Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

A press release from the Mayor’s office, but issued by Ken Rollins, Interim Director of the Tampa Museum of Art, indicated that the Museum Board of Directors would consider the Centro Espanol building on North Howard Avenue as a temporary location at their next board meeting on Nov. 2. Previous discussion centered on a temporary location at the Tampa Convention Center. The release indicated that the cost to complete the Convention Center space had risen from a proposed $250,000 to over $700,000.

The Centro Espanol building has been the center of some controversy as the former home of the Urban League. Extensive loans, grants, and various financing efforts have been in place that have had numerous strings attached. Some of those strings required public use or the creation of a significant number of new jobs. Lots of discussion in Old West Tampa have called for the building to used for profit and for public purposes. The historic building is still in need of significant repairs before it can be used. A beautiful theatre area is in need of complete renovation. There are some roofing issues, air conditioning and heating issues, parking issues, security and landscape issues to say the least.

With a tight budget in place at City Hall and the need for the Tampa Museum Board to be raising funds for the construction of a new building to be constructed along the proposed RiverWalk Park, the Centro Espanol building is a great choice for Old West Tampa, but depending on the actual costs and building design for the museum, it may be debatable if this is THE solution for the temporary museum space. Previous discussion about the Centro Espanol put costs at over $1.5 million to be put in usable order.

In a recent discussion with us, Mayor Iorio indicated clearly that she would support the construction of the new building only if all of the money required to complete it was in place. She further indicated that the architect Stanley Saitowitz had been told to plan for a smaller building or building in phases if required to meet the actual funds in hand. At this time, the City has committed $17.5 million for construction of the new building leaving over $20 million to be raised by the Museum board to complete the proposed first phase of construction. Mayor Iorio clearly stated that we could “take it to the bank” that no additional City funds would be provided for this project.

Santiago Corrada Administrator of Neighborhood Services was excited about the Centro Espanol plans and indicated the costs to upgrade the building at less than the $250,000 that had been initially budgeted for the Tampa Convention Center temporary space. He further re-emphasized that this was a “temporary” location and that the planned new museum to be built had several different versions/designs that would be determined at the time of groundbreaking according to the “money in the bank” as Mayor Iorio had previous indicated.

Ed Turanchik, Chairman of the Marketing Committee of the West Tampa Chamber of Commerce called this a “clear win for Old West Tampa” that provided a “natural cultural” blend for the community. Other West Tampa business leaders expressed positive response to the announcement. One indicated they thought this was the “first good idea” they had seen from City Hall about their community and City Hall. All expressed surprise upon hearing the announcement.

The Museum Board of Directors is to consider the Centro Espanol location at their next board meeting on Friday, Nov. 2.

You can read Tampa Gold’s previous story from a City Meeting to discuss the Centro Espanol Building.

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