Community Rallies Against Proposed Talbot House Move as Crucial...

LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) — As a critical decision looms next month, community members, including residents and local business owners, gathered at the proposed new site for Talbot House Ministries, holding signs in protest of the planned move.

The demonstrators brandished signs with messages such as “Not here,” “Stop Talbot House relocation,” and “Great mission – wrong location.”

In a related story, a 10-year-old has been released from the hospital after surviving a hit-and-run incident in Winter Haven that tragically claimed the life of his friend.

“The main issue is the location. That’s the sole reason for our protest,” explained Josh Borem, one of the protestors.

Borem and his fellow demonstrators on East Memorial Boulevard voiced their concerns about the site’s proximity to residential areas, businesses, a church, and local schools.

Mike Irazoqui, who said he has lived in the area for 26 years, called the proposed move an “injustice,” noting that the city is undergoing a Memorial Boulevard revitalization project.

“We gotta be better in every way. You want to do a beautification project to beautify everything, make it better? I agree with it 100%. But by putting this in here, it’s putting lipstick on a pig. That’s exactly what they’re doing,” he said.

Talbot House Ministries has operated in downtown Lakeland on Kentucky Avenue for nearly a half century, providing training, meals, overnight housing and more to people who are homeless.

It is looking to expand its footprint, offer more services and a residential program with 390 beds total on the property.

“Three hundred and ninety people are going to be just walking the blocks around the new location if they were to get to move in here. It just is completely unreasonable,” Borem said.

Borem also shared concerns about the traffic along Memorial Blvd.

“It’s literally a matter of time until somebody is dead or hurt from the move coming over here to higher traffic,” he said.

Talbot House Ministries withdrew its initial proposal to relocate to 1115 East Memorial Boulevard after backlash from the community.

The new proposed location is one parcel over with a building redesign that orients toward a bus stop on Ingraham Avenue, rather than Memorial Boulevard, according to Tim Campbell, an attorney representing Talbot House Ministries, who spoke at a Lakeland planning and zoning board meeting in December

“The process has worked to end up with a better product, quite frankly, for the user and for the city and for the public,” Campbell said.

He said the new location is farther from housing and schools than the current Kentucky Avenue location.

“It is discriminatory under the Fair Housing Act for a local government to deny a land use approval based upon the use of the property for services which assist the homeless and disabled,” he told the board members.

Still, the board voted to deny the relocation application.

Bessie Reina was the only board member to vote in favor of it.

“I personally just have a difficult time approving this because I do think that there is some impacts that will affect the churches, the schools or other areas that are surrounding,” said Terry Dennis, vice-chair of the board.

“[Community members] don’t see this as an improvement and I truly don’t see it as an improvement for the area either,” said Susan Seitz, board member.

Talbot House Ministries appealed the decision.

A public hearing and vote is reportedly scheduled with the Lakeland City Commission on April 6.

News Channel 8 attempted to reach Campbell Friday and did not hear back.

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Community Rallies Against Proposed Talbot House Move as Crucial Vote Looms

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