ybor fire is arson
tommyHave you driven by the building that caught fire in Ybor? Of course you haven’t. The roads are still closed to traffic.
The building burned down on Sunday night, and more than 50 firefighters turned out to battle the blaze.
They were supposed to start tearing it down Monday, then demolition was slated to begin Tuesday. Today, the parts that did not burn down still stand.
The Florida Department of Transportation considers the building a hazard to traffic, and wants it torn down. Mayor Pam and the Police Department want the thing gone as well - gotta keep that economy chuggin’ along.
But the fire department, the building’s owner, and a bunch of history preservationists are stalling. Councilwomen Mary Alvarez and Linda Saul-Sena wants to save the building, or at least a couple of the walls, and building owner Andre Callen has given them 72 hours to see what they can do.
It will cost about $17,000 each day the roads are closed.
Meanwhile, the fire investigators have sifted through the debris and have determined the fire was caused by arson.
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November 29th, 2006 at 7:00 pm
the ijots who run tampa couldnt save the historically significant maas bros store downtown, even thougth the facade looked perfectly saveable to me. now theres a hole and a stalled development project there. so im not holding my breath for the salvation of two or three walls in ybor, though im quite sure its possible without even having seen it.
December 4th, 2006 at 11:46 am
first was mass brothers then the blue ribbon store at 7th and 15th. now this one, the city must wise up. the front and west wall could have been saved. therefore reducing cost for the new repair. the walls of old construction is 18 to 24 inches thick. most of all, the fire was not at the front of bldg. Sarha Romeo is on track to start a committe to stop this type of fast track demolition. The Fla DOT started the fasttrack movement, and the Fire Dept should not have the final word on demolition of a historic bldg.
December 5th, 2006 at 8:29 am
I would like to know why DOT feels it should assess a $17,000 a day charge against the property ower who is a victim of arson. He is being victimized twice: the arsonist and DOT.