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City Weighs Loan Program To Preserve Landmarks

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 3, 2008

TAMPA - Scrambling for ways to keep threatened landmarks from being lost to neglect or the wrecking ball, the city is looking at providing low-interest loans to the buildings' owners.

The money, to come from the downtown Community Redevelopment Agency fund, would be made available to owners of buildings in imminent danger of damage.

Mark Huey, the city's economic development administrator, said $100,000 initially will be earmarked from the CRA fund to jump-start the new loan program.

"This won't be a grant, it will be a loan," Huey said. "The money will be available to those who qualify and there will be accountability to ensure that the money gets paid back."

The emergency stabilization fund would have to be approved by the CRA board, and depending on demand from owners, the city might earmark more money.

City officials also want to put more teeth into code enforcement regulations and have proposed a demolition-by-neglect ordinance.

The city's efforts are in response to the demolition last month of the former Gary Adult High School, which was torn down after part of the building collapsed.

The Kress building on Franklin Street is one of several historic downtown buildings that could go the way of the Gary school if steps aren't taken to preserve it, said Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena, who proposed the creation of the fund.

Mayor Pam Iorio said the program will protect the buildings, but also the city's finances.

"We do not want to invest monies into a building that belongs to a private party with no expectation of repayment," Iorio said. "However, we believe that the incentives and code changes proposed will help us save important historic buildings in the future."

Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or cwade@tampatrib.com.

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