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Westchase House Draws Neighbors' Ire

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By MICHELE SAGER

msager@tampatrib.com

Published: November 26, 2008

WESTCHASE - The community known for its plethora of deed restrictions and zest for carrying them out is now being accused of not doing enough to enforce the rules.

Residents from the Glenfield Village recently told the Westchase Community Association they want tenants of a house in their neighborhood evicted because of numerous deed violations and intimidating behavior.

They say the occupants have violated deed restrictions since March and that the association should have taken care of the issues months ago. Westchase leaders say they have to follow certain legal procedures and can only do so much.

The owners of the house, Anthony and Anita Diaz, began receiving notices in March for violations involving landscaping and the number of occupants living in the home. Records show the owners rent the home to seven people from at least two different families, a deed violation.

Month after month, the violations piled up and additional letters were sent. The tenants were cited for an unkempt yard, dirty driveway, loud music and parking inoperable vehicles. At a recent resident forum, one Glenfield resident showed pictures of a crashed car stained with blood parked at the house for weeks.

Neither Diaz could be reached for comment.

A legal complaint was filed in court in October against the owners seeking thousands of dollars in fines. However, the association never sought an eviction of the tenants.

At the forum earlier this month, Glenfield residents told Carlos Quiros, president of the WCA board, they want the tenants gone and they are tired of waiting and living in fear.

Resident after resident recounted tales of how they were verbally harassed by the tenants. One father said he is afraid to walk down the street, past the house with his children.

The residents didn't want their names used in this article for fear of retaliation from tenants at the house.
Quiros told the residents that the proper legal action is being taken and that it takes time.

"There are legal steps that must be taken, we do not have the legal authority to initiate eviction unless those legal steps are taken," Quiros wrote in an e-mail to residents.

He refused to go into details of that legal action but did say residents should see some changes before Thanksgiving. He said if residents are fearful, they should contact police.

"I would advise that if any neighbor feels intimidated or the activities you mentioned, 'drag racing, driving unlicensed vehicles, children driving automobiles, noise, possible drug activity, keep reporting it to police,'" Quiros wrote.

Residents say they are afraid to file police reports because they are public record and fear retaliation. Reports have been filed with police, though not necessarily linked to the house.

One resident reported approaching a trespasser on his property Nov. 19 that resulted in shots being fired into the air by the trespasser, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. The suspect fled and was never found.

Owners have made some improvements to the house by cleaning the driveway and placing down new sod. But residents say it's too late and they want the tenants gone.

Reporter Michele Sager can be reached at (813) 865-4843.

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