In Tough Times,West Tampa Shines By Lauren Jones West Tampa has always been strong and distinct cul- tural center within Tampa. From cigar factories and so- cial clubs to Cuban coffee and the Buccaneers, there has always been something great going on in West Tampa. Just as social clubs of the early 20th century pooled their re- sources together to make a better living for the communi- ty, the new century is repeat- ing itself. But this time, West Tampa is its own social club and its residents are find- ing that there still is such a thing as a better community through unity. West Tampa was found- ed in 1892 by Scottish im- migrant and attorney Hugh Macfarlane. He saw a great deal of potential in Tampa's economic growth at that time. He offered free land and build- ings to cigar manufacturers in Tampa. He founded the town with the intention of luring some of the cigar factories of Ybor City a few miles west to the West Tampa community. He was mostly successful. Many new immigrants chose to start their lives in West Tampa. The town grew and West Tampa was incorporated as a city three years later and became the 2nd largest His- panic community in the state after Miami. By 1895, West Tampa already had 10 cigar factories and by 1900 had more inhabitants than Talla- hassee as the second largest city in Hillsborough County. This growth allowed West Tampa and Ybor to combine to help make the Tampa area the cigar making capital of the world in the early century. Around that same time, the streetcar line improved West Tampa and made it more ac- cessible but made the bound- aries of West Tampa more debatable. Today, the exact boundaries of West Tampa are still debated. Many Latin residents had family in both West Tampa and Ybor City, and many foundjobs in one neighborhood while liv- ing in the other. A few of Ybor's social clubs built West Tampa- branches, further uniting the communities. In 1925, West Tampa was annexed by the city of Tampa and became a city neighbor- hood. In the 1950s, West Tam- pa experienced another boom with Urban Renewal and a highway cut Ybor-in half. Many of Ybor's residents sought ref- GREAT RATE AND HIGH-DEF IMAGE Open a 24 M 2m with a companion che GET A 19" LCD SAnnual Percentage Yield (APY) effective 5/1/09. Minimum opening balance requirement is e30,000; maximum $250,000. C account at HomeBanc with a minimum balance of $1,500. One offer per household. No inslilutional deposits. Must be new m change or cancellation at any lime without notice. . "Early withdrawal penalty in the amount of $300 will be assessed for the cost of the TV, in addition lo early withdrawal penal issue an IRS Form 1099 for the value of the TV. Se~wng Weot Sfampa Since 1960 ea bfet,,fackages.tfrom-- 'E iieered.Wod"Flooring $2,99~ 1 .From $2.49 sf ~seetore for delaU )3_ _ _ _ _ UT 1 ~tGPrnU~ ~* I? LI4TOLUE.C~TIBus GIFT Baker and Co., owned by Barbara Baker, is an antique store. Located on Howard Ave. in the building that was once the Gold Nugget Tavern. uge in West Tampa and made pa, just as there was in 1892. it the largest Hispanic neigh- Some brave, forward-think- borhood in Tampa. ing people, despite numer- Today there is a renais- ous criticisms, have moved sance occurring in West Tam- forward by investing in West Tampa. In the past and re- cently, West Tampa has been called the stepchild of Tampa, the other Ybor and other vari- =S ous names. Some may say that the area is forgotten and overlooked because of the lonth CD at stereotypes that have been 0 O placed upon it, whether they /O be racial, financial, etc. But There are people that are dedi- cated to coming together with ecking account and the town to better the life of HDTV FREE** a community, knowing that it will have a lasting effect on the town and be a part of history. That dedication takes selfless people who are interested in u leaving a lasting legacy for the community and care about preserving the history of the *area and the culture. Customers must maintain their pmary checking Barbara Baker, of Baker money to HomeBanc. Rates and offer subject to & Co., an antique store on N. Ay lfor e CD. HomeBanc wi | Howard Ave., is one of those Ir c citizens who has had to go With Tampa Bay's largest selection of tile, stone, glass and now cabinets, fixtures and wood flooring, we'll take your room from outdated to outstanding. Talented B,.:j Tile 2318 W. Columbus Dr. Tampa Benveen Howard and Armenia 813-251-8807 through a lot of personal sac- rifice. She opened the antique store. She invested her own money to develop something out of nothing. She com- plied with building rules and policies and kept going when most of that interest in West Tampa fell off of the wayside. Baker respects that the heritage in West Tampa is try- ing to hold onto the past. She is going along with that.-Her store is a staple of West Tam- pa, with customers coming from all over. She feels that sense of heritage and commu- nity constantly. On numerous occasions she's had older cus- tomers come in and be moved to tears by merely seeing pho- tos and products that remind them of their past. Baker also hosts bridal showers, baby showers and even birthdays at her upstairs garden or in the tea room. She says they are sometimes booked every Saturday for a whole year with events. Baker purchased the build- ing, which used to be the Gold Nugget Tavern. She created her store from the ground up and restored the building to a close replica of the one before it. All her pride is in it, she says. She has an eclectic taste that brings a nostalgic feel to the store. She is a huge part of the restoration of West Tampa. "Collecting is an addiction," says Baker. She still sees problems however. The neighborhood still has some blighted ar- eas and some people are still afraid to visit. She is also try- ing to draw customers from other areas such as South Tampa and Hyde Park. Some- times blight can turn people away, but she's one of the people trying to change that. "There has been a lot of good things happening in West Tampa, said Leo Alva- rez, SunTrust Banker and member of the West Tampa Chamber of Commerce. Alvarez has big plans for West Tampa. He's hoping for government help to get more road improvements and sig- nage. He, along with the oth- er members of the chamber, have high hopes for the future of West Tampa. Generally, chambers of commerce serve the purpos- es of creating a strong local economy, promoting the com- runity, providing network- ing opportunities, speaking with government on behalf of business and taking political action, such as getting pro- (Continued on page 8) LA GACETA/Friday, May 8, 2009/Page 7 Section B 1