Parking Permits In SOHO ?

Several neighborhood associations have been raising the issue of jammed parking, mostly on Westland, where the narrow street raises the potential for an emergency service vehicle not being able to get through. These neighborhood groups have been getting louder and louder as the problems continue to worsen. The underlying problems come with a virtual non-existent transit system, the continued removal of single family homes being replaced with multi-family dwellings, businesses being allowed to form and expand without accountability as to parking requirements.

SOHO is fortunate to have such a postive business climate, but, are RESIDENTS Parking permits the answer ?

Ybor City has implemented this same approach recently. As you walk down Ybor's 7th Avenue with the many closed up businesses, you have to wonder what the solution is. Admittedly, the permits are not the main cause for Ybor's problems.

Council Member John Dingfelder seems to think that SOHO visitors will be willing to park on lots on Kennedy Avenue and walk down S. Howard Avenue to visit their favorite locations. Additionally he seems to think that all the Kennedy businesses with parking lots will make them available for SOHO customers in the off hours (seems he hasn't noticed the NO PARKING signs and the tow trucks circling like sharks waiting for their next meal).

Their is NO single solution. But there are several.

First: re-evaluate the allowance of any permit for a multi family dwelling without adequate parking. At $400,000 plus per unit, it is astounding that the city does not even require them to have 2 parking spaces.

Second: don't allow new businesses or current businesses to expand without a plan for parking. One SOHO restaurant just added an outdoor seating area that resulted in the removal of a couple of parking spaces - no new parking was added. Who allowed that to happen ?

Third: with SOHO a clear and definable concentration of businesses, provide a workable trolley system so that people in the immediate neighborhood can leave their cars at home.

Fourth: take the current trolley from downtown and Hyde Park and expand the hours and route to be viable for use. With nighttime hours ending at 9 PM on most week nights and 11 PM on weekends, the current schedule is a very bad joke. The idea of bringing back the firing squad to punish whoever came up with this route and schedule is very justifiable .

Recently the number of Police officers to write parking tickets in SOHO was increased and other actions have been taken. We have told you about that in the On the Street section of SOHOTAMPA.COM
We are eager to hear your ideas and opinions and you can post them here. But most important is to send your council members your opinions. To stay silent is going to cost you ! Cost you money and convenience. Here is the address to Send them your email tampacitycouncil@tampagov.net