Most of the Board Members and key Staff visited Centro Espanol in Old West Tampa on North Howard to evaluate the use of the city owned building as a temporary home for the Tampa Museum of Art. Old West Tampa business leaders have enthusiastically welcomed the temporary move. The historic building is now being considered as a result of the over budget cost for the previously selected Tampa Convention Center location. Build out cost expectations had been in the $250- $300,000 range, but actual cost estimates had exceeded $700,000. With the scheduled demolition of the current Museum building by late January 2008, time is running out on finding a new home.

Previous locations suggested were well past budgets and in frequent instances would have required the museum to virtually discontinue any operations other than staffing for the 18-24 month time period of new construction.

With less than 90 days until the end of January, time to select and get a space ready for occupancy is rapidly dwindling. The tour and discussion centered on the timing and costs for getting the building ready. Previous estimates to make the building usable were in the $350,000 range, but Santiago Corrado, representing the Mayor, indicated a cost range in the $50-150,000 range.

The beautiful building has some issues, but is not far from being move in ready. Unfortunately an ornate theatre space at Centro Espanol is not in the plans for the museum partially due to the over $1 million required for the theatre alone. While the City provides the Museum with $1 million per year for operations, Santiago indicated the cost of build out and the utilities during the museum’s planned 18-24 month occupation would be provided by the City. His comments combined with Museum Director Ken Rollin’s comments about the assistance to a developing neighborhood and the opportunity to reach to a new audience and new demographic. Additional focus was placed on being able to continue virtually all events during the next two years as planned and at a single location, including Art After Dark and more.

Continued references to the fact that the Centro Espanol location was significantly larger than the proposed Convention Center location seemed to help with the discussion. Santiago continued to remind the Board that City budget money was tight but that this location in a neighborhood needing assistance and the long term benefits to completing a city owned building helped to justify the city’s support of this temporary location.

The museum board is facing several significant challenges. First, seeking a new temporary home in less than 90 days. Second, raising the capital funds for the construction of a new riverfront building. Mayor Iorio has made it precisely clear that the new building will receive no additional city funding past the $17.5 million CIT funds already on hand. With a proposed cost of over $40 million, the new building is planned to break ground in early 2008 at the size determined by the CIT funds and what ever funds have been raised by the Museum board. Our estimates put the total at least $10 milllion short of the current planned museum.

The Museum has come under criticism for failing to reach out to the residents of Tampa. Interim Ken Rollins has attempted to do that more than in the past, however, most Tampa residents have not bought into the need for a new museum.

Board member Tready Smith commented she did not like “making decisions with guns to our head.” But with less than 90 days to go, the City’s offer may be the last for the Board to consider before becoming homeless. Several members asked for more information as the specific plans and costs for the proposed location. Concerns as to building and neighborhood security were also discussed.

A motion to allow the staff to further pursue discussions with the City as well as to simultaneously look at other spaces was passed unanimously. It was clear the Board is running out of options. City representatives seemed disappointed that a more firm commitment to the Old West Tampa location was not adopted at this time. The Board of Directors is a public group and is required to hold all meetings in public. The next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 14, however, the possibility of an earlier meeting date was deemed possible depending on information obtained.

****PREVIOUS STORY BELOW****

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. Today’s press 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 onlye 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 our previous story from a City Meeting to discuss the Centro Espanol Building at http://www.tampagold.com/preservinghistorywesttampa.html

Post your opinions: