Jan 29, 2005

Builder Proposes Houses

Jim Bowen, president of Ashton Woods Homes, presented his plans this week to the Civic Association of Port Tampa. He said he has a contract to buy vacant land south of Interbay Boulevard and will build 2,000- to 2,800-square-feet houses priced from $250,000 to $340,000.

Bowen said the houses won't be part of a deed-restricted community or subdivision.

``It's going to look like Port Tampa,'' Bowen said. ``I live in South Tampa. I want to keep South Tampa as South Tampa.''

Residents said the neighborhood and its roads already are crowded, but they acknowledged the property wasn't going to remain vacant.

``It's not a question of if this is going to be developed,'' civic association treasurer Kevin Dwyer said. ``It's a question of when.''

To deal with development, residents in the community next to MacDill Air Force Base have begun creating a neighborhood plan. The plan would serve as a framework to the Tampa City Council and other planning agencies about how the neighborhood wants to deal with growth.

Two prior attempts to present a plan to city council for adoption failed. But after meeting with city Councilman John Dingfelder, residents agreed in October to try again.

At the civic group meeting Tuesday, resident Ray Rowe volunteered to lead a task force heading up the planning effort.

``Port Tampa needs a plan to help city council make decisions about where we need to go,'' Rowe said. ``Hopefully, everybody will give us their input, we'll put it all together and we'll try to make everybody happy.''