Over 60 residents turned out for a forum on the parking problems in SOHO only to discover that no solutions are in sight and the problem will probably worsen.
City officials from the parking planning departments, transportation departments, Police department, Fire department, Hartline and more showed up at a forum to discuss the problem at Kate Jackson Center. The main effort was to hear public suggestions as to solving the crowded streets and jammed parking lots. Unfortunately, no clear answers were forthcoming.
The problem has come under greater scrutiny as the owners of Whiskey Soho have requested a wet zoning approval for the 300 block currently occupied by Sangrias, the Dubliner, Soho Sushi and others in preparation for purchasing the property. Plans have called for a cigar bar facility on the upper level of the property. The parking issue has been raised as an objection to the wet zoning application that would allow for alcoholic beverages to be sold on the property.
The problem could worsen as the City evaluates a previous recommendation to eliminate parking on one side of Westland, Horatio, Azeele and more. Clearly indicating the near impossibility of emergency vehicles to access the street during busy hours, this change would eliminate at least 100 current, badly needed spaces.
With indications that every new space would cost between $15,000 and $35,000, the lack of available property and the money to pay for points to a worsening problem.
Discussion frequently came back to the ineffective trolley/bus service currently provided by Hartline that many residents seemed to not be well informed of. The current trolley route stops at Howard and Swann with incredibly bad hours of operation that prohibit usage by commuters and by night time partiers. While discussion has center for over a year on expanding the route, no real momentum has come forward to an expansion. You can see the current route and discused expansions and costs from our article from a year ago here -
http://www.sohotampa.com/hartline.htm
At a previous City Council meeting on the Wet Zoning issue, the item was delayed awaiting documentation on adequate parking being provided.
The City Council is scheduled to hear the Wet Zoning request on Thursday, January 25 th, however, we hear that changes might be forthcoming in the request that could delay the hearing even further.
