Save Rattlesnake Key, a slice of old Florida | Editorial
Making solar affordable. It’s about to get easier for Floridians to take advantage of living in the Sunshine State. The federal government awarded $156 million to a group of Florida nonprofits to help make rooftop solar accessible for lower- and middle-income households. The application process should be open later this year, and how much individual households could qualify for will depend on income. But the program, announced this week, is a major boost for consumers and clean energy. Eligible participants could get grants or subsidies to help pay for solar panels or low-cost financing, as the Tampa Bay Times reported this week; about 10,000 households could benefit. The nonprofits deserve credit for stepping up after learning Florida was one of only a handful of state governments that did not apply. (Big surprise.) Those interested in learning more about the program can enter their information on this webpage to receive updates.
WestShore Plaza’s future. There is no shortage of memories from WestShore Plaza. The South Tampa mall, around since the 1960s, has been the place where residents shopped for Christmas, dined for Mother’s Day or rented a tux for prom. But now the Tampa City Council has unanimously approved a redevelopment plan from the mall’s owners, Ohio-based Washington Prime Group. The project calls for tearing down the mall (Macy’s will remain) and replacing it with a massive new district of shops, apartments, offices, medical facilities and more. The new mixed-use development will span the entire 52-acre property and include a hotel, restaurant and recreational space. This is a good use of the property and a promising new chapter for the Westshore business district, whose proximity to Tampa International Airport, the interstate and the Howard Frankland Bridge are making this a hot place to live, work and play.
Save Rattlesnake Key. A resort, marina, high-end homes — the bad ideas are almost endless for the collection of islands around Rattlesnake Key near the Sunshine Skyway bridge. The 671-acre island, located where Terra Ceia Bay and Tampa Bay meet, is for sale in a $75 million package deal that includes a nearby collection of smaller islands and a neighboring mainland property. In total, it’s 1,000 undeveloped acres of mostly wetlands, with about 200 acres of developable property. While the properties are available piecemeal, the entire collection should be preserved. The state budgeted $23 million to purchase Rattlesnake Key in 2022, with Manatee County offering an additional $3 million, but the owners say the state’s appraisal came in way too low. And the clock is ticking for the state to spend the money. State and local officials need to redouble their efforts to purchase this rich habitat, a disappearing slice of old Florida.
Editorials are the institutional voice of the Tampa Bay Times. The members of the Editorial Board are Editor of Editorials Graham Brink, Sherri Day, Sebastian Dortch, John Hill, Jim Verhulst and Chairman and CEO Conan Gallaty. Follow @TBTimes_Opinion on Twitter for more opinion news.
