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Alternate space for homeless proposed

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By MIKE SALINERO

msalinero@tampatrib.com

Published: October 21, 2009

TAMPA - Two weeks ago, when Hillsborough County Commissioners Kevin White and Al Higginbotham helped kill a proposed homeless community on East Hillsborough Avenue, they promised to look for a suitable alternative.

The two commissioners followed through on Tuesday, each suggesting that space in the former Floriland Mall at Florida Avenue and Busch Boulevard be used to temporarily house homeless families and individuals. Space became available at the mall in July, when state budget cuts forced the Hillsborough clerk of circuit court to close a satellite office there.

"So you have two commissioners thinking along the same path and that's a good thing," Higginbotham said.

The only problem is the owners of the property are on a different path. George W. Heaton, managing partner in Centermall LLC, which owns Floriland Office Center, said he wouldn't consider leasing space for a homeless shelter.

"That just doesn't make any sense," Heaton said. "Our tenants wouldn't let us do it."

White and Higginbotham were unfazed by Heaton's disapproval. They still plan to discuss the matter at today's county commission meeting and direct county real estate staff to start investigating the idea's feasibility.

"I think during this downturn in the economy, I don't see why any landlord would want to turn down the county, especially when it's for a good cause," White said. "That's what we have staff for, to negotiate these things."

Both men say they got the idea after commissioners learned two weeks ago that the county might have to pay $592,975 to break the lease for the clerk's satellite office. The clerk's office, which gets state and local funding, used the office as an alternative location for people to pay traffic tickets. But when state budget cuts forced Circuit Court Clerk Pat Frank to lay off 12 percent of her employees, she had to close the office quickly.

The clerk's lease with Centermall ran through September 2012 with a total lease obligation of $695,809, said Mike Kelly, director of the county's Real Estate Department. Frank asked the county to try to negotiate the obligation down or find a substitute tenant for the space.

Kelly's office couldn't find a tenant, but negotiated the lease obligation down to $592,975. Plus, Kelly said, Frank's office will be able to avoid more than $450,000 in expenses at the site, such as air-conditioning repairs, property taxes and insurance.

However, county commissioners refused to approve the lease termination because of the hefty price tag. They instead asked Kelly to continue negotiating for a lower lease buyout.

White said he would rather see that money used to convert the office to dormitories, restrooms and showers for homeless people, than paying it "to the landlord."

"I'd much rather spend the $592,000 retrofitting the building and helping the homeless rather than handing the landlord a check to walk away from the building," White said.

One of the main factors in the mall's favor is that it is not near a residential neighborhood. Opposition from nearby residents was one of the reasons White and Higginbotham voted against a proposal by Catholic Charities to build a "tent city" for the homeless at East Hillsborough Avenue and Harney Road.

Plus, the commissioners say the former shopping center is already home to a number of tenants who could help homeless people get on their feet: Workforce Alliance, the state Department of Children & Families, the Hillsborough Kids foster program and the Agency for School readiness.

Frank V. Murphy, president of Catholic Charities, said he wants to see the plans for the new site before he commits to supporting it.

"I think any time we have people coming forward and saying we're going to do something for the homeless, that's positive," Murphy said Tuesday. "We won't be there tomorrow, but after they vote or after the next step of action, we'll work with whomever they designate."

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303.

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