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Tampa Council Blocks Ybor City Nightclub Bid

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE

cwade@tampatrib.com

Published: November 21, 2008

TAMPA - The old building on the corner of Seventh Avenue and North 17th Street has sat vacant for more than three years since the former tenant, Club Shine, was evicted.

And it's likely to remain that way for the foreseeable future.

On Thursday, the city council unanimously turned down a request from an entertainment firm for a wet-zoning permit to open another nightclub at the Ybor City property.

Councilman John Dingfelder said he and other council members have been bombarded with e-mails and calls from Ybor property owners and residents who oppose the club.

"They are tired of the bar scene," he said. "They want to reverse the direction of Ybor City and I think that we need to respect that."

Tampa attorney Joseph Diaz, who represents the property owners, pointed out that the building has been empty for several years and that the thoroughfare needs tenants.

"We want to give you an open storefront," he told council members. "There's not that many people who are willing to make that kind of investment in today's economy."

Both the Historic Ybor City Neighborhood Civic Association and Ybor City Development Corporation oppose the proposed nightclub, arguing that there are too many clubs along Seventh Avenue and that they've become a magnet for crime and noise in the district.

The groups said they want to see more restaurants and retail stores on Seventh Avenue.

Said Fran Costantino, vice president of the East Ybor Historic & Civic Association "We would support just about anything else going in there other than a nightclub."

Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (813) 259-7679

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