Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association Home Tour

OSHNA held its 12th annual home tour yesterday and featured 8 structures--7 homes and the newly rennovated Garden Center. 

Guests met at the high school and were bused around the neighborhood, focusing on the West side of I-275 this year, with most of the homes West of Florida Avenue near Henry and Ola park.

House number one, where I was positioned to greet guests, is in the middle of a full restoration. People could see a home that needed a large amount of maintenance being brought back to its former beauty.  The homeowner, Robert, was there to explain in detail what he was doing and answer questions.  Once the home is completed, Robert will be moving in; this is not a "flip" home.  Robert even provided Starbucks coffee, bagels, and cookies to everyone that showed up. 

I wasn't able to see the Garden Center myself as I was busy at Robert's future home, but OSHNA's guests were able to tour one of the neighborhood's most recognized structures after its recent 1.2 million dollar historic rennovation--one day before its grand opening to the public.  Not only was the building rennovated but so were the grounds, with a new rose garden, parking, and art display.  The neighborhood association used to hold board meetings in the Garden Center for years prior to the start of construction.  If you've never been inside before, it is like night and day. The space is bright and airy with all the massive windows restored to their original size and glory.  Do not be surprised if OSHNA starts to hold some of our special events in this great building.

On the pre-tour, I was able to see 6 of the 8 buildings.  Each of them is unique in its own way, which is one of the things that is drawing folks out of the suburbs and into the older neighborhoods. (The "urbs"?) OSHNA board member Kacy Curry's home looked like it must have back in the 1920s with period Stickly furniture and dark-stained woodwork.  One of the homes was featured in the Tampa Tribune last week.  The owner had become a regular customer of Habitat for Humanity and used many recycled items in her home, including the entire set of kitchen cabinets.  The leaded glass windows on the front porch are unusual for our area and were carefully restored. Closer to Sligh was a home with a modest exterior but the inside was amazing, including some wonderful plasterwork on the ceilings.

As we drove around on the pre-tour, we noticed the soccer fields at Henry and Ola park.  There are three sets of goal posts there, one of which was clearly rusted beyond repair and currently unusable.  OSHNA is going to be donating some of the Home Tour procedes to replacing these goal posts.  I will be starting up a drive to raise additional funds to make sure we can purchase three new sets of them.  Not only do our neighborhood children use these fields, but kids in the city's soccer program from all of Tampa use them.  As the park is the same area as the majority of homes on the tour, it is only fitting that we give back in that area.

Sadly, it rained heavily in the morning when most people were deciding whether or not to go. While the rain was light most of the day, I believe the early morning downpour was responsible for reduced turnout this year.  We had roughly 500 participants this year where we normally get close to 1000.  To everyone that braved the rain to tour our neighborhood and support our association and the work it does, thank you!  Your kind comments and obvious pleasure in the homes kept us going all day long.  I can assure you that your donation to our association will be spent to improve the quality of life in the greater Seminole Heights area.

[If you are interested in helping with the Soccer field project, please get in contact with me.]