Foundation To Fill In Gaps

The idea floated around for a couple of years, in moments of, "Well, what if we did this?" or "Do we go ahead with this?"

A workshop last month plotting out Seminole Heights' future growth crystallized the obvious. The neighborhood could use a nonprofit foundation if only to fill in funding gaps the city cannot bridge.

So Christie Hess, Susan Long and Randy Baron incorporated the Seminole Heights Foundation with the state and filed for nonprofit status as a charity with the Internal Revenue Service.

Hess is chairwoman of crime awareness for Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association; Long and Baron are past presidents of the association. But the new foundation is not affiliated with the neighborhood group.

Charitable status for the foundation could take a few months, Hess said. The trio are moving forward on finding 10 more people for a 13-member board of directors. The first appointment is Sherry Genovar-Simons, president of the Southeast Seminole Heights Civic Association.

"We're not looking for this to be a popularity contest," Hess said. The group wants board members with "real skills" such as legal expertise or fundraising talent, or experience working with nonprofit organizations.

The foundation hopes to have its board in place by October. Preference is for board members to come from Seminole Heights, but selections could come from outside the neighborhood, Hess said.

The foundation's mission is to search out resources and funding for projects within the boundaries of the three Seminole Heights neighborhoods - Old Seminole, Southeast Seminole and South Seminole.

Potential projects for the foundation might include crosswalks, gateways into the neighborhood, streetlights, signs and sidewalks. The foundation also could partner with the city in securing grants that require matching funds.

Seminole Heights is in the second year of a pilot project to craft new zoning codes that during the next 20 to 50 years will guide the neighborhood's growth. Known as form-based zoning, the codes emphasize the size and appearance of buildings as well as the layout of streets and public spaces.

The intent is to create more mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods.

Traditional zoning generally separates areas based on land use and decisions of public health and safety, placing shops, homes and factories in different districts.

The city's zoning staff is working on drafting the codes for review by city council members by the end of the year. Workshops have been held to get public input.

"Form-based zones will go a long way, but some parts will need help," Hess said, as in financial help for even fairly small things such as trash cans, signs and benches.

"That's where the foundation would fit in," she said. "We can do things that the neighborhood association doesn't want to do or can't do."

And the reality, she said, is the city "is not going to pick up" some projects.

The organizers are asking for projects or goals for Seminole Heights Foundation. Call Hess at (813) 237-8808 or e-mail info@seminoleheights foundation.org or chess@sem inoleheightsfoundation.org.