The Tampa City Council is currently reviewing a proposal to limit the number of liquor permits issued in specific areas. This proposal was a focal point of discussion during a workshop meeting held on Thursday.
“Anybody who wants a liquor license applies to the city, and most of them are approved by city council,” stated Councilmember Bill Carlson. Carlson brought forward this proposal following a tragic incident in May, where two individuals lost their lives on South Howard Avenue in the SoHo neighborhood. He emphasized that the intent behind the proposal is to better manage the concentration of bars and restaurants in close proximity to residential areas.
“The people in South Howard did not agree to have an entertainment district there,” Carlson noted. “Bars popped up all around them, and so it would be good to know systemically, not just one by one, what the people in certain neighborhoods think about having a high concentration of liquor licenses.”
Areas of concern highlighted by the proposal include Seminole Heights, Tampa Heights, and the SoHo district, which Carlson represents and includes South Howard Avenue.
“15-20 years ago, a bunch of restaurants moved into South Howard, but because they had liquor licenses, they flipped to be bars, and it was never a planned thing,” Carlson explained, underscoring the need for more strategic planning regarding liquor licensing in these neighborhoods. WFLA initially published the story.
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