TIA Buys Parcels For Expansion

OFFICIALS GIVEN OK TO SEEK EMINENT DOMAIN

By TED JACKOVICS

The Tampa Tribune

TAMPA - The Drew Park neighborhood east of Tampa International Airport is undergoing major changes to make room to relocate the air cargo area there by 2010.

Airport officials spent $69.2 million to purchase 259 of 287 parcels they need for the expansion and said the four-lane, public Cargo Road extension between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Hillsborough Avenue will be completed by February 2010.

The main air cargo facility will be relocated along that roadway by April 2010.

By 2019, it is possible the airport post office will be relocated to a parcel of land along Cargo Road, about a block south of Hillsborough Avenue, officials said.

The land acquisition and facility relocation are part of the long-term expansion of the airport. The first phase of the new north passenger terminal is expected to be built by Oct. 1, 2015, on the site of the current air cargo area.

Although the airport has obtained more than 90 percent of the Drew Park parcels through voluntary negotiations with property owners, officials may consider eminent domain.

Owners of three parcels have been unwilling to sell property where Cargo Road would be located.

The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority on Thursday gave airport officials the authority to seek eminent domain.

The 1.3 mile Cargo Road extension requires eight property owners to relocate, Miller said.

The three owners who have not sold parcels are:

?Earnest Brady, with an unidentified business tenant at 4712 Hesperides St.

?Chris Goslin, with business tenant Chem-Sat at 4606 W. Crest Ave.

?Fred Streicher, with business tenant 57 Industries at 4510 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

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