31st Street; 328-7086
Check out our newly revamped website www.honna.org
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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
In Case You Missed It: Updates and Follow Ups
Keeping You Current on Some Neighborhood Stories That Have Been in the News
First Presbyterian Church now has a new pastor – Rev. David Hosick. Coming to St. Pete from North Carolina, he is set to begin his ministry here on June 1st. He is succeeding Rev. Chuck Jones, who left in June 2005 after 10 years of service here. [source: St. Petersburg Times, 4/20] The Rally service station at 22nd Avenue N and 4th Street – also known as the Old Northeast Garage – was under the Times’ spotlight for its institution of a $3 fee for pulling up to its fullservice pumps. Drive up, honk your horn and someone will rush out to take care of you. Down the street at Bob Lee’s Tires three full-time employees are ready to pump gas and check tires for no extra fee even though, as one of the owners notes, they make maybe 10 cents a gallon profit on gasoline sales. [source: St. Petersburg Times, 4/11] If you haven’t seen any of the missing dog signs for Pooh Bear, neighbor Patricia Bonati’s lost bichon frise, then you really haven’t been paying any attention to your surroundings. Over 600 small signs and 15 large ones have dotted the neighborhood and beyond, offering a reward of $5,000 for her return. Patricia lost the dog during an early morning walk in Vinoy
Park in April. The City has removed some of the signs because they were placed on city land, which is a no-no….even for a beloved lost pooch. As one reader wrote to the newspaper (5/7), dog owners really need to keep their pets on leashes, which is City law. [source: St. Petersburg Times, 4/30, 5/6, 5/7]
TIM RHODE
HONNA Board Meetings
are held the second Monday of each month at 6:30pm and are open to the public.
A R C H I T E C T
Specializing in Residential Design Renovations, Additions and New Homes
Call for a Consultation visit to your home.
Web Site trhode.com 727-823-1566
AR12159
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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How Does Your Garden Grow?
by Yvonne Swanson -- Master Gardener
short, they can easily burn in the summer. Make sure mower blades are sharp. 3. Don’t fertilize or use chemical herbicides, especially when there isn’t ample rainfall. Your plants will need more water. Use organic fertilizer or compost and spray plants with a strong blast of water to remove pests. 4. Mulch garden beds and remove weeds. Mulch up to three inches thick in garden beds, but away from plant stems and trunks. Recycled mulch is free at several Pinellas County recycling centers, and many gardeners claim it’s superior to bagged mulch from the garden center. 5. Consider watering alternatives, including a low-volume irrigation system, rain barrels to collect rain from gutter downspouts and polymer-based additives mixed into the soil. There are addons for irrigation systems to reduce water use, including timers that analyze weather data and adjust water flow, sensors that measure soil moisture and Internet-enabled systems that analyze water use, weather and individual plant needs. 6. Eliminate the No. 1 culprit in mosquito infestations — standing water (where they lay their eggs). If you can’t dry it up, add cooking oil or B.t.i. (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis), a naturally occurring bacteria (Mosquito Dunks are one brand name), to standing water to kill mosquito larvae. Don’t spray with an allpurpose bug killer; you’ll not only kill mosquitoes, but all beneficial bugs, too. Experts say your best defense is to run an outdoor-rated fan that creates enough of a breeze to blow mosquitoes away (they are notoriously poor fliers). If they’re still a problem, use a repellant containing DEET (30% concentration for adults and 10% for children), Picaridin (such as Cutter Advanced) or oil of lemon eucalyptus (Repel). 7. Prepare your yard for hurricane season. Remove hazardous trees and properly prune others by thinning out thick canopies and removing dead wood and unsafe branches. Never “top” a tree the way a hedge is cut and don’t give palms a “hurricane cut.” Only fronds that are completely brown or pose a safety risk should be cut. Remove dead limbs from shrubs and other plants. Clean gutters and downspouts. Remove debris from your yard 8. Be a smart consumer. If you need to hire professional help, get written bids from several contractors. Check references and ask to see certificates of personal and property liability insurance and worker’s compensation. Avoid contractors who advertise “hurricane cuts” and “tree topping.” Usually you get what you pay for, so don’t hire a contractor based on price alone. Always pay by check or credit card, and never pay for the entire job up-front.
Yvonne Swanson is a Master Gardener for Pinellas County. She also writes a garden column for the St. Petersburg Times.
Summer Checklist
Summer’s almost here and that means plenty of heat, humidity, scorching sun, summer rains and the potential for mosquito infestations. For those who like to spend time outdoors gardening, that scenario is less than appealing. You can make the most of summer if you tackle outdoor jobs the smart way and are prepared for whatever Mother Nature has in store. Here’s a summer gardening checklist to keep you busy – even during the dog days of summer: 1. Help your stressed yard survive our recent drought. As we go to press, it’s been weeks since we’ve had rainfall. Until regular rainfall begins, water deeply so that plants develop a strong root system. The general rule of thumb is one inch of water per week, but some plants and containers may require more. 2. Mow lawns at the highest setting. If grass blades are too
The Old Northeast Garden Club
meets the first Friday of each month
For information please contact Marilyn Johnson at 553-9155 or e-mail: [email protected]
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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Remodeling • Residential & Commercial Construction
2350 26th St. North • St. Petersburg, FL 33713-4329 (727) 327-3366 • FAX (727) 327-9211 [email protected] • www.herrcontracting.com Lic. CG-C058023
Kathe B. Bierhoff
“WE WILL REACH YOUR FITNESS GOALS” ANY CONVENIENT LOCATION: HOME, OFFICE, GYM OR PARK
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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Next Neighborhood Meeting: Monday, June 16th, at 7pm
All neighborhood residents invited
Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association P.O. Box 76324 St. Petersburg, FL 33734
www.honna.org PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ST. PETERSBURG FL PERMIT #1020
IN THIS ISSUE
• Garden Stroll • Neighborhood Plan • Out Buildings • Block Parties
...and much more
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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
