Published Quarterly

Historic
Old Northeast
Neighborhood
News
Volume 33 Issue 2 www.honna.org June 2006

IN THIS ISSUE
Residents’ Support Points to Ponder?
By All Means, Ponder Them!
Needed ........... Page 3-4
New Pub........... Page 10
Garden Stroll The Local Historic District VOTE NO
Blooms ............. Page 12 group has circulated a “Points to Ponder” flier.
Demolish or HONNA’s VOTE YES campaign’s response
Not? .......... Pages 18-19 to these points follows.
The Real 1. Why do I want to give up my property
Perry Snell ........ Page 24 right to do what I wish with my property to an
unaccountable committee??? Under a local
Summertime historic, preservation designation, your prop-
Fun ...................... Page 32 erty will become regulated by a 9 person ad-
ministration board with a 20 page rules and
HONNA Neighborhood regulation document (chapter VII) which will
Meetings govern what you can, and cannot do, with any-
are held the third thing that effects the outside of your home. Scale and proportion
Monday of each month This process must be completed before the city
except December Local District Preservation Ordinance. There
will give you a permit. is a Historic Preservation Commission appointed
(holiday party in lieu)
4There are no new committees under the continued on page 8
at Westminster
Presbyterian Church
126 11th Avenue NE
Sharing Some Thoughts The President’s Perspective
6:45 p.m., social
7:00 p.m., business on Your Association Cathy Martin
Association President
HONNA Board Meetings Board and Officers
for 2006
are held the second It is hard not to write about the Local Historic
District campaign for this newsletter, but I’m go- within The Historic Old Northeast. Brian is a busy
Monday of each month
ing to try. I would like to write about it because I attorney, and we are grateful that he takes the time
at 7pm and are care very much about it, but I care much more to work on behalf of the neighborhood.
open to the public. about everyone’s perception of the HONNA
Traffic: Nicole Durkin is also an attorney —
Board members and their intentions, ambitions
UPCOMING MEETINGS with Deeb and Brainard — and we appreciate that
and activities, and I want to make sure that you
Mark your not only does she do her best to get City staff to
all know who those folks are and what they do
focus on traffic and parking matters (not an easy
calendar! every day on behalf of the neighborhood. They
assignment), but she also provides assistance and
have jobs, families, homes and hobbies and try
June 19th counsel to the Planning Committee on commer-
really hard to fit a lot into their lives.
cial property development along 4th Street. The
Window Workshop: This is what they do, from which we all ben- neighborhood’s long standing determination to en-
Considering the efit, and they do this voluntarily — no pay — sure that only responsible and scaled development
nearly every day. takes place along the western border of the neigh-
Options
Crime Watch: Brian Johnson, for the last two borhood — to keep traffic and parking incursion
Presented by Don Strobel years, has dedicated countless hours and at least to a minimum — has rested in large part on
three evenings a month to improving the crime Nicole’s legal skills and her ability to get the job
July 17th statistics that you see in the Sunday Neighbor- done.
General Meeting hood Times. He works closely with our Commu- Planning and Neighborhood Design Review:
nity Police Officer, takes calls from neighbors and Mary Alice Lange has chaired the Neighborhood
No August Meeting has worked diligently to try to establish an effec- Plan Committee for 15 years. That’s right: 15
tive Crime H Watch
ISTORICprogram to improve
OLD NORTHEAST safety
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Page22
continued on page 1
Annual Meeting Set for November;
Board Members Needed
The Board of Directors of HONNA has set the annual meeting
for November of 2006, and each November thereafter. There are
several reasons for this action, which revises the by-laws and re-
stores the organization’s calendar that was in place until 2003.
HONNA’s fiscal year is the same as the calendar year. This action
ensures continuity of Board accountability through the end of the year.
There is no general meeting in December so that a Board elected
in November has an opportunity to elect officers and develop a tran-
sition plan.
The timing of a June annual meeting historically has discour-
aged potential Board member participation as residents prepare
for summer vacations and hurricane season.
At present, there are three openings on the Board of Directors, a
volunteer capacity. The committee chair open positions are Neigh-
borhood Design Review (includes liaising with City officials on sub-
jects like granite curb damage, development conditions, code enforce-
ment issues and the like), Activities (includes liaison activities as well
as Yard Sale and Holiday Party) and Research, a position that is re-
sponsive to initiatives raised by the membership such as homelessness
on neighborhood streets which was identified as a concern last year.
If you are interested in serving on the HONNA Board please contact
Cathy Martin, President, or Chuck Lindeen, Vice President. You must
be a HONNA member and be willing to actively participate, attend
both the Board and general monthly meetings and chair a committee.
Keep Pinellas Beautiful:
Adopt-a-Shore and Adopt-a-Block
In conjunction with Keep Pinellas Beautiful, The Historic Old
Northeast Neighborhood Association has joined the Adopt-a-
Shore Program. We have adopted the stretch of Tampa Bay shore-
line that extends along the eastern edge of our neighborhood
from the mouth of the Vinoy Basin to the mouth of Coffee Pot
Bayou. Clean-ups are scheduled for the third Saturday in Octo-
ber this year and the third Saturday in March next year. We will
have a neighborhood-wide clean-up in conjunction with the shore
clean-up. 
Additionally, you can Adopt-a-Block of The Historic Old
Northeast to help keep clean on a regular basis. What a great
way for neighbors to make an impact all year long! Keep Pinellas
Beautiful will provide you with a five-gallon bucket to take along
on your walks to collect the trash.
If you would like to volunteer to help coordinate or partici-
pate please contact Chuck Lindeen at 822-8444 (or
onez3@aol.com).

The Newsletter of the Historic Old

Northeast Neighborhood Association
Published quarterly – March, June, September and
December and mailed to all households in The Old Northeast
P.O. Box 76324, St. Petersburg, FL 33734
e-mail NSNAeditor@aol.com
Editor Rick Carson
Columnists and Reporters
Mike Dailey Peter Stanhope Chuck Lindeen
David Forman Susan Alderson Lisa Mazinas Postcard of North Shore courtesy Chuck Lindeen
Yvonne Swanson John Gee Barbara Rhode
Linda Dobbs
Circulation Quinn Henderson and Joe O’Connor
Contributors All our Old Northeast neighbors Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association
Newsletter Layout & Design Sharon Bond: SharonBond@gmail.com
Advertising Information Rachel Sartain: rtsartain@yahoo.com OFFICERS and BOARD
President
Cathy Martin 821-8656 cathy@catherinebmartin.com
AD RATES Vice President
Chuck Lindeen 822-8444 ONEZ3@aol.com
AD SIZE 1Qtr 2 Qtrs 3 Qtrs 1 Year Secretary
Business card 40 74 102 128 Anne-Marie Stephenson 897-9398 petalstitch@tampabay.rr.com
1/4 page (4.75" x 3.5") 80 147 204 256 Treasurer
1/2 page (9.5" x 3.5") 160 294 408 512 Douglas Haan 488-5514 douglashaan@aol.com
Directors
Full page 320 589 816 1024 Rick Carson 898-7834 NSNAeditor@aol.com
Single page insert* 220 440 660 880 Bob Dobbs 823-9824 robert_dobbs2001@yahoo.com
*Preprinted inserts that you provide are delivered within the newsletter. Nicole Durkin nedurkin@tampabay.rr.com
Due to delivery restrictions, inserts are available on a limited basis. Quinn Henderson 894-2222 quinnalan@tampabay.rr.com
The newsletter quarterly publication dates are March, June, September, and Bob Hunter 898-7987 JNB.HUNTER@verizon.net
December. The deadline for accepting new ads and ad changes is three weeks Brian Johnson 391-9756 bjohnson@brianejohnson.com
prior to the publication month. The next deadline is August 9th. Payment for new Steve Kipp 823-3211 skipp1@tampabay.rr.com
ads should be submitted at the same time that the ad layout is provided and should
be addressed to “HONNA Advertising.”
Mary Alice Lange 251-2034 tlcapmal@earthlink.net
The newsletter is distributed by mail to all homes in The Old Northeast (bound- Wendy Mansfield 894-1057 wman1114@aol.com
aries are 5th Ave N to 30th Ave N, and 4th St N to North Shore Dr/Coffee Pot Bayou Robin Reed 825-0480 rl.reed@verizon.net
Blvd). There are approximately 2,800 active home mailing addresses.
Contact Rachel Sartain: rtsartain@yahoo.com HONNA Board meetings are held the second Monday of each month at
Ad space is limited so please make arrangements early. 7pm and are open to the public. Check with HONNA for the location.

Page 2 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

 Association News & Activities
Monthly Meeting Overviews
Secretary
Anne-Marie Stephenson
The February neighborhood meeting was devoted to the
subject of crime and safety. Community Police Officer Chris
Herron shared some general statistics of crime in the area, the
three main categories the police pay attention to being traffic,
drugs and prostitution. The police department will be consider-
ing enforcing the dog leash law and correct parking (i.e., driver’s
side towards the middle of the street with wheels to the curb side
and not more than three feet from the curb). Recently-elected City
Council member Leslie Curran introduced herself to the audi-
ence.
Kim Hinder and Rick Dunn of the City’s preservation plan-
ning and building code offices were the featured speakers at the
March meeting and responded to numerous questions involving
the Local Historic District (LHD) and related issues [for a de-
tailed listing of the Q&A go to www.honna.org, under Commu-
nity Hotlinks click on “Local Historic District,” then under More
Information scroll down and click on “Answers to Questions”].
The April meeting featured former Old Northeast resident
Judy Lowe Wells who shared from her newly-published book, C.
Perry Snell: His Place in St. Petersburg, Florida, History. Many
little known facts about his life were uncovered in her research,
and the many anecdotes she shared provided new perspectives on
this City’s famous pioneer. [See related story on p. 24]
A question and answer panel regarding the Local Historic
District campaign provided the format for the May meeting. Three
representatives from City offices involved in preservation and
building codes were present to take questions from residents seek-
ing answers to concerns about what LHD designation would mean.
Assistant Director of Development Services Bob Jeffrey brought
the focus onto the compatibility of new construction with exist-
ing, noting that the “intangible quality of life” that is reflected
through preservation can help retain the character of an historic
neighborhood. Commented one resident at the close of the meet-
ing, “Bit by bit we’re losing the character of the neighborhood.”
[See “Historic Preservation” report below.]
Treasurer
Douglas Haan
Semi-Annual Treasurer’s Report
As of May 8, 2006, HONNA’s account balances were:
Checking Account: $19,254.08
CD: $21,724.83
Total: $40,978.91
Have you been to a
Porch Party
yet?
See page 27 for the upcoming schedule
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Committee Reports
Historic Preservation
Robin Reed, Chair
Wow! The Association meeting in May was one of the live-
liest in recent memory. Westminster Presbyterian Church offered
the use of their sanctuary to accommodate the crowd of 150-plus
residents who turned out for the “Question and Answer Panel”
about Local Historic District designation. To further understand-
ing of LHD, HONNA invited three of the people most involved
in the local historic district process to participate on a Q&A panel.
The format was designed to allow residents the chance to express
their opinions in the form of a question so that there would be
time for ev-
eryone to
have an op-
portunity to
speak. Even
so, the lights
weren’t
turned out
until well
past 9pm!
Modera-
tor Brian
Johnson did
a great job
in seeing
that those
who wanted to speak were heard, with some residents asking nu-
merous questions over the course of the evening. The panelists
— Rob Eschenfelder (member of the City’s Historic Preservation
Commission), Bob Jeffrey (Assistant Director of the City’s De-
velopment Services department) and Rick Dunn (member of the
City’s building codes office) expertly fielded questions ranging
from property rights to window replacement to how the Historic
Preservation Commission operates.
Although there were widely differing points of view in the
audience, most everyone was able to express their opinion before
asking their questions. Let’s hope that all of us came away with a
better understanding of what it means to live in an historic district
and will be better informed to cast our votes in the Local Historic
District campaign.
Neighborhood Planning and
Design Review
Mary Alice Lange and Steve Kipp, Co-Chairs
The Rally gas station, convenience store, café and car wash
development proposed for the entire block of 4th Street N, be-
tween 22nd Avenue and 21st Avenue, is slated to be considered by
the Environmental Development Commission (EDC) at its June
7th meeting. This project proposes to utilize, in addition to the
commercial lots abutting 4th Street, two residentially-zoned lots
for special exception uses, including parking. The developer also
seeks a variance and approval related to an automated car wash,
the hearing on this project was previously scheduled for the May
Page 3

EDC meeting but was deferred by the applicant. The EDC hear-
ing begins at 2pm in City Council chambers at City Hall on June
7th.
This past month the EDC approved the development of the
former St. Pete Hardware lots located on 4th Street N and 12th
Avenue. This commercial strip center was approved to house a
Tropical Smoothie location as well as several other as yet uniden-
tified additional commercial tenants. In light of only knowing one
commercial tenant’s use in this strip center, the true parking needs
and potential impacts to the neighborhood remain unknown.
As you may recall, due to the proposed size and square footage
of the building, the adjacent residentially zoned lot on 12th Av-
enue N, which currently contains the bungalow pictured here, will
be utilized for a portion of the developments parking lot. The
reduction of the overall square footage of the building would Av-
enue removed the need for parking on the residentially-zoned lot
where the bungalow stands. The Association has appealed the
EDC’s approval of the application. The appeal will be heard at an
upcoming City Council meeting. Neighborhood participation at
these upcoming meetings is strongly recommended and encour-
aged.
Garden Group
Cathy Leonard and Jean Hunter, Co-Chairs
(May thru August)
Elaine Normile and Suzanne Laurencell finished their turn as
co-chairs in April with a visit to the home and garden of Anna
Hardwick of Dixiana. Anna lives in Bahama Shores and both the
garden and her house were fabulous.
In May, we planned a walk through “natural Florida” at Fort
DeSoto Park. After the walk we enjoyed a picnic lunch, and then
some of the group took another walk on the beautiful beach. The
park is so dry that some areas are closed to the public.
The Garden Group meets the first Friday of every month. In
June, we are planning a trip to an herb farm and nursery. We in-
vite any of you to join the fun and experience learning about the
many aspects of Florida gardening. For information call Cathy at
667-5510 or Jean at 898-7987.
Check out the HONNA website
Page 4 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Crime and Safety
Brian Johnson, Chair
The Crime & Safety Committee continues endeavoring to
obtain pertinent information for purposes of communication con-
cerning the reporting of crimes as well as ways to prevent crime
in our neighborhood. The Committee has attempted to meet neigh-
bors on a door-to-door basis and initially has met with little suc-
cess as people are either not home or not answering their doors.
Therefore, Crime Watch is planning a mass mailing to our resi-
dents with an application form to fill out and return so that we
may organize our neighbors against crime. We urge each of our
neighbors to participate in this program as our goal is to prevent
and reduce crime here in The Old Northeast.
Also, the hurricane season is here, and the Committee advises
residents to prepare for the season by stocking up on bottled wa-
ter, canned food goods, flashlights, batteries and portable radios
and having an evacuation plan in order to be ready for the possi-
bility of serious storms.
Traffic
Nicole Durkin, Chair
The City will be instituting a neighborhood-wide speed limit of
25mph in the next couple months. To the extent possible, existing
sign poles will be utilized so as to minimize the need for additional
poles in the neighborhood. We will be requesting that the Police
Department strictly enforce the new, neighborhood-wide speed limit.
Additionally, I inquired with the Neighborhood Transportation
Manager regarding a few recent requests for “Slow-Children at
Play” signs in various locations throughout the neighborhood. I
was advised that the City has not installed such signs for many
years and is unable to accommodate any requests for the same. It
has been suggested, however, that when your children are play-
ing outside, you display “homemade” signs in an orange safety
cone which can be purchased at Home Depot.
As previously indicated, while I will always attempt to respond
to your reports of accidents, near-misses, cut-through traffic or
speeding, you should also contact Michael Frederick, City of St.
Petersburg Neighborhood Transportation Manager
(Michael.Frederick@stpete.org) at 893-7843.
Newsletter
Rick Carson, Editor
The newsletter is in need of someone to assist with advertis-
ers and advertising. Rachel Sartain, who has been handling this
for the past couple years, is stepping down. We won’t deceive
you by saying the job doesn’t take any time at all, but it doesn’t
involve a lot of work or previous experience; there are four issues
a year and much of the activity takes place within a few weeks of
those deadlines. Most of the advertisers are repeat, but we do need
to keep up with changes they may have with their copy as well as
respond to inquiries about new ads. If you’d like to discuss this,
please give me a call at 898-7834.
Your newsletter was the recipient of an Honorable Mention
recognition at the City’s 9th annual Neighborhood Partnership
Awards. It was the Newsletter of the Year in 2003.
www.honna.org
 June 2006
Dear Old Northeast Neighbor,

We do not have to tell you how unique and special a place The Historic Old Northeast is. We are not just
real estate agents doing business here, we are your neighbors. We, too, have chosen to make our homes here
because of our neighborhood’s distinctive historic character and the community it attracts.
We earn our living showing others why they, too, want to buy a home here.  We are REALTORS®, and we spend
every day of the week promoting those charming qualities and characteristics of The Old Northeast that you
and we value so highly. We believe the success of the Local Historic District is an essential safeguard to
preserve the quality of our wonderful neighborhood, now and for future generations.
This is why we are supporting a “YES” vote on Local Historic District designation for our neighborhood. 
Not only is a Local Historic District a quality of life issue for you and us, we believe it will assure untold
numbers of prospective, discerning buyers that their decision to purchase a home in The Historic Old North-
east is a financially wise investment for all our futures. 

Sincerely,

Julia Brazier Roxanne Krauss Rachel Sartain*

Jerry Bushey Connie Lancaster Cynthia Serra
Charlene DeWitt Molly Markey Linda Snow*
Randy Hodge Nona Peebles Deodoro “Ted” Thomas
Jan Kokernot* Ed Sanford* Helen Torres

* Although we do not live in the Old Northeast, we fully support the Local Historic District Designation.

Interested in Serving on the JOIN OUR COMMITTEES

Neighborhood Association Board?
Residents with some time, ideas and energy to
devote to the betterment of our neighborhood
are encouraged to consider serving on the
HONNA Board.
See page 2 for details.
Your volunteer involvement in one of our committees will
help enhance your neighborhood and our association. Please
contact any committee chair for information.
Activities: chair vacant
Spring Garden Stroll (May): vacant
Candlelight Tour of Homes (December):
Co-Chairs Ann Caviness, 502-0870, and
Elaine Normile, 821-3479
C.O.N.A. Rep: Chuck Lindeen, 822-8444
Crime & Safety: Brian Johnson, 391-9756
Garden Group: Cathy Leonard, 667-5510,
and Jean Hunter, 898-7987, Co-Chairs
Historic Preservation: Robin Reed, 825-0480
Membership: Quinn Henderson, 894-2222
Neighborhood Design Review: Steve Kipp, 823-3211
Neighborhood Plan: Mary Alice Lange, 823-5401
Newsletter: Rick Carson, 898-7834
Traffic: Nicole Durkin, nedurkin@tampabay.rr.com
Website: Bob Dobbs, 823-9824

HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Page 5

 “Just The New

Right Members
Andrea Lenderman

Number”
Christopher Alberts Chris and Laura Lenz
Burt Allaire Edward and Jill McGrath
Chris and Beverly Avren Patrick and Rebecca
Nancy Bahls McMahon
Clinton and Lynn Barras Janice Mahoney
Paula Beatty Larry and Susan Martindale
James and Cindy Bingham Joseph Miele
Alice Boyle Kirk and Maggie Mitchell
Here are some phone numbers you Barbara Braga Drew and Tara Newsom
may need in order to make your life a Robert Bruce Bruce Noe
little easier: Michael Calandrino Robert and Beverly Noun
City Hall ............................................... 893-7171 Patricia and Elizabeth Cigoi Lisa Nucci
Mayor’s Office ...................................... 893-7201 Dodd and Heather Disler Michael and Jere O’Reilly
Mayor’s Action Center .......................... 893-7111 Erica Downs Kirk and Denise Palmer
City Council ...........................................893-7117 Lawrence and Susan Emerson Michele Passoff
Police (non-emergency) ....................... 893-7780 James Flocks Peter and Kathy Plautz
Community Police Officer Kenneth and Linda Garrity Joan Raskin
Tom Loveland .................................... 892-5933 Richard Geller Judith Reed
Codes compliance/enforcement/ Jan Gentry Cate Scully
assistance ............................................. 893-7373 Marjorie Hopf Michael and Linda Smith
Remodeling permits ............................. 893-7231 Steven and Janice Johnston Janet Strong
Fence permits ...................................... 893-7231 Earl and Evelyn Korff William and Adele Visaggio
Design Review ..................................... 894-4120 Andre Kupfermunz DeeDee West
Neighborhood Design Review Gerald and Amy Labie R. Mark and Carol Wilson
(ordinances/permits) ......................... 892-5254
Historic Preservation/Urban Design
......................................... 894-7491 or 893-7153
Planning/zoning ................................... 893-7471
Neighborhood traffic/parking ................ 893-7843
Junk/debris/brush collection (alley) ........... 893-7398
Overgrown property ............................. 893-7373
Water/sewer problems ......................... 893-7261
Street maintenance .............................. 893-7421
Sidewalk repair .................................... 893-7850 Residents
Tree removal/trim (on city property) ......... 893-7298 checking
Graffiti .................................................. 893-7394 map to see
Mulch (free) .......................................... 893-7398 if house is
Rodent control (free) ............................ 893-7360 a “contrib-
Animal services (loose dogs) ............... 582-2600 uting
Street Light Out historic
(Progress Energy) ...................... 800/228-8485 property”
Park Light Out ...................................... 893-7335
Bus schedules ....................................... 530-9911
Senior services .................................... 893-7101 “[Demolishing old houses in an historic district is] sort of
Library (main) ....................................... 893-7724 like a nice smile. The more teeth it’s missing, the stranger it
Mirror Lake branch ............................ 893-7268
County Commissioners ........................ 464-3000 looks….There is going to be a huge implosion of families
County building department ................. 464-3241 coming back into the city. Eventually you’re going to look
Property taxes ...................................... 582-7771 around and not be able to see you’re in Old Northeast.”
Senator Mel Martinez .................... 407/254-2573
Senator Bill Nelson ....................... 407/872-7161 Bob Jeffrey, Assistant Director for Development Services,
Congressman Bill Young ...................... 893-3191 City of St. Petersburg [quoted in the 3/19 St. Petersburg Times]

Page 6 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

 Neil Elsey, the transformation of our downtown begins — or so
we are told. While demolishing many of our historic properties
downtown, Mr. Elsey selected this historic property to call his
home. The Bay Plaza plan never materializes, and we are left
with a downtown pock-marked with bulldozed and vacant lots.

Curb And Neil Elsey rides off into the sunset, leaving this beautiful
corner vacant and ready for its next caretakers to appear.

Appeal
This is but one story…one corner, one castle…here in The
Historic Old Northeast neighborhood. There are many other cor-
ners to discover, many more stories to uncover. Don’t risk miss-
ing the opportunity to do so: Vote YES for Local Historic District
designation!

by Chuck Lindeen
This little corner of our neighborhood newsletter is specifi-
cally focused on spotlighting the homes of our neighbors who
have worked magic in one way or another to create “curb ap-
peal” —that much sought-after quality in their little corner of
The Historic Old Northeast. 

In this issue we would like to add our neighbors at 1650 Beach

Drive NE to the Curb Appeal Hall of Fame. Like the last two
previously highlighted properties, this one is also situated on a
beautiful corner lot. The home at this address is one that I have
admired for many years…back to the 1970s actually. It has all the
elements cited in other Curb Appeal properties… and then some.
Over the last couple years it has received much TLC, and it seemed
each time I passed by there were workmen of some sort working
inside or out. What a comfort to see the owners preparing this
grand old girl for a long and healthy future! It was no surprise to
find the Local Historic District Vote YES sign planted proudly out
front. This house is Local Historic District 101. Historic Old Northeast
Built in the early days of our neighborhood, she has been occu- Neighborhood
pied by “local historic characters” from the beginning. The family
behind the old Wilson-Chase Department Store (Central Avenue
Association Membership
and 3rd Street N — now the City Parking Garage) lived there in The Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association was
her early years. Later, Dr. Alfred Goldsmith and his wife Maude founded in 1974 to promote civic improvement of our
called this their home. Dr. Goldsmith was one of the pioneers in neighborhood. We invite and welcome all residents of the
early radio technology, holding many early patents in that field Old Northeast to join the association and become involved.
and subsequently in television as well. He was an executive with Annual membership dues are $20 per household.
RCA in New York City for many years and remained on its board
after he retired and they moved to St. Petersburg and this fine home. Send this completed form to:
Fast forward a few decades. St. Petersburg is positioning it- Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association
P.O. Box 76324
self for downtown revitalization at seemingly any cost. The Bay
St. Petersburg, FL 33734
Plaza Group appears on the horizon to show us the way. Led by
Name(s): ________________________
“Palm Harbor-style houses are very nice…in Palm Address: ________________________
Harbor. Not next to 75-year-old Craftsman _______________________________
bungalows and Colonial Revivals…read the _______________________________
materials being distributed and listen to the Phone: __________________________
arguments being made, and if they sound E-Mail: __________________________
unreasonable or inflammatory…vote accordingly.” When did you move into the neighborhood (month and
year)?: _______________
Old Northeast resident Rick Carson in Letters
(Neighborhood Times), “Old Northeast, be sure to do Annual Dues $20 Enclosed
homework,” St. Petersburg Times 4/26

HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Page 7

Points to Ponder from page 1
by the mayor and confirmed by City Council. They have been han-
dling their duties admirably since 1987. To date, 97% of all
projects in St. Pete’s two local historic districts have been ap-
proved.
2. A Local Historic District Designation is a blatant attack on
your property rights.
4“Blatant attack” on property rights? Hardly. It helps to en-
hance and maintain the character of neighborhoods like Old
Northeast with its wide variety of architectural styles, prop-
erty sizes and unique and interesting homes that have been
so carefully preserved and restored by homeowners.
3. Old Northeast is already a Nation Register Historic Dis-
trict.
4We have no argument with this. However, we don’t recall
that any leaders of the NO campaign were involved in helping
during the many months of hard work that it took to achieve this
honor.
4. Beautiful Old Northeast got to where it is today by the ef-
forts of private owners using their own money and initiative for
restoration and preservation over the past 100 years without any
organization dictating its own wishes.
4True until the last few years when the economic boom in
downtown St. Pete began to put enormous pressures on our
neighborhood like teardowns for condo development and in-
creasing demolition of older homes to be replaced by out-of-
scale new properties. There will and should be teardowns of
some properties (i.e. the Madrid Apartments on 17th NE) and we
are not opposed to new construction. However times are chang-
ing and it’s possible that a flood of teardowns and new con-
struction could transform our beautiful neighborhood into a
typical new Florida suburb.
5. Individuals who want their property historically preserved
can do that on an individual basis without dictating to their neigh-
bors who do not want this designation.
4This misses the point. It is not so much any individual prop-
erties that the Local Historic District seeks to preserve, but
the unique fabric and character of the Old Northeast itself.
6. The city of St. Petersburg has already enhanced its stan-
dard land use regulations with the overlay of Neighborhood De-
sign Review (NDR).
4True, but this hasn’t precluded later problems with condo
conversions and teardowns mentioned earlier.
7. Local historic district ordinance of Old Northeast will em-
power the government to impose rather than negotiate any
Page 8 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
changes to your home and property.
4Local Historic District designation will provide strict
requirements to limit the abuses mentioned above. That is
why it is needed. There is still room for negotiation, however.
It is in the best interest of the city as well as the residents, to
find solutions that are acceptable to both.
8. Density is already limited by the existing City Zoning
Ordinance.
4Yes, but with widely differing lot sizes, it has not pre-
vented condos and houses from being built that are out of
scale with their neighbors.
9. If you want to sell your property and your land value
exceeds your home value you won’t be able to accept the higher
price offer.
4This doesn’t make any sense. You can sell for whatever
the market will bear. If you are a developer and want to cre-
ate the most massive project possible, then LHD may constrain
the size and scale of that development – if this is what is meant
by this point. The Old Northeast belongs to its homeowners,
not developers.
10. The overwhelming majority of studies, on file with the
Appraisal Institute, that examine the impact of historic preser-
vation suggest that Federal designation stimulates housing val-
ues but local historic districts depress the positive affects of
the Federal designation. National designation attracts restora-
tion entrepreneurs but local historic DOMINATION (i.e., des-
ignation) repels innovative property owners.
4Tell this to the folks in Rosier Park, Granada Terrace,
and Tampa’s Hyde Park (National Designation in ’85, Lo-
cal Designation in ’88). There are hundreds of Local Historic
Districts across the US. The results have been generally posi-
tive according to the studies we have seen. One of the best
studies on Florida Local Historic Districts was done at the
University of Florida and is available at: www.flheritage.com/
preservation/economic_impact.pdf
What kind of neighborhood do you want to live in and leave
as a legacy for the future? Your neighborhood association urges
you to carefully consider the facts and we think you will vote
“YES.”
The time to vote is NOW! At least two-thirds of all
homeowners – not just those voting – must vote “YES.” So not
voting means you have in effect voted “NO”. If this is your
intention, we respect your opinion. If this is not your intention
or if you have voted “NO” previously and wish to change your
vote to a “YES,” the ballot with the most recent date will be
the valid one.
Northeast Pet Sitter
“When you’re away, the cats will play...
with Northeast Pet Sitter”
Leave your loved ones
a care-free trip in your neighbor’s
knowing your cat iscare • have
being
taken care of at home!
Call Wendy Mansfield: 727-894-1057
 Ponderings
A Man’s Castle
by John Gee
When my wife showed me a cut on her
arm and declared “your board in the ga-
rage” caused it, many thoughts passed
through my mind. A small cut on anyone’s
arm was something that rarely entered my
attention span. A really bloody laceration,
avulsion or amputation could spark my
curiosity, but such a small cut was not im-
portant and it would heal. So why did this
accident concern me so much?
As best as I can remember, my stream
of consciousness flowed in this logical
progression: First of all, it wasn’t much
of a cut, but I was smart enough not to
make any mention of its limited life or
death qualities. If she says it’s a big deal
that alone should make it so. Next, I won-
dered why women call every piece of
wood, whether in the tree or milled,
planed and stacked in the store, a “board.”
I guess they don’t understand the feeling
a man gets when he describes dimension lumber by its proper
nomenclature. There is something so satisfying in saying “I put
4x8 sheets of 5/8th CDX ply on that sucker and it’s not going
anywhere now!” Or, “I don’t know if using 2x4 hemlock really
makes a difference over 2x4 kilned pine, but it holds a nail bet-
ter.” My last thought was the most disconcerting and carried a
heavy negative vibe. To wit: “What the hell is she doing in my
garage in the first place?”
When we bought the house, my wife loved the neighborhood
while I loved the garage. We are lucky to have a spacious garage
with room upstairs for storage and downstairs for a car, tools and
even a bathroom. Many people (men) have commented on my
garage, and for a few years I was satisfied knowing that it was the
place for me to go to do whatever I liked. As men know, the inte-
rior of a house gradually becomes the domain of the woman who
inhabits it. Even in a house like ours where the woman is seldom
home, the man knows that it is a place she has created for her own
comfort. And that is all right as long as the man of the house has
someplace to disappear to and do the voodoo we do and not be
bothered by anyone: in other words — a garage.
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
At first, my garage was a haven. We had things to do to
the house and I spent hours working on various projects.
The upstairs storage area was sufficient to keep all the stuff
that accumulates in life away from sight and life was good.
Gradually, the attic got fuller and soon all of life’s detritus
began to form in piles in my garage. This was such a slow
and insidious process that I never realized how cramped
things were until one day I realized that no cars lived in our
garage anymore. Soon I had to find room for chairs, tables,
cushions, boat stuff, a gigantic rococo mirror and, the last
straw, a canoe. Now, along with having to endure all this
superfluous stuff that is forcing me out of the garage, I have
to contend with the fact that my wife is trying to navigate
around this stuff and blaming me when the piles tumble
down upon her head.
What really bothers me is that I
know what is going to happen next.
She is going to look at this junk and
begin a thinking process that will lead
to the activity that I dread the most.
Sometime, when I least expect it, she
will look at me and say the chilling
words, “We need to have a garage
sale.” I cannot use the metaphor of a
root canal anymore because I have
had a few and compared to this they
are not too bad. Perhaps having my
eyeballs pierced by burning spears
may work or having a tarantula lay
eggs in my ear will suffice. But I
knew that once that cut arm was
presented to me, the garage sale
was not too far behind. All I can
ask is, if this happens and you want
to come over to see what’s for sale,
I’ve got some real nice CDX ply-
wood and even some 2x4 kiln-
dried pine…if I can move all the
junk around and find it.
John and his wife Kathy moved to St. Pete from New Mexico
four years ago, and he currently teaches history at a Sarasota
high school. He has served on the HONNA Board where he
co-chaired its Historic Preservation Committee. You can also
read more from John in the Northeast Journal.
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Page 9
 A Work In Progress
Each issue of this newsletter introduces you to a neighborhood
house which has recently or is presenting undergoing a major reno-
vation. Perhaps some of the trials and tribulations (and joys!) expe-
rienced by these homeowners will give you ideas and inspiration as
you consider a renovation or your present home. Maybe you’ll be
motivated to bite the bullet and purchase that next house you’ve been
thinking about.
If you’d like to share your renovation story or know of a neigh-
bor with a good one, let us hear from you.

Everything Old is New Again

by Peter Stanhope

Normally I write articles about folks in

The Historic Old Northeast who are reno- ing and the neighborhood it serves.
vating or restoring a home. This article is Dan and Sarah really appreciated
about a new business. I’m glad this build- the original hex block floor in the
ing with historical significance to our area that once contained a small
neighborhood has not been demolished grocery store. They were able to re-
for new development. I savor whiling store the floor, and the space now
away the hours browsing through the houses the tavern. Restoring the
bookstore. And now I have a new discov- floor was no small feat. There were
ery to share with you. many layers of paint and grime to
To my delight, the corner of 7th Avenue get through before they could reach
N and 2nd Street is alive once more. the block. In the tavern area, new
What was once the neighborhood res- restrooms were added as well as an
taurant Ambrosia is now reinvented as antique wood bar and wooden
The Old Northeast Tavern. Co-owners booths. The wall between the tav-
Sarah Potter and Dan Soronen have been ern and the dining room was
working on this building for nine months. opened.
Their vision realized, The Old Northeast The dining room is decorated
Tavern is open for the neighborhood to as an outdoor courtyard. It lends it-
enjoy. Built as a commercial structure in self to the casual style of the res-
1925, the building also houses other busi- taurant as a neighborhood gather-
nesses, i.e., laundry, personal trainer, hair ing spot. Great care was used to take
salon and a wonderful bookstore — but advantage of the high ceilings and
the jewel in the crown is the Tavern. large open windows. Doors and
The sunshine brought Sarah and Dan balconies create the courtyard illu-
to the St. Petersburg area. Originally from sion. Comfortable leather booths
Albany, NY, where they met in college, each brings unique skills surround the walls of the open space with tables in the center.
and experience to the restaurant. They fell in love with the build- Executive Chef Doni Michaud offers special new world con-
temporary cuisine. It is a far cry from regular pub fare. The attrac-
tive presentation is nice, and the mouthwatering, delicious reci-
pes are moderately priced. It seems like an exclusive club of culi-
Barbara Rhode nary arts right in our own neighborhood. Servicing from a small
kitchen may mean you wait longer for your food, but the wide
selection of beer and wine and the atmosphere is worth the wait.
LMFT I hope everyone will take the opportunity to walk, ride your
bike or take your scooter over to The Old Northeast Tavern. You’ll
Specialized enjoy welcoming Dan and Sarah to our neighborhood and having
Trainings & Workshops a wonderful time.
Corporate & Nonprofit
Agencies Peter and his partner Marc moved to Florida seven years ago from
their home in the historic German Village section of Columbus, OH. Peter
offers renovation and interior design services. He may be contacted at
(727) 418-7882 Projectmgr246@aol.com

Page 10 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

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 Garden Strolls to Success!
by Wendy Mansfield
On Saturday, May 6th, more than 500
green thumb enthusiasts enjoyed our
neighborhood’s Sixth Annual Spring
Garden Stroll. All applauded this year’s took on several responsibilities. I personally wish to thank this core
showcase of eight gardens, including
several cozy retreats, orchid havens and Stroll possible, especially the Historic Old Northeast Garden Group
Aitken Garden truly botanical standouts. Many thanks
to our Garden Homeowners: Cathy and
Jim Leonard (10th Avenue N), Mary and Jeff Taraschi (16th
Avenue NE), Daryl DeBerry and Bill Coffman (18th Avenue
NE), Diana and Marshall Craig (19th Avenue NE), Cathy and
Steve Collins (19th Avenue NE), Debbie and Dick Hutchins (19th
Avenue NE), Pat and Fred Aitken (20th Avenue NE), Linda and
Mike Smith (20th Avenue N), and Helen Torres (15th Avenue NE)
whose garden was specially featured as the City Beautiful
Commission’s Water Wise Award 2005 winner.
The City of St. Petersburg’s Sunken Gardens opened the gar-
dens on Saturday and Sunday
to all ticket holders and hosted
the enchanting setting for the
volunteer appreciation party.
Once again The Renaissance
Vinoy Resort opened its Tea
Garden to strollers. For the sec-
ond year Alpine Tree Service
was a major advertiser and
Sponsor of the volunteer appre-
ciation party (and thanks to
Rich Leitz and Peter
Seidenstricker who gave free
palm tree seedlings to volun-
teers and strollers). For the sixth
year, owners of Something Dif-
ferent from Around the
World, Nancy and Rick
Montanari (12th Avenue NE),
donated the crowd-favorite pottery fountain for the chance draw-
ing. This year Costco and Shakolad contributed to the goodies
provided for the volunteer party.
Tickets were available in advance at our supporting ticket outlets:Alderson, Kim Wolfe (3rd Street NE), Janet Poort (26th Avenue
Dolin’s Garden Center, Gulf Coast Garden Center, Savannas
Nursery, Jene’s Tropicals, Premier Group Realty/GMAC, Sunken
Gardens, A Green and Yellow Basket, Something Different from
Around the World and Pondscapes (Tampa).
The Stroll is always supported by many local businesses who
purchase ads in the Stroll booklet. The booklet is a great directory Stuckey (25th Avenue N), Kathy Kronenberg and John Gee (21st
for finding community-minded professionals and services. Please
let all of these businesses know that we appreciate their contribu-
tion to the Stroll’s success!
Neighbors who volunteer are the most important ingredient to a
successful event. The Garden Stroll ‘06 Committee: Cathy
Leonard (10th Avenue N), Marilyn Johnson (27th Avenue N), Anne
Shumate (15th Avenue NE), Peg Silvergleid (16th Avenue NE),
Cynthia Silvestri (16th Avenue NE), Jean Hunter (18th Avenue
NE), Anne-Marie Stephenson (12th Avenue NE), Jenny D’Elia
(19th Ave NE), Nona Peebles (19th Avenue NE), Craig Hyde (1st
Street N), Douglas Haan (8th Avenue NE), Susan Alderson (19th
Page 12 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Avenue NE), Julia McGinty (19th Avenue NE), Marsha Carson
(14th Avenue NE) and Pat Aitken (20th Avene NE) started in Janu-
ary giving their time and talents to this project. Many of these people
committee and some 50 other neighbor/volunteers for making the
whose members provide significant support.
The Captains for the gardens: Cathy Leonard, Douglas Haan
and Randy Hodge (8th Avenue NE), Yvonne Swanson (17th Av-
enue NE), Jean and Bob Hunter, Vince Schall and Ron McClure
(22nd Avenue NE), Jane Goodman (24th Avenue N), Anne-Marie
Stephenson and Linda Testa (Kansas Avenue NE) “operate” the
Stroll by coordinating the knowledge of the gardens and organiza-
tion of the day among the garden owners, volunteers and strollers.
As every year “where the Stroll begins” is Westminster Presbyte-
rian Church where Stroll booklets are obtained. Pastor David Keister
and members provided refreshments and rest room facilities for Stroll
goers. Linda, Julie and Lou
Santoro (Beach Drive NE),
Stephanie Edwards (1 st
Street N), Kathi Harris (15th
Avenue NE), David Gregory
and Alan Johnson (10th Av-
enue NE) staffed this ticket
venue. New this year as a sec-
ond ticket venue was Sunken
Gardens, staffed by Pam
Shofner (18th Avenue NE),
Mike Dailey and Rob Wertz
(8th Avenue NE), Robin Reed
(16th Avenue NE) and Monica
and Garth Vernon (17th Av-
enue NE).
DeBerry-Coffman garden. Ann Caviness (Beach
Drive NE), Edy Finefrock
(19th Avenue NE) and Bob Hart (12th Avenue NE) greeted stroll-
ers at the Renaissance Vinoy Tea Garden.
Volunteers who helped at the gardens and/or party: Julie Feeley
(North Shore Drive NE), Don Silvestri, Art Silvergleid, Ben
N), Robin Caldwell (4th Avenue NE), Laurie Bunn, Nancy Tait
(12th Avenue NE), Steve Deal (8th Avenue NE), Georgia Dean,
John Roll (16th Avenue NE), Cynthia Serra and Allison Butler
(3rd Street N), Joe Troy (21st Avenue NE), Betty Lowes (8th Av-
enue NE), Elaine Normile (14th Avenue NE), Peggy and Rex
Ave NE), Tom and Cathy Hilton, Bonnie Hammond, Debbie
Good, Anne McMahon, Susan Biro and Dan Durbak..
Nominate a Garden!
Help us discover the hidden garden treasures in our neighbor-
hood. If you know of a garden that might be Garden-Stroll ready
for next year, e-mail your nomination to GardenStroll06@aol.com
or contact Wendy Mansfield (894-1057).
Editor’s Note: And because it would be extremely gauche of
Wendy to thank herself, everyone else involved with the Stroll heaps
praises upon her for the outstanding job she did bringing this
event to a successful completion. Great job, Wendy!
 Alley
Décor:
My Trash – Your Treasure

As many of us renovate our homes, rather than toss into the

garbage or Dumpster various architectural features we’ve ripped
out we may keep them around for awhile in case we discover that
someone can use what we no longer can. Well, this is an effort at
“matchmaking.”
If you have items like old wood doors or windows, fireplace
mantels, hex blocks, light fixtures, door hardware, staircase
spindles – or need something specific for your ‘20s bungalow or
‘30s Mediterranean revival – you can list it here at no charge (and
it also will be posted on the Association’s website). Actually,
we’ve expanded the category of items featured to include furni-
ture (please – in decent condition).
Also, keep in mind that Westminster Presbyterian Church on
11th Avenue NE accepts donations for furniture and furnishings to
assist women from CASA with their transitional housing needs.
Deadline for submitting an ad for the September issue is Au-
gust 14th; send the information to NSNAEditor@aol.com or mail
to HONNA, P.O. Box 76324, St. Petersburg, FL 33734.
Above and right:
The St. Petersburg
Bargain Bonanza Blowout! police and fire
Bargain browsers galore swarmed all over The Old Northeast departments
Saturday morning, April 29th, attracted by HONNA’s first annual provided a squad
neighborhood-wide yard and alley sale. Over 50 residents signed car and fire engine
up with HONNA to be on a free locator map distributed from for children to
“sale central” at Westminster Presbyterian Church on 11th Avenue explore inside and
NE, and countless others also set up shop to take advantage of the out.
larger-than-usual influx of yard sale shoppers.
Fliers, signs and a classified newspaper ad in the St. Peters- Below left: Rum-
burg Times helped get the word out about the sale. Westminster maging for bar-
Church sold gains at the church.
food and re-
freshments
along with ga-
rage sale mer- dren to explore inside and out. Neighborhood bookseller T. Allan
chandise and Smith of Mickler-Smith on 2nd Street N also set up shop, local
netted over author Scott Taylor Hartzell was there autographing his latest book
$700 for their and artist David Leonard had his Florida scene paintings for sale.
new roof fund. Resident feedback on sale success was mixed with some folks
The St. Peters- doing quite well and others having little to show for hours of
burg police and planning, organizing and then waiting for customers. Traffic and
fire departments parking were a problem in the lower part of the neighborhood
provided a due to an event in the park, and all the competition for shoppers
squad car and created a buyer’s market. Suggestions for improving such an event
fire engine at the in the future have been offered by participants so start saving up
church for chil- those treasures (and trash) for next year’s sale.
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Page 13

KIDZ
KORNER
With the steady influx into our neighbor-
hood of new residents, we’re seeing an in-
creasing number of families with young
children – plus the stork is keeping
pretty busy around here as it is. So we
thought it might be helpful to share
with parents of youngsters (as well as
grandparents welcoming visiting
grandkids) ideas of family-friendly activi-
ties and destinations nearby, especially ones
which are free or inexpensive. If you have any such good “secrets”
you’d like to pass along, let us know.
Ideas for Summer
by Linda Dobbs
Surprise and entertain your kids or grandkids this summer
with a game of 20 questions while walking or biking over to the
new and improved GREAT EXPLORATIONS — THE
CHILDREN’S MUSEUM, located at 1925 4th St. N.  This is lo-
cal, neighborhood entertainment that is getting good press na-
tionally.  Additionally, it is fun, inexpensive, safe, educational for
all ages and a cool place to escape during hot weather.  The Mu-
seum says, “Great Ex is a place where you can be creative, make
discoveries and have fun.  Launch a tennis ball to the top of the
museum, race a car, become a computer animator, sail a ship,
have a party, [or] join a workshop...” 
One of the newest interactive areas for younger kids is the
veterinarian’s office with examining table, instruments, etc.  But
my favorite is still right there by the entrance — the magic harp! 
By flicking your fingers on the invisible strings you can make
beautiful music as if by magic. Admission is only $8 for seniors,
$9 for all others and free to members ($100/year for a family). 
Executive Director David Penn has brought new and innova-
tive exhibits, programs and future plans to the museum while
821-8992
www.greatexplorations.org
Page 14 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
stressing its mission of stimulating learning through creativity, play,
and exploration.  
Some of those programs include Terrific Tots and Stepping Up
classes for pre-school children and in-house programs for older
kids like: theatrical programs (puppet shows, musicals, plays and
acting); school vacation camps; Scout badge programs; overnight
programs; field trips with workshops; Young Explorers special
Saturday events; Great Stage Kids (after-school theatre partner-
ship with American Stage); Kids Night Out/Parents Night Out
(film, games, food, etc. for kids only on a weekend night).  For
older kids there is the Youth Apprentice Program. 
Even better are the summer camps — running 11 weeks (May
22nd-August 4th) with over 40 choices. Camps include before and
after care and tutoring at no extra cost. There are camps for one-
four year olds, five–12 and 13-15. The choices include: Action
Camp (karate, scuba diving, cheerleading, etc.); Camp Create
(painting, acting, recording studio, etc.); Camp Solve It (water
mania, robotics, treasure hunters, etc.); Cool Camp and Teen Time.
The cost of the camp is only $150 a week for members or $175
for non-members with some reduction if five or more weeks are
selected. 
Do you need a great place for a birthday party for 20 (plus or
minus) lively, excited kids?  Great Ex is the answer for that and is
available for rental for other occasions, too. So call the museum
today to sign up for summer camps and programs and remember
it as a wonderful surprise destination anytime (821-8992;
www.greatexplorations.org).
Linda and her husband Bob moved to The Old Northeast on
Valentine’s Day 2003 (they wanted to be near their two grand-
children who live in our neighborhood). Over the past 30 years
Linda has been editor of a weekly newspaper, a magazine and a
medical journal as well as numerous newsletters.
Westminster Presbyterian Church
Pastoral Team Wins Award
The pastoral team from Westminster Presbyterian Church on
11th Avenue NE has received the Pastor of the Year award from
the Association of Smaller Membership (200 or fewer member)
Churches in the Synod of the Southeast (Florida, Georgia and
South Carolina) of the Presbyterian Church USA. Pastor David
Keister, Sr., Associate Pastor Kathleen Trautwein and Lay Pastor
Levi Duong (of the Vietnamese Presbyterian Church of Emmanuel
which meets at Westminster) received this award at the
Association’s Conference at St. Simon’s Island, GA, this past May.
In her nomination letter, Associate Executive Presbyter for
the Presbytery of Tampa Bay, Susan Snedeker Meier, wrote,
“These three pastors model excellence in cross cultural minis-
try, sharing com-
passion, kind-
ness, and integ-
rity. All meetings
of both churches
are centered
around our
shared faith as
symbolized in
the cup, and the
open Bible.” Church members selling hot dogs and
hamburgers at the neighborhood-wide
yard sale.
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HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Page 15

Feeling Short-Tempered?
Check Your Breathing
by Stacy Renz
One of the things I say most often to students during yoga pos-
ture training is, “Are you breathing?” The student usually laughs
and says something like, “If I wasn’t breathing I’d be dead!” In
truth, it is amazing how shallow some of us breathe and are still
able to walk around functioning semi-normally. In fact, certain
activities seem to lend themselves to our restricting our breath.
These include typing on the computer (I just checked in with my-
self as I am writing this — sure enough, I was barely breathing!),
commuting in the car (especially when we are running late), tasks
requiring intense concentration (i.e., yoga poses), situations in
which we have no control (i.e., waiting at the doctor’s office). If
all of us tend to hold our breaths in these situations, it can’t be too
harmful, right?
Wrong! When we practice shallow or chest breathing, the
breathing action occurs high in the chest with very little action
occurring at the diaphragm or lower. Donna Farhi, author of The
Breathing Book, describes the long-term consequences of being a
habitual chest breather, such as mid back, upper back, shoulder
and neck tension that is difficult to resolve, even with regular
body work. Over the long-term, this chronic muscle tension can
lead to chronic pain, shoulder injury or debilitating headaches. In
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Page 16 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
addition,
because
c h e s t
breathers
chronically
tighten their
abdominals,
the organs
of diges-
tion, as-
similation
and elimi-
nation are
cut off from
proper cir-
culation,
leading to chronic dysfunction.
Chest breathers are often accomplished professionals with
“Type A” personalities. However, despite their outward success,
they are often plagued by free-floating anxiety, feelings of inad-
equacy and poor self-esteem. This affects not only the chest-
breather but those around him or her as well. Because of this un-
derlying tension, he or she may have strong emotional responses
out of proportion with the circumstances at hand.
To determine if you are a chest breather, try this: Place one
hand on your chest and one hand on your belly. As you inhale, see
which hand moves. If it is the hand on your chest, you may be a
chest breather. Here are some steps you can take to break the
pattern:
1. Avoid rushing by leaving a 15 minute cushion
between obligations
2. Learn to say “no” to additional responsibilities
without guilt or the need to explain
3. Avoid pulling in your gut to appear thinner
4. Practice staying present
5. Spend some time in nature or doing an activity that
truly brings you bliss
6. Each time you finish an e-mail, hang up the phone
or stop at a stop light make sure you are breathing
deeply, fully and slowly
7. Practice yoga with a qualified teacher
8. Don’t try to do everything on this list at once – pick
one thing and practice it with a smile and a breath
Stacy, an Old NE resident, is an occupational therapist and
a yoga therapist. She owns Living Room Yoga Studio and
Gallery at 3015 7th Street N; www.livingroomyoga.biz.
ERA Compass Sponsors 
Easter Egg Roll New
Business
In Our
Neighborhood
As the downtown and
Grand Central areas of the city con-
tinue to blossom as shopping and dining desti-
nations, so does The Old Northeast. Here are a
few commercial establishments that have
opened in our neighborhood in recent weeks or
will be opening soon. Give ‘em a try!:

Acupuncture & Old Northeast Tavern

Massage Therapy 201 7th Avenue N

O
nce again 2051 4th Street N #1
a great Planet Beach
time was Andrew Michaels Gallery Tanning – Spa
2051 4th Street N #8 740 4th Street N
had by all the
young participants Hearth & Home Midwife RRIII Auto Brokers
in this fourth annual 2051 4th Street N #3 2051 4th Street N #7
event held April 15th
at Coffee Pot IMIJ Wear Salon
Bayou Park. ERA 2051 4th Street N #6 Christopher James
2312 4th Street N
Compass Realtors IntegrityToGo
Randy Hodge, Natural Food Weekday Gourmet,
Courtney Sutter 1117 4th Street N 750 4th Street N
and Eric DeWitt hid
around the park
more than 1000
Easter eggs full of
candy or worth a prize
classic lines, timeless style
waiting to be found.
Three lucky children
found Golden Eggs
worth $25 movie gift
certificates. If you
would like to get on
their notification
list for future Hallow-
een parties, holiday
movie screenings or
next year’s Easter
Egg Roll, send your
e-mail address to RIC CASTRO
cut and color specialist
Randy Hodge at 2312 4TH ST. N., ST. PETE.
david.hodge
@era.com or call
490.2633
867-0161.  
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Page 17
 To Demolish or Not to Demolish –
That Is the Question
It seems that over the past
18 months or so the neighbor-
hood has experienced a sig-
nificant up-tick in construction activ-
ity. In many instances the construction
has first required the demolition of ex-
isting houses, and in other cases prop-
erty owners have decided to remodel
or renovate existing structures. This
activity is not limited to the very south-
ern blocks of The Old Northeast but
can be seen above 22nd Avenue, as
well, and as likely near the water as off 4th
Street. Commercial development along the 4th Street cor-
ridor is hot, empty lots in the neighborhood are few and
far between and older housing stock tempts investors and
developers.
The photos on these pages show some of what has been
occurring. What are your feelings about how the new con- Demolition — Coffee Pot Boulevard, NE.
struction looks vis-à-vis the renovation alternative?

Renovation — Bay Street, NE.

New construction — Beach Drive, NE.

New
construction —
5th Avenue, N. Renovation — 3rd Street, N.
Page 18 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
 New construction — 30th Avenue, N.
New construction — Bay Street, NE.

Renovation — 9th Avenue, NE. New construction — Coffee Pot Boulevard, NE

Renovation
— 11th
Avenue, NE.
New construction — 26th Avenue, N.

Renovation — 6th Avenue, N.

HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Page 19

 Moon Under Water as an option. I decided if there was a table
available when we walked up we would stop.
As luck would have it the best spot for Boris – right by the
sidewalk so he could stretch out – was open. We quickly claimed
the table and got settled in. As I looked around I counted at least
five other dogs accompanying their owners. Before even taking
a drink order, the server brought a glass of ice water for me and
a bowl of ice water for Boris. In my previous Saturday walk-

Downtown
throughs I had not noticed the special stainless steel doggie
bowls…what a nice touch. It really was hot…and their gyro re-
ally is good…but all I could think about was crisp, cool salad. I
asked my server, Rocky, for his recommendation and he said
The Moon Cobb salad was very popular. I said bring it on. And
he was right — the salad was perfect. Bacon, curried chicken,
by Chuck Lindeen egg, red onion, diced tomato and crumbled blue cheese were
artfully arranged on the bed of greens. Served in a large tortilla
shell, it ended up being almost too much to finish…but I man-
aged to anyway.
Summertime and the Living is Easy -- The cuisine at Moon Under Water could be described as Brit-
Moon Under Water ish Colonial with many Indian dishes (like the curry platter) along
with the traditional British
Summertime is here and dishes such as Cornish
it’s a lotta-hot out. So who pasties, shepherd’s pie and
can think of big, heavy fish and chips. There are
meals? Dining Around for multiple appetizer and soup
this issue is taking a left turn. selections from crab cakes
All of the restaurants re- to chicken strips. Salad se-
viewed in previous issues lections include house, Cae-
were relatively new and first- sar and Greek in addition to
time experiences for me. the Cobb I enjoyed. If you
Moon Under Water has been are in the mood for some-
around for a few years now, thing to wrap your hands
and this was not my first around there are no fewer
visit. In recent months it has than 11 sandwiches includ-
been on my beaten path each ing tuna, burgers, chicken
Saturday. and vegetarian selections.
Part of my routine each For the heartier appetites
weekend has been to walk there are multiple entrees to
downtown to the Saturday choose from including
Market with Boris, my re- duck, chicken, pork, beef
tired greyhound. After we and fish. And of course
have loaded-up on all we can there are desserts available.
easily carry back home we There’s a limited kid’s menu
head over to Beach Drive and and an Express Lunch Spe-
head north. I have been able cial which is available
to watch the progress at the Park Shore development and more weekdays.
recently clearing the block for the newest tower at the corner If you remember, my rating scale is very basic: food, service,
of Beach Drive and 2nd Avenue NE. Moon Under Water is atmosphere. Moon Under Water easily scored a three out of three.
just across the alley from the Park Shore. The sidewalk in The food was above average. While service on previous visits
that block actually runs right through the middle of their out- had been less than memorable, the service this time was excep-
door seating area. It was just recently that I realized there tional. And the atmosphere — how wrong could they go?? Out-
were patrons sitting outside with their dogs, and I promised doors. Beach Drive. Vinoy Yacht Basin and Tampa Bay in the
Boris that we would go back soon and enjoy a meal outdoors. distance. You may have noticed in previous issues that if there’s
I think it was also at that moment that I realized that as many an option to eat outdoors I’m there! With all the development
times as I had been there I had never eaten anywhere but out- along Beach Drive promising street level retail I am counting on
side! Making good on my promise we ended up there the numerous more outdoor café dining options. Moon Under Water
very next Saturday. It was beastly hot, and I didn’t think Boris is a hot option if you hunger for something different and enjoy
was going to make it all the way back home without a rest taking your meals outdoors. That being said they do have indoor
stop along the way. As we hit Beach Drive I remembered seating and a full service bar inside as well.
Page 20 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
 Moon Under Water is located at 332 Beach Drive NE in down-
town St. Petersburg. It is open Sunday through Thursday from
11:30am to 11pm and Friday and Saturday from 11:30pm to 1am.
Telephone 896-6160.
Chuck has been a resident of The Old Northeast for over 10
years and a 33-year resident of the city. He served two appointed
terms on the St. Petersburg Arts Advisory Committee and has
volunteered for numerous arts organizations including the Sal-
vador Dali Museum, American Stage/American Stage in the Park
and the Arts Center. He is currently serving on HONNA’s Board
as Vice President.

HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Page 21

President’s Perspective from page 1
years. Many times Mary Alice has stayed up all night getting
ready for a presentation to one or another of the EDC, Planning
Commission, City Council or just a meeting with some of you.
Like the rest of us, she has a full time job. She has worked
relentlessly to develop, revise or interpret the Neighborhood Plan
and make sure that City staff know the contents of the plan and
the intentions of the neighborhood. This is to ensure that even
when the City and The Historic Old Northeast disagree (more
often than most neighbors realize) that our interests are served
according to the plan, ordinance or long standing practice. Mary
Alice runs the neighborhood grants program that has resulted in
the decorative acorn street lighting, monuments and other ameni-
ties; the route to acquiring these depends on volunteer hours
that are translated into qualifying thresholds. There is no Board
volunteer job that requires as much time as the one that Mary
Alice has assumed year after year.
Nicole and Mary Alice are the directors most likely to be seen
on the City’s TV channel opposing either a City decision or a
developer on behalf of those neighbors who live near a proposed
development and who object to whatever action is being proposed.
Holiday Tour and Historic Preservation: Robin Reed was
asked by me and the rest of the Board to assume responsibility
for the Local Historic District designation campaign because she
is professional, tireless, organized, focused and has a keen inter-
est in old homes. After years of leading the beautiful, acclaimed,
and successful Holiday Home Tour, we thought that Robin would
be in the best position to implement a decision that had been made
by the 2003 Board to support an application for Local Historic
District designation that had been prepared by several residents
Old Northeast only
12-year old, Honor Student
Red Cross trained
for
BABY SITTING
Contact Erin’s Parents
727-898-7108
Page 22 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
and already submitted to the City. Robin (and her chief volunteer,
her husband, Joe) have deep respect for the neighborhood’s roots
and traditions and have shown considerable respect for the differ-
ing opinions that have emerged in the campaign.
Membership: Quinn Henderson is also an attorney, and he has
organized the candidate forum for the last few elections; we hope
he will do so again. He has deciphered the mail merge and the
membership lists with the help of former Board member Joe
O’Connor and he will soon be embarking with the rest of us on a
membership drive. You see him at each general meeting greeting
new members, and what you don’t see are the many other hours
spent organizing and following up on lists, material and answer-
ing requests for information
Garden Stroll: Wendy Mansfield, like the dedicated and tal-
ented Garden Stroll chairs before her, made this wonderful spring-
time event another one to remember and another showcase for the
beautiful and well- tended gardens of The Historic Old Northeast.
Wendy gives time all year long to this initiative, works around the
clock on it and still has time and energy to help everyone else.
Wendy, a licensed architect, has an astonishing eye for design and
detail and loves the Garden Stroll and all it means to The Historic
Old Northeast.
Website: Managing our electronic presence falls to Bob Dobbs,
who keeps the site up to date and figures out new features to in-
clude. Although we use a commercial platform that has limita-
tions and restrictions, Bob has figured out how to use it to our
best advantage. Bob spends many hours working toward the next
level and a new website, and we are looking forward to publish-
ing much more in the future.
Porch Parties: We have a meet-your-neighbor movable feast
feature introduced several years ago, and Bob Hunter with the
help of his committee partners has kept us all aware of the next
party, where it will be and who is having it. Bob co-chairs and
supports several other Board committees and has been a reliable
resource to the Garden Stroll, Holiday Home Tour, Historic Pres-
ervation and does whatever else we need help with.
Newsletter: Rick Carson and the newsletter team have a huge
and detailed job getting all that information and creativity — as
well as advertising (thank you, advertisers!) — into the pages of
the newsletter, on time and in a lively and light-hearted format
that makes sense to us and to you. Rick reminded me this morn-
ing — gently, as always — that this article wasn’t written, and I
can only imagine how many others he has to remind every issue,
how much he has to edit, write or rewrite. He is always on the
lookout for important info to include, and he is fearless in raising
ideas that he knows we won’t like — but need to hear. The news-
letter is so important in letting you know what the Association
Board is doing, and looking back over years of newsletters allows
all of us to see important initiative s and changes underway. The
newsletter provides continuity, not just news.
Officers: Douglas Haan (Treasurer), Anne-Marie Stephenson
(Secretary) and Chuck Lindeen (Vice President) all take excep-
tional responsibility on behalf of all of us. Doug keeps the books
in order — maintains tax, insurance, grant, dues, tour proceeds,
donation, advertising sales and other records — with enormous
precision and devotion to detail Anne-Marie keeps us on track
and records all the discussions at Board meetings and general
meetings as well as setting agendas and reminding everyone how
their work interfaces with all the other work underway. Chuck
represents us at the City’s Council of Neighborhood
Rutland’s DepartmentAssocia-
tions and a lot of other places, attends hearings, has represented
Store c.1942
the organization in more than one adversarial setting and is solely
responsible for having stopped the random delivery of “free”
newspapers that had been thrown on our front lawns by three
different publishers.
I share this information with you knowing that some of you
may be skeptical of the Board’s motives, performance or skill.
Only Douglas and Mary Alice have served more than two years
on the HONNA Board; some of these folks are still in their first
year as a Board volunteer but have served on committees or
projects in the past. We maintain good relationships with City
staff (or try to, simply because that is the right way to conduct
business and politics and we have pretty good manners), but we
do not always agree with City policy and on occasion have ve-
hemently opposed and gone to great lengths on behalf of the
neighborhood in opposition to the City. We most often take up
the issues or ideas raised by you, our neighbors, and facilitate as
much understanding as we can about ordinances, zoning, ap-
peal processes and City policies and practices. Some of us are
Republican, some Democrat, others independent; when election
time comes around we will all have different signs in our yards,
I guarantee it.
If you are interested in serving on the Board, we have some
openings that we’d like to fill before the annual meeting in No-
vember. We welcome volunteers and, as you can see, we don’t
always agree with one another. Have no fear that your opinion is a
qualifier for service — it isn’t, you just have to be a HONNA
member, be willing to chair a standing committee and attend per-
haps three evening meetings per month. We are simply happy to
have you as a neighbor, a friend and a fellow volunteer, devoted
— as we all are — to improving the quality of life in The Historic
Old Northeast.

HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Page 23

 The Scoop on Perry Snell
J
udy Lowe Wells
has recently pub
lished a biogra-
phy of Perry Snell. Her
book, C. Perry Snell, His
Place in St. Petersburg,
Florida, History, dis-
cusses his childhood,
education and travels as
well as his years in St. Pe-
tersburg. His life was not
always smooth sailing —
the 1930s were fraught
with much turmoil from
tax problems, court dis-
putes with two ex-wives
and his loss of the Snell
Arcade Building and his
lovely Brightwaters Bou- Author Judy Lowe Wells autographing her book after her
Please Support levard home. presentation at the HONNA meeting.
This man is respon-
Our Advertisers sible for so much more than developing The Historic Old North-
east and Snell Isle, and building the Snell Arcade Building.
Who Support Many people do not know that he is the one responsible for the
There will be a book

This Newsletter very personality of St. Petersburg. His vision for the city in- signing at Haslam’s
cluded a beautiful waterfront, up- Book Store, 2025
scale homes and public parks with
meandering walkways such as he Central Avenue, on
had seen along the French Riviera. Saturday, June 10th,
He donated a significant amount
of land to enhance the beauty and from 2-4pm. Judy will
well-being of St. Petersburg. Perry be giving a Power
Snell owned Coffee Pot Bayou
and dredged and filled as he Point presentation,
pleased, essentially determining with a Q&A time, at
JUST AROUND THE CORNER, the outline of the northeast shore-
JUST DOWN THE STREET, line from 5th Avenue N up into the St. Petersburg
JUST IN TOWN Coffee Pot Bayou and around Museum of History,
Snell Isle into Placido Bayou. The
WE ARE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD WINE MERCHANT
book offers a great deal more in- 335 2nd Avenue NE, on
Wine-of-the-Month Club Private Wine Tastings formation to give a thorough study
June 15th at 7pm.
Gift Certificates On-Staff Certified Sommelier of the life of this man.
Gift Baskets Private Label Wines & Cigars
Free Delivery* Uncorked Wine Academy
*Restrictions may apply.

JOIN US FOR OUR

FIFTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
FREE WINE TASTING TO MARK THE OCCASION
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2006 7:00 – 9:00 PM
SHOP US ONLINE
“YOUR ‘VIRTUAL’ NEIGHBORHOOD WINE MERCHANT”
www.uncorkedwines.com

Uncorked Fine Wines & Accessories

2706 4th Street North, St. Petersburg

Page 24 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

 the former
In Case You Missed It: St. Pete
Updates and Follow Ups H a r d w a re
property at
Keeping You Current on Some 1203 4 th
Street N.
Neighborhood Stories That Developers
Have Been in the News won the right
to cross the
150 foot line
v Several folks wrote into Dr. Delay in response to the St. that normally
Petersburg Times’ columnist’s invitation to discuss street restricts
  roundabouts. A few chimed in specifically on the one at 30th commercial
Avenue at 1st Street N. One person said she had “yet to encounter development
anyone who knows who has the right of way…Four yield signs. into the resi-
If two cars approach the rotary
simultaneously, who is sup-
posed to yield?” Another dential neighborhood.
wrote: “As to who has the right HONNA and several neighbors
of way, the ‘yield’ sign is con- objected to the exception with
fusing and does not match state one resident commenting,
law. Section 316.121 states that “You are really knifing the
whoever is in the rotary has the homeowners of the Old North-
right of way, and those vehicles east.” The proposed building –
approaching from the right a 5,800sqft retail space with
have the secondary right of parking in the rear – will con-
way…There is no need for the tain a Tropical Smoothie Café
‘yield’ sign.” Another who and as yet other unspecified
lives six houses from the round- businesses. The existing build-
about said: “You would be sur- ing and a bungalow will have been demolished to make room for
prised at the number of cars that do not stop for a woman, two this project. [source: St. Petersburg Times, 5/7]
dogs and two kids on bikes…Even in the afternoons and on week-
ends, cars go through entirely too fast. Most of the cars traveling v The Environmental Development Commission also ap-
on First Street assume they have the right of way.” [source: St. proved (4/5) a special exception and related site plan to convert
Petersburg Times, 3/5] into a three-guestroom bed and breakfast an existing seven-unit
apartment building at 657 3rd Street N. (see above right) Over
v Resident and attorney Thomas Wadley painted a flag of 100 years old, the building originally was a single family resi-
Denmark and a drawing of Mohammed’s head on two pieces of dence and later a boarding house. The owners, William and Adele
plywood and placed them in front of his 8th Avenue N house to Visaggio, have invested about $1 million in the building’s reno-
make a statement about free speech. This resulted in the local vation. [source: St. Petersburg Times, 4/9]
director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations sitting
down with the lawyer to discuss the issues of free speech, Islam v The family which owns the mangrove patch in Coffee Pot
and the Middle East. They ended up agreeing on some matters Bayou known to many as Bird Island is looking to sell the prop-
(like the war in Iraq) but not on the controversial issue of media erty and has a potential buyer. The island is a bird rookery hosting
publication of what many feel are offensive cartoons of some 500 breeding pairs including several species considered wor-
Mohammed. [source: St. Petersburg Times, 2/24] thy of protection. Environmentalists are alarmed and are consider-
ing ways to purchase and preserve it; several groups have expressed
v The City’s Environmental Development Commission gave interest in assisting. [source: St. Petersburg Times, 5/10]
the go-ahead to a controversial redevelopment project involving

200 Central Avenue, Ste 620 (Bank of America Tower)

HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Page 25

 Thinking in
Purple
by Barbara Rhode, LMFT
Barbara Rhode is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
who provides trainings and workshops to corporations and non-
profits on wellness and life balance. She lives in a very purple
house in The Old Northeast, a place where she contemplates in
shades of “purple.” Barbara can be reached at 418-7882.
Editor’s Note: Barbara Rhode, the usual author of this col-
umn, has taken a one-issue break and turned over the com-
puter keyboard to her husband, Tim. If after reading his com-
mentary you are inspired to check further into the subject of
paint colors for your house, the September 2003 issue of this
newsletter and the November/December 2005 issue of The
Northeast Journal contain relevant articles. (You do save back
issues, don’t you?)
My wife, Barbara, who usually writes this column, calls it
“Thinking in Purple” because we live in a purple house. Many
people want to know, “Why did you paint it purple?” Usually
the people who ask me this don’t like it. Some people tell me
this politely while others yell at our house that they HATE IT.
Page 26 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Many others tell me they love the col-
ors. Very few are neutral. I thought
I’d better explain why we painted
it purple.
There are four buildings on
our property. The purple one
is my house and it is two sto-
ries. On the other side of the
pool/courtyard is a one story
house where my wife’s parents
live and it is painted two shades
of bright blue. Between those
two houses at the end of our
pool is a two story building with a
studio apartment on the second floor and
a guest suite on the first. This building is painted bright yel-
low. The last building is one story and used to be a one-car
garage. It has been divided in half into a workshop on the
street side and an architectural studio for me on the courtyard
side. This building is painted fuchsia red.
Now, I can really hear some of you thinking, “My God, that’s
four different very bright colors, all on one property. He re-
ally has gone crazy.”
But there is a method to my madness and it all begins with
LIGHT. As you all know, we live in the “Sunshine State,” so
there is a lot of light. Also, because of the semi-tropical loca-
tion, the light comes in more directly overhead than it does in
the northern states where a lot of us came from. It’s brighter
in Florida. This brightness can overwhelm most colors but not
bright colors. Bright colors complement the quality of our
tropical light.
Many areas around the world at our latitude such as Mexico,
Africa and India have the same angle of sun that we do and
use very bright colors in their clothing and buildings. I be-
lieve the light is related to their choice of colors. My inspira-
tion for choosing these bright colors for our property actually
comes from traveling through the Caribbean. I saw how well
the bright colors worked there in similar light conditions to
ours. My painter called them “happy colors,” and I like that
thought.
Most of our houses in The Old NE are modeled after houses
from the northeastern part of our country because the builders
 PORCH PARTIES
Porch Parties are held the third Friday of the month from
7-10pm (except December). Porch Parties are strictly
social and provide and informal and fun way to mix and
mingle with your neighbors. Bring your own beverage.
Cups, ice and light snacks are provided. Ask a neighbor
to ride or walk over with you. For more info, contact Julie
Feeley (822-4969; fridayporchparty@hotmail.com).

PLEASE NOTE
TIME CHANGE: 7-10pm

June 16th
Bob and Linda Dobbs
2296 Coffee Pot Blvd NE

July 21st
Ken and Elizabeth Grimes
750 3rd Street N

August 18th
Jim Kaiser and Kathy Hansen
419 12th Avenue NE

Thinking in Purple continued...

came from those areas. They built what
they knew. Many people believe that the
colors of our houses in St. Petersburg
should use the same palette of colors that
those northeastern houses used. But I be-
lieve that the colors should be appropri-
ate for the quality of the light we have here
in Florida.
I consider houses and neighborhoods to
be similar to living things in the sense that,
like living things, they change over time. So
my house will change. I will be painting the
windows another color to complement the
purple. When I can afford to I will remove
all the asbestos siding to bring the house back
to the original clapboard siding on the first
floor and cedar shakes on the second floor. I
will have to remove the purple. I don’t know
if I will paint it purple again but it will prob-
ably be a BRIGHT color. I hope this article
might inspire others to use brighter colors as
well. They are happy colors.

Please Support the

Advertisers
in Our Newsletter
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Page 27
 Dave Forman emigrated here from Los Angeles where he wrote
for the entertainment industry. He, along with his wife and young
daughter, are trying to adjust to the Florida heat and humidity (which
he has gratefully exchanged for the traffic, smog and attitude of LA).

poofers
S … by D.S. Forman
DISCLAIMER: The stories you are about
to read are not true. Not even the names
have been changed to protect the innocent.
The
Old Northeast
Enquirer
OLD NORTHEAST MOVING
TO CAYMANS
Disenchanted with skyrocketing property taxes, insurance costs and
encroaching over-development, the entire Old Northeast neighborhood
decided to pull up stakes from St. Petersburg and relocate to the Cayman
Islands. The decision was made by voice vote at a recent HONNA neigh-
borhood meeting addressing invasive parking lots. The motion to secede
from Florida came up as an afterthought but passed unanimously. “As
soon as our insurance dropped us, we decided to drop Florida,” claimed
long time city resident Arthur Bendix. A panicked Mayor Baker urged
The Old Northeast to stay put, promising more festivals and parades. How-

INSURANCE CRISIS ever, real estate speculators, eying a potentially huge development oppor-
tunity in the vacated neighborhood, have already offered to pay moving

FIXED – ALL HOMES

expenses for all Old NE residents.

GIGANTO CONDO
INSURED UP TO $1000 FLATTENS FLIPPERS
The Florida legislature reached an agreement with the insurance industry that would put an end The grand opening of “The
to dropped policies on Old NE homes and prevent any more insurers from fleeing the state. The legisla- Magnum,” the 2,500-unit, 75
tors reluctantly gave the insurers the go-ahead to triple premiums this year, quadruple them in 2008 story mega-condo tower
and remove all limits in 2010. In return, the insurance companies will guarantee coverage to every home that takes up what was
in The Old Northeast up to a maximum $1000. Any property damages incurred over that amount would left of downtown St.
be the sole responsibility of the homeowner. “This is the kind of successful bi-partisan legislation our Pete, has resulted in a
constituents deserve,” beamed state rep Hank Slicker. glut of condo units. “It
finally broke the back of

INVESTORS CASH IN ON BANKERS ROW the city’s real estate

boom,” claimed Realtor
Owners of a property on 4th Street N have passed on their expansion Doug Trapjack. “There
plans in favor of developing a new bank building. Their lot will be the are now more condos
new home of the St. Petersburg Corner Sunstone Mutual Lending than people.” The over-
Bank of Florida. This will be the 96th bank building abundance of condos is
fronting 4th Street N from downtown to Gandy — forcing real estate
practically a bank on every block. Meanwhile, speculators who drove
in a nod to the Bank Rob- up housing prices in St.
bers’ lobby, the state Pete to actually live in
legislature has re- their overpriced new
fused to add digs. Several specula-
any more stop- tors, concerned they won’t be able to afford their own
lights along pricey rents, have declared bankruptcy and fled to the
4th Street. Caymans.
“Spoof” is a noun which the dictionary defines as a “light humorous parody.” Actually the word is an acronym devised in the early 20th century from the phrase
“St. Pete: Our Outlandish Funtasyland.” SPOOFers was a column in the local newspaper, The Leningrad LAMPOON (the precursor to the St. Petersburg TIMES).

Page 28 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

ON THE DOCKET:
Some Upcoming Events In and Nearby Mayor’s Downtown Historic
Preservation Summit:
Our Neighborhood
For a current and more detailed listing go
The Sticks and Carrots
to the City’s website at www.stpete.org of Historic Preservation
June 2-4 Taste of Pinellas (benefits All Children’s June 24th, 2006,
Hospital) Vinoy Park; 767-4193 9am-4:30pm
June 3 Darlene Clark Bikini Cup Off The Pier; Coliseum
822-3873 535 4th Avenue N
June 4 Music Fest on the Water The Pier; 821-6443
June 10 Gallery Walk downtown locations; 821-6767 Subjects to be covered in-
June 10-11 Tampa Bay Caribbean Carnival clude: overview of City’s Historic
Vinoy Park; 327-1277 Preservation ordinance; progress
June 11 Music Fest on the Water and direction of Pinellas County’s
The Pier; 821-6443 Preservation Task Force; Defining
JUNE 16 PORCH PARTY (see p. 27) St. Petersburg’s historic character
June 17 Fish-Ful Saturday and elements critical to it; eco-
The Pier Aquarium; 821-6443 nomics of historic preservation;
June 17-18 Pinellas Living Green Expo the Federal tax credit, ad valorem
Coliseum; 892-5202 tax exemption and grants; adap-
June 18 Music Fest on the Water The Pier; 821-6443 tive reuse and transfer of devel-
JUNE 19 NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING opment rights, state building code,
June 23 Warped Tour Vinoy Park; 896-2276 local case studies
June 23-24 Purina Dog Chow Incredible Dog Attendance is free but limited
Challenge Spa Beach Park; 893-7465 in number; advance registration is
June 24 Mayor’s Downtown Historic Preservation required (893-7153).
Summit Coliseum; 893-7143
June 24 St. Pete Pride Parade and Street Festival
Central b/w 22nd-28th; 214-4102
June 25 Music Fest on the Water The Pier; 821-6443 Buy or Sell Your Property with
July 2 Music Fest on the Water The Pier; 821-6443 “The Rob and Richard Team”
July 4 Fourth of July Celebration downtown
waterfront parks and The Pier; 893-7441 and
July 7 Get Downtown Music Series Use Our MovingTruck FREE!*
Central b/w 2nd-3rd; 393-3597
July 8 Fish-Ful Saturday The Pier Aquarium;
821-6443
July 8 Gallery Walk downtown locations; 821-6767
July 9 Share the Road Ride North Shore Park;
327-3935
July 9 Music Fest on the Water The Pier; 821-6443
July 16 Music Fest on the Water The Pier; 821-6443
JULY 17 NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
JULY 21 PORCH PARTY (see p. 27)
July 22 Fish-Ful Saturday The Pier Aquarium;
821-6443 Also available for use to non-profit organizations
July 22-23 Cool Art Show Coliseum; 736-2976 *Local Moves Only
July 23 Music Fest on the Water The Pier; 821-6443 Richard Waugh and Rob Elkins
July 30 Music Fest on the Water The Pier; 821-6443
August 4 Get Downtown Music Series “Your Neighborhood Specialists”
Central b/w 2nd-3rd; 393-3597
August 12 Gallery Walk downtown locations; 821-6767
August 16-20 Old Salt Loop Tournament
Spa Beach Park; 893-7465
AUGUST 18 PORCH PARTY (see p. 27)
2100 Dr. M.L.K. Street North
Friday evenings St. Pete Shuffle St. Petersburg, FL 33704
Shuffleboard Courts. 867-7228 (727) 525-5600 (866) 523-5600 www.robandrichard.com

HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Page 29

 How Does Your Garden Grow?
by Yvonne Swanson -- Master Gardener
Storm
Warnings
It’s a harsh reality that summer gardening in Florida includes
the potential for tropical storms and hurricanes. Preparing your
landscape for a hurricane ideally should begin well before storm
season approaches with such measures as trimming or removing
questionable trees and planting storm-hardy plants throughout the
yard. Add these projects to your summer to-do list to safeguard
your landscape and preserve your plants:
Before a storm:
+ Inspect trees for rotten or dead limbs,
which can break off easily in high wind
and crash through your own or neighbors’
windows. In addition, remove seed pods
and old fronds from palms. Cut low-lying
limbs using a pruning saw or lopper, be-
ing careful not to tear branches. Hire a
professional arborist or tree service to re-
move out-of-reach limbs.
+ Stake small trees and tall garden plants
that could snap in high winds. Use three
stakes placed a few feet around the root
ball and drive them about eight inches into
the soil or deeper, especially in loose,
sandy soil. Next, secure the stake to the
trunk with hose-covered, heavy-duty wire.
It’s a good idea to flag the wire to prevent
accidents.
+ Bring potted plants indoors. If that’s not possible, lay them on
their side in a sheltered location. Top-heavy plants are especially
prone to blow over, even those in heavy ceramic containers.
Denis “Doc” Mortham’s
TREE SERVICE
Serving Pinellas County for over 15 years
We specialize in Oak Tree Artistry
All Phases of Tree Trimming & Removal
Stump Grinding • Hazardous Tree Removal
24 Hour Emergency Service
FREE
(727) 822-9208
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Page 30 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
+ Any item in your yard — or your neighbors’ — can become
a dangerous projectile in high winds. Be sure to bring loose gar-
den items indoors including flags and awnings, garden hoses,
wind chimes, birdfeeders, hanging baskets and lawn ornaments
such as gazing balls and birdbaths. House ornaments that aren’t
secure, such as wreaths or plaques, should be brought in as well.
After a storm:
+ Some fallen and leaning trees can be saved as long as they
can be propped back up. Trim any broken branches, set the tree
upright and firmly stake for support. Treat the tree as if it were
transplanted by providing adequate water over the next six months.
The Florida Extension Service recommends leaving the support
stakes and hose-covered wires in place for one year.
+ With some TLC, you can bring storm-damaged plants back
to life. Prune off torn and damaged ends
to reduce stress on the plant. If roots are
exposed, cover with soil, moist burlap
sacks or moist sphagnum moss.
+ Inspect trees for damage, including
broken branches, cracks or splits at the
limb-trunk juncture and breakage of the
root system. You should prune or saw bro-
ken branches back to major limbs or the
main trunk, always making clean, even
cuts. If a crack or split extends into the
trunk, the tree could be dangerous and may
need costly removal.
+ Inspect the root area of trees and
shrubs for hollowing of the soil that can
occur when plants are blown back and
forth during a storm. Add soil and water
to eliminate air pockets around roots.
+ If your plants have been exposed to salt water, don’t wait for
symptoms to appear. Thoroughly douse them with fresh water as
soon as possible after the storm. Monitor them closely for the
next six months, supplying more-frequent watering, especially
during periods of drought.
+ If your turf grass has taken a beating, the Florida Extension
Service recommends using a flat-headed shovel to remove fallen
leaves, mud or silt left by tidal surges or flooding. Grass exposed
to fresh water flooding should start growing when standing water
is drained. Salt water damage can be mitigated by hosing thor-
oughly with fresh water.
+ Long periods of sustained winds will quickly dry out potted
plants — despite abundant rainfall — so water those that were
left outside during the storm. Trim off dead or broken ends and
delay fertilizing.
Yvonne Swanson is a master gardener for Pinellas County. She
also writes a garden column for the St. Petersburg Times.
 445 11th Avenue NE Robert Bruce
Property Transfers 116 12th Avenue NE Jennifer O’Connor
Following is a listing of recent property transfers in our North 309 13th Avenue NE Paul and Andrea Kowalski
Shore neighborhood. The individuals listed are new owners 216 14th Avenue NE Alfred Neal
of the properties cited but not necessarily the residents of 436 14th Avenue NE Tashtego and Emily Kilene Elwyn
those properties. The properties are listed in chronological 515 14th Avenue NE Kris and Theadora Kubiak
avenue and chronological and alphabetical street order. 216 15th Avenue NE Chad and Lauren Kersting
If any of these folks live near you, make sure you welcome 545 16th Avenue NE James and Mary Camp
them to the neighborhood. 138 17th Avenue N Victoria Brook
125 5th Avenue NE #160 Mildred Brown 155 19th Avenue NE Geoff and Whitney LeCain
125 5th Avenue NE #190 Anne Harowski 303 20th Avenue N Erica Downs
125 5th Avenue NE #230 Jennifer Casper 145 21st Avenue N David Wing
125 5th Avenue NE #290 Andrzej and Longina Przyborowski 146 22nd Avenue NE N. Denise West
125 5th Avenue NE #390 Terri Anderson and Lisa Ulrich 185 22nd Avenue N Adele and Louis Dalessandro
555 5th Avenue NE #533 Gene and Robyn Melamud 301 24th Avenue N Ronald Legore
555 5th Avenue NE Pth#3 Ian and Jean Irwin 756 Bay Street NE Maureen Stafford
500 6th Avenue NE Paul Evans 1014 Bay Street NE Shandy Nachsin
210 7th Avenue N Dennis Raymond 1033 Bay Street NE #1 Joan Eastman
224 7th Avenue N Jeffrey and Karol Hirschberger 1215 Beach Dr NE #2 Jody Boone
123 8th Avenue N Barbara Danielle Stefan 2156 Coffee Pot Blvd NE Todd and Barbara McCallister
231 8th Avenue N William Thomas Wadley 1048 North Shore Drive #3 Charles and Rosemary Sexton
376 9th Avenue N Zachary Haisch Compiled from public records by the
321 10th Avenue N Justin Dean Florida New Business Report.

4
VOTE “YES”
For Local Historic District
But no matter how you vote, respect your neighbors’ opinions

HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Page 31

 “I Remember When...”
Although The Old Northeast neighborhood continues to experience a renaissance of its own along with the downtown, not
everyone who lives here is a relative newcomer. Some of us have lived here all — or most — of our lives and remember when life
in the northeast (it wasn’t always “Old”) was quite a different experience. “I Remember When…” provides an opportunity for one
of your more “senior” neighbors to share with us newer kids on the block a personal reflection of what it was like “way back when.”
If you know long-time Old Northeast residents who might like to share some memories of the area from previous years, please
contact Susan Alderson at susie2wong@aol.com.

Reflections from… Shannon Knowlton

Shannon has lived in The Old Northeast since 1950.
Honey Brown Lefter One of the best things I remember about growing up here in St.
Honey was born in St. Petersburg and has lived in The Old NE Petersburg was going to the movies at the Pheil Theater on Satur-
all her life. day mornings. It was usually a double feature and they showed
“Summer time, and the livin’ is easy...”  The tourists had all scary movies. I can remember sitting in the balcony screaming.
gone home and we were back to being a sleepy Southern town.  I used to swim in Coffee Pot Bayou and jumped off the Snell
My friends and I would ride our bikes up to West’s Drug Store Isle Bridge. It was one of my favorite things to do.
and order Cokes at the fountain.
My friends and I loved to ski in Coffee Pot as well. We would go
That whole area was marble and had high ceilings with fans.  up to Bob Lee’s and fill up the gas tank for the boat
There were little with the money we had all saved. The boat was kept at
tables and chairs Location of West’s Drug Store at Dr. Ferrell’s dock on Coffee Pot. That home is no
set up, they had Locust Street & 13th Avenue NE longer there but was located across from the old
tile floors and Willingham home. We would get an early start skiing
swinging screen because later on it would get crowded with other boats. 
doors. It was a popular place to ski. We would ski till the gas
Those were tank ran out and then our day was over.
the days before I remember riding our bikes over the gravel streets
leash laws, so all up to West’s Drug Store on Locust Street where we
my friends and I would sit at the fountain and drink cherry Cokes.
had our dogs fol-
Another fun thing for my friends and I to do was to
lowing us every-
play kick the can in the Willingham’s big yard.  We did
where we went...
that for hours and when it rained, we would make dams
including going
in the street.
inside with us to Postcards courtesy Joe O’Connor.
West’s. It was the place to go. We My friends and I made our own fun and life was
spent much of our time in the wa- different then.
ter either at Sunset Country Club’s The La Plaza, one of many
pool or swimming and skiing in long-gone movie palaces. Susan Woods Alderson
Coffee Pot. When it rained, we Susan has lived in the Old Northeast
made dams in the streets. since 1949.
Everybody ran around bare It was June, hot as heck as it was from
footed. My mother, being from 1949 to the early ‘50’s and that was before
the North, didn’t approve of that everyone had air conditioners in their
so I wore my shoes until I got homes. We lived on 16th Avenue NE in a
around the corner and then hoped five bedroom, two story Tudor home which
and prayed nobody would tell was built with ventilation in mind with lots
her. of windows. The attic fan would rumble
The Lowe family lived across and at least keep the air moving.
the street, and I grew up playing I didn’t care or even know that it was
with the two oldest brothers. Mr. Lowe would have a huge load hot. It was summer, school was out, I was
of sand delivered to the empty lot next to their home and spread a kid and the heat was of no concern to me. My friends and I cooled
it out so we could play softball. Another fun thing we did was to ourselves by swimming in our rubber wading pools and eating
carefully place match sticks in our neighbors’ door bells so they popsicles which dripped down our hands and arms.
would keep on ringing and then run. My best buddy and I would love it when our fathers pulled us
The Lowe boys and I spent a good deal of our time climbing up to West’s Drug Store in our big red metal wagons to get a cool
trees, and even though I was not too good at it they would push drink at the soda fountain. That was a big deal and a real treat.
me up. Of course, once I got up there I would be stuck but I was Those were the days even before TV. My grandmother, who
determined to do what they did. lived with us, bought one of the first TVs in the neighborhood. 
Summer was such an easy and laid back time and seemed end- My friends and I would actually gather and stare at the test pat-
less.  terns until we finally got Channel 13. That brought in such shows
as “Captain Mac.”  Does anyone else remember “Captain Mac”? 
Page 32 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
 Coffee Pot Bayou

We also watched all the westerns such as Roy Rogers and Gene
Autry. My buddy and I were Roy Rogers and Dale Evans and
rode pretend horses made of palm branches.
For sure, TV did not occupy our time. We were outside making
up games like seeing who could get across a sandspur and pine
cone-filled lot barefooted the fastest.  Ouch!  I can still remember
how those sandspurs felt stuck to the bottom of my foot.  What
was I thinking?
My father would bring home huge cardboard boxes from refrig-
erator dealers and we would make forts out of them putting them
together in a long tunnel and cutting out windows. We spent hours in
those boxes. It must have been hot in those boxes, but we didn’t care.
How many times did I stub my toes running barefooted down
these hexagon and very cracked sidewalks?  I also fell many times
on those old-type roller skates that you would have to wear over
your shoes. Try as I did, I never seemed to be able to wind them
tight enough with those keys.  Does anyone else remember those
old metal skates?  Boy, am I ever dating myself!
My friends and I rode our bikes everywhere with wild aban-
donment (no helmets!), climbed trees, made mud pies in the back
yard with good old black dirt and the hose and played till our
mothers called us in for dinner. Summer went on forever — or at
least it seemed that way to us.
The Old Northeast...I have the best memories any child could
have growing up here. It doesn’t get any better than that!

Susan Woods Alderson is a wife and mother of four children. She moved
to a home on 16th Avenue NE with her mother, father and grandmother when
she was five years old. She also lived in another home on 16th till she mar-
ried. When she moved back to St. Pete from Washington, D.C., in 1977 it’s
been on 19th Avenue NE.  She wouldn’t want to live anywhere else in the
world!  As Dorothy (and Susan) would say, “There’s no place like home.” 

Individual and Business

Tax Returns
Small Business
Accounting &
Consulting
Monica M. Vernon • Garth A. Vernon
St. Petersburg
424 22nd Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33704
Seminole
7700 Seminole Blvd, Ste 200, Seminole, FL 33772
(727) 393-1922 office • (727) 392-3266 fax
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Page 33
 Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association
Response to Joseph Miele Letter
Recently Joseph Miele, an Old Northeast homeowner, distrib-
uted a letter to other residents about the Local Historic District
petition drive. Some of the information presented in his letter was
inaccurate. A response to Mr. Miele’s points from The Historic
Old Northeast Neighborhood Association follows (please note that
Mr. Miele’s points are written just as he wrote them.)
1. We are already a National Historic District.
Response: Yes, we are a district which is listed in the Na-
tional Register of Historic Places. This does not afford preser-
vation protection, such as protection against teardowns, which
is left to local law and that is why we are pursuing Local His-
toric designation.
2. You are buying a “PIG in a POKE” !!! Sections 446 through
485 are “reserved”. This means that they may enact such other
regulations they have planned at a later date. There must be a
reason they won’t tell you what they are upfront. They are asking
for a ‘blank check.’
Response: Mr. Miele’s statement is incorrect. The City Or-
dinance (Article VIII) is not a “Pig in a
Poke” or a “blank check.” It has been on
the books since 1985. It spells out in detail
what it means to be a Local Historic Dis-
trict. As is common in government ordi-
nances, it provides for “reserved” sections
so that the code has room for expansion if
needed. These are found throughout St.
Petersburg’s Code of Ordinances and in
other City Codes throughout the United
States. Any change to this ordinance or any
other City ordinance requires public noti-
fication, meetings for public input, and an
open process providing for public comment prior to a vote by
City Council. To date no changes have been made to this ordi-
nance and none are planned.
3. Most of the provisions for maintenance of your property are
already controlled by other city boards.
Response: This is irrelevant. The Local Historic District
ordinance (Article VIII) does not address routine property
maintenance at all. It does require that buildings cannot be
deliberately run down to the point where they can “fall into a
state of disrepair” whereby demolition is the only solution.
4. The AD VALORUM tax break is already available to you as
a member of the NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT. You volun-
tarily apply for it.
Response: Yes, the ad valorem tax exemption has been avail-
able since we became a National Historic District in 2003. As
was pointed out in HONNA’s booklet “Local Historic District
– How Will It Affect Me?” this is a valuable tax exemption for
someone who plans to do a major renovation of a qualifying
property. The important point that should be understood is
that to take advantage of this exemption, the administrative
procedure is almost the same as the proposed Certificate of
Appropriateness process. Many of your neighbors have gone
through this process without incident.
5. Sec. 525-7 Empowers the committee to INITIATE PLANS
for YOUR property. Notice the absence of your consent.
Response: Mr. Miele’s statement is incorrect. There is no
Page 34 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Section 525-7. Local designation will not empower anyone to
“initiate plans” for your property. Section 525 describes how
Historic Landmarks and Local Historic Districts are desig-
nated. All of St. Petersburg’s neighborhoods have been sub-
ject to this provision since 1985. This is how the thematic
Granada Terrace Historic District was set up and is the same
process The Old Northeast is using to establish a Local His-
toric District. Incidentally, there are no “committees” men-
tioned in the entire ordinance. There is a Historic Preserva-
tion Commission appointed by the mayor and confirmed by
City Council. They have been fulfilling their duties for 20
years. To date, 97% of all projects in St. Petersburg’s two lo-
cal historic districts have been approved.
6. Sec 525(b) provides that repairs to your property may be
initiated by a petition signed by any resident of St. Petersburg,
any ORGANIZATION in St. Petersburg, or by the City itself.
WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT!!!
Response: Mr. Miele’s comments are simply untrue. Sec-
tion 525(b) lists the application requirement. It does not ad-
dress property repair at all. It does
say that individuals outside of The Old
Northeast can nominate local or the-
matic historic districts. Since 1987,
we’ve only had Granada Terrace and
the current Old Northeast campaign,
both initiated by local residents, not
outsiders. However, the most impor-
tant point is that we are already sub-
ject to the provisions of Section 525
which is the application process we are
using to create The Old Northeast Lo-
cal Historic District.
7.&8. Sec. 533 and 534 provide for PENALITIES !!! $50.00
per day violation. This goes on while you fight their determina-
tion that your property is in violation of their regulations.
Sec. 533 THE PROPERTY OWNER shall pay all administra-
tive expenses, ATTORNEY FEES and costs associated with such
action. These fees and costs could run into tens of thousands,
which you pay even if you win; and you have to pay your own
attorney fees.
Response: Mr. Miele’s statements are misleading. As with other
City Codes, there are penalties for violations. However, fines are
not imposed when the property is in process or in appeal. The pen-
alties referred to in sections 533 and 534 are for violations of the
COA and ad valorem tax exemption processes. Violations spe-
cifically address demolition or alterations without COA approval.
Without oversight and penalties, certain developers will continue
to threaten the character of our neighborhood.
Residents of The Historic Old Northeast
Please base your vote on the facts and not
misinformation. Take a look at the ordinance
(Chapter 16, Article VIII) yourself, and you be
the judge (www.stpete.org/ldr.htm).
You may use the ballot on the facing page.
Thank you.
 APPROVAL BY PROPERTY OWNERS
OF LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGNATION FOR
HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST
(NORTH SHORE HISTORIC DISTRICT)

We have read the historic district Local Landmark Designation Application for North
Shore Historic District (Historic Old Northeast Residential Neighborhood) dated June 10,
2003, to designate the area bounded by 5th Avenue North, 4th Street North, 30th Avenue
North, and Tampa Bay as a local historic district under St. Petersburg, Florida, City Code
Section 16-525.

_____ We are property owners within that area.

_____ We have read about and understand the COA process.
_____ We approve.
_____ We do not approve.

(Please check above, print clearly and sign your name below.)

Date: ________________________________________________________

Signature(s):___________________________________________________________

Printed Name(s):________________________________________________________

Property Address:________________________________________________________

Telephone:_______________________ Fax:__________________________

E-mail: _______________________________________________________

Please return this petition form to:

Robin L. Reed
705 16th Ave. NE
St. Petersburg, FL 33704
Tel (727) 825-0480
Email: rl.reed@verizon.net

Read about local historic district designation at:

Www.HistoricStPete.com

HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Page 35

 Next Neighborhood Meeting: Monday, June 19th, 7pm
All neighborhood residents invited
Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association PRSRT STD
P.O. Box 76324 U.S. POSTAGE PAID
ST. PETERSBURG FL
St. Petersburg, FL 33734 PERMIT #1020
www.honna.org

IN THIS ISSUE

• Adopt-a-Shore
• A Man’s Castle
• Are You Breathing?
• VOTE YES
Petition/Ballot
Plus Spoofers
and more

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Page 36 HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS