Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

(crossposted at TampaGold)

The City Council has approved required zoning changes in West Tampa, clearing the way for the renovation of the Ft. Homer Hesterly Armory as Heritage Square.

For over a year, efforts to put all the pieces of the puzzle together to redevelop the property have been moving along. Government bureaucracy is notoriously slow, but imagine dealing with a City Administration, the City Council, National Guard leaders, and more. It has been a daunting task for everyone involved. The unanimous vote of the City Council affirmed the excitement, energy, and challenge of the Heritage Square project.

Tampa was fortunate to have a number of attractive bidders for the 10+ acre site, but after much discussion and public input, the overwhelming depth of purpose of Intelident’s Heritage Square clearly prevailed. Almost every major business leader in Old West Tampa has turned out to support the project.

Eventually, estimates suggest over 2,000 jobs will be created, and the project will have a total economic impact of over $250 million a year. Listen in on our conversation with Intelident/Heritage Square CEO, Tom Marler on TimeOutTampa. Of course, that impact will not be significantly felt until late 2009 at the earliest. But there is a lot more to the story of Old West Tampa than just Heritage Square.

Along with the Armory redevelopment approval, two additional zoning requests were presented for the immediate area - one for an organic tea and coffee location and one for a renovated office space. Intown Homes and Castillo Homes have already built over 200 new homes in the area. More than 300 townhomes and condo units are underway in the section between Howard and the University of Tampa, north of Kennedy and South of the Interstate. WalMart has announced plans to build a new store at the former Save Rite location in the same area. And the Tampa Museum of Art will be temporarily locating to North Howard Avenue, just a few blocks north of the Interstate.

With over 96,000 square feet of retail space, over 300 hotel rooms, and 850 parking spaces, there is no question that Heritage Square will definitely impact the North Howard, North Hyde Park, and Old West Tampa areas. But you can clearly see that change is already well underway to this very central part of Tampa. And all of this in during an unclear business climate. Imagine what it will be like when the economy improves.

TampaGold has been crying from the rooftops about the Armory project for over a year and all of these changes in this area. If you haven’t yet noticed the improvements, just wait; the best is yet to come.

Editor’s note: Ed Turanchik sent this email in response to an earlier post about the Heritage Square proposal suddenly in question.

I truly hope that all members of City Council will support and embrace the Heritage Square project. The site is singularly inappropriate for affordable housing or market rate housing. The exception would be some very limited housing in connection with mixed use. At the same time, these parcels are particularly appropriate for office, restaurant, retail, and even limited industrial (which is consistent with its history). If Heritage Square can make hotel word, good for them. Further, there is a serious residential upsurge in West Tampa. There is not a corresponding business and commercial development upsurge. This is what West Tampa needs. Shops, businesses, restaurants and place making. I daresay that you will find vociferous and virtually united opinion on this point in our community.

Second, it would be wholly disheartening to the private sector if City Council were to now call into question a good project that won a long competition. It is difficult enough in the marketplace to arrange financing without layering on top of it uncertainty by government officials. That a project could be this far along and be called into question really borders on the absurd and pathetic. Unlike Ybor City, in which the City has invested close to $100 million in public funds (the sum of investments in the Street Car, parking garages, Centro Ybor etc), West Tampa’s resurgence has been fueled largely by private sector initiative and investment. I do not know whether Heritage Square can be pulled off, but the last thing it needs is for local elected leaders to undermine its prospects. I truly hope that this is a false alarm and that the City will rally around the Heritage Square entrepreneurs.

I sending this email as an investor in West Tampa and active member in the West Tampa Chamber of Commerce. As Chairman of the West Tampa Chamber of Commerce Marketing Committee, you should know that our committee believes that Heritage Square is a significant project and one that we are anxious to see come to fruition. I am copying to members of the Marketing Committee and other West Tampa activities so that they are aware of this potential issue.

Please feel free to post this to your web and to circulate it accordingly to all interested parties.

Ed Turanchik

At today’s Tampa City Council Meeting an update on the planned renovation of the Ft. Homer Hesterly Armory on North Howard was discussed. It wasn’t pretty. 

Four of the city council members are newly elected and were not involved during the last years’ selection process.   Several issues were raised:  1. Some council members had been briefed by city staff about the project in the last few days, some were not.  2.  Mary Mulhern raised the main question of whether the Armory Committee had the power to select the proposed plan?.

The question caused attorneys to scramble.  Talk of breach of contract surfaced quickly.

It seems the real issue comes down to the intended use of the property, however, after over 2 years of hearings, requests for proposals, and negotiations;  this seems a little late to be bringing this up.  Mary Mulhern told us today that “affordable housing” was a better use for the property than a “hotel and a grocery store.”  Council member John Dingfelder indicated that the failure by Staff to provide every member with a briefing did not seem as it should be.

 An official with Intelident, the Heritage Square group, indicated surprise at the meeting’s tone and confirmed as we indicated previously that a signed contract is in place between them and the National Guard.

George Cornelius of Tampa Digital Studios was surprised at the potential turn at todays’ meeting indicating that his proposal could still be alive.  He indicated he still had an interest in following through with his original proposal that included over 400 rental apartments as well as, a film and sound stage with additional production facilities, and additional office spaces.

We have followed the Armory project extensively and have several key questions to raise.  

1.  With the tangle between the National Guard, the City Council, the Armory Committee and the Mayor/City Staff - how can you expect this deal to ever get done without someone bending some on the protocol of issues?

2.  After spending thousands of dollars over the past two years to present a bid that you think has been approved (or rejected as the case may be) only to have it all up for reconsideration again, why would any developer want to deal with the City of Tampa?

3.  Do you really think that a $200,000 and up home is “affordable”?  And in today’s real estate market where the Tampa Tribune headline reads: “Home Prices to Dip, Report Says” “Bay Area Might Suffer a 12% Decline”, who do you think is eager to stick their neck out to fund or build a residential property at this time?

4.   Buyer Beware!  Environmental problems have been reported to exist on the property and of course, the National Guard relocation (at a potential cost of about $3 million) has to be handled by any potential purchser(s) of this project.  How much is that going to cost?

5.  At the deciding meeting held at the Tampa Police Department, the decision of the volunteer Armory Committee was made clear- Heritage Square by Intelident - and voted on, however several days later, the top three proposals were submitted to the National Guard to the surprise of ALL of those that had submitted previously.  When one of the participants tried to get a copy of the tape of the meeting they were told that the tape had been turned over and did not record.  Our final questions: was the tape intentionally erased and if so, why and for what purpose?  And was it clear at that time that a single choice had been made or that three proposals would be submitted?

Economic forecasts have said that the Ft. Homer Hesterly Armory renovation could have a greater economic impact than the Channelside project. This gateway to the SOHO, Hyde Park, and Old West Tampa is too valuable to get lost in some bureaucratic shuffle. But, who really has the authority to make this project happen? And will the Heritage Square partners stay committed or throw up their hands and just walk away?  Watch for this on the Oct. 18th City Council agenda as all of the lawyers involved try to determine just who does have the authority to make this decision.

You can see the original proposals here.

You may have read that the agreement to take the Ft. Homer Hesterly Arm ory and renovate it into a significant retail/activity center was finally signed. The process has been going on for a long time and is now poised to begin some actual work. Construction should be underway before the next Super Bowl visits Tampa Bay.

The improvements are estimated to cost almost $100 million, and will feature a 300 room hotel, and a marketplace, along with cafes, restaurants, and boutiques. A museum dedicated to Old West Tampa, a day spa, and lots more are expected to be included in the development. You can see the entire proposal at TampaGold.com.

The property is located just North of Kennedy, South of I275, and between Armenia and Howard Avenues is the Gateway to the South Howard Avenue (SOHO) area. We have been yelling from the roof tops about this project for a long time and it seems no one has been listening. THIS PROJECT WILL CHANGE WEST TAMPA!

In addition, the project will help build the synergy along with residents clamoring for the city to preserve the Centro Espanol building, just a few blocks north.

This is a story about history and culture. A history so rich, that many Tampa residents’ lives were changed forever because of a building.

This is also a story about city, county, state, and federal money going to many places, but not necessarily to every place it should.

The building is located on North Howard Avenue, just a few blocks north of I275. It was built in 1912, and the place was a community center for the West Tampa neighborhood. The building and the community created an atmosphere of afternoon strolls with dances, evening socials, nights at the theater, music performances, art showcases and lots more. This magical place is called El Centro Español de West Tampa.

Over the years, money from various federal grants and loan guarantees have been provided for maintenance of the building. Recently the building as taken back from the Urban League by the City in the name of historic preservation. It seems the Urban League had put way too much money (for them) into the building. Charges of mismanagement surround this issue as well. The City is now seeking ideas of what to do with this building.

Several key problems exist. The roof is in need of repair - approx cost $$326,000. Cost to renovate the theatre - over $1 million. The building - over 15,000 sq ft - could be sold, but if so, over $2 milion in federal grants would have to be repaid.

Over 60 residents appeared at a public meeting to provide input and suggestions, and every speaker spoke with fondness about the history and were concerned about the preservation of the building. One suggestion to create a culinary school along with the establishment of a restaurant was extremely well received.

But most suggestions focused on community involvement. The discussion was a clear focus on heart but short on finances. Barbara Baker of the newly rehabilitated Baker & Co Antique Emporium expressed a clear need to save the building but was concerned about the historic preservation rules hampering an individual as she had been hampered at her location. She told us that the historic rules had caused her projected cost of her own place to nearly double.

Intown Homes President and former County Commissioner Ed Turanchik called for significant pressue to be placed on the County and City elected officials to find the funds required to repair the roof and building. Many speakers expressed concern about respecting the original integrity of the building.

Mark Huey with the City indicated that their concern was to provide a catalyst for improving the neighborhood. Residents echoed that sentiment, specifically pointing out the need for youth recreation opportunities to help stem gang involvement in the neighborhood.

One possible option is to place the building in a “mothball” status, meaning to secure it for some future purpose. While this was not the first choice among the attendees, it seemed very viable rather than an improper use or incomplete restoration. A plan for the city to request further proposals was the most business logical approach.

Jeanette LaRussa Fenton is the Manager of Drew Park & West Tampa Redevelopment for the City of Tampa. She is now taking the suggestions to help determine the next step. You can reach her at 813.274.7427 or jeanette.fenton[atsign]tampagov.net.

This process will take some time. Watch for more community meetings before a plan is finalized. But this public meeting was a good first step. It was great to see the amount of residents that took the time to attend and speak up. While their were some differing opinions, the genuine concern about preserving the building was unanimous.

You already know that the former Heidt property (currently occupied by Whiskey SOHO, Tampa Digital Studios, and Schifino Lee) is heading toward demolition. Those tenants have been told to move by Nov. 1, 2007, in preparation for the bulldozers. Tampa Digital Studios already announced plans to move to Centro Ybor.

On the old SoHo land, Post Properties (yep, those guys again), have plans to build luxury rental apartments above, with retail space on the bottom floor.

Rumors abound that more housing will be coming to downtown. We have been informed that national apartment home developer Post Properties has acquired a significant parcel of land in the Channelside area, with plans to build rental homes. We have no confirmed details, but expect to know more in the days ahead.

If you have heard anything, let us know.

Who would think that a $5,000 per member restaurant club couldn’t succeed in SoHo Tampa? We were surprised it lasted this long.