Unprecedented Flooding Hits Disston Heights: Is New Construction to Blame?

August 12, 2025 — Residents in Disston Heights are furious after a weekend storm brought flooding unlike anything they’ve seen in decades. Many say the water levels—rising into yards, garages, and even up to front doors—were far worse than during past hurricanes. The suspected cause? New construction next door, which they believe is sending mud, sediment, and stormwater rushing into their streets.

A Storm This Neighborhood Will Not Forget

For longtime neighbors, the flooding felt like a gut punch. Silvia Paredes, who has called Disston Heights home for 53 years, said she was stunned to see water spilling over curbs and carrying dirt straight into people’s yards. Randy Bryant, who’s lived there for 30 years, was even more blunt, blaming the muddy runoff from the Palm Lake Urban Sanctuary development. He believes sediment from the site is clogging storm drains, turning routine summer downpours into destructive floods.

The Project at the Center of the Storm

Palm Lake Urban Sanctuary is being built in partnership with Palm Lake Christian Church and the Pinellas County Housing Authority. Developer Newstar maintains that the project’s drainage plan complies fully with the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the city’s building codes. Despite these assurances, city inspectors and public works crews were dispatched immediately after the storm to investigate the damage and determine if changes are needed.

Years of Warnings, Now Reality

This is not the first time neighbors have raised concerns. In 2023, residents voiced fears about drainage issues related to the development, but they say those warnings were brushed aside. Now, after this weekend’s flooding, frustration has boiled over. Many are calling for immediate fixes, including stronger barriers, better sediment control, and regular maintenance of storm drains to prevent future disasters.

Growth Without Guardrails

What happened in Disston Heights is more than just a bad weather story—it’s a warning about what can happen when development surges ahead without fully accounting for infrastructure and environmental safeguards. In a city where growth is constant, residents are urging leaders to make sure future projects don’t leave neighborhoods vulnerable to preventable damage.

The Road to Real Solutions

For Disston Heights, the message is clear: the community needs action, not just assurances. That means developers, the city, and residents working together to put real protections in place—before the next rainstorm turns into another flood emergency.