Casa Bella Goes Vertical

After seemingly endless months of site prep and infrastructure development the Casa Bella condominium development has finally progressed to some vertical elements. It's pictured here from across Westshore. Work has been going on to move the utilities on the 11 acre parcel from which these pictures were taken. Part of potential development? Let us know if you know.

Despite uncertainty in the housing market, the movement of mobile homes out of the two parks on Interbay continues. You may remember that a mobile home park once occupied the Casa Bella site.

Illegal Dumping Update: The far south end of O'Brien remains clear since the city responded to a citizen complaint via tampa.gov If you see dumping please report it!

New Port Tampa Business

Bay Area Militaria and Collectibles on Westshore at Commerce is now open Saturdays and by appointment. A cautionary tale for collectors here. The owner developed such an extensive personal collection it made more sense to rent retail space than storage space.

Friends of The Library Campaign for Yeats Meeting Room

The Friends of the Port Tampa City Library made a presentation to the Hillsborough County Library Board on July 27th to ask permission to name the upstairs conference room after James G. Yeats.



James G. Yeats
January 4, 1876 – May 26, 1933


The Port Tampa City Library is housed in the imposing Italian marble structure at the intersection of Kissimmee and Commerce Streets. Built in 1926 by James Godfrey Yeats to house the First Bank of Port Tampa City, it subsequently served as a grocery store, aviation school, doctors’ offices, hospital, boutique, Commercial Bank, and then was forsaken for more than 30 years. In 1993 it was the impetus to unite the Port Tampa community in order to save the impressive edifice. On June 14, 1998, the 72-year old building was dedicated as the Port Tampa City Library. On that day accolades were given to individuals, organizations, and officials who had played important roles in saving the long-abandoned building from demolition and its renovation as the heart of the community. (“Port Tampa City, A History of Change”, Port Tampa City Woman’s Club, 2003) It is now time to honor the man who fulfilled his dreams and paved the way for Floridians to live their dreams.

You can support the Friends campaign by sending a letter of support to:
Mr. James B. Johnson, Jr., Chairman
Tampa-Hillsborough Public Library Board
900 N. Ashley Drive
Tampa, FL 33602

Contact janrsimpson@aol.com for more information on the Friends' efforts.

tampa.gov Gets Results

Port Tampa has covered the effectiveness, and sometimes lack of effectiveness, of reporting community concerns to the city via tampa.gov The husband recently reported 7 burned out street lights on Interbay between Westshore and Dale Mabry. The city responded saying all the lights are due for replacement in '07 with higher efficiency lighting. It took one more e-mail to clarify that the lights were completely out, but now they are all on. Total time from first report to action, less than 10 business days.

Port Tampa Blog Lives!

Thanks to the assistance of some people who've lived in, and loved, Port Tampa City a lot longer than I have we have news to report and a renewed committment to keep this blog updated.

I truly appreciate the concern of those who've e-mailed, and if you want to see what's been keeping me away check out my other blog:Eagleview Community Foundation