Mayor Pam Iorio and others now want to consider using the old federal courthouse to house Tampa Museum of Art. Tampa’s economic development director, Mark Huey even said it could be a mini-Metropolitan!! Where on earth did Mark get that idea? HA!
Anyway, we’re only at the beginning stages to check the viability of the hundred year old building, but Iorio seems to think it is a done deal, and has come out to suggest that Zack Street will be the new Art District. It seems to me that Pam is changing all she can from the previous administration. Now the riverside arts district is moving to Zack Street. And this is before anyone ensures that the structure is compatible.
Of course, before the TMOA board was finished kicking the dirt and “aw-shucks”ing the loss of the world’s largest pigeon lure (more pictures here), TMOA Director Emily Kass was canned resigned. And now Wendy Ceccherelli, Tampa’s director of arts and cultural affairs has resigned too. I guess she misses Seattle (who wouldn’t?). Anyway, the TMOA board needs to regroup, get over these perceived setbacks, and realize that they still need a building. (Mayor Pam moves quickly, the city TMOA page showing the new scrapped museum is already gone)
By the way, with the Mayor’s desire for a N. Franklin café district, the recent purchase of the Floridan (with plans to run it as a high-brow hotel), an art museum at Zack & Florida, and continued residential development, the north central part of downtown may one day become an evening/weekend destination.