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The Riverwalk And Declining Local Revenues

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 16, 2008

Improvements Needed

Regarding "Plan Is No Walk In The Park" (Feb. 8):

The concept of a Riverwalk, river park or river culture center highlighting the Hillsborough River is a wonderful and exciting concept. However, several things about the project as now presented should be improved.

There are several world-class architectural firms based in Tampa that are eminently qualified and uniquely able to incorporate local designs we can all be proud of and get behind. Millions of dollars have already been sent to New York on the Vinoly design. Now San Francisco architects are being used for the art museum and New York architects are designing Curtis Hixon Park.

Local architects would understand that shade trees, such as the live oaks straight across the river at the University of Tampa, would be more useful in our hot and humid summers in a park setting than the palm trees pictured in the concept shown. Shade is a wonderful thing during our Florida summers.

The master plan for the entire downtown river area should be created by a local firm that will have a vested interest in the final result. Any such plan will need to be modified as times and conditions change. It makes much more sense to use local talent to see this concept through to its successful end.

MARTIN BEARSS

Tampa

Not Worth The Cost

Regarding "Plan Is No Walk In The Park" (Metro, Feb. 8) and "County, City See Revenues Eroding" (Metro, Feb. 10):

Placing these two articles side-by-side, how can any elected official consider spending $10 to $25 million on a park that includes five glass and metal pylons 50 feet tall that are going to serve no other purpose than being a bird potty? Parks are to be green, open spaces with trees, plants and water view, which the proposed area already has. Why then, during these times that it is so important to think green, is there any thought to erect these glass and metal monstrosities?

It takes excessive amounts of energy to manufacture both of these materials. Why is there a need to identify the park as being in T-A-M-P-A? It's not like anyone is mistakenly going to think they are in Nashville. Who is going to keep these "Five Towers of Folly" clean, and at what cost, when the glass, in particular, will be badly etched by the salt air and birdie do-do in a very short time?

It really is a challenge to comprehend what our elected city and county officials' thought processes are sometimes - or even if they are capable of rational thinking.

DON SHEPHERD

Tampa

Not Feeling Their Pain

Sunday morning, as I was reading the article "County, City See Revenue Eroding" (Metro, Feb. 10), I suddenly felt a warm sensation in the middle of my chest, almost as if my heart was bleeding.

I'm so tired of hearing our local government and politicians whine about decreasing property taxes. It's about time they get a taste of their own medicine after enjoying the bloated tax revenues they've received and wasted from the recent surge in property values.

If our property tax structure is going to be based on the value of one's home, then it is only right that our taxes go down proportionally with the home's value, and these politicians need to learn to deal with it - or change our tax structure to something more reasonable and fair. The increased value of one's home does not equate to an increased demand on public services.

So what did happen to all the excess money they have received over the last few years with the associated surge in property values? I'll tell you what happened - it was wasted on things like Mary Ellen Elia's bloated $280,000 yearly salary and projects like the Riverwalk.

The Amendment One fiasco is nothing more than a slap in the face to us taxpayers by Charlie Crist. Wow, I'll save $300 per year in taxes? Well, excuse me while I celebrate.

ERICK WESTLY

Brandon

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