Egmont Key house set for demolition

Local preservationists are scrambling to stop demolition of a house they consider historic on Egmont Key, an island at the mouth of Tampa Bay.

The two-story, wood structure belongs to the Tampa Bay Pilots Association, a group of mariners who guide large ships into the Port of Tampa. The pilots have obtained permits from Hillsborough County to raze the building, perhaps as early as Monday.

Built around the start of the Spanish American War in 1898, the house reportedly was occupied by civil engineers who supervised construction of the U.S. Army's Fort Dade Military Reservation on the island.

Later, it served as a bunkhouse for the pilots, who set up a permanent headquarters on Egmont Key in 1926.

"It's a very important building; I think it would be a travesty to tear it down," said George Howell, past chairman of the Tampa Bay History Center.

Allen Thompson, director of the pilots association, said the building is "beyond useful life and repair." Thompson said the county's Historic Resources Review Board approved the demolition on May 19.

"The board decided unanimously that demolishment would not have an adverse affect on historic resources," Thompson said. "It is an old structure but not an historic structure."

However, the board's ruling was not about whether the house is historically significant, said Elaine Lund, a county planner and staff representative to the historic review board. Lund said the board was only deciding whether demolishing the house would negatively affect the Egmont Key Lighthouse, a county historic landmark.

The county's interest in the island goes back to 1923 when it obtained 5 acres on Egmont to lease to the pilots association. The 99-year lease expires in 2028.

The rest of the 400-acre island is a federal wildlife refuge controlled by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and maintained by the Florida Park Service. Access to the island is by boat only.

Richard Kanaski, head archaeologist for the Fish and Wildlife Service's Southeast Region, said the building slated for demolition deserves evaluation because of its age, location and structural integrity.

He suggested the house could be listed on the National Register of Historic Places as an aid to navigation because of its connection to the pilots.

The entire island is already listed on the national register, primarily because of Fort Dade and the Egmont Key lighthouse built in 1858.

"It would be worthwhile to formally investigate and document the structure for its historic significance," Kanaski said.

Howell and former County Commissioner Jan Platt are trying to stave off demolition for 30 days to find a way to restore and maintain the house. Howell said he has contacted U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, and Hillsborough County Administrator Pat Bean for help.

"It's too historic a structure to let it be destroyed," Platt said.

But without intercession from some higher power, preservationists won't get the chance to evaluate the building. Asked if the pilots would consider delaying the demolition and talking to preservationists, Thompson said no.

"Our intention is to move forward with demolition of the old structure," he said.