Ybor's Seventh Avenue named one of 10 Great Streets

TAMPA -- Home to nightclubs, restaurants, storefronts and offices with historic facades, Ybor City's Seventh Avenue has been named one of the nation's greatest streets by the American Planning Association.

Seventh Avenue was one of 10 streets honored today by the organization, which set criteria that included architectural features, accessibility, functionality and community involvement.

Tony LaColla, president of the Historic Ybor Neighborhood Civic Association, said it took three weeks to prepare the application, which included interviews with longtime residents who can recount the history of the former cigarmaking capital of the world as well as business leaders discussing the street's future. The award is for Seventh Avenue from 26th Street to Nick Nuccio Parkway.

The street originated 1885, when Spanish, Cuban, Italian, African, German, Jewish and other immigrants worked in the more than 150 cigar factories in the Ybor area. Seventh Avenue was a gathering place for different communities.

"It's a recognition of its past," LaColla said. "I think it deserves the award because of how rich the history of the area is."

The president of the 78-year-old Ybor Chamber of Commerce gave credit to LaColla. "Having a certified planner like Tony prepare the application gave us the upper hand," said Tom Keating.

Keating said the honor in one of Florida's two active National Historic Landmark Districts will likely bring more tourism to Seventh Avenue's brick streets.

"We have Guavaween coming up, and then the Outback Bowl followed by the Super Bowl, so this will just spread the word about the busy season coming up," Keating said. Three restaurants are slated to open in the area in the coming month.

Mayor Pam Iorio will officially receive the award for Seventh Avenue on Nov. 12 from Tampa area resident and American Planning Association president Robert Hunter, Lacolla said. The civic association is working with the Ybor City Development Corp. to establish a monument for the honor.

In light of the economic downturn, some think the award is a  great omen.

"We're definitely feeling the downturn, and business is down," said Brenda Thrower, economic developer with the  Ybor City Development Corp. "But with this designation and some other forces, maybe things will start to look up."

The nine other APA 2008 Great Streets are:
•    Broad Street (Philadelphia)
•    Clarendon and Wilson Boulevards (Arlington, Va.)
•    Commercial Street (Portland, Maine)
•    Main Street (Annapolis, M.D.)
•    Mill Avenue (Tempe, Ariz.)
•    South El Paso Street (El Paso, Texas)
•    Summit Avenue (St. Paul, Minn.)
•    Washington Street (Boston)
•    West Main Street (Louisville, Ky.)

Robbyn Mitchell, Times staff writer

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