The revitalization of Florida Avenue is an ongoing process and is close to the hearts of many Seminole Heights residents. Now, a corporate retail giant which appears to be moving into the neighborhood has those hearts racing with discontent.
Five hundred sixty four people thus far have liked the No Seminole Heights Facebook page and a website has been created solely for the purpose of educating and informing local residents on the progress of the fight to keep the chain "box store" out of a neighborhood many want to see continue its historic restoration.
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The Official Unoffical Seminole Heights blog page is currently flooded with comments on the issue, some outraged by the lack of local flavor a Family Dollar will bring to the neighborhood, others unable to comprehend what the issue is.
"I know we all like to think we are so important, but is the property zoned for the Dollar store? If it is we don’t have anything to say about it! Also on the plus side it will create some employment in the neighborhood," one commenter said.
Another user named Woodrow Smits weighed in with this: "Family Dollar will be a great addition to the neighborhood. They offer a wide variety of products at reasonable prices, which is just what people living in depressed neighborhoods need during these tough economic times."
But the majority of residents giving serious attention to the issue are not at all pleased by the prospect of the property at 5100 North Florida Avenue (big white building between Cappy's and The Independent) becoming a chain retailer of goods often made outside of the United States.
"There are 4 of these less than two miles away from here. This is a major step back for Seminole Heights, and all the homeowners adjacent to this. Absolutely horrible. A slap in the face, and discouraging to those that are actually investing in the area," one comment said.
A post on the Facebook page cites facts about Family Dollar jobs, the effect the retailer has on commercial property and local home values and most importantly, the downside of not sticking with locally owned mom and pop shops. Some simply point to the fact that poorly maintained Family Dollar locations already exist in the area and they don't understand the need for another store.
A Tampa Bay Times article outlined a meeting that took place last Sunday at The Refinery in which local residents voiced their concerns and created ways to get organized for a movement against Family Dollar. The article notes racial and socio-economic tension in the discussion, although many in attendance felt that view was skewed.
A comment on the Seminole Heights blog site confirmed that some may be taking it that way, however.
"You can’t stop a business just because it doesn’t your socio-economic ideal. There is not a legal leg to stand on," the comment read.
Whether it's a fear of low quality foreign made merchandise being pumped out of a storefront that doesn't fit the character of the neighborhood and is likely to be slovenly kept or a general concern for the business structure of Seminole Heights, the movement against Family Dollar continues to pick up steam.
. This page include links to other Seminole Heights Patch articles, various local news reports, community links as well as coverage from other cities that have fought Family Dollar.
We want to know what you think. Is another Family Dollar store at the 5100 North Florida Avenue location bad for Seminole Heights? Tell us in the comments section below.
More links:
Latest Seminole Heights Patch coverage:
- Blog Post:
Other local news coverage:
- Times: Tampa neighborhood wants to block Family Dollar from opening
- ABC Action News: Family Dollar store not welcome in increasingly lively Seminole Heights
- TBO.com: Family Dollar plan upsets some Seminole Heights residents
- WTSP: Seminole Heights residents try to block Family Dollar store from opening
- Bay News 9: Big box vs. mom and pop: Evictions handed out, Family Dollar moving in
Family Dollar news from around the country:
If you're looking to get involved in the 'No Family Dollar Movement,' Seminole Heights Patch has compliled the following info:
Websites:
- Join: Seminole Heights Residents for Equality and Discourse Facebook Page
- Join: No Family Dollar Facebook Page
- Check out the website,NoFamillyDollar.com
Yard signs:
You can pick up 'No Family Dollar' yard signs at the following local businesses, according to NoFamilyDollar.com:
- , 4906 North Florida Avenue
- , 5207 North Florida Avenue
- , 6112 North Central Avenue
Publix may be a chain but they are regionally based and donate to many, many community events - I've yet to run in a FD 5K sponsored race or take my kids to a park that FD employees helped rejuvenate . Publix also provides the option for benefits, stock and the ability to rise through the company for a career - haven't seen that opportunity discussed in many, many article written on the web regarding FD.
And again, anonymous posters have no credibility. Have the courage to express your convictions or keep them to yourself.
https://www.facebook.com/BoycottFamilyDollar
The other issues were added later. Remember the meeting? "Is it the aesthetics? Yes! Is It the people? Yes!" By the by, my wife is painting our bedroom and sent me out for 2 venetian blinds. I went to Family Dollar as that is where we buy them. Upon checkout, the clerk abruptly looked at the screen and said, "Wait a minute" and called the manager to come up. It seems that the register charged $8.50 each and the clerk thought that they were $5.50, which they are. The manager, who arrived quickly, agreed. Wow1 What excellent customer service. I didn't have a chance to point ti out, the employee, probably a neighbor, was right on it. We laughed about it and funnily enough, I left my reading glasses on my forehead, misread the screen, and accidently canceled the transaction! I made a joke about how i should wear my glasses right or don't wear them. The neighbor behind me in line, gave me a look, pointed at her glasses and said, "We're all getting old". Me, the clerk, the manager and the other 2 customers all laughed. What a nice experience in our neighborhood.
boycott fox news boycott walmart boycott apple boycott starbucks forever boycott mcdonalds boycott chic-fil-a boycott home depot boycott disney would you like some more?
But in my latest observations, the green building on the corner of Osborne and Florida, which houses Tampa Street Market, is seriously in need of some scraping and painting, unless all that chipping paint on the Florida facing exterior is considered part of their "character". Same goes for the building that Microgroove and that auto repair shop attached is in - can you tell me that it isn't also in need of some exterior attention? Even the No-Tell Motel on the west side of the street is better attended to than some of the other buildings it surrounds. After my tour up the street, I asked myself this question - "If I were to open a small business, would any of these buildings appeal to me?" My answer was "no". While I am not sold on another FD popping up, I can't help but play "devil's advocate" here and say, "shame on you who do not keep up with your commercial properties." How can you go and critique FD's when your own businesses do not have the appeal to attract customers. The businesses in the white building had plenty opportunity to spruce up the property, even if the landlord wasn't going to step up to do it. Like Shawn, I too thought it vacant. Look at Yesterdaze - Sherry leases that property. Her landlord did not paint the outside of her building, she did. She could have stuck to a monotone, milquetoast beige, but she took the initiative (and expense) to make her business stand out in a very funky, attractive way.
Relax- that's called sarcasm.
Frequent commenter Doug Carter penned an open letter to the 'No Family Dollar' movement in a blog post: http://patch.com/B-ckS2 Also, I added some new links from Patch and other local media to our "Family Dollar Issue: Complete Coverage" page: http://patch.com/A-wG3H Lastly, We welcome all types of local voices to use our blogging platform as a way contribute to the conversation in Seminole Heights (not just about Family Dollar). If you would like to have your own blog on Patch, you can get started here: http://seminoleheights.patch.com/blog/apply
Because people in the neighborhood have no influence over Family Dollar's hiring and compensation policies. The store might be persuaded to change its facade, but it won't hire people full-time. It won't pay more than minimum wage. It won't provide insurance. And all the "working with" in the world won't change that.
Well ... no. I've been a member of boards far more contentious than this one for a very long time (all the way back to Usenet before the Great Renaming) and one thing has always proven true: It's not the people who make logical points who get all the replies; it's the trolls. It's the people who are rude and disagreeable, often deliberately trying to anger other people for attention, who, indeed, get that attention. It's true on every board I've ever been on, and will no doubt remain true as long as human nature remains human nature. So don't flatter yourself by thinking people are reacting to you because you are right, or even logical. They're reacting as they are because you're rude.
You expect the NFD brigade to stop the sale, I'd think that it would be easier to persuade them to work with such a large group of consumers. I wasn't aware that the local businesses were providing lots of high wage, fulltime positions with health insurance. I regret my error. (That's sarcasm. I used it to point out your poor logic.).
Good thing you used an alias! I presume that you mean 'tout de suite' as there is no "toot suite". Toot sweet is an accepted Anglicization of tout de suite, unlike "distory" which isn't anything. Some friendly advice: if you aren't certain when you criticize, don't hit submit. (Unless, of course, you don't mind the proverbial egg on your face). I wait to hear how you respond