Tampa Downtown smell.... (townhome, buying, living)

[Marielamb]

Please help...
We recently bought a townhome on Harbour island, and I am having some regrets. My big concern is this Horrible smell.... It is most pronounced in the morning, this diesel, acrid smell... Is this something from the port? The cruise ships going past? The smokestacks? It has been so strong, sometimes it makes me cough, and I am young with no lung problems... I can't imagine it's healthy. It's not there all day, and not even every morning, maybe 60-70% of early mornings, often gone by 9 or 10. Occasionally I do smell it durin the day. But it really makes my toes curl when I smell it, an I worry about the lung health of my kids. Anyone know this smell? What should I do? Has the EPA ever been notified?

This is NOT a rotten egg, low tide smell, that doesn't bug me. This is a very industrial engine smell.

I haven't been able to find anything on line about this.

Thanks for your help.

[Tim Tim Tim]

I havent ever smelled it although I dont go to harbour island muc, usually davis islands. I usually just smell the terrible low tide smell, GROSS.

[user8]

well it's right next to a major shipping port, so i'm sure the countless diesel engines coming and going through there play a part in the stench.

[griff609]

I live on Harbour Island and haven't noticed any distinct diesel smells. I guess if you're right off the channel near the port it's possible. I have some friends that live in Island Walk/Island Place and never heard them say anything about it. I could ask them.

[crazynip]

Look to the East. You see that big port? That's what it is... didnt you see that before you bought your place? Shame on you if you didnt think that living next to the second largest port in the state would not have drawbacks...

Also, in case you didnt know, harbor island itself was once a phosphate terminal, the entire island was. Another smell is the flour mill just to the North by the Ice Palace and Channelside. It was once a toxic wasteland, and if I was a betting man, I bet that stuff is still down there.

I work downtown and smell it. It's not bad all the time, but I wouldnt live there...

[Tampa Homes]

Originally Posted by crazynip

Shame on you if you didnt think that living next to the second largest port in the state would not have drawbacks...

Is this type of post really useful?

I've never smelled what the OP is describing down there however.

[jambo101]

Originally Posted by Tampa Homes

Is this type of post really useful?

I've never smelled what the OP is describing down there however.

Might be a heads up to potential buyers in the op's specific area.

[SLCPUNK]

Originally Posted by jambo101

Might be a heads up to potential buyers in the op's specific area.

I think the poster meant the general nastiness of "Shame on you" comment. The OP is obviously upset after buying in a nice area and being subject to the possible smell of fuel. There really isn't any reason to lecture anybody who is already upset or in a predicament, it's childish and unproductive. It's like lecturing somebody on their diet after they ask advice on health issues they may be having.

This is the first complaint I've ever heard about that area in regards to odors though. Sorry to hear the OP is having a difficult time.

[chi_tino]

You are lucky that you weren't around when TECO would infrequently fire up the (now dismantled) Hookers Point power plant right across the channel. It would belch soot onto your car.

I used to live on Harbour Island and I definitely agree that the air can get a bit funky when the big ships are coming through the channel. You are not imagining it.

[Tim Tim Tim]

Those things are burning so much fuel, im not surprised you can smell it. Its really a pretty industrial area thats all around the island there. Kind of dumb to have such a nice, high end place there.