The Tampa City Council approved a request to vacate the alley that lies north of Adela Street and south of Dewey Street near Matanzas and MacDowell Avenues (file VAC20-57). City planners and the applicant said the alley is unimproved, heavily vegetated and has been maintained by adjacent property owners for decades; council approved first reading and set a second reading for Aug. 7.

Applicant Steven Michelini and representatives presented photographs showing the alley’s condition and a neighbor petition supporting the vacation. Michelini said the alley had served principally as green space and utility access and argued that vacating it would allow adjacent lots to become conforming for residential development while preserving utility access by reserving easements.

Staff recommended easement reservations. Mobility staff also noted the alley’s original dedication for utilities and indicated a utility easement would be reserved across the entire alley, preventing new structures over the utility corridor. Ross Anderson, development coordination staff, said the alley measures approximately 10 feet in width and the right-of-way totals about 6,080 square feet.

Jonathan Scott of the mobility department noted the City’s policy preference to preserve alleys “when practical,” but also said the alley block in question is largely unusable in practice and has been passively maintained by abutting owners for decades.

Council discussion acknowledged competing values: preserving alleys as long-term infrastructure versus allowing adjacent property owners to consolidate oddly shaped lots and bring them into compliance. Councilmembers heard that the alley has sanitation and utility infrastructure in place and that utilities and tree-protection conditions would be part of any approval.

Council voted in favor of the vacation on first reading; the motion carried with Councilmembers Hertak and Clendenin recorded as opposed. The council’s approval included standard reservations for utility easements and natural-resources conditions for tree preservation; staff said those reservations would remain in the ordinance.