Residents Seek Annexation

EAST TAMPA - Grant Park residents in unincorporated Hillsborough County took their first tentative steps this week toward a proposal to move into the city.

It's far from a done deal and will require community meetings before a vote is taken through mailed ballots, said Cynthia Miller, the city's growth management and development services director. The meetings likely will be scheduled by early 2008.

'The city is not trying to force anyone to come into the city,' Miller said. 'It's whether this is worth it to property owners to get city services.'

She spoke to more than 40 city and county residents at the monthly Grant Park Civic Association meeting Monday at the community's recreation center, 3724 N. 54th Ave.

About five blocks are within unincorporated Hillsborough. Nearly two years ago during a community meeting to create the association, some county residents said they would like to be annexed into the city.

Most of Grant Park is within the borders of East Tampa's community redevelopment area, where the city is reinvesting a portion of annual property taxes to revitalize blighted neighborhoods. Recent projects, including the paving of 80 streets in Grant Park, excluded blocks outside city limits.

If county residents are annexed, they would not become part of the redevelopment area unless the city opted to redraw the boundaries.

In August, the city announced plans to study a possible annexation of about 75 acres within a triangle bordered by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Interstate 4 and North 56th Street. The 2000 census showed the area had 238 properties, including 196 residences, with a taxable value of more than $18 million, city officials said.

Based on a home assessed at $70,200, Miller presented residents with a comparison of fees and taxes collected by the county and city.

Property taxes would be about $94 more a year in the city. Some fees, including sewer and water, would be lower in the city, but others such as electricity, cable and stormwater would be higher.

County resident Teresa Barr wasn't put off by the higher cost. Overall, she likes the prospect of Tampa police patrolling her street and the city investing in road and sidewalk improvements.

'It has pros and cons but to me it would be better,' Barr said.

Association President Ralph Johnson, who lives one block inside the county, favors annexation as a way to unify the neighborhood.

Other neighbors were less sure and asked Miller whether some streets could be left out of the annexation if residents decide they are better off in the county.

'We want to know how it's going to benefit us,' county resident Jencey Brinson said.

Miller said the city would review neighbors' wishes in deciding whether to proceed with annexation in whole or to exclude certain streets.

'This is just a first step,' she said.