Taking the place out for a spin

Well, this should be fun.

Oh, hi! Happy Tuesday and all that. Hope your Labor Day was an enjoyable one.

First off, I had great intentions for something very cool today. Spent the long weekend working it through in my head, talked to a few people about the subject, then sat down to write.

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And…decided to kick it a day.

Here’s why: I’m test driving today’s blog from the new Just Wright Citrus World Headquarters III. The lease started Monday, and while I’m not intending on a full move for another few weeks, I had to get the writing part out of the way.

So far, so good. I’m sitting at a dining room table, though I’ll need an office desk of some type. I don’t know what kind exactly. I know what I don’t want: Metal. Preferably something that Bunny can lie at my feet. Doesn’t have to be fancy or bulky — the roll-top desk I wanted a few years ago would never work here — and definitely not new or modern. 

A work desk that’s right at home in a cozy hundred-year-old cottage. I’ll know when I see it. Haven’t seen it yet. The dining room table will suffice for now.

So, two post Labor Day ramblings…

— Here’s a question: Does the Suncoast Parkway route between S.R. 44 and C.R. 486 have any local purpose?

I mean…if I’m on S.R. 44 east of Rock Crusher Road headed to Target, am I hopping on the parkway to C.R. 486, or simply driving the normal non-toll route?

I ask because, while I’ve seen many people say the extension will make their travels back and forth to Tampa much easier, I haven’t seen Citrus Countians woo-hooing that the extension makes our lives easier getting around the county.

As the state plans the next sections with another interchange at Citrus Avenue, I kinda think we should be asking whether the parkway is a benefit to Citrus Countians who don’t travel on it. If this road is only useful as a conduit to Tampa Bay, it’s a total failure.

The parkway should bring benefits: more jobs, diverse economy, residential/commercial growth, and government investment in infrastructure. We have the growth part nailed down, but not so much the other areas.

I question the necessity of the Citrus Avenue interchange. Being blunt: Totally unnecessary. Other than benefitting certain property owners who own valuable land where the parkway will intersect, this interchange brings us only expensive headaches.

At least, that’s how I see it. What I’d enjoy is to have our county commissioners, city council members, and state legislators explain to us the benefit of the Citrus Avenue exit. Cuz I haven’t heard a single word from any of those folks why we’re better off with that interchange than without it.

(And please, politicians, don’t tell us it’s too late to stop the interchange. It’s not. At all.)

— The County Commission last week talked about medical marijuana treatment centers. Commissioners think there are too many, and they want to prohibit any more.

It’s not a good look, they say. Visitors to our county or prospective residents will go elsewhere if the county is trashy. Perfectly understandable.

I’d expect, then, for commissioners to fall over themselves regarding the abysmal site that awaits motorists on the parkway extension. Have you seen the LKQ junked car lot? Can’t really miss it, just to the east of the parkway where it ends at 486. A sea of ugh.

It’s as big a “welcome to Citrus County” sign as could be imagined. This is not the gateway that county commissioners had in mind.

That’s the thing about an expressway. It slices right through whatever is there and allows us to see what was previously hidden. Affords a different view.

The Seven Rivers Christian School sports complex is a very pleasing site on the parkway coming from the south toward S.R. 44. The LKQ lot of misfit cars, not so much.

— That’s all for today. The writing at World Headquarters III went very smoothly. I think this is the start of a beautiful relationship.

Have an awesome Tuesday, friends.

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