Downtown Largo's new centerpiece finally arrives
LARGO—After years of delays, cost overruns and occasional teeth-gnashing by city leaders, Largo finally has opened the doors to its long-awaited new city hall at Horizon West Bay.
Carlos Moncada
A versatile journalist with more than 20 years in the field, specializing in government and politics as well as breaking news, features and profiles and investigative stories.
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Belleair Shore petition seeks to erase key coastal boundary
BELLEAIR SHORE — A petition drive to do away with a key coastal boundary could alter where the public can walk along the mile-long stretch of shoreline here.
Belleair Beach meeting gets 'out of hand'
BELLEAIR BEACH — A meeting on a proposed beach access agreement with Belleair Shore was cut short after devolving into heated exchanges between city council members and residents.
Sunshine law worries surface at Redington Shores meeting
REDINGTOIN SHORES — Commissioner CJ Hoyt said colleagues discussed a pending matter outside a public
meeting, potentially violating state law.
meeting, potentially violating state law.
Pinellas, Army Corps nearing deal on beach renourishment
REDINGTON SHORES — County officials say the Corps may now be willing to move forward with future renourishment projects without requiring permanent public access easements from beachfront property owners.
Under protest, Largo approves 500K City Hall change order
LARGO — The change order that came before commissioners March 3 covers work that failed final building or life-safety inspections at Horizon West Bay, Largo's centerpiece mixed-use anchor and hoped-for downtown revitalization catalyst.
Epstein Files Reveal Ties to Pinellas County
Pinellas County is mentioned dozens of times in U.S.
Department of Justice files related to the convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Department of Justice files related to the convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Consultant: Use TAD for Buford Highway revitalization
BROOKHAVEN, Ga. — An economic development consultant is urging the City of Brookhaven to partner with DeKalb County to establish a special tax district aimed at revitalizing Buford Highway.At a Jan. 27 City Council work session, Geoff Koski, president of KB Advisory Group, said that Decide DeKalb, the county’s economic development arm, could sponsor a special tax district to harvest revenue for revitalization.The tax allo...
Largo sticks with Duke Energy, for now
LARGO — City commissioners have opted, at least for now, to continue with a controversial clean energy program that has fallen short of initial expectations.
State Targets Largo Man for Speaking Out
LARGO—As a dog barked and a child cried inside, O’Gara was questioned about a postcard he had sent
Florida’s chief financial officer in which he simply wrote, “You lack values.”
Florida’s chief financial officer in which he simply wrote, “You lack values.”
Largo seeks to borrow $26 million for injection wells
LARGO — The funds would finance construction of two
deep injection wells that would send excess
wastewater, or effluent, 1,200 feet below the
surface.
deep injection wells that would send excess
wastewater, or effluent, 1,200 feet below the
surface.
A Loss of Beach Access?
BELLEAIR BEACH—This small
coastal community could
lose one of its public beach
access points, and city leaders fear
that might shut them out of future
beach renourishment projects.
coastal community could
lose one of its public beach
access points, and city leaders fear
that might shut them out of future
beach renourishment projects.
A Fine Mess in Madeira Beach
MADEIRA BEACH — A homeowner must pay a hefty penalty for an outdoor kitchen he later demolished — along with his house.
Largo votes to leave property tax rate unchanged
LARGO—For the fourth straight year,
city commissioners have decided to
keep Largo’s property tax rate where
it is, although most property owners are expected
to see slightly higher taxes anyway.
city commissioners have decided to
keep Largo’s property tax rate where
it is, although most property owners are expected
to see slightly higher taxes anyway.
Largo hires broker to help sell City Hall site
LARGO — With a new municipal building set to open later this year, city leaders have approved spending up to $279,000 in taxpayer money for hiring a real estate broker to help them sell the current city hall site — despite questions about whether the company can deliver.
Beach renourishment plan gets public airing
TREASURE ISLAND — A mostly supportive crowd of more than 50 people turned out July 9 to hear details of Pinellas County’s massive project to rebuild severely eroded beaches along most of its coastline.
Belleair Shore wants unattanded beach holes filled
BELLEAIR SHORE — Digging holes in the sand is a common summer pastime, but this tiny coastal town wants to make sure you fill them back in when you leave.
Pinellas approves $125.7-million beach renourishment project
CLEARWATER—Unable to
secure federal help to
restore its hurricane-battered
beaches, Pinellas County plans
to move ahead with the critical
$125.7-million project on its own.
secure federal help to
restore its hurricane-battered
beaches, Pinellas County plans
to move ahead with the critical
$125.7-million project on its own.
Largo moves closer to deep well injection
LARGO—City officials are moving
closer to making treated
sewage disappear by pumping
it deep beneath our feet.
closer to making treated
sewage disappear by pumping
it deep beneath our feet.
Largo to ban vaping in playgrounds, athletic fields
LARGO—The city could soon ban vaping in portions of public parks where smoking is already prohibited.
Indian Rocks Beach chooses new city attorney
INDIAN ROCKS BEACH — Moving
quickly to fill a critical vacancy,
the City Commission has hired a
new city attorney, choosing a Tampa
law firm whose ranks include the
former mayors of St. Petersburg and
Tampa.
quickly to fill a critical vacancy,
the City Commission has hired a
new city attorney, choosing a Tampa
law firm whose ranks include the
former mayors of St. Petersburg and
Tampa.
Neighbor suit over short-term rental flap dismissed
SEMINOLE— A judge has dismissed a lawsuit that a short-term rental operator and his wife filed against
a next-door neighbor for allegedly invading their privacy.
a next-door neighbor for allegedly invading their privacy.
Largo Official Apologizes for Social Media Post
LARGO—In a stunning and emotion-filled admission, a longtime
elected official publicly apologized
for a posting on his social media account that he later conceded could have
endangered city police officers.
elected official publicly apologized
for a posting on his social media account that he later conceded could have
endangered city police officers.
Largo removes look-back period to help storm victims
LARGO — City officials have approved an ordinance change that will help some residents with repairing homes damaged by last year’s hurricanes.
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Last Grand Hotel To Be Razed?
Preservationists and elected leaders are troubled by the idea of losing what has been called the world's largest occupied wooden structure.
Hotel to be razed? (jump)
Possible razing of Biltmore sparks outcry in community
Many in the Tampa Bay area are sentimental about the architecturally inspiring, 107-year-old landmark whose days may be numbered.
Biltmore resort (jump)
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Lost In Transition
One by one, the mom-and-pop motels with neon signs and plastic flamingos, vintage beach cottages and small seaside shops that for decades beckoned budget-minded families and tourists to Pinellas County beaches are closing their doors.
Lost in transition (jump 1)
Lost in transition (jump 2)
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