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Attorney Gives Advice On Armory Proposal

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By Jose Patino Girona The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 18, 2007

TAMPA - City Attorney David Smith said Thursday he will suggest that city council members move forward with a discussion and vote on a land use agreement and rezoning changes for the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory.

Smith said at the city council meeting that he would meet with council members privately and submit a letter in two to three weeks after he re-evaluates all documentation.

Heritage Square at the Armory proposes a $93 million project that includes a luxury hotel, farmers market, restaurant, cafes and a museum. A city-created review committee ranked the project top among three finalists.

The 10-acre property, 522 N. Howard Ave., is owned by the state's Department of Military Affairs Armory Board. Heritage Square and the Armory Board signed a contract in July.

The city has a reverter clause on most of the property if it isn't used for government or military purposes. The city council will also have to relinquish the reverter.

Some city council members have questioned why their role is solely to vote on the land-use agreement and rezoning, which is near the end of the process.

"We felt that we were, by some omission, left out of our part in the process," Councilwoman Mary Mulhern said.

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