New owner a pasta-bility

A deal to save the Ferlita Macaroni Factory hinges on financing, but the Italian Club soon could take possession of the 86-year-old structure.

The executive board of the Ybor City Development Corp. last week voted to recommend contributing up to $100,000 in local property taxes, collected within a special Ybor City taxing district, to shore up the building's decaying facade. Tampa City Council has the final vote on spending the money.

"Our passion is to save this building," said corporation board member Fran Costantino.

The factory on 22nd Street, between Fifth and Sixth avenues, was the third Ferlita macaroni factory to operate in Ybor City, and the last standing pasta factory of many that once operated in Ybor.

A proposal for the nonprofit group to assume ownership and pay for the building's rehabilitation with property taxes and a low-interest loan was made by the Historic Ybor Neighborhood Civic Association. But the corporation opted instead to support the Italian Club in seeking ownership.

"Once we get the money, I don't know why we can't do it immediately," said Joseph Capitano Sr. In recent months, Capitano tried to negotiate a deal for the Italian Club to acquire the macaroni factory, but parking issues and a third party's inability to secure a loan scuttled negotiations.

That deal included rehabilitating the building for about $664,000. The revised plan would stabilize the building, with the Italian Club as a "placeholder" until money and a strategy for rehabilitating the building materialize, possibly years from now.

Attorney Michael La Barbera, who represents the building's owner, Les Thompson, said the factory and an adjacent vacant lot for parking could be handed over to the Italian Club when the stabilization funds are secured.

"That's always what he was willing to do," La Barbera said. "But no one was willing to do that."

That money would come from a stalled $1.8 million stormwater project. About $300,000 had been allocated to the project, but corporation manager Vince Pardo said a portion of that money can be redirected to the macaroni factory with city council approval.

Thompson bought the building in 1985 with the intent to make it headquarters for his roofing supply company. Last year, Thompson transferred ownership to 1609 22nd St. LLC, listing himself as manager. After a partial roof collapse in 2007, code enforcement inspectors ordered Thompson to repair the building.

The remaining portion of the roof was taken down. All that remains are the building's four walls. An engineering report paid for by Thompson found the building unsafe, and he filed for a demolition permit.

The Barrio Latino Commission denied the permit, and Thompson requested an appeal hearing before the city council March 4. A code enforcement hearing regarding violations cited against Thompson was postponed until March 24.

La Barbera said he anticipated the appeal and code hearings would become moot if the property transfer occurs sooner.