When Stacey Pryor heard about a developers plans to develop a piece of land near her home on Rocky Point, she couldn’t believe it.
“So what do I think about it? I think it’s absurd,” said Pryor. “I was absolutely shocked. I didn’t think you could do that. I really didn’t think the waterway was for sale.”
That’s right, the piece of property in question is in fact, water. An out of state developer purchased the tax deed to the land under three acres of lagoon that borders North Rocky Point Drive West in Tampa.
He’s proposed dredging the area to build it up so he can develop the land and put up townhomes.
Rocky Point Harbor Basin LLC is the developer and David Dickey is listed as the property owner. The number listed rings to a voicemail that is not accepting messages.
State Senator Dana Young attended a meeting on Tuesday night where residents voiced their concerns.
They plan to attend a city council meeting on Thursday to let elected officials know they are not supporting the plan.
Neither does Young.
“The idea that you could have a developer from New York come in and want to fill in a water body that is home to manatees and dolphins… that would get anybody upset. And the precedent is very concerning,” said Young, who pointed out the same developer acquired similar properties in Hillsborough County in a similar fashion.
“They own tax deeds in several other areas in Hillsborough County, including right off of Bayshore Boulevard in South Tampa.”
The city council meeting to discuss the development proposal is scheduled to take place on Thursday at 5 p.m. at Tampa City Hall.
