Old Northeast Neighborhood News - September 2006

Historic

Published Quarterly

Old Northeast Neighborhood News
www.honna.org

Volume 33 Issue 3
IN THIS ISSUE
Change Comes to BeachDrive ......... Page 2 Christmas Already?! .......................... Page 6 Traffic Tribulations .... Page 8 Weeds, Shoots and Leaves .............. Page 14 Greeks Bearing Mousaka .......... Page 16 Thinking In Purple ............... Page 22

September 2006

The President’s Perspective
Association President

Cathy Martin

HONNA Neighborhood Meetings
are held the third Monday of each month except December (holiday party in lieu) at Westminster Presbyterian Church 126 11th Avenue NE 6:45 p.m., social 7:00 p.m., business
HONNA Board Meetings for 2006 are held the second Monday of each month at 7pm and are open to the public.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

Mark your calendar!

September 15th General Meeting October 16th General Meeting November 20th General Meeting/ Election of New Board

In the next few months, The Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association will begin a membership drive. Although every homeowner in the neighborhood receives this newsletter and is welcome to attend general membership meetings, membership in the A few of the reasons we love association is not automatic and our neighborhood requires both enrollment and renewal right now, you can pay payment of dues. either $20 (for membership beBenefits of membership intween now and the end of the clude: year) or $30 (for membership + Advance e-mail notice of from now until the end of 2007). meetings with developers, City If your membership is curstaff, and other important oprent, it will expire on December portunities. If you were ever a 31, 2006. Membership for 2007 member of the association, you for your household is $20, and may still be on the e-mail noyou may pay now or you may tice list. However, if your wait until January, whichever membership has lapsed this you prefer. drive is an opportunity to upWhile involvement in the date your membership and esneighborhood certainly doesn’t tablish your active status on depend on involvement in the asour notification list. Once a sociation, the association uses new and current e-mail notifimembership dues as well as cation list is established, it will money raised through various consist only of current memactivities to benefit the entire ber households. neighborhood. Although your + In the future, special isdues go into the general revenue sues of the newsletter will inof the organization and are used clude directories of advertisers, as necessary for matching grant cottage industries and service programs — like the acorn lightproviders — like pet sitters, for ing you see on 1st Street — for example — around the neighstart-up funds for the Spring borhood and the City. To be inGarden Stroll and the Candlelight cluded as either a recipient or Tour of Homes, for this newsto have a listing, you must be letter and other operating expenses, you can dian association member. rect additional contributions to specific neighbor+ In order to vote and elect the HONNA board hood activities. – and serve on the board! — you must be an The membership enrollment card that you will association member. receive this month will also provide you with an From now on, membership will be on a calencontinued on page 15 dar year basis.ISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS H So, if your membership requires Page 1

Editor’s Prerogative

Rick Carson

Editor

Watching Your Back
Seismic changes are taking place on 5th Avenue (and the downtown) to our south and along 4th Street N to the west. Large buildings are changing hands with futures uncertain, small older properties are ripe for the plucking and what’s here today well may be gone tomorrow. Meanwhile, while this frenetic activity is grabbing our attention are we missing the transformation already underway on Beach Drive on our east? An eight-unit townhome complex is planned for the northwest corner of Beach Drive and 5th. Much of the remainder of the 500 block of Beach – including the Vinoy House B&B, the house next door and adjoining land – went on the market earlier this year. Two newly-constructed contemporary townhomes sit on the 600 block. There’s a For Sale sign on the southwest corner of 8th and Beach (the greenspace and Villa Serena apartment building). The now-closed-and-empty North Shore retirement apartment tower on the 900 block may be refurbished or possibly converted into condos. A five townhome project is in the early planning stages at the northeast corner of 11th and Beach. continued on page 31

Above: Beach Drive and 11th Avenue NE Below: Beach Drive and 8th Avenue NE

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 Mike Dailey Peter Stanhope David Forman Susan Alderson Yvonne Swanson John Gee Linda Dobbs Circulation Contributors Newsletter Layout & Design Advertising Information

Chuck Lindeen Lisa Mazinas Barbara Rhode

Quinn Henderson and Joe O’Connor All our Old Northeast neighbors Sharon Bond: [email protected] Rachel Sartain: [email protected]

Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association
President Cathy Martin 821-8656 [email protected] Vice President Chuck Lindeen 822-8444 [email protected] Secretary Anne-Marie Stephenson 897-9398 [email protected] Treasurer Douglas Haan 488-5514 [email protected] Directors Julia Brazier 403-2237 [email protected] Rick Carson 898-7834 [email protected] Bob Dobbs 823-9824 [email protected] Nicole Durkin [email protected] Quinn Henderson 894-2222 [email protected] Bob Hunter 898-7987 [email protected] Brian Johnson 391-9756 [email protected] Mary Alice Lange 251-2034 [email protected] Virginia Littrell 823-9042 Wendy Mansfield 894-1057 [email protected] Robin Reed 825-0480 [email protected] HONNA Board meetings are held the second Monday of each month at 7pm and are open to the public. Check with HONNA for the location.

OFFICERS and BOARD

Business card 1/4 page (4.75" x 3.5") 1/2 page (9.5" x 3.5") Full page Single page insert*

AD SIZE

AD RATES
1Qtr 40 80 160 320 220

2 Qtrs 74 147 294 589 440

3 Qtrs 102 204 408 816 660

1 Year 128 256 512 1024 880

*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 November 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.

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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Association News & Activities
Monthly Meeting Overviews
Secretary
The June monthly meeting provided residents with updates on various committee activities and developments within the neighborhood [see committee reports below]. It was announced that Julia Brazier and Virginia Littrell have been appointed by the Board to fill vacancies. State House candidate Liz McCallum made a brief presentation about her candidacy. Windows were the topic of the July meeting. Don Strobel and Chris Lenz of Strobel Building, Inc., made the presentation which was an overview of different style windows common in the neighborhood, what types are appropriate, how old windows can be repaired and what the options are for replacements (e.g., wood, vinyl). A portion of the discussion was devoted to storm protection for windows including various types of shutters (e.g., Bahama, roll down, accordion), steel/aluminum panels, fabric nets and film. The was no meeting in August. • To protect your property from a house being built that is three times the size of all the other houses on your block. Just think... three of our City’s treasures — the Vinoy, Sunken Gardens and Albert Whitted — would have been lost forever had we not fought to protect and preserve them. With rampantly rising land values and encroaching development from downtown, each of us must make this choice. Don’t let someone else decide for you. Take a stand and vote!

Anne-Marie Stephenson

Neighborhood Planning and Design Review
As presented at the general membership meeting in July, the Board of Directors approved filing an application for a fiscal year 2007 Neighborhood Partnership Grant which was submitted last month. The grant was filed to extend the decorative acorn street lighting along 1st Street N/NE from 17th Avenue to just south of 14th Avenue. If approved, 11 additional lights will be installed along 1st Street. The HONNA Matching Grant funding will be fulfilled with a $15,000 cash match and $10,000 in volunteer service surveying and reporting burnt out street lighting and maintaining the gateway entry monuments and cornerstones throughout the neighborhood. If you are interested in volunteering for the matching grant portion please contact me at 251-2034. The proposed Land Development Regulations for the City of St. Petersburg will be presented to City Council later this year. After the hearing the proposed regulations will be submitted to Pinellas County and the State of Florida for final review. Many new projects are being proposed along The Old Northeast’s borders and within the interior of the neighborhood. Some of these projects include: redevelopment along 4th Street N with a new multi-tenant retail building at 12th Avenue with the corner tenant unit being a Tropical Smoothie; improvements and expansion of the Rally Gas Station at 22nd Avenue; preservation of and addition to the home at 2420 Andalusia Way NE; five luxury townhouses with water views as Merecido Townhomes at 1101 Beach Drive NE; and improvements and redevelopment of the Brown Nash Building, most recently known as the 4th Street Antique Arcade. If you would like additional information about these projects please contact me at 251-2034. Julia Brazier has recently joined the Board of Directors and will be transitioning into the position of Chair of the Neighborhood Design Review Committee.

Mary Alice Lange, Chair

Committee Reports
Historic Preservation
The Neighborhood Association is continuing its efforts to get out the vote in the Local Historic District campaign. Although over half the eligible households have voted – with 80% of those voting in favor of the designation – that is not enough. Recently, a letter went out to non-voting residents and ballots are currently being returned. If you have not yet voted, it is important to voice your opinion, keeping in mind that the Association is pursuing designation for the following reasons: • To protect your property from residents who want to demolish or make inappropriate changes to their houses, thereby reducing the value of your home. Our National Register designation will NOT protect your property. • To protect your property from new cookie-cutter houses and condos like the typical Florida suburb.
Have you been to a

Robin Reed, Chair

Porch Party
yet? See page 19 for the upcoming schedule
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Page 3

Did you know? Each and every day most of us drive by one of more “identity elements” that link us to our neighborhood and each other. Do you know how the gateway entry monuments and cornerstones were conceived and constructed in the neighborhood? In the late 1980s during the development of the North Shore Neighborhood Plan, many residents asked, “Where does the neighborhood begin and end and who lives in the neighborhood?” As you know, the boundaries of The Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association (formerly known as the North Shore Neighborhood Association) stretches from the north side of 5th Avenue to the south side of 30th Avenue, from the east side of 4th Street to the water of Tampa Bay and Coffee Pot Bayou.

Crime and Safety

Before the year is out you will be receiving from the Crime and Safety Committee an information sheet to complete and return which will provide the committee with contact numbers and other data. This will enable us to better communicate with you about crime and criminal activity which may be occurring near your residence as well as help inform you in the event of an emergency such as an approaching hurricane. When you receive this material we hope you will look it over and return the completed form to us.

Brian Johnson, Chair

Traffic

The Neighborhood Plan was adopted in August 1990 after many months of walking the neighborhood every Saturday, holding neighborhood-wide meetings, attending City Council public hearings and numerous mailings to the homeowners. The “identity element” of the Plan proposed the gateway entry monuments and cornerstones. After many mailings to property owners and numerous public hearings, these monuments and cornerstones were purchased with a one-time tax of $35 from each of all the property owners within the neighborhood. This money was used in conjunction with other funding to construct and install the monuments and cornerstones. The maintenance of the monuments and cornerstones is the responsibility of the Neighborhood Association. As you drive by these monuments and cornerstones please consider volunteering to weed and water these elements that link us all together in one neighborhood. To volunteer, please call 251-2034.

I am happy to report that the City has begun installing the new, neighborhood-wide 25mph speed limit signs. From what I understand, south of 10th Avenue has been completed and approximately 10-15 signs are being installed per day until the remainder of the neighborhood is complete. Watch your speed as this speed limit applies to residents and visitors alike! In order to address the anticipated traffic impacts to the area surrounding the “Rally” redevelopment project at the corner of 22nd Avenue N and 4th Street, HONNA was able to secure developer and City cooperation to implement a number of traffic-calming measures which have been a part of our neighborhood traffic plan since 2004. These measures include the construction of a landscaped median on 21st Avenue N and raised brick cross-walks. Additionally, speed humps at each end of the east/west alley between 22nd and 21st and signage will be installed. All traffic-calming measures referenced above, except for the landscape median which will be constructed simultaneously with the development project, will be fully constructed by the end of the year. The City has also recently confirmed it is proceeding with the engineering of further traffic-calming measures for implementation at the traffic circle on 1st Street N in order to correct operational issues and make it more functional and safe for pedestrians. A timeframe for construction of such measures, which will likely include the installation of raised crosswalk(s), is unavailable at this time. As previously indicated, while I will always attempt to respond to your reports of accidents, near-misses, cut-through traffic or speeding, you should also contact Michael Frederick, City of St. Petersburg Neighborhood Transportation Manager [[email protected]] at 893-7843.

Nicole Durkin, Chair

New Members
Wilhelm and Christine Becher ......... 9th Avenue NE Greg and Judy Dent ......................... 10th Avenue NE Thomas Edmonds ............................ Oak Street NE Judith Koch ..................................... 16th Avenue NE Schuyler Richardson ....................... Oak Street NE Dan Soronen .................................... 7th Avenue NE Suzanne Vangorder .......................... 24th Avenue NE

Membership

At our July HONNA Board meeting the Board voted to consolidate the additional role as chair of Membership under my other responsibilities as your Treasurer. I am very happy and fortunate to add that Anne Shumate and Cathy Leonard have stepped up and volunteered to assist me with membership duties. Thank you both so much!  Cathy and Anne are currently working on a renewal campaign to notify each of you who may have had or will soon have your

Douglas Haan, Chair

Check out the HONNA website
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www.honna.org

HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

HONNA dues lapse. Look for those renewal reminder post cards shortly. Additionally, I want to thank each and every one of you who has asked, “How else can we help HONNA financially?” With that thought in mind we have added a couple of designation categories to the renewal postcard for those who wish to include additional monies beyond their dues payment.  We are also taking steps to put all HONNA members on a uniform annual calendar year renewal basis. This once-a-year renewal date will make it much easier for all HONNA members to be in sync with their renewals.

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 $20 per household.

Website

Send this completed form to:

Attention Internet Surfers: check out the HONNA website at www.honna.org!! Our website is one of the most highly rated neighborhood websites in St. Petersburg. It includes one of the most valuable but least-used features: you can post a free personal home page! Put up a picture of your kids, let your neighbors know about your prize-winning garden, your hobbies, interests and occupation or simply let the world know you’re here. So far we have less than ten entries. Create yours today so we can dramatically increase the value of this feature. If you need assistance just contact me by e-mail ([email protected]). And when you go online you will also find updated information about current and planned development projects in The Old Northeast.

Bob Dobbs, Chair

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)?: _______________ ANNUAL DUES ENCLOSED $20 through 12/31/06 $30 through 12/31/07

Volunteers needed for The Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Adopt-a-Shore and Adopt-a-Block Clean-Up In conjunction with Keep Pinellas Beautiful, The Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association has joined the Adopt-a-Shore Program. We have adopted the stretch of Tampa Bay shoreline that extends along the eastern edge of our neighborhood from the mouth of the Vinoy Basin to the mouth of Coffee Pot Bayou. Clean-ups are scheduled for the third Saturday in October this year (the 21st) and the third Saturday in March next year. We also will have a neighborhood wide clean-up in conjunction with the shore clean-up on the same day, October 21st. (And, additionally, you can Adopt-A-Block of The Historic Old Northeast to help keep clean on a regular basis — what a great way to make an impact!) Keep Pinellas Beautiful will provide you with a five-gallon bucket to take along on your walks to collect the trash. If you would like to volunteer to help coordinate or participate in either clean-up effort, please contact Chuck Lindeen at 8228444 or email to [email protected].

TIME TO CLEAN UP!

Like the Neighborhood? Want to make it even better? Volunteer with one of our committees! 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.

The Old Northeast Garden Club
For information please contact Marilyn Johnson at 553-9155 or email: [email protected]

meets the first Friday of each month

Activities: chair vacant Spring Garden Stroll (May): vacant Candlelight Tour of Homes (December): Co-Chairs Ann Caviness, 502-0870, and Elaine Normile, 821-3479 C.O.N.A. Rep: Chuck Lindeen, 822-8444 Crime & Safety: Brian Johnson, 391-9756 Historic Preservation: Robin Reed, 825-0480 Membership: Douglas Haan, 488-5514 Neighborhood Design Review: Mary Alice Lange, 823-5401 Neighborhood Plan: Mary Alice Lange, 823-5401 Newsletter: Rick Carson, 898-7834 Traffic: Nicole Durkin, [email protected] Website: Bob Dobbs, 823-9824

HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

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It’s Only September but It’s Not too Early to be Thinking About the… th

...when eight Historic Old Northeast neighbors will open their doors to 900 or so guests on Sunday, December 10th, from 3-8pm. The ninth year of this thoroughly successful Tour supports several nonprofit programs including, again this year, the YWCA’s Family Village and The Historic Old Northeast neighborhood street lighting project. The homes run the spectrum from an 870sqft gem to a splendid revitalized 7,000sqft 1920 Italian Revival. These eight homes offer a delightful variety of lessons in repairing and bringing the historical touches back to life in bungalows, apartments, large homes and small and all sizes in between. One homeowner invested three years in coaxing all the woodwork in his home back to its original splendor. Unique to this year’s tour will be an apartment conversion to townhouses that held on to the historicity of the building while bringing the interior completely up-to-date. Kitchens are the soul of most homes and most of these have just been completely rejuvenated, replaced, repaired, and/or renovated. This year the free trolleys that loop through the neighborhood will be hosted by special guides whose affection for, and research into, these Historic Old Northeast homes will further enrich your afternoon. Ticket prices will be the same: $15 if purchased before the day of the tour and $20 if bought on tour day. As we firm up details, you can check www.honna.org for more information, including ticket outlet sites, on this great annual event.

9 Annual Candlelight Tour of Homes

The Association has received a number of requests for a simplified summary comparing our current Neighborhood Design Review (NDR) with the proposed Local Historic District (LHD) designation. The following may help to answer any remaining questions you might have: NDR LHD Will I be able to paint my house with a color of my choosing? ........................ YES ......... YES Will I be able to add a second story to my single story house? ......................... YES ......... YES Will I be able to make any changes I want inside my house without getting a COA (Certificate of Appropriateness)? ............................... YES ......... YES Will I be able to add onto my house? ................................................................. YES ......... YES Will I be able to enclose my front porch? .......................................................... YES ......... NO Will I be required to change previous renovations to my house? ...................... NO ........... NO Will a committee of neighbors be deciding whether I can make changes? ....... NO ........... NO Will I be able to replace my wood windows with vinyl or aluminum ones? ..... YES ......... YES Will it cost money? If your project costs less than $10,000. ........................................................ NO ........... NO If your project costs more than $10,000, the fee is $150. ............................ NO ........... YES Will I be able to tear down my house? If it is less than 50 years old or has been very significantly altered. ................. YES ......... YES If it is over 50 years old and in good condition. ............................................ YES ......... NO Will I be able to build a swimming pool? ........................................................... YES ......... YES This is determined by zoning regulations, not the LHD designation. Will I be able to put up a fence? ........................................................................ YES ......... YES This is determined by zoning regulations, not the LHD designation. Will the my property be protected from mega-houses being built on my block? .... NO ........... YES Will the character of the Historic Old Northeast be preserved? ........................ NO ........... YES OTHER QUESTIONS Will LHD replace the NDR process, rather than add to it? ............................ YES Is the COA difficult to fill out? ....................................................................... NO Can the contractor or architect fill it out for me? .......................................... YES

STILL UNDECIDED ABOUT HOW TO VOTE ON LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT STATUS?

Another Walking Tour Planned Put on your walking shoes and join us on Sunday, October 22nd, at 1:30pm for the second in the Historic Preservation Committee’s series of neighborhood walking tours. Once again led by Rob Wertz, one of our neighborhood’s most dedicated preservationists, this fall tour will concentrate on the architecture and landscape features of the midsection of The Old Northeast. Participants should meet in the waterfront park at the north end of Beach Drive. The tour will last about an hour and a half. Donations gladly will be accepted to further the preservation of our neighborhood. Rob’s spring tour was a huge success and we look forward to another afternoon of historical insights, tips on restoration and all manner of pithy commentary! For more info, contact Rob at 824-8522.

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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Curb Appeal
by Chuck Lindeen
This little corner of our neighborhood newsletter is specifically focused on spotlighting the homes of our neighbors who have worked magic in one way or another to create “curb appeal” —that much sought-after quality in their little corner of The Historic Old Northeast.  In our last issue Curb Appeal focused on the awesome job our neighbors at 1650 Beach Drive NE have done with their property. Thanks again for your efforts! For this issue we would like to add our neighbors at 2728 Coffee Pot Boulevard NE to the Curb Appeal Hall of Fame. Like the two previously highlighted properties, this one also sits on a corner lot. If any property in our neighborhood deserves recognition this one does. As I meander up and down the streets of our neighborhood seeking out Curb Appeal, I am reminded of why I live here. We have some of the most beautiful homes on

some of the most beautiful streets of any community in this state! How many neighborhoods have their own waterfront drive like we do? In my opinion, this is one of the most outstanding homes on Coffee Pot Bayou. Regardless of the time of year or day of the month, this old girl always looks like a cover girl! She is the real thing, a classic…not an imitation. The landscaping is the epitome of high maintenance design yet always looks perfectly manicured. Attention to detail is evident everywhere you look, especially that fine line where the grass meets the granite… and the granite meets the brick. This is the definition of Curb Appeal! Thanks for your hard work and attention to detail to make your part of our neighborhood beautiful.

FLORIDA HISTORY, LLC _______________________
We Specialize in House Histories for Homeowners and Realtors
Contact: Lucy D. Jones 12157 Linebaugh Avenue #167 Tampa, Florida 33626 (813) 746-8795 or [email protected]
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

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Over The Back Fence

by

N andO
S 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!

Land of the Weird…Neighbor and author (and Eckerd prof) Weed Whackers…Who were those angels sweating up a storm Lee Irby had his latest novel, The Up and Up, reviewed by recently, weeding the Old Northeast monument spaces just essayist/commentator Diane Roberts in the St. Petersburg Times south of the 30th Avenue roundabout, over near the Snell Isle bridge (5/28). Roberts likens Irby to Carl Hiaasen as being a “practitioand at 1st and 5th? We thank them for making these entryways into ner” of that particular genre of “weird” Florida writing. The our neighborhood much more presentable. Anyone ever getting story takes place in pre-crash Miami with characters out of Prothe urge to weed needs no invitation to similarly attack any of the hibition, Hollywood and the Jazz Age. Roberts calls it a “fast entryways. Have at it, and know that your efforts are appreciated. and furious read.” Gotcha!...Certain commuters using Beach Drive one day in late Early Christmas Shopping…First United Methodist Church June had their morning get off to a particularly unpleasant (and will be presenting the seventh annual Holiday Gift Mart Friexpensive) start thanks to a police crackdown on speeders. Sevday, October 13th, from 9am-8pm at the Bank of America eral patrol cars and officers parked off Beach were kept busy pullTower (200 Central Avenue). The ing over offenders. Occasional “moni“Angels After Dark” Holiday Gift Mart toring” by our officers-in-blue is welhas become an anticipated event encomed to help discourage NASCAROver The Back Fence is a ticing an exceptional group of artists wannabes. and vendors from all over the counRetail Revival on 4th?...Lunarte, a new try!  Hey, this is one way to get a jump shop at 2006 4th Street N, received notice on your holiday shopping!  And the in the St. Petersburg Times (6/28) for its STEP ON UP Silent Auction? It’s back by popular hand-made pottery, sculpture, furniture, demand! Proceeds from “Angels Afand paintings and clothing from Latin America. ter Dark” will be donated to the Owner Adriana Luna is a strong propoChildren’s Ministry of First United nent of supporting the indigenous artists Methodist in downtown St. Pete and who create these works and is eager to will benefit over 300 children in the provide information about these people and church as well as through various outtheir craft. Sure would be nice to see reach programs. Open to all, no invimore such retail options on this stretch of th tation necessary! FMI contact Mandy 4 . Rutledge at 560-4872. Sour Grapes?...Congratulations to our email: Detour…What’s with the 200 friends over in Kenwood on their [email protected] block of 10 th Avenue NE between borhood being named by Cottage Living Locust and Oak? If we’ve had a delmagazine to its list of “Top 10 Cottage uge you’d better not drive down the Communities.” They were cited for their bungalows, hex block street or you may float away. And even if it hasn’t rained you sidewalks, brick streets and porch parties. Hey, wait a minute — might not want to take your car down this block and have its don’t we have all those, too? Well, maybe the folks at the magaundercarriage scrape the raised hump of bricks running down zine think we’re not doing enough to preserve our bungalows and the middle of the street. This street is in serious need of other historic accoutrements. leveling. Where Everybody Knows Your Name…The recently opened Old th nd Interstate Insanity…Did you do any traveling recently on Northeast Tavern at 7 Avenue N and 2 Street has received a lot Interstate 375 heading out of downtown on 5th Avenue N? of media attention of late, including a review in the 6/29 St. Pete With all the highway construction that was going on it was a Times. According to food critic Chris Sherman, “The New Old game of Roadway Roulette, trying to out-guess DOT whether Northeast now has its own neighborhood tavern.” After providing you’d be able to access the interstate at 7th Street or if that a brief history of this corner property and the abrupt demise of the was blocked then 10th Street or if both were blocked and Ambrosia restaurant, Sherman goes on to say, “Three years later, instead have to wend your way down to catch I-175 south of almost every house in the neighborhood boasts fresh paint in bundowntown. And if you were lucky enough to access I-375 galow-friendly tones and/or For Sale signs at prices unfathomable but wanted to then head south to connect with I-275 – sureight years ago, when this edge of the Old Northeast was in tranprise! Chances were that you’d find it was blocked and you sition.” He provided a fairly upbeat review considering the newgot re-routed north on I-275 to 22nd Avenue where you’d exit, ness of the venture, and the word on the street is a big thumbs up. do a u-ey and head back south on the interstate. Would it Seems like perhaps our “neighborhood” tavern isn’t going to be have been too much to ask for better signage? Probably. our own secret very long.

Soapbox...

LET’S HEAR FROM YOU

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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Ponderings
Summertime on the Prairie
by John Gee
My wife and I just returned from a seven-and-a-half week trip to Montana. Actually, since we drove all the way with our two dogs, much of the trip was spent before and after Montana. But enough time was spent in that beautiful state to justify my saying that it was a trip to Montana and not just a 4,000-mile tour of the rest stops of the USA. Leaving aside all the stops, dog hair, road food, cookie cutter motels and rising gas prices, I have to say that the western part of our country is alive, beautiful, prosperous and well worth the trip. Most people have a preconceived notion that the two necessary ingredients for a quality vacation are either the mountains or an ocean. They both have their charms, but since we already live in Florida it would make little sense to find some other beach to visit. My wife likes to travel to mountains, so by geographical and marital necessity we climbed into our car took off on 4,000 mile odyssey to the Rockies and back. Make no mistake: these mountains are fascinating and beyond belief beautiful. Every day we were there we enjoyed the scenery, hiking, big sky, wild animals, few people and fewer cars and best of all — no hurricanes and humidity. Although mountains are nice and beaches are fun I have always been a fan of the prairie. Perhaps there is no reason for this except that since I don’t really spend much time on prairies, the idealized version in my head makes them seem in some way more romantic and appealing. Whatever the reason, once we enter a place like Iowa or Oklahoma my wife has to endure me throwing out my arms and declaring to no one in particular, “Look at all that space!” To me, the sight of this expanse of land stretching out to the horizon makes me feel free in some way. The ocean can do this to me but nothing gets to me as much as wide-open prairie land. When we drive through these wide-open places, I understand why the Indian was doomed and why we were destined to become the most powerful country in the world. At first, our ancestors had to cut down trees, remove rocks and face the challenge of the Appalachians looming in front of them. However, once Lewis and Clark and their band of explorers entered the vastness of the middle of our continent, America learned that the sky literally was the limit. Not long after them, newly-minted Americans entered a land of fertile black soil so vast that only the limits of a person’s imagination, and perhaps the Rockies, could confine their opportunities. The Indians and the buffalo didn’t have a chance. Gold may have driven many people out west, but it was transitory dream. What endured and continues to endure was the land.

So maybe this is why I like our prairies so much. Until we inhabited them, our country was slogging along close to the coasts making a living on fish, cotton, tobacco and wood. But as soon as all those European immigrants broke into the middle of our country, look at what happened -- the stupidity of the Civil War became a distant memory, the frontier disappeared and the American economy, technology and productivity took off at an unprecedented speed and has never looked back. Take some time to go look at the prairie. Look at the vastness of this country and see for yourself why we were destined to become the most fortunate and prosperous country in history. The mountains are beautiful and the oceans are great, but it is the prairies that keep us alive. And while you’re there looking at all the corn that can be used for ethanol and all the soy beans that can be used for diesel fuel, ask yourself why we still import oil from countries who don’t like us. 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.

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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

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.

The Magdalena Condominiums
by Peter Stanhope
One of the most interesting buildings in The Historic Old Northeast sits on the corner of Bay Street and 22nd Avenue NE. Over the years as I drove or walked by the building, I was always

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intrigued by the lush courtyard with the unusual balconies and flowing fountains. When the project was advertised in the July issue of Tampa Bay Metro, my curiosity was piqued. What treasures were to be found beyond the wrought iron gates? The building was built during the real estate boom that swept through St. Petersburg after the 1921 hurricane. I am unsure who built it and because of the courthouse fire in the mid-‘20s, the exact date of construction is uncertain though according to county records it was erected in 1925. The architectural style is Mediterranean revival. Similar to the style of single family homes across the street in Granada Terrace, this building housed 30 efficiency apartment homes. On the face of the building are two towers that originally were enclosed stairways leading up to the third floor. In the center of the courtyard is an impressive staircase that leads to the second level. Stainedglass windows with sunbursts line the front of the building on the third level facing 22nd Avenue. Each level has expansive verandas of terracotta tile that look out to the enclosed courtyard with its lush surroundings. ReMax agent Ginny Nierenburg tells me they were used as vacation guest apartments for the overflow from the large homes built on Coffee Pot Boulevard and Snell Isle. The Magdalena functioned as an apartment community until 1983. At that time the building was purchased by a developer and converted into 15 condominiums and town homes. The first floor units were one-bedroom condominiums while the second and third levels were combined as town homes. The property continued to be rented out and has passed through at least three owners. The present owner purchased the building three years ago and began a massive redevelopment to update the property without sacrificing the original charm or character.

HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Careful consideration has been taken to preserve all the original materials. The exterior remains intact. Any new materials used were fashioned after the original. The original windows and French doors open out to the veranda and courtyard. The exterior door of each unit is the original pecky cypress with a window that opens to catch the breezes of our cooler months. All the floors are hardwood though not all are original; if they could be saved, they were, and those that could not were matched with new hardwood. In the 1980’s conversion of the town homes, a spiral staircase led to the second level. During this redevelopment, it was removed as it appeared unsafe and was replaced with a gracious stairway and landing. Open floor plans prevail with a new sprinkler system and new kitchens with high end stainless appliances and

granite countertops. Each unit has two bathrooms with ceramic tile. None of the units are alike. Now with two bedrooms and a generous living area, they have unique angles, designer lighting and fixtures as well as a stackable washer and dryer. New wiring and HVAC units keep the interiors cool and comfortable. This building also has a full basement — very unusual for this area — which currently is one large open space but will be available for each owner as storage. Yo u n e v e r k n o w w h a t treasures lay beyond the wrought iron gate. I’m glad I ventured in.
Peter and his partner Marc moved to Florida seven years ago from their home in the historic German Village section of Columbus, OH. Peter offers renovation and interior design services. He may be contacted at [email protected]

HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Page 11

With the steady influx into our neighborhood of new residents, we’re seeing an increasing number of families with young children – plus the stork is keeping pretty busy around here as it is. So we thought it might be helpful to share with parents of youngsters (as well as grandparents welcoming visiting grandkids) ideas of family-friendly activities and destinations nearby, especially ones which are free or inexpensive. If you have any such good “secrets” you’d like to pass along, let us know.

KIDZ KORNER

Calming the Storm Within
by Linda Dobbs
“Pretend you are going camping for three days,” advises one hurricane shelter survivor. What to do with children to stave off boredom and anxiety is one of the many things to think about when preparing for hurricanes, whether staying at home or being evacuated. Parents who are well-prepared and who try to impart a calm, positive, and adventuresome spirit will find the hurricane experience less stressful. Take note of the three days; it may turn out to be only one day but it is better to be prepared! Camping for three days means clothes, toys, books, games, CDs, CD players and batteries for three days! A cooler with drinks, water, and ice is a must. Non-perishable, favorite snack foods (like peanut butter, pretzels, raisins, nuts, fruit, etc.) are important for feeling comfortable. Each child should have his/her own flashlight, pillow and sleeping bag, favorite stuffed animal and extra

batteries. This is important even if you are riding out the storm at home. If there is no electricity, the whole family may want to sleep in the same room for comfort, convenience and a feeling of security. “Take headphones,” is the advice from one parent. “Shelters are loud, crowded, chaotic places with little or no privacy, so it is nice to shut it all out (even the hurricane noise) and escape into your favorite CD.” It also distracts the children from the TV and radio reports which can be graphic and frightening. “Don’t have the TV on 24 hours a day with hurricane reports,” is a word to the wise. Of course, a radio is necessary; most shelters will probably have a radio, TV or both that are on all day and night. Seeing the pictures and hearing the reports continually is upsetting for children and adults alike. Check the status of the storm periodically out of the sight and hearing of children. Focus on having fun as a family instead. Remember, your children’s best friends may not be at the same shelter and certainly not at your house so use the time to play games, sing, read, or exercise together as a family. The children will probably meet new friends (they do this so easily), while the adults will be stiff and sore from trying to sleep on the floor (or cot) in a room with lots of other people who snore, cough, snack, talk, etc.! It is tempting to stay at home during a hurricane because all this preparation sounds so time-consuming and the shelter experience uncomfortable. A word of caution here: hurricane Katrina helped us see the danger in staying put — sometimes a shelter is the better, safer and less stressful choice. Says one parent, “It was a relief to go to the shelter; it was better than hiding from the noise in your own bedroom and comforting to be around other parents and kids.” Linda and her husband Bob moved to The Old Northeast on Valentine’s Day 2003 (they wanted to be near their two grandchildren who live in our neighborhood). Over the past 30 years Linda has been editor of a weekly newspaper, a magazine and a medical journal as well as numerous newsletters.

STRICKLY STICKLEY

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156 23rd Ave NE, St. Petersburg, 33704 [email protected]

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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

“Just The Right Number”
Here are some phone numbers you may need 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 Tom Loveland .................................................. 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

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Page 13

by Wendy Mansfield for the Garden Stroll Committee

Weeds, Shoots and Leaves

Free tree for your curbside? If you have the sun beating down on the street in front of your house and you would like to create a “tree canopy” on your block, give me a call. For the second year the Garden Stroll Committee of HONNA is funding from the Garden Stroll ’06 proceeds the placement of live oaks in the City’s right-of-way (the green space between the street curb and sidewalk). This “tree project” added 17 live oaks to the neighborhood last year and we are ready to plant more this year. Please nominate a place to receive a tree, and the Tree Project volunteers will ask the adjoining property owner (which can be you!) if they would commit to watering the tree for three months after the midNovember planting in order to establish the root system. The second step in another project started by the Garden Stroll Committee last year is able to get started with funds from this year’s Stroll. Weeding at 5th Avenue NE and Beach Drive The street islands and medians within the neighborhood (including the medians with Historic Old Northeast monuments) are going to be refreshed with “water friendly” plants to fill bald spots and replace the original plants that have not flourished. This project will proceed as funds and volunteer time permits. These medians were originally installed by the City, but the maintenance of these “green” areas is the neighborhood’s responsibility. If you are willing to volunteer your time to weed or water these areas during the establishment of the $100,000 PER YEAR new plants, give me a call (894-1057). HEALTH & WELLNESS INDUSTRY And don’t forget — if you would like a tree planted in front of your house and are willing to water it for three months, let me hear from you.

F

As the downtown and Grand Central areas of the city continue to blossom as shopping and dining destinations, so does The Old Northeast. Here are a few commercial establishments that have opened in our neighborhood in recent weeks or will be opening soon. Give ‘em a try!:
Internet Rankings and Marketing 2051 4th Street N #10 St. Pete Scooters 1031 4th Street N Louis Pappas Market Café 1530 4th Street N Snell Isle Club Sales Center 2051 4th Street N #4

New Businesses In Our Neighborhood

To learn more, call Robyn Lyle 727.827.3808 Visit us at: www.hwb.myarbonne.com
*Income based on individual efforts

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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Keeping Your

by Stacy Renz
“I feel like the sun is assaulting me,” a yoga student recently told me. I share her perception. Truly some of us tolerate heat better than others. If you are the type person who usually enjoys spicy food and is referred to as driven, a leader, or a “type A” personality, you may find yourself feeling especially short-tempered, agitated or literally hotheaded this time of year. It is not your fault. It is just that the summer heat exacerbates your “hot constitution.” Here are some tips to help you counter the excess heat: 1. Drink lots of room temperature water; icy drinks further aggravate your ability to adapt to the heat. 2. Avoid spicy foods and too much meat — both can further increase your internal heat. 3. Keep your head cool by wearing a hat when you must be outside (and if you can figure out how to wear an ice pack on your head without looking too silly, let me know.)

4. If you exercise intensely, try to do it in air conditioning. Hydrate yourself liberally. 5. Better yet, consider swimming instead of your usual exercise routine. 6. Follow intense exercise with long, slow stretching, including relaxing twists and forward bending movements that are cooling and relaxing; a good yoga teacher can assist you in learning some cooling and calming yoga poses while helping you achieve optimal alignment and safety. 7. If you can roll your tongue, try breathing in through your rolled tongue, holding the breath in for three seconds, and then breathing out through your nose. If you cannot roll your tongue, just put the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth and follow the same instructions. This also helps alleviate hot flashes. 8. If you must work outside, save it for the coolest part of the day. Hydrate yourself. 9. Visit an acupuncturist who can help you release the pent up “yang” energy that has accumulated in your body. Stay cool!

Stacy, an Old NE resident, is an occupational therapist and a yoga therapist. She owns Living Room Yoga Studio and Gallery at 3015 7 th Street N; www.livingroomyoga.biz.

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Page 15

Downtown

by Chuck Lindeen

Once again Dining Around Downtown is less than a threeminute drive from my house to the front – well — back door of the restaurant. Just a block or two north of Sunshine City Grill on 4th Street the latest outpost of Louis Pappas empire has opened, the Louis Pappas Market Cafe. It is doubtful that this name is new to anyone reading this review. Shortly after moving here as a child I was introduced to Tarpon Springs and Pappas restaurants. The Pappas name has been synonymous with quality Greek dining on the west coast of Florida for decades. I say “Welcome to St. Petersburg and the 4th Street Garden District!” From the looks of it a lot of other folks have stopped in to say Welcome! as well. On my first visit a few weeks ago I found nothing that surprised me. This new location is a variation of the one on Bay to Bay in Tampa that I became familiar with several years ago. There is something about the new 4th Street location that feels just a little more upscale than that Tampa location. Maybe it’s just the “new” hasn’t worn off. Outdoor seating is available here too, but until the temperature drops and the rain doesn’t I won’t be sitting outside to eat. In any case, Pappas has found a plan that works and they are working it — a comfortable, casual atmosphere and food that is ready almost as fast as you are. I believe my first visit was on the first day they opened for business. They had just put signs out on the sidewalk indicating they were open and I stopped on my way home from work to pick up dinner-to-go. I ordered the mousaka (eggplant and ground beef entrée) and a side of the tzatziki

(creamy cucumber dip). It was ready to go and I was on my way out the door in less than ten minutes! When I arrived home I was not happy to find the pita chips that are served with the tzatziki were missing, so before I sat down to eat I gave the manager a call to let him know my to-go order was not complete. He apologized profusely, explaining they were still working out the kinks and told me he would have the chips waiting for me. I told him I would just see him the next time I was in. After getting off the phone I realized I didn’t have anything to go with the tzatziki dip – no chips or even any bread. I was starving, but irritated and not willing to eat the dip alone so I got in the car and headed back to the cafe. I asked for the manager and identified myself as the “chipless” customer. The kitchen was being closed down and there were no home-made pita chips left so he directed one of the kitchen staff to turn the deep fryer back on and cook some for me. I told him not to go to that trouble… if he just had some pita bread I would be happy. He really did not want to send me out the door with less than what I had ordered but I finally convinced him bread would be fine. He proceeded to package up three times the amount of dip I had ordered along with the bread and insisted that I pick out a dessert – “no… pick out two!” for my trouble. Before he would let me go he apologized again and asked me to come back and give them another shot. This is how to treat a customer. I assured him I would be back. Both the mousaka and the tzatziki were as good as any I have had. Subsequently, I attempted a lunch visit but everyone else in St. Petersburg had the same idea and there was nowhere to park. An employee was standing in the entrance to the parking lot and attempted to direct me down to the end of the street to park along Crescent Lake. I told him lunch at Louis Pappas was not in the cards for me that day. I made it back for dinner several days later. I stacked the cards in my favor this time arriving after 8pm. Parking was not a problem and neither was getting a table…although about twothirds of the restaurant was still occupied. This visit I had time to soak in a little more of the ambience. They have done a nice job with soothing creamy yellow walls and blue accents throughout. It is definitely a casual dining destination. I couldn’t help but feel like I was in the Greek version of Carrabba’s. The main differences: no bar and the “self service” feel of the carry out line. I ordered the Easter lamb, which like all the Café entrees is served with one side dish. The prices are reasonable but not cheap. It seems to me that an $11 entrée should at least get two sides. Not to be undone… I ordered a second side.

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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

When the meal arrived just minutes later I was glad I had. The lamb was delicious and the portion quite satisfactory. However, the rice pilaf was unremarkable and the portion skimpy. I ordered green beans as my extra side and they were delicious, served with tomato cubes and plenty of garlic. All-in-all it was a tasty meal and I had plenty to eat. Besides the traditional Greek specialties you would expect to find there are soups, salads, sandwiches and Pappas flatbread pizzas to choose from. For the kids there is an abbreviated children’s menu. Beer and wine are available in addition to soft drinks, tea and coffee. I gave the strawberry cheesecake a try. It was ‘aight, but I don’t think I would order it again with all of the chocolate items they have to choose from! My server was great. He approached promptly and got my drink and dinner order quickly. He was back in no time with the food. Always nearby, I did not have to ask him once for more iced tea. Bonus points! So what’s the rating? Atmosphere, Food and Service: Louis Pappas on 4th Street scores three out of three from me. It’s a great place to get a good meal, either there or to-go. It’s my belief that it will be as hard to get a bad meal there as it will be to get a table for lunch. All major credit cards are accepted. Louis Pappas is located at 1530 4th Street N. They are open Monday- Saturday from 11am-9pm. Phone number is 822-0900. Chuck has been a resident of The Old Northeast for over 10 years and a 33-year resident of the city. He served two appointed terms on the St. Petersburg Arts Advisory Committee and has volunteered for numerous arts organizations including the Salvador Dali Museum, American Stage/American Stage in the Park and the Arts Center. He is currently serving on HONNA’s Board as Vice President.

200 Central Avenue, Ste 620 (Bank of America Tower)

HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Page 17

Preserving the Character of Old Northeast Houses
by Mike Dailey
I’m writing from Portland, Oregon, this month, and falling in love with the preservation efforts here which seem to be preserving most of the best stuff and creatively reusing and adapting some of the neglected buildings in the out-of-favor neighborhoods. Portland is a compact city, bounded by the West Hills on the western side of downtown and an Urban Growth Boundary on the remaining sides. Oregon mandated Urban Growth Boundaries for all of its cities back in the 1970s to prevent sprawl and the destruction of the downtowns that was happening everywhere else in the country, and it has worked for the most part. Many of its older neighborhoods remind me of The Old Northeast — the architectural variety, the tree-lined streets and the pride of ownership evident on every block. Walking around some of the neighborhoods such as Ladd’s Addition and Irvington in southeast Portland, I had the chance to talk with people about their Portland experience — how long they had been here, what made them come here and what makes them stay. All of them mention the fact of the intact historic neighborhoods as a motivator to be in those neighborhoods as opposed to the suburbs. There are very few “remuddled” homes here — places that have had their architectural details stripped or covered up with vinyl and aluminum — that would lower property values and ruin the look of the street. Ladd’s Addition is a Local Historic District, but the other neighborhoods are relying on appreciative homeowners to keep things historical and appropriate. Most neighborhoods are overwhelmingly Craftsman influenced, with a smattering of Tudor revival thrown in and some Beaux-Arts in the swankier neighborhoods. One common theme that appears on Portland historic houses is the use of wood in many decorative ways. Almost all houses here have wood shingle siding or wood lap siding with two different widths showing off architectural features or to help create proportion (see photo). Hooded windows in the gables of many houses draw the eye upward toward heavy brackets and fake mortise and tenon joinery on the gable rafters. Lots of houses have decorative exposed rafter tail ends, with the tips rounded like Japanese temples or just cut on an angle. I think all the woodwork expressed on the exterior of the

house is a nod to Portland’s lumbering heritage and strong sense of history. To be descended from one of Portland’s pioneer families is a big thing here, and having some fancy woodwork may be a subtle way to imply that connection. Original windows are multi-lite, with multiple small panes in the upper half of the doublehung. Front doors usually have glass in the upper third and heavy Craftsman influence in the hardware and construction. Since they don’t have hurricanes in Portland, storm shutters and impactresistant glazing aren’t an issue. Most houses have their original wavy glass intact. We got a chance to visit the Rejuvenation Lamp and Fixture Co., a terrific resource for old-house parts both new and restored. They have an extensive collection of reproduction Craftsman and Colonial/traditional lighting fixtures, along with Mission, Eclectic and Modern (‘50s and ‘60s) styles. Reproduction and vintage Stickley chairs, settles, sofas and tables are set up in vignettes throughout the store, along with some pretty cool tile and plumbing fixtures. They also sell used encaustic (Cuban) tiles for $5 a pop. It’s amazing to see how much the individual parts are worth in an historic house. Specialty or unusual fixtures are especially valuable. Reconditioned used pedestal sinks sell for over $1000 and clawfoot bathtubs go for over $2000. We got some great ideas for our upcoming bathroom remodel. I keep thinking about comparisons of Portland and The Old Northeast. Every time I round a corner, some detail or activity takes me home. A group of 30-somethings sat outside a neighborhood coffeehouse in Ladd’s Addition on a sunny afternoon enjoying a park view, reminding me of the new Old Northeast Tavern on 2nd Street at 7th Avenue NE. Places like this promote a sense of community and encourage walking. Portland is a wonderful walking city, and The Old Northeast is a great walking neighborhood in an area that lacks such places. We will be home again by the time you read this, ready to face the rest of the hurricane season and looking forward to the winter. We are going to miss Portland greatly, but we’ll be glad to come home to The Old Northeast, a place we are proud to call home and want to preserve as an historic place. Rutland’s Department Mike, an Old Northeast resident since 1996, holds a MasStore c.1942 ter of Architecture degree from the University of South Florida.

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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

PORCH

PARTIES
Porch Parties are held the third Friday of the month from 7-10pm (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]).

September 15th Wayne & Adela Smith 136 16th Avenue NE October 20th Tom and Anita Tipps 315 23rd Avenue NE (NOTE: corner of Coffee Pot and 23rd Avenue NE) November 17th Craig Hyde 1200 1st Street N

HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Page 19

In Case You Missed It: Updates and Follow Ups Keeping You Current on Some Neighborhood Stories That Have Been in the News

believes his plans will work into the current improvements being made by the City and private parties along this portion of 4th known as the Garden District. [source: St. Petersburg Times, 7/23] hanging an Israeli flag with a red “stop” slashed across it from the porch of their home. The couple is active in the St. Pete for Peace group and wanted to make a statement about their opposition to Israel’s use of military force against Lebanon and Palestine. This is not the first time the residents have used a flag to express their political opinions. [source: St. Petersburg Times, 8/9]

vNeighbors Chris Ernesto and Marianne Huber have been

tique Mall, has been purchased with plans to redevelop it as a restaurant or retail space. The 1939 structure, once a Nash automobile dealership until the early ‘70s, has Art Deco exterior features including a black glass front which have been covered by coats of paint and years of grime. The new owner/developer

vThe building at 1524 4th Street N, home to the Corner An-

vRedevelopment of the old St. Pete Hardware property at 12th Avenue and 4th Street N will go on as its developers have planned thanks to a unanimous City Council vote in early July which denied an appeal by the neighborhood association. HONNA had objected to the incursion of the new development 190 feet into the residential neighborhood which is 50 feet more than what the City-approved neighborhood plan allows (in the plan businesses are encouraged not to request such variances). The expanded space will be used for additional parking; neighbors had asked instead that the building be reduced in size slightly to avoid the need for extra spaces. A Tropical Smoothie and several other small businesses will occupy the building. [source: St. Petersburg Times, 7/9] vIn another action by the City, the Environmental Development Commission on June 7th voted to approve a development project of the present Rally gas station to use residentially-zoned property between 21st and 22nd avenues off 4th Street N for parking in conjunction with the a new gas station, convenience store and carwash. According to plans, the existing buildings will be torn down to make room for the new complex. Attorney Nicole Durkin (a HONNA Board member) speaking for nearby residents commented, “This is not about keeping a gas station or Rally Store. We are concerned about the encroachment into the residential area east of Fourth Street.” Another resident added that increasing commercial development in the area had “chilled” residential investment, and others expressed concern about the traffic flow from the business into the neighborhood. [source: St. Petersburg Times, 6/11]. vConstruction of the second pool and other facilities at North Shore Pool were projected to conclude by August 2nd. This was to be ahead of schedule despite challenges from the weather (various tropical storms) and unusual architectural fea-

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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

tures (such as the building entrance’s concrete canopy). In addition to the new 25 yards by 25 meter second pool, the complex will include a new pool house and ticket office. Plans are also in the works for a “sprayground,” a water playground for children. [source: St. Petersburg Times, 6/18] has been transformed. The curvy, deco-ish building, now part of Bob Lee’s Tires, has been repainted to look like an upscale restaurant — the BLT Grill — with a faux door, windows and awnings, street lamp and palm trees. Bob Lee’s owner Todd Murrian worked with local artist Brian Tullis to bring creative change to an otherwise drab space. [source: St. Petersburg Times, 6/25]

vAnother former car dealership on 4th Street

 

vFirst Presbyterian Church agreed to pay its longtime pastor, Rev. Chuck Jones, almost $130,000 as part of a separation agreement approved by a vote of the congregation. Jones had made known his decision to resign in November in part due to “unrest and concern” from some members of the congregation. [source: St. Petersburg Times, 6/18] vThe new Old Northeast Tavern (201 7th Avenue N) is the dream of partowner Dan Soronen. When he saw the vacant property a year ago he knew it had to be his, and after months of dealing with the City and contractors, it opened on May 5th to a full house of appreciative locals. “It’s the coolest thing in the world, said Dan. “The neighbors have been unreal. It’s the neigh-

borhood gathering spot.” He boasts that their advertising has been their food (reasonably priced and not typical bar fare). Now that the bills are getting paid his biggest fear is that “outsiders” will crowd out the neighbors. “We want to be the place where the neighborhood goes when they don’t want to go out.” [source: St. Petersburg Times, 6/7] the opening of the Louis Pappas Market Café. Located in the American Legion building at 1530 4th, the much smaller version of the one-time Tarpon Springs landmark restaurant is a 90-seat eatery serving lunch and dinner. The café concept is being expanded into several other spots in the Tampa Bay area, all of which will be serviced by a central commissary located in Tarpon Springs. [source: St. Petersburg Times, 8/13] (See Dining Around Downtown, page 16)

vThe venerable Pappas name has come to 4th Street with

HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Page 21

Thinking in

Purple
dreaded Big One. Hurricanes have become another item on my worry list as I lay my head down at night and try to go to sleep. No wonder an estimated four-six million people in this country rely on sleeping pills to get to sleep at night. Truthfully, it is only as I get older that I realize just how many diverse & creative fears I have accumulated throughout my lifetime. Let’s face it. I am afraid a lot of the time. I spend a significant portion of my time worrying. I worry about the kids and whether or not they will be OK, happy, adjusted, safe and healthy. I worry about my parents, about their health and how this aging process will play out. I just generally worry about Tim and the ongoing quality of our relationship. Now, I have even added worries about my new grandson. Never mind all the worries I have developed lately about the events happening throughout the world. And I worry about storms. I find myself asking people every once in a while if there are any new storms forming in the Gulf. As I write this, Tropical Storm Chris has formed. Storm questions are relatively new additions to my efforts at seeking reassurance. Every once in a while I feel the need to ask someone about the weather just in case I missed something significant in the newspaper. I learned years ago to turn off the television because I realized that my worrying dramatically increased after watching the news for even just a few minutes a day. Fear is a funny thing. It tends to grow rapidly when it is fed and watered on a regular basis. I don’t think I was in touch with how much time and effort I spend worrying when I was younger. To tell you the truth, I thought it was pretty normal to cart around a long list of worries — just another part of being a responsible woman or good mother. Now that I am in my 50s, I am beginning to get a glimpse of the toll that level of constant anxiety can take on you.

by Barbara Rhode, LMFT
Barbara Rhode is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who provides trainings and workshops to corporations and non-profits 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.” Barbara can be reached at 418-7882.

Hurricanes, Fear and Kudzu
It is hard to believe we are already into the 2006 hurricane season. I have lived in Florida for more than half my life and for the most part have been pretty complacent about “hurricane season.” Until recently, that is. Actually, I never really gave the season much thought. Oh, I made sure I had some candles and even a working flashlight or two in the house but that was about it until three years ago. Now, my husband and I have an organized stash of storm supplies with a list of additional items that we plan to purchase, shortly. We even invested in enough panels of Lexan film a few months ago to quickly cover our windows in case a major storm decides to barrel our way. So we all take precautions in our own way, doing what we need to do to feel somewhat safe. That makes sense. Educate yourself about an imminent threat and then take the necessary steps to protect your family and your stuff. You would think that would be the end of it. But it’s not because if you are like me, you are left in this pervasive state of angst and uneasiness over trying to predict if this year will bring the

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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Let’s be honest, too. Where has all this anticipatory anxiety gotten me, anyway? I am not convinced that I have successfully warded off any of life’s catastrophes by worrying so much. In fact, I probably made myself less able to cope when any of my stress coping mechanisms were really needed. Research says that 90% of all illnesses have fear and stress as contributing factors: they insidiously undermine your immune system, affect your memory, contribute to heart problems and even affect digestion. Yet in this society, at least, we have become masters at feeding our own fears and the fears of everyone around us. The news is chock full of stories and warnings about child abductions even though they are still rare occurrences. On the other hand, heart disease which affects one out every 300 people does not merit much of our attention. In fact, a good percentage of Americans laugh in the face of current obesity statistics as they drive to McDonalds and “super size it.” So let’s agree that we are pretty picky about what we are afraid of and then what we choose to ignore, even in the face of facts. I personally tend to chew on certain favorite fears until I get them all soft and pliable. Then I abuse myself mentally with all the dreaded “what if” scenarios I can conjure up. Take hurricanes, for example. Once a storm is named and someone desperate for airtime predicts that it is headed our way, I begin imagining what will be left of our house or how life as we know it could change drastically. I compulsively turn the news on and off throughout the day, watching them rehash every possible shred of weather information. Eventually, I could stand in front of that weather map and give out the same repetitive information and fear-filled “guesstimates.” I obsessively allow my day to be wrapped up in discussions about the storm, dire predictions and horrific meanderings. It is all about fear. Like I said before, feed it and it will thrive. It doesn’t matter what the story is, like kudzu it will grow too cover up all that it touches until you can’t recognize what was originally underneath. So, this season join me in promising

yourself and your loved ones that beyond taking the necessary precautions and actions to keep yourself and your family safe, you will refuse to feed the hungry fear monster that lies dormant in each of us. As a community, we can face what comes without all of the exhausting drama and fear feeding distortions. Just think how much healthier and saner we will each be, better able to deal with any real threat that actually comes our way. We might even remember to enjoy the rest of the summer and fall. And remember, “The greatest griefs are those we cause ourselves.” Sophocles

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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Page 23

Dave Forman emigrated here from Los Angeles where he wrote for the entertainment industry. He, along with his wife and young daughter, are trying to adjust to the Florida heat and humidity (which he has gratefully exchanged for the traffic, smog and attitude of LA).

oofers p S

DISCLAIMER: The stories you are about to read are not true. Not even the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

… by D.S. Forman

Enquirer

The Old Northeast

HOME SELLERS PANIC IN RUSH TO EVACUATE
Scores of hysterical homeowners, in a flight for their lives, are desperately scrambling to sell their Old Northeast homes before their insurance policies come up for renewal. “Everybody wants out,” huffed home seller Randi Ketchevan. “You’d think we were living in Love Canal!” As astronomical insurance rates force more and more homes onto the open market, The Old Northeast is awash in For Sale signs, open houses and cinnamon and apple pie aromas. Unfortunately, few buyers have been able to view the available properties due to the moving vans clogging the narrow streets.

AUTOS GO CONDO
In an ironic twist of fate, the condo towers that replaced vacant parking lots in downtown St. Pete will now become hi-rise parking lots replacing vacant condos. Investors unable to sell their units because of a real estate slowdown are transforming them into parking garages in the sky. “No one’s buying, so we decided to turn living space into parking space,” claimed developer Ari Potaski of downtown’s McNutty Auto Lofts. The question remains if there are enough nutty people willing to pay sky high prices for penthouse parking.

ART DECO MAKE-OVER UNDERWAY?
Style-conscious developers promise to transform 4th Street into the South Beach of the Gulf Coast. “The new 4th Street Art Deco District will be a magnet for tourists and residents alike,” assured rookie developer Ray Meeker. “It’ll make Bay Walk look like Dollar-Mart.” The ambitious project promises to create streamlined moderne palaces out of 4th Street’s existing Art Deco struc tures – which include just two buildings and a planter. In a show of support, neighboring Bob Lee’s Tire agreed to join the deco effort by outfitting their mechanics in spats.

OLD NE TO HOST DEMOLITION DERBY

Racing to capitalize on the success of the St. Petersburg Grand Prix, promoters of the country’s largest demolition derby agreed to bring their spectacular fender-bender to the narrow brick streets of The Old Northeast. The proposed race course will stretch from 9th Avenue to 18th Avenue and back, zig-zagging through the quiet tree-lined neighborhood. Residents are warned to brace themselves and their homes for possible obliteration.

“Spoof” is a noun which the dictionary defines as a “light humorous parody.” Actually the word is an acronym devised in the early 20th century from the phrase “St. Pete: Our Outlandish Funtasyland.” SPOOFers was a column in the local newspaper, The Leningrad LAMPOON (the precursor to the St. Petersburg TIMES).

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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

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
Sept 1 Get Downtown Music Series Central b/w 2nd-3rd; 393-3597 Sept 9 Saturday AM Coffee Break/Book Nook by the Bay The Pier; 898-7437 Sept 9 AIDS Walk (benefits clients of For AIDS Care Today) North Shore Park; 328-3268 Sept 9 Gallery Walk Downtown locations; 821-6767 SEPTEMBER 15 PORCH PARTY (see p. 19) SEPTEMBER 17 NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING Sept 18 Tampa Bay Job Fair Coliseum; 892-5202 Sept 22 Grand Central Stroll 2400 block Central; 328-7086 Sept 23 Fish-Ful Saturday Pier Aquarium; 895-7437 Sept 29 Suncoast Home & Remodeling Show -Oct 1 Tropicana Field; 800/274-6948 Sept 30 4th Annual Teen BBQ Cook-Off Crescent Lake Park; 893-7813 Oct 6 Get Downtown Music Series Central b/w 2nd-3rd; 393-3597 Oct 7 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Vinoy Park; 734-7832 Oct 7 Saturday Morning Market (resumes weekly) Central b/w 1st-2nd; 455-4921 Oct 13 Breast Cancer 3-Day (benefits Komen -15 Breast Cancer Foundation); www.the3day.org Oct 14 Florida Orchestra in the Park Vinoy Park; 800/662-7286 OCTOBER 16 NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING OCTOBER 20 PORCH PARTY (see p. 19) Oct 21 Save Our Shore Coastal Clean-Up Bay coastline; 893-7335

Central b/w 2nd-3rd; 393-3597 Nov 4 Huff-n-Puff Adapted Fitness Expo North Shore Park; 892-5196 Nov 10-12 Ribfest Vinoy Park; 893-3828 Nov 11 Fall Fest Westminster Church; 821-5259 NOVEMBER 17 PORCH PARTY (see p. 19) Nov 16-19 St. Petersburg Boat Show Bayfront Yacht Basin; 800/940-7642 NOVEMBER 20 NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING Nov 24 Grand Central Stroll Central from 21st-26th; 341-7198

A Makeover for Gisella: Brick walkways at the palm arboretum being replaced with???

Oct 21 Neighborhood-wide Clean-Up throughout Old NE 822-8444 (see page 5)
Oct 21 St. Petersburg Airfest Albert Whitted -22 Airport; 822-1532

Oct 22 Old NE Walking Tour various blocks; 824-8522 (see page 6)
Oct 27 Grand Central Stroll Central from 21st-26th; 341-7198 Oct 28 Paws on Parade North Shore Park; 586-3591 Oct 28 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer North Straub Park; 812-7003 Oct 28 St. Petersburg Times Festival of Reading -29 USF St. Pete campus; 892-2358

Oct 30

Old NE Halloween Judging; 580-3335 (see page 30)

Nov 2-5 Strictly Sail St. Petersburg Spa Beach Park; 800/817-SAIL Nov 3 Get Downtown Music Series HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Page 25

How Does Your Garden Grow?
by Yvonne Swanson -- Master Gardener
(swelling of the brain) in humans and heartworm in dogs. You can fight back, but don’t waste your money on expensive devices such as carbon dioxide traps or pesticide misting systems, as well as citronella candles, incense sticks and the like. These products may help, but they simply don’t deter all mosquitoes, say experts. Randomly spraying your yard with pesticide isn’t a good idea either because you’ll kill more beneficial insects than mosquitoes. Your best defenses against mosquitoes are what Conlon likes to call the “3 Ds” – drain standing water where mosquito larvae thrive, dress appropriately and defend your body with a proven repellant. Female mosquitoes can lay up to 200 eggs every 7 to 10 days. During warm weather, eggs will hatch in just a few days. Any size container or area of the yard with standing water provides a breeding ground. “I’ve seen mosquitoes breeding in Coke bottle caps,” says Conlon. Several products will kill mosquito larvae in ponds, birdbaths, outdoor tubs, water gardens or any place where water collects and remains for periods of time. The most popular are donutshaped mosquito dunks and tiny bits that contain a naturally occurring bacterial spore (B.t.i. or Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis) that’s lethal to mosquito larvae but harmless to other living things. There also are non-toxic insecticide tablets and granules that kill larvae before they can become flying, biting adults, as well as an alcohol-based solution that drowns them. Look for these products at home improvement centers, garden centers and hardware stores. Standing water can also form on and around certain outdoor plants, including bromeliads which have a vase-shaped base ideal for holding water. A single plant can host 100 mosquito larvae. To prevent infestation, you can sprinkle B.t.i. granules into plants every month. Another option is frequently flushing plants with a garden hose to wash out larvae and eggs. You can protect yourself by wearing light-colored, loose-fitting clothing and applying a repellant recommended by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says Conlon. Shop for products containing DEET (30% concentration for adults and 10% for children), Picaridin (such as Cutter Advanced) or oil of lemon eucalyptus (Repel), he suggests. One of the best devices I’ve used against mosquitoes is an oscillating electric fan. Position it on your patio or deck when you are outdoors and mosquitoes can’t detect human scent or compete with the breeze (they are poor fliers). Despite all your efforts, what if your neighbor’s yard is a breeding ground for mosquitoes? Pass along this article – it’s the neighborly thing to do! Yvonne Swanson is a master gardener for Pinellas County. She also writes a garden column for the St. Petersburg Times.

When it comes to ridding our yards of mosquitoes, we’re all in it together. That’s because the mosquitoes lurking in your neighbors’ yards are the same blood-thirsty pests that will zero in on your next barbeque or outdoor activity. Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide (which you produce every time you exhale), body heat and body odor. Even if you’ve cleared your own property of the long-legged, winged pests, plenty of others are breeding in staggering numbers and flying all over The Old Northeast. Mosquitoes are an ongoing problem in Florida, where 77 different species reside. It’s the females, with their piercingly long mouthparts, that inflict those itchy, red welts that can transmit diseases such as encephalitis and West Nile virus. Last year alone there were 21 confirmed cases of West Nile virus in Florida, with 18 of those in Pinellas County and one case in Pasco, according to the Florida Department of Health. Researchers are finding global warming may contribute to the spread of even more varieties, as in the case of the disease-carrying Asian tiger mosquito, which is a prevalent pest in the Tampa Bay area, notes Joe Conlon (CQ), technical advisor for the American Mosquito Control Association. Native to East Asia, the Asian tiger mosquito is small and black, with white markings on its legs and back. Unlike many other species that are only active at certain times of the day, it feeds on its prey 24 hours a day. It can cause encephalitis

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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

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. 145 5th Avenue N .......................................... Helena Murphy 555 5th Avenue NE #643 .......................... Bonnie Peavy Hair 555 5th Avenue NE #943 .................. Charles and Jean Platz 245 6th Avenue NE ............................ Brian and Luisa Dutzar 222 7th Avenue N ......................................... Christian Bigger 241 8th Avenue N ........................................... Steven Ashton 115 9th Avenue N ...................................... Catherine Kelliher 132 9th Avenue N ........................................ William Andrews 157 9th Avenue N .......................................... Barbara Knight 217 9th Avenue N ..................... Benjamin and Carlie Welling 215 9th Avenue NE ................. Wilhelm and Christine Becher

351 10th Avenue NE ....................................... Cristina Beyer 135 12th Avenue NE ....................................... Thomas Wells 405 13th Avenue NE ........................................ Daniel Leiding 535 13th Avenue NE ......................................... Jared Samon 139 14th Avenue N ........................... Dwight and Wendi Ervin 310 16th Avenue NE ...................................... Carmen Jordan 346 16th Avenue NE .............................. Judith Redfern Koch 121 20th Avenue N ............................................. Jean Miccio 211 20th Avenue N ....................... Geordie and Cheryl Jenner 175 21st Avenue N ................ Christopher and Michele Keller 106 22nd Avenue N ....................................... Nancy Santiago 832 1st Street N #2 ..................................... Travis Spaulding 1830 Cherry Street NE ........................ Garry and Diane Lyle 2024 Coffee Pot Blvd NE ............................ Steve Gianfilippo 1330 North Shore Drive NE ......................... Leonard McCue 2017 Poplar Street NE ............... Brandon and Sonya North Compiled from public records by the Florida New Business Report.

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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Page 27

“I Remember When...”
Although The Old Northeast neighborhood continues to experience a renaissance of its own along with the downtown, not everyone who lives here is a relative newcomer. Some of us have lived here all — or most — of our lives and remember when life in the northeast (it wasn’t always “Old”) was quite a different experience. “I Remember When…” provides an opportunity for one of your more “senior” neighbors to share with us newer kids on the block a personal reflection of what it was like “way back when.” If you know long-time Old Northeast residents who might like to share some memories of the area from previous years, please contact Susan Alderson at [email protected].

School Daze
The kids are back in school (finally!). Remember when it was you trudging off – in either glee or dread? We asked a couple local “old-timers” what they remembered about the “good old days.” What do you remember? letting my kids do these days. I remember shop class there where we got to repair old lawnmower engines which lead the way to my high school after school jobs as a lawn mower and weekend hobbies riding motor scooters around The Old Northeast until the engine would freeze (never had breaks and the throttle rarely worked).  Again, not something I see my kids doing these days.   Going to St Pete High (1979-1983) was via one of the three school bus stops on Locust.  That lasted for two years (unless I was lucky enough to be picked up by someone with a car), and afterwards we got to drive our own car and park in the dust bowl called the West Central parking lot.  The fashion difference between high school and middle school was that for some reason no one wore corduroy jeans any more. That was the main thing that struck me, and the fact that all of the girls were wearing Gloria Vanderbilt jeans and had Farah Fawcett flip hair.  I was in the service club Interact at SPHS and we ran the Christmas tree

Susan Cook Lahey, who lives on 14th Avenue, NE, has these recollections. I grew up on 13th Avenue NE, right around the corner from where I now live.  I moved back to St. Petersburg this spring after retiring from the University of Georgia where I had been an Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Counseling. After starting off at Shorecrest, I switched to North Ward in the second grade in the early 1950s.  My father had attended North Ward, too. My main recollection about getting ready for the first day of school each year was that I always wanted to have a new plaid dress.  Don’t ask me why, but it HAD to be plaid.  I also wanted a new lunch box every year even though I usually ate most of my lunches in the school cafeteria.  If only I’d saved all those barely used lunch boxes from half a century ago they’d be worth a fortune now for memorabilia collectors! Mary Duncan (now Waters) was my next door neighbor and we walked to school and back every day.  She lives in Tallahassee and we are still friends after 57 years.  As we get older, it’s nice to have a friend who can fill in those memory gaps when they occur. North Ward was so different years ago. There were trees on the playground, and some sandy areas. Now it’s all paved over.  Every year pho- Many Old NE kids attended North Ward, once the neighborhood school, at tographers would come and take a class picture 11th Avenue and 4th Street N of us all sitting at our desks, each of us with perfect posture and confident smiles.  I framed the picture of sale which required, several times a month and most of the weekRosemond Brown’s sixth grade class and displayed it for years in ends in December, that members spend the night with the trees my guest bath in Athens.  Friends always had fun trying to iden(ostensibly to guard them, but I think we needed the guarding).  tify which child I was -- and seldom got it right!  We also were responsible for mowing the Ronald McDonald house at All Children’s Hospital which meant that we could get free Cokes from their machine inside the house.   The following is from Jim Thompson, an attorney who lives on 17th Avenue NE and whose childhood was spent on 20th AvI think we went to classes, too, but that was just to pass the enue. He attended North Shore, North Ward, Riviera Middle time during the day and to await the next seven minute break and St. Pete High. between classes.   Vivid recollections are Riviera Middle from 1976-79, with the Susan Woods Alderson is the wife of Ben Alderson, mother of fashion being corduroy Levis and the fashionable terry cloth “Left four children and has one granddaughter.  She moved to a home Bank” shirts — they were the “have to have” items. The only on 16th Avenue NE with her parents and grandmother when she music that comes to mind from that time is the Cheap Trick Live was five years old and lived in another home on 16th until she at Budokan. I usually rode the bus but occasionally rode my bike married.  Susan currently lives on 19th Avenue NE and is the photh nd from 20 Avenue all the way to 62 , something I cannot imagine tographer and Editorial Coordinator of the Northeast Journal.

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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

SPECIAL EVENTS TO NOTE
Westminster Presbyterian Church Fall Fest
Saturday, September 24th, 10am-2pm 126 11th Avenue NE Bazaar, kid’s games, food & refreshments

Florida Orchestra in the Park
Saturday, October 14th, evening Vinoy Park

opportunity to direct additional contributions to neighborhood activities or you may make a contribution to the general fund. The choices of ongoing activities to which you may contribute include: + Historic preservation (including the Local Historic District campaign) + Maintenance of monuments, medians and other neighborhood amenities + Tree planting programs + Street lighting (matching grant program) HONNA is an organization of volunteers and no one who serves on its board or in any capacity within the organization receives compensation from the organization. We hope you will join the organization if you are not already a member, renew your membership if it has lapsed and consider an additional financial contribution to the organization to help sustain our many important initiatives.

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from page 1

Neighborhood-wide Clean-Up and Save Our Shore Coastal Clean-Up
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Page 29

Houses That
Saturday Morning Market
Dozens of vendors every Saturday morning in Downtown St. Petersburg Central Avenue at 2nd Street 9 am to 1 pm
Begins October 7th

D

SCREAM
in the Night
Dust off your skeletons, pumpkins and ghouls – All Hollow’s Eve will be here before we know it. Judging for The Old Northeast’s annual Halloween house decorating contest will be held on Monday, October 30th, beginning at 5:30pm. Our neighbors with Smith & Associates Realtors will be sponsoring the contest and contributing prizes for the three best efforts plus Best Theme. So use your imagination and let your creative talents run weirdly, wackily wild. Anyone wishing to be a judge – including children! – please contact Cynthia Serra at 580-3335 and she will explain how the judging will take place. Residents in the Old NE are Dead Serious when it comes to Halloween and decorating. So get in the spirit: think fantasy, think fun, think frightful, think freaky, even funny.

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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Alley Décor:

My Trash – Your Treasure
As many of us renovate our homes, rather than toss into the garbage or Dumpster various architectural features we’ve ripped out we may keep them around for awhile in case we discover that someone can use what we no longer can. Well, this is an effort at “matchmaking.” If you have items like old wood doors or windows, fireplace mantels, hex blocks, light fixtures, door hardware, staircase spindles – or need something specific for your ‘20s bungalow or ‘30s Mediterranean revival – you can list it here at no charge (and it also will be posted on the Association’s website). Actually, we’ve expanded the category of items featured to include furniture (please – in decent condition). Also, keep in mind that Westminster Presbyterian Church on

Looking For…

Augusta Block brick
being sought – a little or a lot. Phone 553-9281.
11th Avenue NE accepts donations for furniture and furnishings to assist women from CASA with their transitional housing needs. Deadline for submitting an ad for the December issue is Nov 15th; send the information to [email protected] or mail to HONNA, P.O. Box 76324, St. Petersburg, FL 33734.

and at a recent publicized meeting some dozen-plus neighbors So while most of the action of late seems to be on the southern joined in a very preliminary sharing session with the architect to and western borders of The Old go over the proposed site plan Northeast, there is certainly moveand renderings (Mediterranean ment afoot on the eastern side revival/Caribbean-style construction). This was the first of what which bears watching. is likely to be several such meetConsidering several of the more ings, all of which will be opporambitious development plans on 4th tunities for interested parties to Street, the neighborhood associavoice opinions on what eventution has been and continues to be ally will be constructed at this extremely involved in overseeing site. The fact that additional subwhat developers want to do with stantial changes in the streetscape certain of the properties. In parcan be expected in the near futicular HONNA president Cathy ture, more of these type meetings Martin and Board members Mary are surely to take place. Alice Lange and Nicole Durkin, at the request of concerned neighbors This is meant to be a heads-up regarding even more changes who live near these proposed projects, have spent considerable coming to the neighborhood. time and effort meeting with resiProjects on 5th Avenue and 4 th dents, developers and their assoStreet will continue to demand the ciates and appearing before City attention of HONNA and groups boards and City Council – all volof affected residents, but let’s not unteer time, it bears emphasizing Beach Drive and 5th Avenue NE forget that another very prominent – focusing on the legal and technithoroughfare in The Old Northcal aspects of planned developeast is poised to undergo a signifiments to make certain the interests of the neighborhood (as recant metamorphosis. flected in zoning and the Neighborhood Plan) are honored. Do you care what Beach Drive is going to look like in a few The neighborhood association already is working with the deyears? If you do, then plan to be a part of the conversation about velopers of the Merecido townhome project at 11th and Beach, its future that will be taking place in the months ahead.
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Editor’s Prerogative from page 2

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Next Neighborhood Meeting: Monday, Sept 15th, 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 • Walking Tour of Old NE • Cheers Comes to the Neighborhood • Storm Phobia • Porch Party Schedule • Garden Gadflies Plus Spoofers and more

ST. PETERSBURG IS UNIQUE, NEWSWORTHY, ENERGETIC AND EXCITING

Now Featured On Several Top Ten Lists - from Places to Live, Work & Play

We have arrived- And as we hear talk about the market’s transition, we can look at St. Petersburg’s popularity, and growth in Business, Real Estate Development, Theater, the Arts, Education, & Tourism. It has over the past few years, become known as one of the best (and less expensive) places to live in Florida. This area offers a somewhat urban landscape of unique waterfront living for those residing close to downtown. One could consider the downtown areas of St Petersburg as a “City by the Bay” with public access to miles of waterfront & parks & walking/running pathways- St. Petersburg offers variety- Just look at my current listings, they range from Italian Renaissance, Mediterranean Revival, Key West, Colonial, Mission Revival, Art Deco to Modern Contemporary- St. Petersburg is often considered as a healthy destination for all generations & lifestyles. A pedestrian-friendly and, yes, “dog-friendly”, destination. Downtown St Petersburg, Old Northeast, Snell Isle, & all the surrounding areas are sought after propertiesProperties that are far too localized and unique to be affected by the overall vicissitudes of market trends. In terms of real estate, this area has limited space- prices will appreciate again and again. St Petersburg is valuable, exhilarating, exciting and affordable. It is “The Place to Be”

St. Petersburg has “Arrived”

www.ALONADISHY.com
Office (727) 823-8000 X 129. Pager (727) 462-8887
Realty Executives [email protected]

Call Alona Dishy for some of the Finest Listings in the Area

Main Number (727) 458-8037
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

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