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Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation

Let Us Do Good Village breaks ground

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The patriotism was palpable at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Let Us Do Good Village, a first-of-its kind community in the nation — where mortgage-free homes will be provided for catastrophically injured veterans, and for surviving widows and small children of fallen members of the military and first responders.

The subdivision of more than 100 homes is planned off Parkway Boulevard, in Land O’ Lakes, on 75 acres donated by the Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

Tunnel to Towers Foundation Chairman and CEO Frank Siller expressed gratitude for the work that’s already been done and encouraged everyone to do what they can in the quest to thank the families of those who have given up their lives, or sacrificed their bodies in order to keep others safe. (Fred Bellet)

Tunnel to Towers, established 20 years ago after Stephen Siller perished on Sept. 11, 2001, will provide the mortgage-free homes.

“The Tunnel to Towers Foundation was started in memory of Stephen Siller, a New York City firefighter who laid down his life while saving others on Sept. 11, 2001,” said Bradley Blakeman, who served as master of ceremonies for the groundbreaking event.

“Stephen, with 60 pounds of gear strapped to his back, raced by foot through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers, where he gave his life, saving others,” he said.

Blakeman was working on the White House staff on 9/11, as a chief scheduler for President George W. Bush.

Blakeman also had a nephew who died in 9/11, after rushing to Ground Zero to help others.

Disabled veteran Bret Jacob Menard received some unexpected news that he will be a Tunnel to Towers beneficiary. Menard’s life coach and friend, Gil D’Amore, of Dade City, left, lifts Menard’s arm in thanks. Menard’s father Bret Menard, of New Tampa, right, applauds the announcement.

Like Stephen Siller, Blakeman said his nephew’s body was never recovered.

“The Siller family didn’t want to stay consumed in the darkness and tragedy of that day, but chose instead to honor heroic sacrifices that were made by all 2,977 who lost their lives that day in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

“The Tunnel to Towers Foundation promised to never forget,” Blakeman said.

“This Let Us Do Good Village is just one example of the many good works that Frank Siller and the foundation has done all over our country.

“This village, the first of its kind, will create a community of families who will share a special bond together, who understand better than anyone what it takes to keep our nation and our communities free,” Blakeman said.

“It will be more than houses. Along with over 100 brand new mortgage-free homes, the Let Us Do Good Village will feature world-class amenities, will have an indoor basketball court, a pool, a tennis court, an ADA-accessible gym, a theater, an outdoor playground, a game room and so, so much more,” he said.

Frank Siller speaks to Bryan Dilberian, 35, of Staten Island, prior to taking the stage for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation ceremony. Veterans were honored for their service and in this case, their sacrifice. Dilberian is the first recipient of a Smart Home in the Let Us Do Good Village.

Another speaker, James S. “Hammer” Hartsell, drew an enthusiastic response from the crowd, when he said: “I feel bad for the rest of America who’s not here today, right here, right now. I feel sorry for them. This is where we need to be as Americans, right here, right now, today.”

Hartsell, who is the executive director of the Florida Veterans Administration, extended his thanks to the many veterans and active service members at the event.

“Thank you for these motorcycle riders over here who are protecting our flag and protecting our nation’s honor,” Hartsell said.

“Thank you for that color guard that drove up here from MacDill.

“I want to thank the moms and dads, aunts and uncles, grandparents — who brought kids here today. They need to see this and what we’re doing today because this is what makes America great. They won’t forget what they see and hear here today,” said Hartsell, a veteran of 37 years in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Recipients of Tunnel to Towers’ help also spoke.

One of those speakers was JoAnne Campbell, who was visibly emotional. Her husband died from a 9/11-related illness.

“We’ve lost people that we’ve loved so dearly, and we felt the pain of losing them and the grief that follows. But through that despair, Tunnel to Towers has helped remove some of the financial strain from me and my family.

From left, retired U.S. Marine Corps Major Gen. James S. ‘Hammer’ Hartsell, Tunnel to Towers CEO Frank Siller, and Nancy Close pose for pictures after the groundbreaking for the Let Us Do Good Village. Close, representing the Mertz Foundation, was among several donors who are making the development of 100-plus homes on 75-acres, a reality in Land O’ Lakes.

“The gratitude that I feel for what they have done cannot be put into words,” said Campbell, whose mortgage was paid off by Tunnel to Towers.

U.S. Army Sgt. Bryan Diberian, who will receive the first Smart Home in the Let Us Do Good Village, spoke, too.

He sustained injuries when he was on patrol in Afghanistan and stepped on an improvised explosive device in July 2011.

“The Siller Foundation was pretty much there by my bedside,” he said. “They sat me down for lunch one day and they told me they’re going to build me a house. It changed my life. It really did.”
Another speaker John B. Grandoff III is on the board of directors for the Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation, which donated the land.

“St. Francis of Assisi is the enduring inspiration for Stephen’s foundation, and he was the guiding light to the Siller family in their times of need and sorrow.

“St. Francis truly inspires the Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation in its mission,” Grandoff said.

Bolts fan and U.S. Army veteran P.J. Gray, of Dade City, stands with other flag-bearing veterans at the groundbreaking event for the Let Us Do Good Village.

Frank Siller, CEO and chairman of Tunnel to Towers, greeted the crowd by expressing his gratitude for being together to celebrate the beginning of the Let Us Do Good Village.

“Can you believe it? You tell me that God doesn’t work in wondrous ways. Is this not a day that God has made?

“This is a day that brings the goodness of America together. Think about it. Think about it,” he said.

Siller reminded the crowd: “We live in this country because there’s such a tremendous sacrifice for us. Not just our military, but our men and women who protect us every single day, our police officers and our firefighters.”

Beyond providing mortgage-free homes, the Let Us Do Good Village will create a unique sense of community.

Wearing his favorite vest, U.S. Army veteran Jack Fair, of Hudson, stands by as (left) Pasco County Sheriff’s Cpl. Arthur Madden chats with attending veterans at the Tunnel to Towers Foundation groundbreaking in Land O’ Lakes.

“This village will be a safe haven for the people who are going through the same thing in life,” Siller said.

A 10-year-old who lost his mom or dad will be able to talk to another 10-year-old going through the same thing. The same is true for a husband or wife, whose spouse sacrificed his or her life, he said.

“You know how important that is, to be able to sit with somebody that’s going through the same thing?” he said.

Siller said his parents died when Stephen was only 10, and he recalled his youngest brother telling him he wished he had not been born.

He told him not to say that, that someday he would do something really special.

“I think Stephen’s destiny was 9/11. I think he was put on this earth to run through that tunnel, to save people’s lives, so that we could start a foundation, so that we could help the greatness of America — those who are willing to die for you and I every day,” he said.

While the groundbreaking was a day of celebration, Siller reminded the crowd: “We have a lot of work ahead of us.”

He also encouraged those gathered to follow this teaching, of St. Francis of Assisi: “While we are here, while we have time, let us do good.”

Revised December 16, 2021

Pasco to become home to ‘Let Us Do Good Village’

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The Pasco County Commission has cleared the way for the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation to create a neighborhood in Land O’ Lakes devoted to recipients of mortgage-free homes for catastrophically injured veterans, for surviving widows and children of fallen military and first responders.

“The Let Us Do Good Village, which is what we are calling our development, is a community created by our foundation, which is going to bring these families together,” said Matthew Mahoney, executive vice president of the foundation, at the county board’s June 8 meeting.

It will be the first development of its type in the country, created by a foundation that began 20 years ago, in the aftermath of Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The foundation is named after Stephen Siller, a firefighter who had finished his shift and was on his way home when the attacks occurred at the Twin Towers.

Instead of going home, the firefighter turned around and headed back toward Lower Manhattan.

When he wasn’t able to drive into the area because of the emergency, Mahoney said, “Stephen donned over 60 pounds of firefighting gear on his back and ran over 2 miles to the World Trade Center, ultimately losing his life that day at the South Tower.”

Siller was one of 343 firefighters who perished, of the 406 first responders lost that day, Mahoney said. He left behind five young children.

The foundation provides mortgage-free homes for recipients in its Smart Home, Fallen First Responders and Gold Star Family programs.

Typically, it either provides mortgage-free homes or pays off the mortgage, he said. By the end of this year, it will have paid off or provided 400 homes.

The Let Us Do Good Village will be created on about 75 acres, on the south side of Parkway Boulevard, about a half-mile east of Ehren Cutoff.

It will include specially adapted one-floor homes, on 100-foot-wide lots, for catastrophically injured veterans, the foundation’s Smart Home Program.

It also will provide two-story homes, on 60-foot lots, through its Fallen First Responders Program and through its Gold Star Family program.

The foundation believes that bringing these families together will help them to recover, Mahoney said.

“Their children are going to be able to grow up, where other children don’t have a dad, or other children don’t have a mom — because of their service,” the foundation executive said.

The county board’s unanimous approval came after the foundation agreed a number of concessions, which will be recorded through a deed restriction.

That deed restriction limits the development to 103 lots, said Cyndi Tarapani, a planning consultant representing the foundation.

The reduction in lots equates to an overall density of the development of about two homes per acre, she said.

The deed restriction also specifies that a 6-foot fence will be installed to separate the new neighborhood from the adjacent Panther Run and Dupree Lakes subdivisions, she said.

The development also will include a number of other amenities for its residents, including a clubhouse and neighborhood park, Tarapani added.

Mahoney said the foundation also plans to plant trees in backyards.

“We want to ensure privacy for our neighbors, and, of course, for our widows and children,” he said.

The foundation, technically, was not required to provide a deed restriction, according to the county’s legal staff.

However, neighbors in Panther Run had pushed back against the project, voicing objections based on concerns about compatibility and potential loss of privacy.

Pasco Planning Commission members also expressed misgivings about the compatibility, ultimately recommending denial of the application.

After the Planning Commission’s action, the foundation agreed to include additional concessions in its deed restriction — including reducing the number of lots on the Panther Run border, making most of those lots 100-feet wide and developing most of them with single-story homes.

“The foundation has made significant commitments along that common border with Panther Run to address their concerns. We believe we’ve gone above and beyond, in our efforts, to be good neighbors,” Tarapani said.

In general, some neighbors still voiced concerns about privacy issues and the intensity of the underlying zoning for the project.

But fewer residents expressed objections during the county board meeting than did at the planning commission meeting.

Panther Run resident Shelby Carrero, of 6448 Paw Place, thanked county commissioners for meeting with her to discuss the issue. She also thanked Tunnel to Towers Foundation for working with the neighbors.

“I think that we have finally come up with a compromise on both sides,” Carrero said.

Like many of the new development’s future neighbors, she supports the foundation’s work.

“I greatly, greatly appreciate that,” she said.

She’s also looking forward to the new community which the foundation will build.

“I think we couldn’t ask for better neighbors,” she said, adding, “we are excited to see what they are going to do.”

Pasco County Commissioners also expressed enthusiasm for the planned “Let Us Do Good Village.”

“I thank you for coming before the board with such a great project,” County Commissioner Jack Mariano said.

He also expressed appreciation to the foundation, for listening to the neighbors.

“I think you’re making yourself fit in real well,” Mariano said.

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley agreed: “You’ve all done a good job in answering the public  — the neighbors of that project.”

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey put it like this: “I’m  very proud that we’re going to have this in our county.”

Published June 16, 2021

‘Unique subdivision’ meets resistance

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The idea of creating a subdivision in Land O’ Lakes for catastrophically injured veterans, and surviving families of fallen first responders and for Gold Star families has broad appeal — but even with the popularity of the cause, a proposed rezoning for the project is meeting resistance.

The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation has proposed the first neighborhood in the nation specifically designed to serve its recipients be located on about 75 acres, on the south side of Parkway Boulevard, about one-half mile east of Ehren Cutoff. The site is between the Panther Run and Dupree Lakes subdivisions.

The foundation was established 20 years ago by Frank Siller, to honor the sacrifice of his brother, Stephen Siller, a firefighter who laid down his life to save others on Sept. 11, 2001.

Matt Mahoney, executive vice president of the foundation, explained the concept of the project — via a remote feed during an April 22 meeting of the Pasco County Planning Commission meeting.

“Our recipients are all gifted these homes. These are mortgage-free homes,” Mahoney said.

“We have the financial wherewithal to do this. The land was donated to us,” Mahoney said. “We’re in a strong financial situation to move forward with this project.”

The foundation has a solid track record, said Cyndi Tarapani, a professional planner representing the applicant.

But residents in the adjacent Panther Run neighborhood and members of the Pasco County Planning Commission raised objections to the proposal.

Those concerns initially were aired during the April 22 meeting, which was continued until May, to give the applicant time to respond to the concerns.

At the May 20 planning board meeting, the issues were much the same.

Would-be neighbor Tim Robinson, of 6444 Paw Place, put it like this “I can’t say enough how much I like what Tunnels to Towers is doing for our servicemen and women and our first responders, a very admirable endeavor.

“My main issue is compatibility,” Robinson said. “We would have a bunch of homes butting right up to half-acre lots and I really don’t feel that is compatible at all.”

Planning Commissioner Jaime Girardi also expressed concerns about compatibility.

David Goldstein, chief assistant county attorney, told planning board members that the request seeks an R-4 zoning district, a Euclidean zoning that allows up to four houses per acre. The county cannot attach conditions to Euclidean zoning requests, Goldstein said.

Instead, the county can ask the applicant to voluntarily add deed restrictions.

The planning board asked the foundation to place larger lots on land next to the adjacent Panther Run lots. It also asked for one-story homes to be built there, to address privacy concerns.

Planning commissioners also wanted to guarantee that the land would be used by the foundation’s program beneficiaries.

At the May 20 meeting, Tarapani said the foundation has agreed to deed restrictions that call for fewer lots and larger lots, with one-story homes along the edge of the neighborhood adjacent to Panther Run.

However, she said her client would not agree to ownership restrictions.

Without that restriction, there is no guarantee that the foundation won’t sell the land to another developer, Goldstein said.

Panther Run neighbors reiterated their objections.

Shelby Carrero, of 6448 Paw Place, told the planning board: “After reviewing the deed restriction, I am disheartened to say the least, that our valid concerns we have expressed several times have not been taken into consideration by the applicant.

“The fact the applicant has ignored its future Pasco County neighbors, as well as the Pasco County Planning Commission, should speak volumes as to what their plan was this entire time.

“They have refused to put in their deed restriction that they will not sell the land to a developer, or that they will not sell the homes to people that are not military veterans, first responders, or their families.

“Therefore, the applicant’s narrative doesn’t hold true.”

She added: “It was an insult to see their updated site plan. The previous plan had 22 homes lining Panther Run. The updated plan has 19.”

Finally, she said, “We cannot treat them any different than a big developer because we now know that this is a possibility.

Sabrina Fernandez, 22402 Panther Run Court, asked commissioners to deny the request.

“The truth is that this applicant has ignored the request from this board, and I do appreciate you taking our thoughts into consideration a couple of weeks ago. This is very emotional for us because it’s going to affect our lives greatly.”

Other opponents said they don’t want two-story homes on smaller lots lining up behind their large lot. They also cited concerns about a loss of privacy.

Tarapani challenged the assertion that the proposed rezoning is incompatible.

“Single family, next to single family, is by its very nature, compatible,” she said. Plus, she noted, as part of its deed restriction the foundation has agreed to erect a 6-foot buffer wall between the new subdivision and its Panther Run neighbors, even though the county’s code doesn’t require it.

County planners recommend approval of the request, but the planning board voted to recommend denial, with Planning Commissioner Chris Williams dissenting.

The issue now goes to the Pasco County Commission, which has final jurisdiction on land use and zoning issues.

Published June 02, 2021

One-of-a-kind subdivision in Pasco?

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The Pasco County Planning Commission has continued until May 20 its consideration of a proposal to create a subdivision for catastrophically injured veterans, and surviving families of fallen first responders and to Gold Star families.

The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation is seeking permission to build 115 homes on 74 acres, on the south side of Parkway Boulevard, about one-half mile east of Ehren Cutoff, in Land O’ Lakes.

The site is between the Panther Run and Dupree Lakes subdivisions.

Matt Mahoney, executive vice president of the foundation, explained the concept of the project — via a remote feed — during the planning board’s April 22 meeting.

“Our recipients are all gifted these homes. These are mortgage-free homes,” Mahoney said.

The homes will go to catastrophically injured veterans — who are missing multiple appendages or have been severely burned, he said. Homes also will be provided for surviving spouses and families of Fallen First Responders and Gold Star families.

“We have the financial wherewithal to do this. The land was donated to us,” Mahoney said. “We’re in a strong financial situation to move forward with this project.”

The foundation was established 20 years ago by Frank Siller, to honor the sacrifice of his brother, Stephen Siller, a firefighter who laid down his life to save others on Sept. 11, 2001.

“While the foundation’s previous efforts were focused on individual homes and paying off existing mortgages in various places, this is the first of the foundation’s projects to develop an entire neighborhood devoted exclusively for injured veterans and surviving spouses,” said Cyndi Tarapani, who represented the applicant.

Access to the neighborhood will be from two entrances on Parkway Boulevard. The foundation will build a northbound, left-turn lane into the project at the main entrance, Tarapani said.

The subdivision will have two lot sizes, 100-foot wide lots for single-story homes that are specifically tailored to meet the need of injured veterans, and 60-foot wide lots for two-story homes, intended for widows and their young children.

The neighborhood will have a community center and play area, and has large areas of wetlands that will be preserved, she said.

And, while the code doesn’t require it, the foundation will install a 6-foot solid fence along the common borders of our neighborhoods, Tarapani said.

The proposed project is consistent with the site’s long-range plan’s designation, which allows up to three dwellings per acre, she said.

The proposed development would have an average of 1.54 units per acre. That compares to its neighbors: Panther Run has an overall density of 1.47 units per acre and Dupree Lakes has an overall density of 1.46 units per acre, Tarapani said.

The site also is conveniently located close to Pine View Elementary and Pine View Middle schools, and is near U.S. 41 and State Road 54, she said.

Neighbors to the proposed development applaud the foundation’s mission, but raised concerns about the proposed plans.

Several expressed sentiments similar to Tim Robinson, of 6444 Paw Place, in Panther Run.

“This is a zoning issue with us. It’s not a complaint against the organization or the work that it does.

“Dupree Lakes is similar; Panther Run, is not,” he said.

“Dupree Lakes has lot sizes that would be comparable to what the applicant is proposing.

“However, Panther Run could not be more different.”

“The proposed project would back into a portion of a neighborhood that has half-acre and larger lots,” Robinson said. “It doesn’t seem to fit in with the area and it changes the entire dynamic.”

Neighbors also voiced worries about the impact to wildlife that frequents the area. They also raised concerns about increased traffic and potential flooding.

Area resident Lee Edwards said that because the proposed development site has substantial wetlands, “those houses are going to be shoved up on top of one another — and it’s going to look like it.”

Chief Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein reminded the planning board that since the rezoning request is for what’s called a Euclidean zoning district, the planning board would not be able to attach any conditions to the rezoning.

For instance, once the zoning is approved, there is nothing to prevent the foundation from selling the land to another developer.

The planning board, however, can request the applicant to agree to voluntary deed restrictions, Goldstein said.

Planning Commission Charles Grey expressed concerns about the potential for the land — once rezoned — to be sold to another developer.

Planning Commissioner Jaime Girardi wants the applicant to reduce the number of homes backing up to Panther Run.

“From my perspective, from what I’ve heard today, the biggest concern seems to be the compatibility between the user to the west, in Panther Run, and the lots in this proposed development adjacent to them.

“Frankly, that the only problem I have with this whole proposal.

“I commend what’s being proposed here, in general.

“To have a 60-foot lot next to half-acre lot, I tend to struggle with the compatibility factor,” Girardi said.

Planning Commissioner Chris Williams agreed: “I’d like to see some bigger lots just right there.”

Grey told Tarapani, “As much as the board seems to like this concept and like this idea and wants to make it happen, I think, if you’re unwilling to bend on a couple of these issues, I think we only have one alternative and that’s to deny it.”

The board wants a commitment that the land won’t be sold and wants some larger lots bordering the Panther Run neighborhood, Grey said.

“I think those are two deal-breakers. I’m just reading the board here,” Grey said.

Tarapani requested a delay until the board’s May 6 meeting, to see how the applicant can address those issues.

Published May 05, 2021