Fuel Development's building across from the convention center was demolished today... Wonder what's going on there? It was the site they wanted a W Hotel on, but the hotel market is terrible and Fuel is a joke. Doesn't appear the land has been sold.

http://imgur.com/kgZo9l.jpg

Hmm...dunno. If Fuel Group still owns the buildings, it might be the hotel. When they were talking about building the hotel up there, they made a agreement not to tear down the buildings until they are ready to build on the site. So either it's nothing if Fuel Group doesn't own the site or it's something if they still do own the buildings and site.

I'll see if I can find more info.

Hmm...dunno. If Fuel Group still owns the buildings, it might be the hotel. When they were talking about building the hotel up there, they made a agreement not to tear down the buildings until they are ready to build on the site. So either it's nothing if Fuel Group doesn't own the site or it's something if they still do own the buildings and site.

I'll see if I can find more info.
This was fast. lol

I was trying to remember if I was thinking right, and I guess so. I remembered that Fuel Group scrapped the whole hotel plan and go with student housing for University of Tampa last year. I don't know if they still have the same agreement to not tear down the buildings until they're ready to build, but I would guess so. We might be seeing cranes soon!

Last time I sent them an email I got a pretty timely response so I'll contact them.

I was also in the process of typing up a email to them. I guess if we both send a email, they will realize some people in Tampa are interested and don't complain about development.

I have been searching the citys website for about an hour and I can not find a single permit on anything that has to do with construction of any kind. I would hope that they do build something tall there at least.

I've tried sending them an email but apparently their email address is down because AOL (yes, they suck) keeps returning my mail.

I did send a message to Fuel Group via the Contact form on their own site so we'll see if I get a response from that.

On their site the only downtown Tampa project they have is that ~40 story W hotel.

Scratch the email, failure notice. FF, did you have the same issue?

The latest article I could find is from February of last year which mentioned them changing from hotel to student housing. I can't find anything after that date related.

^Yeah check my post right above yours.

Ah alright.

I don't know about their site. Wasn't their St. Petersburg project cancelled? But they still have it on there.

^Oh yeah I obviously wouldn't trust their site.

Ah alright.

I don't know about their site. Wasn't their St. Petersburg project cancelled? But they still have it on there.

Yeah, they deemed it was too high and in a to close to the 'single-family neighborhood'

I think that was over a year ago...

It sounded like the deal with UT wasn't for a new building, but simply rehabbing the existing space to be used as dorms. It appears it was just the one lot being demolished, but who knows. Interesting...

100 rooms though? I thought the building was only 2 stories?

100 rooms though? I thought the building was only 2 stories?

100 students, so at least 2 to a room. There are a couple buildings, 3/4 of the block (well now half after the demo today).

Is it possible that this has something to do with the extension of the trolley line?

I was thinking about that, but why demolish a building? There's no point in putting a station there due to the Greco (Station?) or whatever it is called so close.

I was thinking about that, but why demolish a building? There's no point in putting a station there due to the Greco (Station?) or whatever it is called so close.

To widen the sidewalk?

To widen the sidewalk?
Still would make no sense. The sidewalk along the line is roughly the same width as the sidewalk up Channelside Dr. The only reason for the demolition would be for a station, but again, why? There's one a block and a half to the south.

Still would make no sense. The sidewalk along the line is roughly the same width as the sidewalk up Channelside Dr. The only reason for the demolition would be for a station, but again, why? There's one a block and a half to the south.

Well Tampa has done dumber things. After all we have 1.25 original skyscrapers left from the cities first golden age. If you look from where the line ends though (atleast from my perspective) it looks like the road moves to take the spot of the street car.
Its not surprising another building got demolished. You'd think special interest groups in this town ran the demolition industry with how much gets demolished for stupid reasons.

Although the fuel building was pretty ugly. Still I hope they atleast try to reuse the materials.

The streetcar expansion plan doesn't have a station located there and Tampa doesn't own the land. And there's a station about 100 feet away. Not a streetcar station. The new station that we saw renderings of will be on Franklin/Whiting and won't need a building to be demolished.

Maybe it would be easier if we contacted someone from the city on this.

That is what I was thinking. I am going to call him tomorrow.

The Manager of the streetcar system says a hotel is going up, this is all I have heard.

Maybe it is the expansion for the Embassy Suites??? :?

I'll be contacting both the city and W Hotel about it.

I do remember I sent a email to W hotel a while back asking if they were still commited in building their hotel in Tampa and they replied quicly with a "yes". Things might have changed since then, but that's the last response.

Embassy could be a possibility, but I believe their proposed expansion was on top of their existing parking garage and not on this site. But again, things may have changed.

Btw jonknee, will you be passing by the location anytime this week or next? Just interested if the other buildings on the site will be meeting the same fate.

Btw jonknee, will you be passing by the location anytime this week or next? Just interested if the other buildings on the site will be meeting the same fate.

I'm down there all the time, I'll snap some photos if there is any changes.

I'm down there all the time, I'll snap some photos if there is any changes.
Cool, thanks!

I am going to be down there on Thursday, I will try and snap a few pics too.

Steve

One of my architecture professors is the city architect of Tampa I shot him an email and he said he'd find out for me.
PS) Cuban have you ever had Marti rum? Its really really good!

I walked by today and the building is all gone. It appears this is the only building being demolished as they were doing some touch-ups on the one next door (looked like sealing off the roof). The lot next to this that's currently being used for event parking could also be in play as there was some machinery there, but it looked like that may have just been a staging area for the equipment they used to demolish the building.

http://imgur.com/0lG1il.jpg

http://imgur.com/JrEAjl.jpg

Hopefully it is another surface parking lot! :ohno:

Steve

I guess it's a wait and see game at the moment. I've yet recieved a reply back from the city and W Hotel gave me some lame email that any news would end up on their website and asked me to do a survey. Shame if nothing turns out from this, I had some hope we would have something rising this year with this.

I've never seen so much vacant land in a downtown of a city with over 300k. This was an ugly building but why do they keep razing buildings over and over? I mean its pretty ridiculous how many buildings this town has demolished in its short 120 year existence.

because our city taxes you on the building . . . at least you can make enough money to cover the taxes through parking.

One of my architecture professors is the city architect of Tampa I shot him an email and he said he'd find out for me.
PS) Cuban have you ever had Marti rum? Its really really good!
Are you talking about Jackson?

Oh and btw, my guess is the land is being razed so that it is a 'turnkey' parcel, like so many other dead project sites around downtown. At this point, you really can't compete unless your land is zoned for something big and is ready to go. I would be astonished if we see further work once the site is cleaned up.

Well, that's why I want to find out of Fuel Group still owned the building before the demolition. If so, then its pretty much mandatory for them to start construction.

Alright, so finally got a email from someone in the city. Bob McDonaugh, Urban Development Manager, says that Fuel Group has no intention at the time to start construction and only demolished the building to generate income from convention center parking.

My question is, what happen to the agreement they made?

Alright, so finally got a email from someone in the city. Bob McDonaugh, Urban Development Manager, says that Fuel Group has no intention at the time to start construction and only demolished the building to generate income from convention center parking.

My question is, what happen to the agreement they made?

Ahhh, yet another surface parking lot in downtown Tampa. So basically a building can be demolished in order for revenues to be generated by parking lots until the economy improves?

Ahhh, yet another surface parking lot in downtown Tampa. So basically a building can be demolished in order for revenues to be generated by parking lots until the economy improves?
We take one step forward with the new Curtis Hixon, but take a step back with numerous parking lots in our CBD and Downtown. Guess we're just stuck in nuetral until some people with atleast some knowledge of a true city are elected council members and hired as urban developers.

lol... I told you guys.

lol... I told you guys.
It was too hard to believe. Like anyone wanted to see or hear another parking lot in the center of the city.

Btw, are you the jasonhouse on tbo in the Curtis Hixon story?

If I'm telling off some moron, yeah that's me.

If I'm telling off some moron, yeah that's me.
I don't know who to be more annoyed by; the guy that thinks this is some gift to Skypoint and Element or the one that thinks that they all the right to "shred" at Curtis Hixon like its another skate park. How old is the skateboarder anyways, 14?

Btw, are you the jasonhouse on tbo in the Curtsi Hixon story?
Link? :colgate:

Link? :colgate:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/article1067820.ece

Holy crap there is some stupidity coming from those replies, there is a skatepark like a mile away isn't there?

Newspaper comments are just a minor step up from YouTube comments--idiocy reigns supreme. Tends to be a bunch of confused retirees who have plenty to say with little grasp on reality.

And yes, there's a skatepark about a mile away.

given all our talk about empty lots and ideas, i thought this article in today's san francisco chronicle was relevant:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/26/MNDV1BKUM4.DTL

long story short? we can, and indeed do, rethink vacant space in american cities. this *could* work in tampa, too.

Its been along time since I've been on here. Hadn't kept up with this development and just assume that FUEL was torn down for the Streetcar. Thanks for everyones research. But I have more bad news...

My friend called me today to say that the One Story building on that lot was coming down! I will ride by on my way home from work and confirm and snap pictures. According to Prop appraisers website that little building was built in 1905. The property appraisers website already took off the information on the old Fuel nightclub building, anyone know how old that one was? (Im guessing 30s / 40s)

FUEL owns the entire block, including the old post office building. Wonder when they are tearing down the rest?

Well looks like they are going ahead and tearing down the whole block now!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2703/4501302338_cda6c1b1d0.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4500666907_04998f70c5.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2516/4501299838_bcd5cde8a4.jpg

That block would be a logical spot for the Tampa Convention Center to expand into, or another hotel.

My bet would be hotel...likely a surface parking lot right now. It would be great if it were something with height.

Steve

^^
agreed

I am not sure if this means anything at all, however, the manager listed on Sunbiz.org for Fuel Group is Indira Lalwani. That same manager is registered for the following companies:

FUEL GROUP LLC
FUEL INVESTMENTS & DEVELOPMENT LLC
FUEL INVESTMENT & DEVELOPMENT II, LLC
FUEL INVESTMENT & DEVELOPMENT III LLC
LEAPING LOUNGE LIZARDS LLC
TIJUANA IGUANA OF ORLANDO LLC
FUEL GROUP INTERNATIONAL INC
PALMS II AT CITRUS, LLC

The registered agent is Ameet A. Punawani who is registered for a host of companies, including several with Tijuana/mexican restaurant type names.

One would guess that the Fuel Investment companies would be in relation to the properties discussed in this thread on that block.

Just a bit more information.

Steve

It's official.... Parking lot it is! A Prudential "For Sale" sign and a Premier Parking sign have gone up on the site fence!!!

You can also lease office space at the old Post Office building: http://www.prucomm.com/properties/details/CRES984b35/

That's nice another historic block turned into a parking lot, ah Tampa..

While I wish it were not a parking lot now, it will not be one forever. I would not classify this as a good historic block though, it was just a small building that did not resemble anything old any longer. The actual Fuel building was OK, but it was still a small two floor building that could be anywhere. I am all for saving our historic buildings like Kress, Floridan, etc. but I would personally not put this in the same category. Maybe it is simply because I do not know the history of that block though.

Honestly I am surprised it took them so long to raze it and put parking there given its proximity to the TCC.

Steve

Tampasteve, your right these weren't amazing buildings by any means. And I do hope that this lot gets developed soon. Its just the waiting that kills me.http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t296/akb1710/DSCN2993.jpg

That's nice another historic block turned into a parking lot, ah Tampa..
I hardly consider the structures on that block to be 'historic'. Just because a building is old doesn't mean it's historic, or worthy of being preserved.

The Maas building getting torn down was a problem. The Gary Adult High School being torn down was a bit of a problem. If the old Federal Courthouse got torn down, that would be a major problem.

But tearing down some outmoded and totally mundane buildings is progress in my book. Whatever replaces them when the economy picks up will provide more activity for the neighborhood and a truckload more money in tax receipts than the old buildings ever could have.

One of my architecture professors is the city architect of Tampa
Is Jackson still the city architect?

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t296/akb1710/DSCN2993.jpg

Interestingly, now that those low buildings are gone you can see how well the area could interact between TCC, the Embassy Suites and that office building in the back. That could be a GREAT pedestrian oriented block with a lot of activity.

Steve

A couple years ago there was talk of the convention center expanding. This looks to be a logical spot. Maybe even do a public/private venture to include a hi-rise hotel on top of the convention center expansion.

If I am not mistaken, this is where a large hotel was planned (W?) until rather recently. Of course that project fell through with the rest of the economy. Indeed it is a logical place for TCC to expand to, or for a hotel development.

Steve

I hardly consider the structures on that block to be 'historic'. Just because a building is old doesn't mean it's historic, or worthy of being preserved.

The Maas building getting torn down was a problem. The Gary Adult High School being torn down was a bit of a problem. If the old Federal Courthouse got torn down, that would be a major problem.

But tearing down some outmoded and totally mundane buildings is progress in my book. Whatever replaces them when the economy picks up will provide more activity for the neighborhood and a truckload more money in tax receipts than the old buildings ever could have.
Yea but last thing we need is another empty lot.

Like I said earlier in the thread, the landowner doesn't care about aesthetics. He has to compete with other nearby landowners, whose parcels are already prepped and zoned for development. A site that needs demo is worth less than one that doesn't. (not only be4cause of the work itself, but because of the risks associated with demo and finding who knows what)

Also, I feel pretty strongly that if TCC was ever to expand, they would do so on the parcel south of the South Regional Garage, and possibly even over the top of the garage itself. The Fuel Group block isn't large enough to provide 'convention friendly' space.

Is Jackson still the city architect?

Thats what he told us last semester! :lol:

I had him for a class before (I had to retake Design2 at HCC. Due to a family crisis, I got an 'I', but then got crossed up and didn't get a real grade in time, and had to redo the class. I was well beyond that level at the time, and Jackson basically treated me as a T/A). He liked my work and effort enough he gave me his number and told me to come see him whenever I needed help with something (which I did a few times). I love the guy. He works hard and has a great personality/sense of humor.

He is the first minority City Architect, if I'm not mistaken.