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Charity's Tent City Proposal Concerns Neighbors

Tribune file photo by JIM REED

Catholic Charities is considering using wooden structures like these ones set up in a seasonal tent city near 126th Avenue and 49th Street North in St. Petersburg.

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By KATHY STEELE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 7, 2009

TAMPA - Catholic Charities is revising a proposal to set up a tent city and later build temporary shelters, or casitas, for homeless clients looking for jobs and independence.

But East Lake Park residents are gearing up to block the project at a Hillsborough County rezoning hearing Feb. 17. The charity initially proposed a tent city for about 500 people who would share dining, bathroom, laundry and recreational facilities on about 12 acres at 6401 E. Hillsborough Ave.

"It's too close to our neighborhood," said Joanne O'Brien, vice president of the homeowner's association. "I will not go down without a fight."

She has distributed about 350 fliers and e-mailed out-of-state property owners about the project.

Catholic officials say they want to respect neighbors' concerns but also have an obligation to help the county's 9,000 or so homeless.

Men and women would be screened before moving into the shelters and job search and health care counseling would be provided. There also would be on-site security.

"We've been working on the proposal hard. We're still at the point of trying to listen," said Frank Murphy, president of Catholic Charities. "We're not trying to create a problem for anyone. Hillsborough County has a street homeless problem, period."

The charity has backed away from its initial proposal, possibly replacing it with what Murphy calls "wooden tents," which are small, temporary wood shelters, or casitas.

Similar structures are in use at a seasonal tent city near 126th Avenue and 49th Street North in St. Petersburg.

O'Brien said the Pinellas County location is more suitable than the Hillsborough site, which is near East Lake Park's 324 homes, as well as businesses and schools.

Last year, the Hillsborough County Commission approved a project to build 240 affordable apartments on the property. Murphy said a ministry, not associated with Catholic Charities, couldn't raise money for the project because of the real estate collapse.

O'Brien said residents secured an agreement from the developers to set aside a portion of the apartments for seniors.

"We weren't quite too thrilled about it," she said, although the senior housing component was worth consideration.

The Diocese of St. Petersburg has owned the site since 1968. It once was used as a parish facility and there's still an office and community building on the property.

Hillsborough planners said they haven't seen anything like the tent city proposal. It doesn't fit zoning codes except possibly categorized as a camp.

That puts restrictions on the number of tents and residents, executive planner Brian Grady said.

"We're still evaluating and nothing has been resolved," he said.

Reporter Kathy Steele can be reached at (813) 259-7652 or ksteele@tampatrib.com.

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