TAMPA (WFLA) – Plans to open a 24/7 7-Eleven gas station and convenience store have a Tampa subdivision fighting back.
The 7-Eleven would be built in an empty lot that backs up the Canterbury Lakes subdivision, at the corner of 78th Street and Camden Field Pkwy.
It would require opening up a quiet, dead-end street within the subdivision, a notion that leaves homeowners feeling very uneasy.
“I felt very violated,” said Carrie Ramos, who moved into the house next to the empty lot about a year and a half ago. “I understand that we don’t own that piece of land, but it is in our backyard that’s connected to us.”
Ramos and neighbors say the convenience store would bring a slew of inconveniences to the neighborhood, like traffic, light, and noise pollution, not to mention a hit to their property values.
“We’ve done our research,” Ramos said. “Gas stations and convenience stores that are open 24/7 in this area within a two mile radius all have drug crime and violent crime in the double digits.”
The HOA is petitioning the county and will lawyer up, if needed…whatever it takes to keep the 7-Eleven away from their little slice of heaven.
“It’s heartbreaking to think that it’s going to change,” Ramos said. “It’s going to change drastically.”
The neighborhood says it needs 90% of the affected residents’ signatures, roughly 200, to present it to the county. As of Monday night, it reached 170.