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Sangria's Plan For Seminole Heights Gets Architectural OK

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By KATHY STEELE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 2, 2008

TAMPA - A proposed Sangria's Tapas Bar & Restaurant in Seminole Heights is a step away from final approval after the Architectural Review Commission gave its OK Monday night.

The Tampa City Council, which gave initial rezoning approval for the restaurant site in November, will take its final vote Thursday.

The next step would be a months-long construction project to turn LeRoy's 4X4 Auto Services, 512 E. Hillsborough Ave., into Sangria's. LeRoy's Gastro Pub and Myoumi Sushi Bar also will be in the mix as well as leasable retail space.

"We can keep on moving forward now," said co-owner John Obediente, who's hoping for a March opening.

Sangria's owners bought the auto repair shop, which is in the Seminole Heights historic district, last year after losing their South Howard Avenue location in a landlord dispute. They want to rezone the property to planned development, which would make it easier to meet city code requirements on parking and other issues.

The council this year granted a one-year conditional license at the site for liquor, wine and beer sales.

Plans call for the three restaurants to have fewer than 200 seats total. Space between the proposed complex and Starbucks next door would become a walkway.

The building's style would be midcentury modern, reflecting the repair shop's 1960s design. It would be eco-friendly and meet standards of a nationally recognized rating system that allocates points for features such as landscaping and low-energy lighting.

Lights at the complex would all point downward to reduce light pollution, architect Roger Grunke said.

Among the project's options is a "living" roof, with vegetation planted on a portion of the roof to lower energy costs.

"This would be sort of a gutsy experiment, to say the least," Grunke said. "But I think it's well worth it."

The review commission approved the design but required the owners to work with Historic Preservation Commission staff on items such as roof materials and signage.

Overall, commissioners seemed pleased with the project.

"I think it's a very innovative design," Julie Brown said.

Reporter Kathy Steele can be reached at (813) 259-7652.

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