TV Show Takes Look At Redevelopment Areas

Former local television personality Cathy Unruh has not hesitated to volunteer through the years.

One of her latest projects is hosting the city's program, "First Look at Tampa's Redevelopment." The show looks at progress in designated community redevelopment areas (CRAs).

The areas include Ybor City, Channel District, Drew Park, East Tampa, Central Park, Tampa Heights and downtown. A portion of property taxes raised in each of these areas is reinvested in the respective area to improve infrastructure and buy property.

The show appears on the City of Tampa Television (CTTV), which is channel 15 on Verizon FIOS and channel 615 on Bright House Networks. The program also is on the city's Web site at www.tampagov.net/dept _economic_and_urban _development.

Unruh recently took a few minutes from her schedule to explain why she got involved hosting the show.

Q. What work are you doing with the city?

A. "I'm hosting a quarterly show which focuses on the CRAs - Community Redevelopment Areas - and so I'm just hosting. The city puts it together and arranges everybody. I show up and have the fun part of asking the questions and learning about it."

Q. How does the program work?

A. "We interview people who work for the city and who are leading the effort. And we also interview private business people who have businesses in particular CRAs and people who live in them; anybody who can speak to what's happening."

Q. Are you paid for this or is it volunteer?

A. "I'm not paid for it. When the city approached me about it, they planned to pay me and offered salary. I view it as something I can do as a community service. I know television, and I have the time to do it. I am thrilled to do it. It is a learning opportunity for me. It is just another way of volunteering."

Q. Why do it?

A. "Because I love Tampa. It's my home. It became my home when I moved here back in 1991. I didn't expect to stay but it happened. I love Tampa Bay and I love watching our city grow and become better."

Q. What areas have you all covered on the program?

A. "There is Channel District. There is Ybor. There is the downtown core. There is Drew Park and several others. As we go through this quarterly show, we are highlighting two or three areas per show."

Q. What have you learned?

A. "I have learned much, much, much. ... I have seen the buildings that have gone up. I have learned about the businesses that have come to town. Things as fun as the market that happens downtown on Fridays to the condos that have gone up to the new developments to how Drew Park is taking on an entirely new complexion. It's just invigorating to see the way the city is - I don't want to say getting a facelift - but becoming better and better and growing and offering new opportunities for both employment and housing."

Q. Are you seeing the investment is having an effect?

A. "Definitely a positive effect. Just as you look at the infrastructure and to go downtown on a Friday for example and see people walking to shop or to go out for dinner after work. I look forward to the day when the city is vibrant after work hours and vibrant all along the weekends with plenty of things to do that you can walk to, a true urban center and we are getting there."

Q. Anything that you would like to highlight about the CRAs?

A. "I think probably one of the most significant things is that this is an ongoing process. The means by which this is funded is in place for 30 years. So there are some projects now that are just beginning that we are going to see them come to fruition over 10, 20, 30 years. ... It's really exciting to look at a worn-down property or empty lot that's sitting vacant and idle and to know that in five to 10 years you are going to see a thriving business."