Salvation Army Thrift Store Approved for Westbrook Estates

Posted at 4:10 AM, Mar. 21, 2007

Pasco County officials approved the initial plans for the Salvation Army thrift store which will be built in front of Westbrook Estates and across from the entrance to Lexington Oaks. Residents of Lexington Oaks are concerned that the Salvation Army thrift store will hire those from its rehabilitation centers, especially since an elementary school is supposed to be coming to the neighborhood. Other concerns are the building appearance which will have a stucco facade on the front with the three other sides being corrugated metal, autos being sold on the property, items being dumped in the parking lot, and trucks bringing in deliveries. There is also a concern that if the store could not make a go of it, then the store could become a drug rehabilitation center.

Salvation Army officials have stated that they will not hire those from the rehabilitation centers until they are finished with the program. They also will not sell autos, and the building will only be used as a store. They state they wish to be good neighbors.

Several members of the Lexington Oaks subdivision were present at the public hearing. They also had over 1,000 signatures on a petition. It was reported that there was only one resident of Westbrook Estates at the public hearing.