Disston Heights

Disston Heights Civic Neighborhood Association

FACTS ABOUT DISSTON HEIGHTS

Today this area is characterized by the well kept concrete block homes, manicured lawns and a smattering of lakes that all come together to form a quiet neighborhood in north central St. Petersburg.

HISTORY

Back in the good old days of the early 1950's, a large part of St. Petersburg, including the Disston Ridge area, consisted of only a few main roads with lots of sand, low shrubs, trees, and many tall pines. It was during this time that the big growth in population was starting. As builders built more subdivisions, the "Yankee's" bought houses as fast as they were finished. These new citizens began to feel the need for more utilities and services than they had. Many streets were just plain dirt; others were mere trails, with no curbs, street lights, little paving and telephones were few and far between.
Late in 1953, J. F. (Tim) Nolan came here from Westchester County, New York. He and a few other new citizens of his neighborhood began organizing a group of newcomers to do something about bettering conditions in the area where they had purchased homes.
With groundwork partly laid in 1954, a group led by Attorney Edward A. Linney, who had obtained a charter from the state for the club, met on June 10, 1955, in Mount Vernon School to found the new Disston Heights Civic Association. Mr. Linney was elected as the association's first president.
The first notice and appeal for larger membership of the interested public stated certain objectives, (e.g., nonprofit, nonpartisan,
for the community improvements through cooperation with the proper municipal officials on such projects as paving, street lighting, planning and parks). The Association appointed committees covering the various projects. This system coordinated the different activities and resulted in a liaison between the Association members and city officials that resulted in large savings of time for all parties.
Because of the effective work done by the Disston group and other civic groups within the city in that period, a number were invited by the City to make a land use survey of their areas. The survey required many hours and extreme accuracy. The Planning Department used this information as a basis for some of the zoning rules being formulated. Disston Heights Civic Association received a commendation from the city fathers for their efforts.