This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More — Temple Terrace officials are considering turning an empty plot of land in a central part of town into a small performance space That is following a conversation on how to utilize the empty property next to newer apartments and shopping spaces on North 56th Street owner of Yong Tailor Shop across the street from the empty lot in Temple Terrace said she has been at her shop since 2016 and in just under 10 years has exponential growth in this area She is talking about the land across from her shop on North 56th Street where the city is considering what will happen with that grassy patch in front of it “It’s just a way to activate the space and bring people into the area,” said Alison Fernandez according to commercial real estate brokerage Florida ROI in potentially turning the space into upscale dining a pickleball facility or other types of shopping Fernandez was considering whether the space could be used for small music performances or festivals where it brings in people regularly for different events “It has to be balanced so that there’s also room to have the ancillary or the businesses and the restaurants and things,” Fernandez said she’s all for whatever happens across the street “I’m a grandmother and I want it every area to be more safe for anybody and everybody,” Kim said It is still in the early stages; the council voted to hold a workshop in the future to discuss potential ideas for this space The representatives from Florida ROI at that council meeting said they support turning this space into something like a small performance area or a park because they could sell smaller spaces that are adjacent to a potential park there rather than one larger space An official website of the United States government The Temple Terrace VA Clinic consolidates and expands Mental Health services and unique specialties like Women’s Center and Suicide Prevention into one location near Tampa VA’s Main Hospital Care for unhoused Veterans and the Psycho-social Rehabilitation and Recovery Center Select a service on this page to check the hours Contact Phone number: 813 631-7100 Onsite parking lot and shuttle available from Main Hospital campus Mental Health Outpatient Services and Domiciliary Our medical center and clinics provide consultation and treatment for a range of issues that may impact your mental health or emotional well-being Our confidential outpatient services include individual and group therapy for: Learn more and connect with a care coordinator A handful of residents showed up to voice their frustrations, worried that adding hundreds of apartments on the 20-acre site — just north of the Kiran C. Patel High and Terrace Community Middle school campus — would exacerbate already existing traffic issues on Raulerson Ranch Road, which runs alongside Interstate 275 and has one way in and one way out. Despite the concerns, the council unanimously approved the amendment, paving the way for the next steps in the development, the rezoning and site plan discussions. The proposed apartment complex isn’t within Temple Terrace’s city limits, but they are just west of I-275 and technically within the city’s jurisdiction. The team from Patel’s development group, Terrace Real Estate Holdings LLC, attempted to address many of the concerns raised by residents like Martha Moore and Catherine Benitez. Moore, who said she was a 50-year resident of the nearby Navajo Avenue neighborhood, complained that the school traffic already backs up all the way to U.S. 301 and then to Jefferson Road twice a day, while Benitez added that trying to leave for work every morning is a stressful ordeal. “You get anxiety every single morning trying to get to work because of these people on this road,” Benitez said. Because the Florida Department of Transportation did not allow a cutout at the northern end of Raulerson Ranch Road, which it owns, to Fowler Avenue, the road has no other outlet. This map shows the proposed site for a 360-unit apartment complex on Raulerson Ranch Road in Temple Terrace. [ City of Temple Terrace ]Ash Bagdy, part of Terrace Real Estate Holdings LLC — Patel’s development group — assured council members they are committed to mitigating traffic problems as the project moves through the next stages. “We are committed to working with the community, FDOT and the city to make sure the traffic issues are addressed appropriately,” Bagdy said. The team’s transportation engineer said a traffic study indicated that the apartments would generate about 140 additional trips during the peak morning and afternoon hours, and that the Raulerson Ranch Road and U.S. 301 intersections would function at an acceptable level. He added that the road was graded as a B, making it more than adequate for traffic. Subscribe to our free Stephinitely newsletter You’re all signed up!Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started. Council member Erik Kravets appeared more concerned that Terrace Real Estate Holdings was shortchanging the city, especially in light of it being only the third-highest of four bids when the property was put up for sale. When the city sold the land for $5.4 million in 2022, Patel’s group planned to build a college of trade and technology. The city passed on higher bids — $6.5 million from developers looking to build a warehouse/manufacturing facility, and $6 million from Cullinan Enterprises to build apartments at the same site. “Not speaking about legally right now, but morally, do you feel like now that you’re also going away from the original use that you proposed to the city — I remember everyone was very excited about it — that you owe Temple Terrace $1 million, morally speaking?” Kravets asked Bagdy. Bagdy pushed back, citing the development agreement, which included an alternate use provision that stated if the trade school venture was determined not to be economically viable, the agreement could be amended. “We spent quite a bit of money on the study,” Bagdy said. “It came back saying a technical college was not financially viable. Our heart was in education. But at some point we had to pivot, because it was not financially viable.” Kravets questioned the study’s findings. He confused Bagdy with Patel, who was not present, and hinted that the developers may have had an inkling about how things would turn out. “Dr. Patel, I think you’re a very sophisticated man, and I think that you’re underestimating what you knew when you made that offer, personally,” Kravets said, before repeating his earlier question about whether the group had a “moral responsibility toward Temple Terrace about the $1 million.” Bagdy said he would relay those concerns to Patel, but insisted his focus was doing right by Temple Terrace. “I think we want to do good, good for the city of Temple Terrace,” he said. “We’ve built beautiful schools there, you know. So we’re excited about the area, and want to do more.” COMMUNITY PARTNER That’s So Tampa has been the most trusted local resource for discovering All Things Good in Tampa Bay Following a unanimous City Council vote, the city expects to begin work soon on safety enhancements, including rubberized speed humps. Ridgedale is a popular north-south cut-through route for commuters, concerning some city residents due to the numerous facilities along the road. “But that’s not what makes that corridor unique,” said City Manager Carlos Baia. “What truly makes it unique is the fact that in a very small area, we have a cluster of very important public institutions, particularly with children.” Temple Terrace Elementary School, Corpus Christi Catholic School, the Ridgedale Sports Complex and the first fairway of the Temple Terrace Golf and Country Club at Woodmont Park are all near Ridgedale. Baia noted that many major outdoor events at Woodmont Park make the road a popular parking and crossing area. “There’s a lot of movement going back and forth,” he said. Temple Terrace city leaders say Ridgedale Road's straight design has led to faster driving speeds. [ Google ]The road’s straight design has led to faster driving speeds. The city has addressed this with traffic studies and countered dangers with targeted law enforcement, new flashing school zone beacons, updated signage and road striping. “But I think because we’re continuing to observe it, and we have resident concerns about that corridor, particularly with this unique circumstance of all these public institutions, that what we’ve come to consensus in the leadership team is we’d like to propose, and we’re ready to pull the trigger on this,” Baia said. Once Ridgedale crosses over Bullard Parkway, it becomes Sunnyside Road, where Baia’s team would like to install improved rubberized humps. The existing speed humps on Sunnyside are outdated. “They were an original sort of prototype, very low-profile,” he said. “They don’t really make much of a difference to most drivers.” Baia said the newer speed deterrents can be adjusted if needed, similar to those recently installed on Knight’s Branch Street in the Rolling Terrace community. The council agreed with Baia’s proposal, with only two concerns — restricting fire response times and vehicle wear, and diverging from current neighborhood rules. Fire Chief Ian Kemp told the city he is amenable to the new measures. Regarding rules for speed hump approval, Mayor Andy Ross expressed concern about diverging from existing protocol for neighborhood streets, which require a petition from more than half the neighborhood to trigger a traffic study to see if they are warranted. Ross, however, believes Ridgedale is different enough to warrant an aggressive approach, given facilities like the library and sports fields. His fellow commissioners agreed. “It’s not really a neighborhood street,” the mayor said. Council member Gil Schisler noted Ridgedale Road isn’t heavily populated with homes, and as long as neighbors are informed of the changes, it shouldn’t create issues. The implementation is expected in the next few weeks. looking north toward the Fountain Shoppes of Temple Terrace to the left and Waverly Apartments to the right and the City Council will also look into a potential active space on the property [ Courtesy of Loopnet ]By John C CoteyTampa Bay NewspapersPublished March 8|Updated March 10TEMPLE TERRACE — City officials are looking to schedule a workshop about the possibility of developing the vacant property at 8901 N into a gathering space that could host music or small festivals and attract people to the downtown area Council member Alison Fernandez suggested the idea during a Community Redevelopment Area meeting last month Whether the city would rather find a developer to take care of the parcel which is just south of the Fountain Shoppes of Temple Terrace The search for a developer for the property as well as for the former Steak and Ale site farther south at 8447 N The 8901 location is 1.75 acres and listed for $2 million while the 8447 parcel is 1.74 acres and listed for $1 million representatives Eric Odum and John Lochner of Florida ROI Commercial Brokerage said there has been some interest in the property “Higher interest rates than a year ago are having a dampening effect,” Odum told the council Odum also said some new issues have arisen primarily the specter of tariffs causing some developers and builders to pause “We’re expecting to see a chilling effect in the development world,” he said Construction costs continue to be high as well Odum said the number of developers that have looked at the properties is “well north of 100 There’s been a lot of activity on the site.” Most of that interest is for the 8901 location “The inquiries we’ve had run the gamut,” Lochner said a lot of these types of businesses are not compliant with the city’s CRA here Lochner said Florida ROI has been contacted by developers of a pickleball/upscale restaurant concept Another upscale restaurant developer has expressed interest a hotel developer and a multifamily developer it is highly unlikely the city would approve a hotel or more apartments on the site “We do have some parties that have taken it to the next step so we’re either in the process of vetting the developers or they’re submitting information to us,” said Lochner Lochner said a party has put together some preliminary site plans for a multiuse project that would include retail on the bottom floor and offices on the second level Odum said he didn’t see a correlation between the two things but added that could change once the construction at the park commences. “We’ll probably start seeing some uptick from the park, specifically when you start seeing some activity there,” Odum said. While the park project will be passive, Fernandez suggested that some of the 8901 property be used to create a more active central gathering space. She showed images of similar midsize venues in Jacksonville Beach, Hollywood Beach and Fort Myers that feature green space, a stage and even a splash pad or playground. Essentially, it would serve as a small concrete park and could host live music and small festivals. Fernandez thinks it would help make the entire area more vibrant, especially if more restaurants fill in nearby. “I don’t have a very rigid concept,” she said. “I just have an idea, and I don’t know exactly what the space itself can support.” The council has discussed such projects at the 8901 site before. Despite some financial implications, members agreed the idea was worth exploring further and voted to set up a workshop. Odum also gave his stamp of approval, saying it could help attract a quality developer to the site as well. “Great idea,” he said. “One of the challenges we’ve had is trying to get a non-spec building of basically 10,000 square feet there at that 8901 space. If you were to do a park there with a band shell, we have a better chance of getting, say, a 1,200- to 1,600-square-foot restaurant space that would want to have access to that park. It would make it much more marketable for us.” seemed to warm up the Temple Terrace City Council Although the plans were only 60% finished, council members liked the direction the project is heading. Here are four highlights from the presentation: When the public portion of the project kicked off earlier this year, Halff put out a survey for residents to complete, and 161 responded. Their message, in a nutshell, was that not many visited the park more than a couple of times a year, and a little more than 30% said they had never been. Maybe that will change with the plans for the new park. Of the 161 who replied, exercise and walking trails were the runaway choices for what they want to be able to use the park for. Water amenities — like the kayak launch and observation tower that are planned, and some fishing, too — came in second, with 57% listing something they would use. Playgrounds and gathering spaces, or picnic spaces, as well as open areas both clocked in in the 40% range. What gets people most excited about the new park, however, is the proposed boardwalk, which will wind from the park entrance to the river’s bank. According to a resident survey, the observation deck and boardwalk are two of the most anticipated amenities to be added to Riverside Park. [ City of Temple Terrace ]The survey asked residents to choose up to five preferred amenities, and the boardwalk was listed by 80% of respondents. The 20-foot observation tower was almost as popular, garnering 60% approval, and the open space and on-site parking were both chosen by more than half of survey takers, with restroom improvements right behind. Mayor Andy Ross and some council members were disappointed that the last presentation did not tie all the plans into the city’s pedestrian plan, which in turn would tie into the vibrant downtown area city officials yearn for, and Loretta made sure to do so this time. The Springdale Pond, which didn’t receive much of the attention back in January but sits between the downtown area and the park, was an important part of Loretta’s remarks. Questions remain about how much his firm can do with what is basically a retention pond due to the fact that it was previously permitted to mitigate for wetlands elsewhere “Originally it was designed and built to look kind of the way it does,” Loretta said Improvements around the Springdale Pond are expected to enhance the experience for pedestrians while serving as a connection between the downtown area and Riverside Park [ City of Temple Terrace ]However he said his engineers will attempt to beautify the retention pond creating a maintenance plan to remove any noxious weeds from the area and there will be entry plazas at the northwest and northeast corners The pond will be enhanced with an improved pedestrian walkway around it a handful of fitness stations and a short boardwalk Picnic areas that take advantage of the existing tree canopies are also planned “I understand that we can’t make it a water pond,” Ross said “But there are some rough nature ponds that that look pretty good that don’t look so overgrown and unkempt and so that’s something I’d like to explore.” which would include things like facts about the birds and other wetland species that are common in the area The much-anticipated kayak launch will be run off a floating dock platform said he recently met with a vendor to provide the equipment for the launch the company would install racks containing rental kayaks “The entire process is cellular and solar-powered,” Langefeld said There are no phone lines that need to run to it Riverside Park is expected to beautify the Hillsborough River banks at the southern area of Temple Terrace [ City of Temple Terrace ]The initial investment would cost the city around $30,000 and a revenue-sharing model would give the city 30% of rental proceeds Temple Terrace could also recoup some of its initial investment through sponsorships and it’s all through an app on a phone,” Langefeld said Canoes and paddleboards will also potentially be allowed to launch from the site although Loretta pointed out the unique challenges of the river environment One of the biggest concerns raised at the January meeting was the lack of restroom facilities at the park but the question remains: Should there be another restroom constructed as well Since the park is intended to be a neighborhood park and thus not produce an overwhelming number of people or serve as a destination it has been argued that one restroom is enough and only a short walk from anywhere in the park Ross sides with residents who feel otherwise “I do agree with some members of the public who voice concerns about the inadequacy of the restroom and I know that it’s only a three- or four-minute walk but I think there should be another small restroom structure built,” he said Ross said the current restrooms would be a “hike” for anyone using the fitness equipment or picnicking near the park’s entry but I think another one would be a good idea Council member James Chambers pointed out that an additional restroom could cost more than $100,000 That led to a conversation about the potential of rising costs and how that might affect the implementation of some park amenities Ross said it may be likely that some of the park’s amenities will need to be phased in but that will depend on the construction costs “I think it’s important to build what we need to build to get people to use this and activate the area even if we have to forgo something else,” Ross said Loretta said he expected to schedule a final council presentation or updated community meeting in the next few weeks He said construction plans could go out for bidding in the first quarter of 2026 A recording of the full presentation is available on YouTube. For more details on the project, visit templeterrace.gov. At a recent meeting, Temple Terrace officials reviewed plans to transform Riverside Park with eight in ten survey participants favoring a new boardwalk Halff Design Associates presented their vision on April 1 showcasing plans for a sun-powered boat dock a striking third have never stepped foot inside drawing interest from more than half the participants The planned boat dock will work without staff on site. "The entire process is cellular and solar powered," said Karl Langefeld, leisure services director, to the Tampa Beacon there's no power that needs to run to it." the city stands to earn a third of what renters pay Plans call for a tall lookout point rising 20 feet above ground visitors will find exercise spots and new paths linking downtown to green spaces Talk of restrooms sparked heated discussion among city leaders Mayor Andy Ross backed public calls for more facilities pointing out the long walk from new areas to current bathrooms Yet Council Member James Chambers warned new restrooms might cost six figures Workers should start breaking ground in early 2026 Ross pushed for full implementation: "I think it's important to build what we need to build even if we have to forego something else." and nature info boards round out the changes designers will show their complete vision to city leaders A new program is underway in the University and Temple Terrace communities to connect businesses and organizations The Temple Terrace Uptown Chamber of Commerce is starting the Leadership and Innovation program to strengthen the business community More than 200 organizations are already involved and the program isn't even fully underway With the growth of the University and Temple Terrace communities organizers feel having a platform to connect will help these businesses and organizations thrive "It'll amplify it because we're putting a broader light and brighter light on a lot of cool and innovative practices that are really being established and kind of coming right out of our backyard," explains Debbie Prescott President & CEO of the Temple Terrace Uptown Chamber of Commerce you bring these stakeholders into one room you can get a better understanding of the skill set that we have right here in our backyard and we can really do something to push this area forward To get involved or find out more information about the program,click here. and I feel like that's part of where the system failed" Henry Betsey Jr. is facing charges for marrying three Florida women in three different counties at the same time. Now saying the system that handles marriage licenses kept them in the dark Report a typo Charles Michael Zumbahlen, 31, was arrested Thursday on a charge of first-degree murder that resulted from illegal fentanyl distribution, records show. Zumbahlen is accused of selling fentanyl to Zachary A. Reed, 27, who was found dead on the morning of Nov. 25 in a home in Ybor Heights, records state. Tampa police responded to a home in the 1000 block of E. 32nd Avenue, where Reed was discovered dead in his bedroom, according to an arrest affidavit. Police found on a nearby desk a baggy containing a powdery substance that later tested positive for fentanyl and cocaine. Zumbahlen called Reed’s phone on Nov. 26 and a detective began texting Zumbahlen from Reed’s phone and arranged to buy $40 worth of drugs. Zumbahlen agreed to bring the drugs to the Ybor City taco restaurant where they worked. Temple Terrace police stopped Zumbahlen and found in his car two baggies of a white powdery substance that Zumbahlen said was fentanyl. Zumbahlen told police that he sells small amounts of drugs to support his own drug habit and sold to Reed a couple of times a week, the affidavit states. He said he last sold to Reed two days earlier and cell phone data showed Zumbahlen’s phone was at Reed’s house that day. The Hillsborough Medical Examiner determined last month that Reed died from fentanyl intoxication. Lab test results received by investigators a day later showed the substance found in Reed’s room matched the drugs Zumbahlen had in his car. Zumbahlen was being held Friday without bond in the Hillsborough County jail. He also faces a felony drug possession charge. Subscribe to our free News Alerts newsletter Tony Marrero is the criminal justice and breaking news reporter. Reach him at tmarrero@tampabay.com.