The purpose of the meeting is for Board members, as well as residents of Old Seminole Heights, to have an opportunity to voice opinions regarding the proposed CVS Pharmacy at Nebraska & Sligh Avenues. Your participation is encouraged. CVS Pharmacy has requested OSHNA’s support on this project, and in order to determine what position OSHNA will take, we are asking for input from the residents of OSH.

CVS went before City Council late Thursday evening to request a zoning change from commercial intensive to planned development in preparation for locating their store at Sligh and Nebraska Avenues.  A number of residents were present for the meeting, as were the presidents of all three Seminole Heights Neighborhood Associations and the Business Guild.

City Staff recommended against approval.

Councilmember Linda Saul-Sena made a motion to deny the request on the basis that it did not meet the comprehensive plan and was not a sufficient use of the unusually large 2.7 acre parcel.  Voting to deny approval for the project was Charlie Miranda, Linda Saul-Sena and Thomas Scott.  OSH falls within Councilmember Scott’s district.  Voting against denial was John Dingfelder and Joseph Caetano.  Mary Mulhern and Gwen Miller were absent.  A vote to deny requires a minimum of four votes to pass. The motion was carried over to this coming Thursday, February 6th.  If four councilmembers vote in the negative this Thursday, CVS has stated it will seek another location for the proposed pharmacy.

Click Here to View the Report
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OSHNA encourages its members and residents to contact city council and share their opinion, for or against, the CVS project.  You may use an online form to reach all councilmembers with one email by clicking here:
Contact City Council. Or, you may contact councilmembers individually, as listed below:

Mary Mulhern (At Large)
Mary.Mulhern@tampagov.net
(813) 274-7071

Linda Saul-Sena (At large)
(813) 274-8134

John Dingfelder
John.Dingfelder@tampagov.net(813) 274-8133

Thomas Scott                     (OSH Representative)
(813) 274-8189

Gwen Miller (At Large)
(813) 274-7072

Joseph Caetano
(813) 274-7073

Charlie Miranda
(813) 274-7074

Not only is Reservations good but they are also locally owned and operated. The owners Anthony and Elke live here in Seminole Heights and make everything from scratch.

One order will usually serve a two people.  We have ordered 2 meals which easily served four people and we still had leftovers.  The order pictured to left included:

Yankee Pot Roast, fork tender beef slowly cooked with carrots, onions, green beans and potatoes for $11.95

Chicken Rustica,  boneless breast sautéed with crushed red pepper, garlic, capers, olives, tomato and Romano for $11.95

Both meals came with a house salad including vinaigrette dressing.

Chicken Rustica

The Yankee Pot Roast was good but the Chicken Rustica was fantastic (BTW I am a fan of olives) . The mashed potatoes are great and the salad’s are above average. Other hits include the Chicken Marsala and the Meatloaf. Reservations also carries vegetarian dishes such as the Polenta Lasagna; polenta layered with portobellos, parmesan, mozzarella and pomodoro sauce.

Reservation’s specials change weekly. Make sure you sign up for their e-mail list which is on a clipboard on the front counter.

There is seating at Reservations and its a popular lunch spot for those looking for a great sandwich.  The hot sandwiches are a must try. Topping the hot sandwich list are the Hot Meatloaf Hoagie and the Buffalo Chicken Finger Sub for $7.95 each.

Slippers agrees, the Carrot Cake Rocks

If you want to splurge a little you should try a piece of cake which will cost you $4.50. The Cheese Cake is a hit among neighbors but I have to give my personal recommendation to the Carrot Cake. I am not a fan of carrot cake but the Reservations version kicks ass.

Okay so I have said my piece. I went around and asked some of our neighbors what they thought and here’s their reviews:

I like their meatloaf and veggies. The Au Poivre Filet Mignon was very good. Sandwiches I like are the Chicken Caesar, Meatball and Meatloaf sandwiches. The food is fresh and the bread is top quality.

-Jeff

Love, Love, Love the food…and I’ve had just about everything on the menu. Their sandwiches are fantastic. Their other menu items are wonderful too. I can’t recommend them highly enough. Plus, Elke and Anthony are great and they live in the neighborhood!

-Helen

I go every Monday. They send an email to me on Mondays that tells me this week’s specials. I pick one up on the way home. My partner and I can have a very nice meal without having to do the cooking. I’ve eaten many things on their menu, including the pepper-crusted filet mignon, the mini meatloaf, chicken marsala, and last night we had chicken parmesan.

The food comes with a salad and a side dish for a flat price. A single order is enough for two people. I often get a slice of carrot cake as well. My average bill is about $16.00, including the cake and taxes. Two Big Mac meals are darned close to that price and aren’t anywhere near the quality.

If you want to try something, I recommend the mini meatloaf with the green beans and potatoes. You could feed a family of 4 on that for under $25 (two orders).

-Shawn

Conveniently Located on Nebraska Ave just south of Osborne Ave

For more information about Reservations Gourmet-to-Go visit their website by clicking here.

They are located at 4703 N Nebraska Ave, Tampa Fl in Seminole Heights. To reach them by phone call 813.231.6800.

Tampa’s first foray was with Ponce De Leon and College Hill. In 2001, almost $20 million was awarded to Tampa Housing Authority to create what would eventually become Oaks at Riverview.

For those of us that remember the blight of Riverview Terrace Apartments and the crime that bled into the surrounding area, today’s Oaks at Riverview is a welcome sight. However, for the current residents there are still struggles. HOPE VI was started as a way to give Section 8 recipients a path to permanent residency and self suficiency. At best this is a learning process. At worst, it is a struggle against dependency. Right now that struggle is being born on the shoulders of the home owners at Oaks who probably weren’t aware of the implications of this grand social experiment. These are dedicated home owners who believe in community.

There’s something reassuring about walking through the streets of Seminole Heights. Several times a week, I walk my dog past the gothic beauty of Hillsborough High School, up Seminole Avenue and back down Branch Avenue on the south side of Hillsborough Avenue. There’s a magical timeless feeling that nips at me. It is inspiring to step beneath the arms of majestic oaks that speak of generations of children that have climbed their arcing branches. I love how the rays of sunlight give a peak of heaven as they rain between the leaves. I treat my eyes to the candy of each home’s unique character and the splendor of gardens that showcase the flourishing life in their shadow. And every time I try to capture the experience in photos I fail.

If I had taken a different path in life would I have ended up in Seminole Heights? If the answer is no, then the journey to get here has been worth it. When I listen to the stories of longtime residents they remind me that the streets have had their own journey. The pride in their voices is obvious as their words dance with joys of the past and visions for the future. A future that I hope lives up to the past.

I wonder…I wonder if the streets would be the same if it wasn’t a local historic district. Would some developer destroy an old bungalow and replace it with a modern day monstrosity that belongs in a suburban sprawl. Would the character fade away? Would the streets still talk to me in the same way? Would thoughts of the past only conjure up disappointment because we chose not to protect this place? Would the personalities of my neighbors drown under the pressure of intrusive development?

But the streets I walk are protected. Knowing that they will be preserved for the future is reassuring. Everyday I bathe in the comfort of coming home, to relax on my porch and to breathe in the tranquility of Seminole Heights.

Thank You Steve Gluckman. You will be missed.

Your Friend,
Tommy

Performances by the HHS Band, Orchestra and ChorusThis event, which is free and open to the public, is always a spectacular event and showcases the wonderful performances of the students. The HHS band recently was awarded yet another “superior” rating.

Seminole Heights has enjoyed a year in the spotlight. Showcased by American Bungalow magazine’s 12 page spread and named The Best Old House Neighborhood in the South by this Old House Magazine, the area’s residents are pleased to shine some of their light on children in need. Tampa Heights, in the running for The Best Old House Neighborhood for 2010, was also eager to assist.

Beautifully decorated homes in the 3 neighborhoods that form Seminole Heights, and The Sanctuary and several residences in nearby Tampa Heights, will be open for touring on December 13 at 3 pm. The tour will commence at The Sanctuary, a magnificent rehabilitated church, embellished with colorful stained glass windows, now office spaces and residential lofts.

Capping the day will be a visit to Susan Gott’s Phoenix Studio where visitors will have the opportunity to view the fiery furnaces and observe the ancient art of glassblowing as well as the casting of molten glass into objects of beauty.

Rotary’s Camp Florida is a quiet, sequestered camp ground located west of Lakewood Drive in Brandon, Florida. Two sandy bottom lakes, Lake Chapman and Lake Gornto add to the natural beauty. Stately old oaks create a shady environment for the many special needs campers.

A small camp staff assists the kids that come to the camp. Children with asthma, severe allergies, blood disorders, cancer, cerebral palsy, diabetes, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, Tourette Syndrome and other disorders, are helped. None of these children would be able to experience camping were it not for Rotary’s Camp Florida. You will get to meet some of these courageous youngsters at the tour. They are eager to give back.

Tickets are $10.00 & are available at Sherry’s YesterDaze Vintage Clothing & Antiques at 5207 N. Florida Ave. in Seminole Heights and online at www. TampaRotary.org/Tickets . For more information call Reba Cook at 988-5405 or Suzanne Prieur at 813 610-5255.

At 3am a fight broke out inside Club Empire as the club was closing. Tampa police dispersed the group but the disagreement reignited in the parking lot at the north end of the building. During the scuffle 20 year old Khakem Jones shot Stephan Kreilkamp several times. Kreilkamp, 21, was taken to Tampa General Hospital where he remains in in critical condition. Police described the wounds as life threatening.

Police have charged Jones with attempted murder in the second degree and carrying a concealed firearm.