The Official Unofficial Seminole Heights Blog

The following was left as a comment yesterday evening. I thought it may be worthy of it’s own post to make sure it is not passed by. Read on:  

For the record, last night after the form based zoning meeting, I asked Kacy Curry to let the OSHNA board know that we are willing to sit down, without lawyers or mediators, as the neighbors we are and the friends we once were, and discuss our issues. My appeal to her to pass on to the board is that the bloodshed must end. This will not be solved by lawyers or threats. If the principals cannot sit down in a room and at least begin to discuss the issues then the divide is indeed too great. We may not solve any any of the current problems, but we certainly have no chance if we are not even able to talk, especially without threats of legal action. We await the response of the OSHNA board.

Randy Baron

From 6/6/09 Tampa Tribune

SEMINOLE HEIGHTS - Expect no lawsuit, but cyber action is a possibility as the executive board of the Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association tries to lay claim to a Web domain name.

The domain name in question is www.oldseminoleheightsfoundation.org. Board members say it was stolen by founders of the nonprofit Seminole Heights Foundation who had access to insider information from a committee appointed to explore the association’s own charitable organization.

Foundation members include two past association presidents, Randy Baron and Susan Long, and current crime watch coordinator, Christie Hess. They have declined to comment on legal issues. A March news release proclaimed the foundation’s mission is to search out grants and resources for projects in all three Seminole Heights neighborhoods: Old Seminole, Southeast Seminole and South Seminole.

“The board decides what options, if any, it wants to pursue,” said lawyer Hunter Chamberlin, who represents Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association. “Personally I think we have a strong case partly because of the secrecy in which it was done.”

The alternative to a lawsuit would be arbitration with ICANN, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. The nonprofit is the administrative body overseeing the Web including the assignment of domain names. It has a worldwide network of arbitration panels.

That is the path the association’s board is considering, said President Jeff Harmon.

The conflict between the foundation and the association, among the city’s most politically savvy and wealthiest neighborhood organizations, was front and center at a packed general membership meeting last week. It had been a topic of discussion for weeks among mostly anonymous bloggers.

Nearly three hours after the meeting began, Harmon called for the foundation and association to move on.

“It stops tonight,” he said. “I’m exhausted. I don’t have anything left for negative discussions.”

But the association has a full plate of divisive issues: a flawed, contentious election in October; divisions over a local historical district in Hampton Terrace; a petition for Hampton Terrace to secede from the association; and now the dispute about the foundation and how it was born.

“I think this has gone further than it needs to on both sides,” said Greg Barnhill, who served on the association’s committee. “I personally think we should move forward because what we are doing is tearing apart 20 years of volunteer hours over someone getting a name.”

The board last month hired a law firm to send a letter demanding the foundation give up its name and a second purchased domain name, www.oldseminole heightsfoundation.org, and strongly suggested its founders resign from the association.

Legal fees for the Chamberlin/Patrick law firm are discounted, but the board would not release the hourly rate.

The board maintains its committee considered Seminole Heights Foundation and Old Seminole Heights Foundation for its proposed charitable organization. That committee included Baron, and Long attended at least one meeting.

Board members said they felt blindsided when the foundation issued its news release.

But the letter and the board’s lawsuit threat were out of bounds to some.

“It’s too small of a community to start doing this,” said Dirk Peters. “Why don’t you guys take a couple steps back?”

Others said the loss of a domain name happens to everyone. “At this point it’s done,” said Barbara Stokoe. “I don’t know what standing here beating each other up accomplishes. If it was our name we should have registered it as soon as we knew it was important.”

At Tuesday’s meeting, Long said the foundation wanted to revitalize and redevelop Seminole Heights with devices to slow neighborhood traffic, crosswalks, trash bins and benches. She invited residents to submit ideas for future projects.

Some said there was room for two charitable groups representing Seminole Heights’ interests. Others said the groups would compete for the same dollars and create name confusion.

Board members said they weren’t sure they could get over the betrayal. “It’s a trust issue,” said Doreen DiBona. “We’re going to have to move on but we really do want Old Seminole Heights Foundation name back. That’s the issue we have.”

Harmon said whatever happens, the board will continue work on its charitable organization.

Reporter Kathy Steele can be reached at (813) 259-7652.

http://centraltampa2.tbo.com/content/2009/may/06/st-domain-name-puts-heights-groups-at-odds/

SEMINOLE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tampa, Florida: The newly created Seminole Heights Foundation is pleased to announce their
primary Board of Directors. The Seminole Heights Foundation Board is a varied group of
community minded individuals. One of the overall goals of the Seminole Heights Foundation is to
help promote the continued revitalization and redevelopment of this historic, vibrant and diverse area
for individuals, business owners, associations, developers and government entities.

The board includes Christie Hess, as Founding Director-President; Randy Baron as Founding
Director – Vice President; Susan Long as Founding Director –Treasurer; Sherry Simons as Director
and Secretary; Allan Weistock, Director and Misty P Maloney, Director.
An example of the diversity of this group is President Christie Hess. Hess was awarded the Tampa
Police Department’s 2008 Citizen of the Year, is one of the Founding Directors of Krewe’s Kare – an
organization dedicated to hurricane relief in the South East, and is known for her work at NASA.
The Seminole Heights Foundation is looking forward to the new “form based zoning” regulations
being introduced in Tampa. Form Based Zoning and other options could be especially helpful in
continuing to grow the in-town quality of life for character filled residential areas such as Seminole
Heights. The Seminole Heights areas are different from the more modern “suburbs” because they
developed prior to the automobile and interstates being the dominant shaper of our newer
neighborhoods. Form Based Zoning has been used to great success in other cities with similar history
as Seminole Heights.

According to a March 26th public record discussion about form based zoning, Tampa City Council
woman Linda Saul-Sena stated “the Seminole Heights [area] has been active and participatory and
it’s a great place to start [Form Based Zoning] because it’s such an engaged community.” In this
same spirit of community, the Seminole Heights Foundation invites all to share their positive ideas
and invites any who are interested in involvement with the foundation’s endeavors to contact us.
About the Seminole Heights Foundation, Inc: 501(c) 3 non profit organization status applied for. It is one of many organizations dedicated to the positive growth of the greater Seminole Heights area. The Seminole Heights Foundation is not a neighborhood association and not to be confused with the Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association. The Seminole Heights area is usually defined as the areas casually referred to as Old Seminole Heights, South Seminole Heights and South East Seminole Heights. It is usually described as the areas that border The Hillsborough River to the North and West, MLK on the South, East is 22nd Street between the river and Hillsborough Ave; 15th Street between the Hillsborough Ave and MLK. For more information please email info@seminoleheightsfoundation.org
### END ###

From yesterdays Tampa Tribune:

SEMINOLE HEIGHTS - The idea floated around for a couple of years, in moments of, “Well, what if we did this?” or “Do we go ahead with this?” A workshop last month plotting out Seminole Heights’ future growth crystallized the obvious. The neighborhood could use a nonprofit foundation if only to fill in funding gaps the city cannot bridge. So Christie Hess, Susan Long and Randy Baron incorporated the Seminole Heights Foundation with the state and filed for nonprofit status as a charity with the Internal Revenue Service. Hess is chairwoman of crime awareness for Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association; Long and Baron are past presidents of the association. But the new foundation is not affiliated with the neighborhood group. Charitable status for the foundation could take a few months, Hess said. The trio are moving forward on finding 10 more people for a 13-member board of directors. The first appointment is Sherry Genovar-Simons, president of the Southeast Seminole Heights Civic Association. “We’re not looking for this to be a popularity contest,” Hess said. The group wants board members with “real skills” such as legal expertise or fundraising talent, or experience working with nonprofit organizations. The foundation hopes to have its board in place by October. Preference is for board members to come from Seminole Heights, but selections could come from outside the neighborhood, Hess said. The foundation’s mission is to search out resources and funding for projects within the boundaries of the three Seminole Heights neighborhoods - Old Seminole, Southeast Seminole and South Seminole. Potential projects for the foundation might include crosswalks, gateways into the neighborhood, streetlights, signs and sidewalks. The foundation also could partner with the city in securing grants that require matching funds. Seminole Heights is in the second year of a pilot project to craft new zoning codes that during the next 20 to 50 years will guide the neighborhood’s growth. Known as form-based zoning, the codes emphasize the size and appearance of buildings as well as the layout of streets and public spaces. The intent is to create more mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods. Traditional zoning generally separates areas based on land use and decisions of public health and safety, placing shops, homes and factories in different districts. The city’s zoning staff is working on drafting the codes for review by city council members by the end of the year. Workshops have been held to get public input. “Form-based zones will go a long way, but some parts will need help,” Hess said, as in financial help for even fairly small things such as trash cans, signs and benches. “That’s where the foundation would fit in,” she said. “We can do things that the neighborhood association doesn’t want to do or can’t do.” And the reality, she said, is the city “is not going to pick up” some projects. The organizers are asking for projects or goals for Seminole Heights Foundation. Call Hess at (813) 237-8808 or e-mail info@seminoleheights foundation.org or chess@sem inoleheightsfoundation.org. Reporter Kathy Steele can be reached at (813) 259-7652.

http://centraltampa2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/25/st-foundation-to-fill-in-gaps/

I know that there was a comment left regarding the foundation. However, I received an email requesting that the topic have it’s own post. Full press release below.

NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release:

Seminole Heights Foundation, Inc.

We would like to introduce you to the Seminole Heights Foundation. Seminole Heights is a central Tampa neighborhood known for it tree-lined streets, historic bungalow style homes and resurgent commercial corridors. The Seminole Heights Foundation has been formed to assist with revitalization and redevelopment of this vibrant and diverse area while striving to protect and preserve the unique character that this area is known for. The Foundation will work with individuals, business owners, associations, developers, and government entities to locate funding sources for and promote initiatives that will increase the quality of life for neighborhood residents, improve commerce for area businesses and identify Seminole Heights as a premier location in the city. We invite you to share your ideas on taking the first steps. Please email us at info@seminoleheightsfoundation.org. We look forward to hearing from you!

For further information, contact the Seminole Heights Foundation President Christie Hess at 813.237.8808 or chess@seminoleheightsfoundation.org.

(501(c)3 applied for)