On the Street - June 25

Hugo's Spanish Restaurant was mentioned in a new issue of Playboy magazine as one of the best places in America for a Sandwich. This South Howard Ave (SOHO) eatery has lots of tasty dishes including breakfast, hamburgers, AND their Famous Cuban Sandwich. Bern’s Steakhouse was previously listed in Playboy as well. SOHO is indeed a happening place !

And speaking of Bern’s. The very, very long awaited Bern Laxer Park is finally well under construction. The placement of a sculpture with dancing ladies in the center of a fountain is the main part of work underway at this time. Benches, landscaping, and more may be delayed further as additional funding is found. This park is in front of Ceviche and Bella’s.

The parking problem gets a summer reprieve. The amount of tickets being handed out in the SOHO area now that the Residential Parking Permits have been enacted have been extensive. However, we have heard of people in driveways getting tickets too. Summer is always slower in SOHO and the Recession/Depression of 2009 is making it slower than normal decreasing the demand for parking spaces. Several businesses have been severely impacted. BUT the real fear is when the summer ends and the crowds return.

SOHO Scooter is No More ! Finally, after years of neglect, the former gas station at Azeele and Howard was renovated, the fence removed, and it started to look much better. Tom Anderson gave it a good try to operate a scooter rental, sales, and service shop, but the economy just wasn’t ready to support it. We hope whatever comes into this space maintains the cool and improved look that he started. The block is leased to Tommy Ortiz of Cheap, the Kennedy, and more.

Red House, Po Boys, Corner Bar is still on hold. The interior has been gutted but the work seems to have totally stopped. Calls to Hank Brown of the JT Swann Group (property owner) and to Enrique de Jesus of the managing Wet Group went unanswered. We had previously been told it would be finished in time for Gasparilla 2009, then assured it would be in June 2009, so much for best plans.

SOHO Gateway still moving forward. The expanded and much more dramatic interstate exits and entrances at Howard and Armenia should be getting your attention. The traffic plans are to make the access more capable of handling great traffic capacity. The planned renovation of the Ft. Homer Hesterly Armory is still moving ahead, however, more slowly than had been hoped for. The replacement facility for the National Guard being built in Pinellas County is nearing completion. The original hopes had been for this renovations to being late this Summer, but it is more likely in 2010 now. This renovation will include a mid rise hotel, day spa, festival marketplace, museum, and a lot more. The Armory is located on approximately 10 acres between Howard and Armenia between the Interstate and Kennedy Blvd.

For one of the first times in years, many of the South Howard Businesses are actually working together. The SOHO Beach Party will have over 20 businesses participating in a Sunday, July 5 all day event. 15 tons of sand are being brought in for the construction of a sand sculpture by International Sand Sculpture Champions – Sanding Ovations. The event features a cornhole tournament, sexy legs contest, bikini contest, tropical shirt contest and more. Cost to attend is $20 advance and $25 the day of the event. Get tickets and details at www.SOHOBeachParty.com