A little history
Dixieland is an historic neighborhood in Lakeland, FL. The neighborhood was platted in 1907 and experienced a housing boom in the 1920s. In 1993 Dixieland was designated an historic district. Today, there are over 30 buildings that have been determined to be over 100 years old. Over the last 27 years great care has been taken to preserve Dixieland's historic status. This progress has significantly slowed in recent years and on November 16, 2020 the city took action to erode from our historic neighborhood. 

Alleys
"Alleys are narrow laneways that typically split resi- dential blocks lengthwise. They are public rights of way that provide secondary vehicular paths behind houses along the block. In the City of Lakeland, most alleys were laid out as part of historically plat- ted subdivisions and are present in all but two of the City’s historic districts. Today, there is over 37,000 linear feet, or approximately 7 miles of alleys in the other five historic districts. Historically, alleys have been regarded as “back of the house” spaces for parking, garage and rear yard access, infrastructure features and other service-related activities, such as garbage pick-up. In older residential neighborhoods, these alleys are integral to the physical structure and usage patterns that have evolved over a centu- ry. Lakeland was incorporated in 1885. While alleys are regulated by the City’s Land Development Code, they should be protected as traditional historic district features and spaces for accessing small scale infill development and accessory structures." -New design Guidelines For Historic Properties Final Draft August 31, 2020.
According to the city land development code section 106-113 alleys are defined as highways and section 1-2 defines as street as a highway. 

Eroding the historic district
City staff, under the direction of Community and Economic Development made a determination to close the east end of the alleyway located between W Patterson St and W Park St just east of South New York Avenue. In early November the alley had been reopened by city staff after an illegal fence encroaching on the alley was removed. 

Staff Reasoning for Closure and (Rebuttal) 
The cost associated with improving the unpaved alley is too high to justify at this time. (There is zero cost associated with leaving the alley open and unpaved like other alleys in Dixieland and the city of Lakeland. Also, if cost is at issue, the funds should not have been spent to install several signs related to this closure and the installation of concrete bollards.) 

Since solid waste does not use this alley for trash collection, paving the alley is not necessary. (Solid waste does not use this alley for trash collection because Ms. Price, the owner of 114 W Patterson St has been allowed to illegally block the alley and prevent the alley from being improved. If the alley were improved solid waste could begin utilizing this highway for trash collection.) 

The motoring public has not used the east end of the alley for a number of years. (This is correct, only because Ms. Price has been allowed to block this end of the alley and frequently called the Lakeland Police Department when someone travels down this street wether on foot or in a vehicle. Also, once the alley was re-opened many motorists began traveling down this public street.) 

Ms. Price's existing garage/ shed is in close proximity to the alley and itself encroaches on the alley. (Also true, this is not unique in the historic districts in Lakeland. There are a number of structures that are built on the property line of the alley, where no determination to close the alley has been made. If anything, a structure encroaching on a public street should be demolished or relocated.)

Public Input 

There has been zero requests for public input about this permanent street closure in Dixieland. No city staff has reached out to any member of the community or Dixieland Neighborhood Association. There has been no effort to hold a public hearing or even inform property owners on this block with the exception of Ms. Price.

Questionable legality

It is not within the prevue of the Community and Economic Development's office to make a unilateral decision to close any public highway in Lakeland. This is a decision which should be made only after seeking public input and after appearing before the city commission.  

Best interest of the public 

It is in the best interest of the public, our community, to maintain these historic alleys. It is in the best interest of the community for city staff to always solicit public input on major decisions such as these. And it is in the best interest of the public to now listen to the input of the community and reverse their decision to close a public highway. 

Request to reverse the decision

We, the Dixieland residents, are requesting the city reverse their decision and reopen this public highway to vehicular traffic. We further more request that the city improve, preserve and clearly mark this alley in accordance with the city's land development code and historic preservation guidelines.