Former New Tampa Sweetbay A Hotspot For Semi Trucks

By Matt Wiley

For more than two years, the former New Tampa Sweetbay supermarket (located off Bruce B. Downs [BBD] Blvd. next to Home Depot), has been sitting vacant. Yet, most days, it’s not uncommon to see the parking lot full of vehicles. However, these are not the cars and SUVs of suburban grocery shoppers, but semi tractor trailers, utilizing the open parking lot as a place to take a break from the road.

During the past several months, the Neighborhood News has received numerous complaints from readers, who have pointed out not only the number of trucks that frequent the parking lot on a daily basis, but also about the presence of garbage illegally dumped on the site since it was vacated in February of 2013.

Currently, the 48,000-sq.-ft. grocery space is listed as available for lease with the Atlanta, GA-based The Shopping Center Group, although a price for the space was not available and calls to the group’s two leasing agents were not returned before we went to press with this issue. In addition, the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser’s website lists the owner as Lynn Kirk of KNK Tampa, LTD, but Kirk claimed to this reporter that she doesn’t actually own the building or the land on which it sits. 

City of Tampa Neighborhood Empowerment (Code Enforcement) district supervisor Mike Peterson says that, unfortunately, it’s common for vacant commercial properties to be used this way. In fact, he says, the current site of Lifepoint Church (located just more than a mile north on BBD) was host to similar issues after the Winn-Dixie supermarket vacated the property (before Lifepoint opened). Trucks also have been reported parking at the Muvico Starlight 20 movie theater off Highwoods Preserve Pkwy. in the past, he says.

“(Those properties) had the same problem with semi trucks,” Peterson says. “The drivers think it’s okay. We have to tell them that it’s not.”

Peterson says that his department hasn’t received any complaints about the Sweetbay property, but that he was going to send a code enforcement inspector to take a look after we interviewed him to address the issue with any drivers parked at the site. Usually, Peterson says, his department will call the property owner and let them know about what’s been reported on their property, since many times the owners are based out of state and may not be aware of the problem.

“We try to open a dialogue,” Peterson says. “But, if the issue isn’t fixed, we issue notices and citations.”

In these cases, Peterson says, inspectors go out to the site and take photos of the vehicles parked there, which then are sent to the city’s Land Use department to determine any violations.

We did a little digging in the City of Tampa’s Code of Ordinances and found several that potentially are being violated at the New Tampa Sweetbay property:

•Sec. 15.41 (h) – It is unlawful for an operator of a vehicle to stop, stand or park such vehicle in a space not designated or designed for its size. Standard cars are considered to be vehicles Class 9 or larger, as defined in accordance with the current domestic and imported passenger car size classifications.

•Sec. 15-42. – Any vehicle stopped, standing or parked in or alongside a parking space as designated pursuant to this chapter shall park within the lines or markings designating such parking space. It is unlawful to park any vehicle in any such way that the same shall not be within the area so designated by such lines, markings, or sign post that corresponds with the parking space. The front bumper of the vehicle must be even with the lines, markings, or sign post that corresponds with the parking space or in close proximity thereto without parking beyond the established post or sign.

•Sec. 15-46. – No truck, tractor truck or trailer shall occupy more than one (1) parking space where designated, except while loading or unloading and while all meters used have been properly activated and/or when proper parking permits have been obtained and except in cases of emergency.

•Sec. 19-51. – Any motorized vehicles including, but not limited to, cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles, minibikes, all-terrain vehicles or boats which by quantity, placement or visibility would in any way constitute a public nuisance as defined in this chapter shall be considered to be a violation of this Code and subject to penalties as set forth in this chapter.

•Sec. 26-148. – It is unlawful for any person to do any of the following:

(1) To place or cause to be placed any solid waste upon the property of another without (the property owner’s) consent.

•Sec. 26-149. – No person shall place or accumulate or cause to be placed or accumulated any solid waste in or upon any premises or lot owned by him or in his control nor shall any person place, accumulate or cause to be placed or accumulated any solid waste in or upon the premises of another or any public street, sidewalk, right-of-way or other public place or any pond, stream, ditch or body of water, except as provided in this article.

If you’ve witnessed any illegal dumping at this (or any site in the city limits) or if you don’t appreciate the sight of the numerous tractor trailers parked there, give the City of Tampa Code Enforcement department a call at 277-5545.