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Councilwoman Wants Tampa's Preservation Rules Bolstered

Tribune File Photo (2008)

The demolition of the landmark Gary Adult School last year prompted city officials to focus on the plight of other historical Tampa buildings.

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 9, 2009

TAMPA - Saying not enough is being done to preserve Tampa's crumbling architectural legacy, a councilwoman wants the Iorio administration to get tougher with private property owners who allow historical buildings to deteriorate.

Linda Saul-Sena acknowledges the city has taken steps to preserve buildings but said the "inadequate patchwork" of enforcement isn't working.

She said code enforcement loopholes allow property owners to avoid making repairs to buildings that historic preservationists say are threatened.

"If a historic property is under citation for code violations and the owner petitions for a rezoning, the code enforcement process freezes, so the repairs aren't made," she wrote in a memo to council members. "If a property owner fails to maintain their building they can forestall fines by claiming that they will be coming forth with a plan for the property."

Saul-Sena wants Mayor Pam Iorio's administration to make preservation a priority.

The demolition of the landmark Gary Adult School last year has prompted city officials to focus on the plight of other historical Tampa buildings, some of which are endangered.

Recently, the council created an emergency fund with $100,000 available for owners of historic buildings to make structural repairs and approved a new "demolition by neglect" ordinance, which provides stricter guidelines for tearing down landmark structures.

A workshop on the issue is scheduled for March 26 at city hall, 315 E. Kennedy Blvd.

Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (813) 259-7679.

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