Grants could finance cleanups of contaminated properties LARGO – The City Commission has agreed to ask Pinellas County to designate the downtown and Clearwater-Largo Road redevelopment districts as “Brownfield” areas.
Brownfield designations could pave the way for the city to receive financial aid to determine, and clean up if necessary, any properties that might be contaminated, hampering their redevelopment.
Contaminated property could include former gas stations, vehicle service areas, dry cleaners, landfills and other industrial sites.
Commissioners noted there is one site, a former battery outlet in the city, that could immediately qualify for such a grant. They also might look into whether these funds could help the city address arsenic found in the city’s nature park on Highland Avenue.
Gerard launches ‘Mayor’s Tennis Tournament’ LARGO – Not a golfer, Mayor Pat Gerard has launched what she hopes will become an annual “Mayor’s Tennis Tournament” in addition to the annual Mayor’s Golf Tournament. The tennis tournament is scheduled for the tennis center at the Southwest Recreation Complex March 2 and 3. It will be a doubles’ tournament with men’s, women’s and mixed doubles. Signups are available at the complex. Sponsors also are being sought to pay for the trophies to be awarded.
Sparks fly in apartment complex LARGO – Fire Chief Mike Wallace said a high voltage electrical short-circuit caused sparks to shoot out from electrical outlets, arc from an electrical panel and overheat clothing dryers in the Belleair Forest Condominiums on Jan. 20. Wallace said 24 residents were left homeless overnight after all electricity to the building was turned off so repairs could be made. Emergency housing was provided by the Red Cross. No one was injured in the incident, Wallace said.
Historic advisory committee moving ahead LARGO – Steps to create an advisory committee on historic sites in Largo have been mapped out while the city staff continues watching action by Pinellas County’s Historic Preservation Task Force. In November, the City Commission voted to create its own committee of local experts to advise the city on historic sites. Also, commissioners voiced worry over county plans that might overlook some when it identifies historic sites in Largo.
Some possibly historic sites have already been lost to redevelopment over the past 15 years, according to a staff report. Community Development Director Carol Stricklin said the formation of an historic advisory committee would be reviewed at this month’s meeting of the city’s Community Development Advisory Board and, if approved, its creation would be considered again by the commission in March.
