I think it's necessary to make a seperate thread for this and not flood the Encore thread with a project not related to it.

Sorry I am not good at this, but i guess this project was related to a tampa trib article back in november.

St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Tampa is undergoing renovation. The building was dedicated in 1914.

By KATHY STEELE | The Tampa Tribune
Published: November 17, 2010
Updated: 11/17/2010 04:41 pm

TAMPA - The gothic majesty of St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church is encased in scaffolding while construction crews craft the church's destiny as a community center and keeper of history.

Beside the church building, a six-story apartment building, Metro 510, will welcome its first tenants in October 2011. Nurses, teachers, police officers and restaurant workers will fill 120 "workforce" affordable apartments in the building at 506 E. Harrison St.

Rents based on income will range from $325 for a one-bedroom apartment to $829 for a three-bedroom residence. The church's façade will be preserved, and the interior remodeled for a leasing office, exercise room, community room and other apartment amenities.

"It will be the first workforce housing in the core of downtown Tampa," said Debra Koehler, president of Sage Partners, the project's development company.

But what energizes Koehler and many of the church's former congregation is the preservation of the church's legacy. Its congregation dates to 1870; construction on the Harrison Street church began in 1906 and the church was dedicated in 1914.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. made one of his earliest speeches during the civil rights movement from St. Paul. Other iconic figures in black history also have graced the church's sanctuary, including baseball legend Jackie Robinson, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, singer Ray Charles and civil rights activist Jesse Jackson.

Bill Clinton made one of his last speeches at the church before his election as U.S. president.

"This is history that will be told and never be lost," Koehler said.

About 30 people including Mayor Pam Iorio held a groundbreaking ceremony for the project today.

Next door, Sage Partners also is renovating the 200-unit Methodist Place Apartments. The total investment in both projects is about $45 million including federal stimulus dollars. More than 500 jobs are being created.

Sage Partners was founded in 2007 and specializes in affordable, environmentally-friendly housing.

The buildings will be smoke-free inside and outside on apartment grounds.

Some of the church's pews were recycled to other churches in Tampa, Temple Terrace and Venice. Stained-glass windows are being restored. When they are replaced, they will be illuminated at night. "We truly believe in green," Koehler said. "We use sustainable materials."

The preservation of St. Paul, "one of our institutional landmarks," is another boost to downtown development, Iorio said. "Nothing makes a mayor happier than to see this here, to see people working, to see a groundbreaking," she said. "There aren't many communities still having groundbreakings."

The congregation in recent years struggled with a dwindling membership and lack of money for upkeep. Church trustee Pete Edwards said membership once topped 1,000 but had fallen to a 100 or fewer.

More than a year ago, Sage Partners stepped forward with a proposal to preserve the church and build affordable housing next to the Marion Street bus transfer station and a short distance from the Encore project which will replace Central Park Village with apartments, shops and hotels.

The bus station in the future also will be a stop for the high-speed train planned between Tampa and Orlando.

"Kids move on and things change," said Edwards. "It eventually works itself out. We're dedicated to helping the new generation coming down this way."

For Edwards that new generation includes his 6-month-old grandson, Michael Christian Edwards, who was the last baby baptized at the church. Edwards grabbed a shovel for the groundbreaking as his grandson, in a stroller, watched.

"There's a little sadness," Edwards said. "But you have to look toward the future."

Article with some details about the project.

Definitely not for Central Park. It's in the same block as the church and apparently is a new project... Designed by Urban Studio Architects. Interesting that we all missed it. Here are some pics.

http://i.imgur.com/woaTml.jpg (http://imgur.com/woaTm)

http://i.imgur.com/0EoS4l.jpg (http://imgur.com/0EoS4)

pics by jonknee, taken 12/8/10.

I've sent a request to Urban Studio for renderings. We'll see if I get a response...

I realize that it is affordable and income-based, but $325 still seems incredibly low. Cant wait to see renderings/visualizations, though.

I realize that it is affordable and income-based, but $325 still seems incredibly low. Cant wait to see renderings/visualizations, though.

lol I dunno how much you make but $325 seems just affordable to me. Although its probably incredibly small
Cost of living here is not exactly proportional to how much people make

lol I dunno how much you make but $325 seems just affordable to me. Although its probably incredibly small
Cost of living here is not exactly proportional to how much people make

If you can't afford $325 a month you shouldn't be living alone. It's not our metro, at that level you'd qualify for food stamps and the rest.

Indeed. If one cannot make $325 for rent alone then one should have either dual incomes or not live alone at all, at the least....Market rate for a decent place in that area is substantially higher. Even at "affordable" it should be around $550 IMO.

Steve

lol I dunno how much you make but $325 seems just affordable to me. Although its probably incredibly small
Cost of living here is not exactly proportional to how much people make

Yeah the reason I said it seemed kinda low is because the article mentioned specifically that it was targeted towards "Nurses, teachers, police officers and restaurant workers," which certainly aren't high earners but not exactly "low" either. If you calculate rent at 1/4th of your gross monthly income, then someone qualifying for a $325 place would only gross $15600/year (or about $7.80/hour. For low-income housing that might not be such a stretch, but for "affordable" or "workforce" housing it seemed kinda low.

But this is coming from someone who doesn't live in the area, so I really don't know much about the cost of living.

Anyway, its cool that your city is actively addressing a shortage of affordable housing for teachers, nurses and civil servants. My city (and so many other cities) is doing no such thing.

Yeah the reason I said it seemed kinda low is because the article mentioned specifically that it was targeted towards "Nurses, teachers, police officers and restaurant workers," which certainly aren't high earners but not exactly "low" either. If you calculate rent at 1/4th of your gross monthly income, then someone qualifying for a $325 place would only gross $15600/year (or about $7.80/hour. For low-income housing that might not be such a stretch, but for "affordable" or "workforce" housing it seemed kinda low.

But this is coming from someone who doesn't live in the area, so I really don't know much about the cost of living.

Anyway, its cool that your city is actively addressing a shortage of affordable housing for teachers, nurses and civil servants. My city (and so many other cities) is doing no such thing.

There are probably a small number of the cheapest units and still the rent would be on a sliding scale. I assume the figure ended up being what it is because it's tied to the funding they received (probably some formula based off of the poverty level or minimum wage).

I'm looking at total costs that I would have to pay if I lived there, I'm factoring in a car, school, books, food, utilities. But thats the way I'm lookin at it

I'm looking at total costs that I would have to pay if I lived there, I'm factoring in a car, school, books, food, utilities. But thats the way I'm lookin at it

Yeah, I figured.
I'm also a student so I know how that is, too.

I live in a very unaffordable apartment right now (rent is like 60% of my monthly income.)

I get what you were saying and knew what you meant. :)

I realize that it is affordable and income-based, but $325 still seems incredibly low. Cant wait to see renderings/visualizations, though.
The price has little meaning without knowing the square footage and building amenities, if there are any. This could be a killer price for a 2BR 850sq ft apartment, or it could be an ok price for a 350sq ft studio.

I think this project is called Heritage Place.

Clemmons Architecture prepared this design as its submittal in an invited competition for a new 120-unit affordable rental housing complex to be located in downtown Tampa. The 1.2 acre project site is a full city block located adjacent to the city’s main bus transit terminal. On the southwest corner of the block is a 1915 church building which is a local historic landmark and is to be renovated as the common use facilities for the project including a library, computer lab, fitness center, laundry, and administrative offices.

The new eight-story complex is designed as a perimeter block building organized around a central courtyard. The lower two levels are parking with 20 residential units per floor on the upper six levels. In order to reduce construction costs and also take advantage of the sub-tropical climate the corridors are open air. The building corners have been cut away to provide natural ventilation and daylighting to the corridors and also to visually break down the mass of the structure.


http://i56.tinypic.com/21aa73r.png

More renders here: http://www.clemmonsarchitecture.com/heritage_place.htm

Looks like shite! :ohno:

Not too bad really. Granted it would fit better in Channelside, but overall it could have been way worse. At least it has the parking under the building.


Steve

I don't think that rendering is what's being built. The architect chosen for this project is Urban Studio, not Clemmons.

I want to see the other side of the building. That's the side that matters, not this side.

^I think there's renderings for all sides at the link TampaGuy posted.

Yes, there are plenty of renderings on the website linked above....but whether they are of the building chosen in the end or not are up for debate. It would appear to be a different firm than the one chosen.

Steve

so - if this Clemons is the plan - which we have no idea about because urban studios has there name there- it is 8 stories with a two story parking garage running down two whole streets. I am ok wit the 8 stories (I think much better than 6 really) but the parking garage with nothing else is pretty bad

But, alas, that isn't it.

I couldn't see the renderings at work.



http://www.clemmonsarchitecture.com/images/heritage_place/image5_lrg.png

Is it too late to add a 9th floor... on the bottom? That actually includes some commercial space?

lol... What a joke this city's planning/zoning is.


And they used up the whole block, like I figured they would. My guess is the building has around a 25,000sqft footprint.

I couldn't see the renderings at work.



http://www.clemmonsarchitecture.com/images/heritage_place/image5_lrg.png

Is it too late to add a 9th floor... on the bottom? That actually includes some commercial space?

lol... What a joke this city's planning/zoning is.


And they used up the whole block, like I figured they would. My guess is the building has around a 25,000sqft footprint.
Joke? More like like an embarrassment. With Encore, USF Medical Building, Port Authority parking garage, and this; you begin to wonder if a monkey would do a better job. Like I said in another thread, this city has the potential to be a 8 or 9 but the problem is that the city itself plans and designs like a 3 or a 4.

My guess is its too late, the city wouldn't want to bother the developer, and/or the developer wouldn't want to be bothered with the changes. It might be too much work for the Planning Department anyways, because they obviously have their hands full properly designing a city that has a Port for trade and cruises, Air Force Base, decent airport, two great universities, and being connected to the country's first HSR line. ;)

I was joking about changing the building. The commercial space issue in a project such as this would have had to have been dealt with way earlier in the process.

Maybe the ground floor of the parking garage can be modified later to accommodate a couple of retail stalls, and the city could allow on-street parking along Morgan St, or issue permits for residents to park in existing on-street spaces nearby.

I was joking about changing the building. The commercial space issue in a project such as this would have had to have been dealt with way earlier in the process.

Maybe the ground floor of the parking garage can be modified later to accommodate a couple of retail stalls, and the city could allow on-street parking along Morgan St, or issue permits for residents to park in existing on-street spaces nearby.

Maybe after the HSR station and there's demand for retail they can convert it. Better late than never I guess, but better earlier than later.

Have we seen the renderings on this thread yet of what is actually being built? I think the renderings posted above are from an architect (Clemmons) that was NOT ultimately selected for this project. The architect that was selected is Urban Studio Architects.

Right - that is not the proper rendering

It doesn't matter if it's the real rendering, the people on this board are so negative that it's just another excuse to complain about this city.

Maybe so, but I see nothing wrong with saying that 4 stories of cheap housing over two stories of exposed garage (most likely) is a bad idea. You really thing the materials and design for "workforce" housing is going to be of good quality. This is the kind of filler for areas outside downtown, not in downtown.

It doesn't matter if it's the real rendering, the people on this board are so negative that it's just another excuse to complain about this city.
Well then by all means, give us something to be positive about.

Well then by all means, give us something to be positive about.

I recently opened a creative co-op on an unused floor in a building downtown. There wasn't a space like I was looking for, so I did the hard thing and made it. It's not much, but it's one less dead spot.

I recently opened a creative co-op on an unused floor in a building downtown. There wasn't a space like I was looking for, so I did the hard thing and made it. It's not much, but it's one less dead spot.

Congrats :)

What's a creative co-op?

Congrats :)

What's a creative co-op?

Shared office / studio space for people who would typically work alone. Audio production, film, painting, web development, etc. The space is ours together, but we each work on our own stuff.

Shared office / studio space for people who would typically work alone. Audio production, film, painting, web development, etc. The space is ours together, but we each work on our own stuff.

that's fantastic -- as a long time tampan-turned-californian, i'm really happy to see smart ideas like that here. whereabouts are you located?

good luck!:cheers:

that's fantastic -- as a long time tampan-turned-californian, i'm really happy to see smart ideas like that here. whereabouts are you located?

good luck!:cheers:

Off Franklin St, above The Hub.

Good for you bro. I hope everything goes well.

Now, do you think you can get the city 'leaders' to clue in on how to build a livable city?

Off Franklin St, above The Hub.

Ah, walked by last night. Good spot, and good luck!

So if these aren't the renderings for the project, has anyone gotten the real ones?

Isn't it odd that there are no renderings available? Wouldn't you think you'd want to promote it if you were the developer?

If you look around us, I don't think anyone really cares in this town lol.
Especially the developer, its FL where most people live in ugly cookie cutter houses, and go to cookie cutter retail centers.

I know we care, and a lot of architects do, but our politicians, and general public could care less

I understand part of this project is funded with "stimulus" funds. Translation = some well connected developer with good political connections got to dip into the kettle thus lining their pockets with little to no regard on what the end product turns out like.

^Which is why it's up to the city to make sure that regulations prevent such carelessness with what gets built.

So if these aren't the renderings for the project, has anyone gotten the real ones?

I emailed Urban Studio but never got a response back.

weird

I emailed Urban Studio but never got a response back.

I know someone else who did too. Obviously, if they were proud of the design there would be a rendering on their banner.

I know someone else who did too. Obviously, if they were proud of the design there would be a rendering on their banner.

... Or they told their client they wouldn't release it until an agreed upon date. Whoever's paying the bills makes the rules.

^But the building is under construction... Who holds back the design of a building actually being built that will soon be marketed to the public?

^ McDonalds? ;-)

I caught a quick glimpse of Metro 510 while in Tampa today and they have two floors completed and were on their way to the third.

What happens to this place now that the HSR is dead? Wasn't the proposed station next door its selling point?

I drove by the place last night and there is nothing out there worth seeing, besides the graveyard... Now with no HSR station, me thinks this place will be a flop.

^The fact that the units are below market rate will help considerably. But you are right that with HSR dead, basically any project in northern downtown looks way less attractive today than it did 2 days ago. In fact, this city, region and state all look way less attractive to investors today than they did 2 days ago.

^^
Agreed. Unless a public-private partnership can be created between the cities, businesses, and investors, HSR is DEAD.

You've got that slightly backwards... HSR is officially DEAD now... If a public/private partnership excluding the state can be hashed out, HSR will be REVIVED.

^ The fact that the FEDS are even considering finding a way to bypass the "state" in order to keep this moving should make this a no brainer. If there is a way, legally, to form whatever partnership needs to be formed to keep it moving, I say do it!

LETS GET TO WORK.... BYPASSING RICK SCOTT!!!

Ok, sorry that I hijacked this thread lol

Anyone see any progress or pics of this recently?

Steve

Saw it yesterday. Didn't get close enough but it looks like they are on the third floor. I hate it. It will be more horizontal than vertical.

Saw it yesterday. Didn't get close enough but it looks like they are on the third floor. I hate it. It will be more horizontal than vertical.

Hey, at least it won't be taking up valuable space next to the HSR...

lol!

I think they're on the 4th now actually...

yeah they are on the 5th, i just walked by it today but 2 of the floors are parking. I also walked by the Hotel Floridan and it looks amazing inside including the grand staircase.

There were a couple people working on the exterior windows on the first floor when I drove by there. I slowed down to try to see through the windows but couldn't see anything. I guess you have to walk up to it and look in. They must be doing some "quality" reno to this, since it's taking so long.

A tidbit out the development forum this morning... Metro 510 will have a rooftop garden. We recently started a (small) rooftop garden off Franklin Street and it would be great to see that be a trend. Green roofs are awesome.

^^Where is your rooftop garden?

^^Where is your rooftop garden?

Polk/Franklin. It's in the beginning stages and is mostly herbs right now. I'd like to get some peppers and tomatos going to make a downtown salsa, but we'll see :).

THats really cool, I am glad there is one

Snapped a pic today on the walk to my polling place.

http://i.imgur.com/FgtfXl.jpg (http://i.imgur.com/FgtfX.jpg)

Nice Picture. I wish the development was a little taller but hey I am happy they are building at all and it looks like they are doing a nice job on the church.

The church is going to be somewhat of a community center too, which is a nice plus.

Perfect timing with the pic. I was down there Sunday and forgot the MEMORY CARD for my new camera, so no pics from me.

The one thing I noticed is the building simply must have 8' ceilings. The building has 5 enclosed floors now, and it's STILL not taller than the small church next door.

Metro 510 as of 5/3/2011

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5287/5685255607_806eb2f872.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tampamike/5685255607/)
Tampa 018 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tampamike/5685255607/) by TampaMike2 (http://www.flickr.com/people/tampamike/), on Flickr

By MICHELLE BEARDEN | The Tampa Tribune
Published: May 27, 2011
Updated: May 27, 2011 - 4:47 PM
TAMPA --
Caroline Roberts chokes up just talking about what may become of her beloved church.
She wonders what those 17 settlers who set down roots for Tampa's first Methodist congregation in 1846 would think. Or her great-great granddaddy, itinerant minister E. F. Gates, who came in 1872 to shepherd the flock. Worn Bibles in hand, they would gather for praise and worship in a building made of hand-hewn logs and clapboard siding affectionately called "The Little White Church."
Her grandfather preached here; so did her father. Roberts and her husband, Dale, married here. Their two children were baptized and attended Sunday school here.
Roberts, 77, figures she's invested most of her life in downtown Tampa's First United Methodist Church, either in the pews or representing the church as a community volunteer. The congregation is her second family.
Now that family may soon be breaking up.
This week, about 2,000 delegates of the Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church will vote on a recommendation to close the church, along with six others in the state. Their annual gathering is at the Tampa Convention Center this year, about 15 blocks from the church at 1001 N. Florida Ave.
Florida's bishop, Timothy Whitaker, says "discontinuance" recommendations aren't made lightly. TheTampa church's future has been under scrutiny for several years, and the subject of numerous meetings and reviews. But when a church is declining and its congregation deemed unable to effectively continue its ministry, "hard decisions have to be made."
While there's no getting around the sadness of the situation, Whitaker says, it's also an opportunity for a new beginning.
"In the bigger picture, our mission is not to be tied to a particular building, but to make disciples of Christ for the world," he says. "We have to be good stewards of the resources we have. All our congregations are going through a process of transformation because we're living in a new reality these days."
Roberts calls it a betrayal. She blames it on a windfall of money the church got last year – money that members believe was rightfully theirs to revitalize their congregation. But the money is being claimed by the conference's South Central District to invest in a new, as yet undetermined, urban ministry.
"I feel like I'm being excommunicated," Roberts says, her voice breaking. "We've been here 164 years, growing up along with Tampa. If these doors close, a part of me dies with it."
* * * * *
It used to be a bustling place, the place of worship for the city's most prominent Methodists.
On the Sabbath, they gathered in their Sunday best, first to pray and then for pot-luck lunches in the fellowship hall. Other days of the week, members heeded their denomination's call to serve as Christ's emissaries, from visiting the sick to feeding the hungry. Members were instrumental in launching ministries and providing workers to nonprofits that still thrive today: Meals on Wheels, Metropolitan Ministries, Tampa Children's Home, Cornerstone Family Ministries, the Clothes Closet, Steppin' Stone Farm, Methodist Place.
In 1914, Tony Jannus piloted the first commercial flight from Tampa to St. Pete, using the spire of First United Methodist to navigate his way back to Tampa. Two of its high-profile pastors went on to become Methodist bishops. Several other Methodist congregations were spawned from this venerable mother institution, which helped provide guidance and spiritual support to the fledging churches.
Attorney Terrell Sessums, a former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, and his wife, Neva, joined the church nearly a half-century ago. He remembers sitting in the balcony with his children because the ground floor of the 450-seat sanctuary was typically filled to capacity.
"This was a thriving, vital congregation," he says. He volunteered tirelessly; one of his most satisfying accomplishments was serving on the building committee for the current sanctuary, which opened in December 1968. Back then, the future was bright and boundless.
But societal changes slowly choked the anticipated growth. As urban dwellers migrated to the burgeoning suburbs, some downtown churches began to lose attendance and stature. Young families that had populated dropped off to join churches in their own neighborhoods and others began flocking to contemporary, fast-growing evangelical Christian churches.
Though the practice is changing, Methodist ministers used to be routinely reassigned by the local bishop. Sometimes, the matches worked and turned into long-term partnerships.
First United Methodist's history of strong leaders ended "maybe about 20 years ago," Sessums says, as fewer pastors were willing to accept a downtown job with all its challenges: Less staff, an aging congregation, a smaller salary and operating budget.
"We haven't gotten the right matches here," he says. "We have challenges, and you need someone with the vision and energy to lead the efforts. Not everyone is suited for this particular situation."
In recent years, there have been a lot more funerals than baptisms at First United Methodist. Though the membership rolls claim about 150 people, average Sunday attendance at its one Sunday morning service draws about 50, and many of those are elderly. Still, thanks to bequests and steady support from members who can still tithe, the church pays its bills promptly, is free of debt and always contributes its full annual apportionment to the conference, upwards of $40,000. It has more than $100,000 in the bank.
And church members had the security of knowing they had one investment that was going to bring them big dividends: Methodist Place, a low-income senior residential housing project with 200 units across the street from the church.
* * * * *
Nearly 40 years ago, church members formed a nonprofit entity to build the 14-floor complex with money from Housing and Urban Development. The project reflected the Methodist mission of serving the poor and the elderly; by partnering with HUD and setting up its own board of directors, it kept the business operation separate from the church. The church was considered a project sponsor, and members served on the board and provided volunteers, but the church and the nonprofit were not legally connected.
Two years ago, the board got an offer from Sage Partners, a south Tampa development group, to buy Methodist Place. The company is developing the surrounding neighborhood with affordable housing, and was in the process of purchasing the nearby St. Paul African Methodist Church property. As part of the agreement, which included negotiations with six different parties, Methodist Place would be renamed and folded into the urban redevelopment project.
The timing seemed right to sell, says board president and general contractor Jim Ware. Although he grew up in the church, he converted to his wife's Catholic faith and now attends Christ the King in Tampa. His connection is still strong, though; on Sundays, he and his siblings take turns driving their 99-year-old father, longtime member Earl Ware, to services.
"I see how close-knit this congregation is, and how much these people have contributed to our community," Ware says. "They have every right to be proud. They deserve to have a happier ending than what is unfolding now."
The $4.5 million sale was completed in October. The board was required by HUD to redirect about $2.5 million of the proceeds back into affordable housing. It accomplished that by loaning Sage money for capital improvements to the Methodist Place building. After paying off the remaining mortgage, the board voted on where to direct the rest of the proceeds.
It chose First United Methodist Church.
"We know they needed funding to jumpstart their plans to turn things around. With this money and the interest on the loan to Sage, this could have made that financially feasible," Ware says.
Officials at both the conference and district levels, however, didn't see it that way. In the guidelines set forth by the Methodist Book of Discipline, all church assets belong to the denomination, not the people.
After the sale was finalized in October, the money was put in trust by the South Central District. Church members were told they had until the end of December to develop a five-year plan for revitalizing and becoming self-sufficient. They scrambled to put together a proposal, which included hiring a new pastor to replace the departing minister, the Rev. Michael Frazier, a choir director and youth minister, and development of ministries that would serve the anticipated residential base as surrounding housing and mixed-use downtown projects are completed.
The plan was submitted by the deadline. Months passed. In April, the Rev. Sharon Austin, district superintendent, came to a church leadership meeting to tell members that the proposal was found unacceptable and not workable.
Austin told the Tribune that it was a "very difficult decision" to recommend closure, and it was not intended to be personally directed against the members. Though the finances and desire might be there to continue the church, that's not enough.
"Money needs to follow vision and action," she says.
The district is firmly committed to redirecting the money to another downtown ministry, once the best course is determined. The legacy of First United Methodist will live on, she says, and will be a fitting tribute to all the contributions the congregation made in its 164 years. The district will also provide support in helping members find a new Methodist church to ease the transition.
* * * * *
"Am I upset? I would say angry," says Faye Culp, a former state representative. She and her husband made First United Methodist their home church when they came here 43 years ago. The fellowship and camaraderie they found back then still exists today, and she's not going quietly into the night. "We are very proud of our heritage and want to continue it."
In her opinion, and many others', this was all about the money. If Methodist Place hadn't been sold, "we would have been allowed to go about our business. We don't owe anyone and we pay our bills. Once we got that money, they really had no intention of letting us work on a revitalization plan."
Besides the money, the church's assets include an entire city block, with the sanctuary, an 85-seat chapel, an education building, a fellowship hall, an administration wing, sufficient parking and a south Tampa parsonage. Austin says there are no plans to sell the properties.
On May 4, members voted unanimously to stay open. Their voting representative will make their case at the annual convention, which opens Wednesday. They are asking for two years to aggressively work on a renewal program. They want use of the funds from the Methodist Place sale, including the interest from the loan to Sage, which comes to nearly $200,000 a year.
Sessums isn't too hopeful, but he says it was their only choice.
To voluntarily agree to close would have been "suicide," he says. To go before the voting membership, which usually goes along with recommendations made by the conference cabinet – comprised of district superintendents and the bishop – is like an "execution."
"It's a shame to think that years of effort, tradition and service will just be erased," he says. "I feel somehow that we failed by not carrying the mission of the church forward. It's just a sad situation."

mbearden@tampatrib.com

My guess is it will sit empty for 20 years before the city tears it down, then at last we get a downtown Burger King.

Anyone been in Tampa to see the latest on this? I know it's topped out, any idea if any exterior work has started yet?

Anyone been in Tampa to see the latest on this? I know it's topped out, any idea if any exterior work has started yet?


I was down there the other morning, not to much to speak of since the last pics were posted on here.

Anyone been in Tampa to see the latest on this? I know it's topped out, any idea if any exterior work has started yet?

From what I saw, it will look like a blah box when it's done.

It's for low income residents. It's not gonna be the Taj.

It's for low income residents. It's not gonna be the Taj.

Yeah I know. I didn't expect it to be the Taj. I don't expect anything in Tampa to be the Taj. Anyway, it's going to be so drab that it won't even be worth looking at.

I got a glace of it I think. Looks like they are painting it with at least three different colors. Because of its low height, it's just not very noticeable from the Interstate.

By Mark Puente, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Sunday, September 11, 2011

The Great Recession had already saddled downtown with hundreds of vacant apartments and condos when Matthew Midyett and his two brothers invested millions to open a Powerhouse Gym in late 2008. • People said they were nuts; who would use the 17,000-square-foot facility? • The gym opened with just 300 customers. But today, that number has grown to 4,800, a testament to a surprising boom in residential life in downtown Tampa.
Despite the lackluster economy and a generally stagnant housing market, downtown finds empty-nesters, young professionals and retirees jostling for condos or apartments as soon as they hit the market.
Unlike other parts of the Tampa Bay area, downtown's 4,325 residential units suffer from minimal foreclosure and short-sale listings.
Midyett has expanded six times since opening at 1120 E Kennedy Ave., growing to 31,000 square feet. He credits the downtown migration for helping him pay off $1 million worth of equipment. Most customers are neighborhood residents, not just downtown workers.
"We took a chance," he said. "Many people are buying into the urban lifestyle. It's booming. The less people that drive, the better."
Shannon Robins is among the converts.
While living in suburban Atlanta, she and her boyfriend spent hours sitting on clogged interstates. After her employer transferred her to Tampa, Robins wanted more than a change of scenery.
"We want to be in the city," said Robins, who grew up in Clearwater. "There's no way I'd move to the suburbs. We want the ability to walk places and to ride our bikes everywhere."
Finding that lifestyle wasn't as easy as she thought it would be. Even with a Realtor scouring the market for units priced between $1,500 and $1,800, Robins said that most places had multiple offers within hours. She finally found a $1,995-a-month unit at the Grand Central at Kennedy building.
A survey conducted this year by HCP & Associates reported that 85 percent of downtown Tampa residences were occupied. While the dismal economy stopped high-rise construction and the sales of new lofts and urban condos, developers and banks started filling empty towers with renters.
Prices were sliced by half or more. But there's more to the downtown renaissance than that.
The city transformed a once-sterile business center with boarded-up buildings into a thriving waterfront entertainment hub. Since 2008, major segments of Riverwalk opened up the waterfront. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park underwent a $42 million reconstruction that turned the park into downtown's back yard.
The boxy Glazer Children's Museum and the Tampa Museum of Art became architectural and cultural beacons. The Tampa Bay History Center and Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park expanded. The streetcar line was extended. Dozens of restaurants and bars opened. The St. Pete Times Forum is undergoing a $35 million-plus facelift.
Another sign of progress is a new dog park nestled between a tire shop, oil company and vacant lot near the Port of Tampa. The city is putting another dog park at E 12th and Washington streets.
Still needed, residents say, are convenience stores and coffee shops. And a grocery store.
"Even a small grocery store would be a winner," said Gil Parsley, who moved from Arizona 16 months ago.
'Center of everything'
After living on Harbour Island years ago, Parsley wanted a thriving urban center where he could walk everywhere. The retired commercial real estate worker ditched his large home and bought a two-bedroom condo in the Slade at Channelside.
He now walks to the gym, restaurants, movies and parks. His car rarely hits the road.
"I like it. I feel like I am in the center of everything," Parsley said. "It was a win-win for me."
The city is working to meet the demands of people calling downtown home, said Bob McDonaugh, Tampa's urban development manager. He expects a grocery store to open in the near future.
"We're getting pretty close, but we are not there yet," he said. "We're trying to make this a great place to live."
Cranes will soon be back in business. Two apartment projects will add more than 700 units and a park near the Channelside district.
This summer, a Miami developer paid about $27 million for 215 vacant condos in the 294-unit Slade complex. The 215 units are now nearly all rented.
The developer of the Grand Central at Kennedy is converting luxury rentals to condos. Nearly half of the 296 units had been rentals. Tampa-based Smith & Associates has sold seven units since June 15.
Prices range from the low $100,000s to $300,000. David Traynor, a Smith vice president, said seasoned professionals from 35 to 55 are showing more interest than younger workers. Given that luxury buildings take several years to go from the drawing board to completion, potential buyers "realize this is the last opportunity" to buy new construction, he said.
More moderate means
Luxury units aren't the only additions.
Sage Partners recently built Metro 510. The 120-unit apartment project wrapped around the historic St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church at Harrison and Morgan streets. Prices range from $588 a month for a one-bedroom unit to $808 for a three-bedroom unit.
Debra Koehler, president of Sage Partners, plans to target service workers and entry-level employees who cannot afford luxury units. The apartments have granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances and offer "a very hip, urban feel," she said.
The rentals go on the market Monday. She expects to fill the complex by year's end.
"There's been a demand for this," Koehler said. "The reason people want to be downtown is because of all the after-5 p.m. activity."
The neighborhood is ripe for more growth, said Christine Burdick, president of the Tampa Downtown Partnership. A factor contributing to the resurgence, she said, is that the area wasn't overbuilt during the housing boom like Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
Given the area's proximity to downtown St. Petersburg, Burdick said both areas aren't competing for the same buyers or renters. "We have a lot of opposites. St. Pete is a complement. People want to come to these places."
Tammy and Gary Swisher moved to downtown Tampa from Sarasota more than a year ago so Gary could stop commuting to a downtown law office. They rented an apartment to share with their three poodles and kept their Sarasota home.
The nearby movies, shopping, dining, arts and entertainment sealed the deal. She said they never have to leave the neighborhood and can walk everywhere.
"I don't see a drawback to this," she said while walking her dogs. "We like the convenience of everything."
Mark Puente can be reached at mpuente@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8459. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/markpuente.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/realestate/downtown-tampa-condos-act-as-hub-for-self-contained-living/1190734

Too bad Duckweed didn't get a shout out--it counts as a small grocery / convenience store. Regardless, good article and it does well to mention everything that has been going on. If you haven't been by Powerhouse lately, it is impressive (as a 31k sq ft gym should be).

Here are the photos from the article.

http://www.tampabay.com/multimedia/archive/00190/downtown_190660a.JPG

http://www.tampabay.com/multimedia/archive/00190/0426589228_190561b.jpg

http://www.tampabay.com/multimedia/archive/00190/d4s_churchexterior0_190559b.jpg

A little simple but I think it's good for downtown and the community. It's also good they have some more affordable housing

Downtown Tampa apartments Metro 510 filling up quickly
Times staff
Posted: Oct 07, 2011 08:42 PM

Downtown Tampa's newest apartment complex is quickly filling up.
The Metro 510, a 120-unit apartment project wrapped around the historic St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church at Harrison and Morgan streets, leased nearly half the units in less than two weeks after going on the market.
Prices range from $588 a month for a one-bedroom unit to $808 for a three-bedroom unit. Sage Partners, the complex owner, is targeting service workers and entry-level employees who cannot afford luxury units in luxury towers.
Debra Koehler, president of the firm, said its marketing focused on downtown employers, adding: "I was hopeful it would go this quick. It went viral."
Despite the lackluster economy and a generally stagnant housing market, empty-nesters, young professionals and retirees are jostling for condos or apartments as soon as they hit the market in downtown Tampa.
Sage Partners is also holding a grand opening at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 19 for Vista 400, a newly renovated senior community in downtown at 400 E Harrison St. Prices range from $629 for a studio apartment to $699 a month for a one-bedroom unit. The building is restricted to people 55 and older or disabled. The firm spent nearly $6 million renovating the 40-year-old building.

This isn't really that important but just something to get people talking.

Having another 300 or so people living in that part of DT is definitely a good thing. Too bad most of them won't have much disposable income for patronizing nearby businesses.

Having another 300 or so people living in that part of DT is definitely a good thing. Too bad most of them won't have much disposable income for patronizing nearby businesses.

Except for something like a grocery store...

Cranes will soon be back in business. Two apartment projects will add more than 700 units and a park near the Channelside district.

While he did not elaborate on this in the article, maybe this is the Martin and something else? Really, why did he not elaborate?

Any new residents for downtown is good plus I think it's important to have a healthy downtown to have people of various income levels. I have some cool artistic friends that are trying to get a place there that otherwise be priced out of downtown.

While he did not elaborate on this in the article, maybe this is the Martin and something else? Really, why did he not elaborate?

I figure they're also referring to the Related Group project where the dead Seaport Channelside project was located.

While he did not elaborate on this in the article, maybe this is the Martin and something else? Really, why did he not elaborate?
Well one thing, he forgot the Encore project.

I was thinking the Related Group project as well Jason. Don't know the other. The RG project was announced with 360 units, so that means 340 units for the other. And The Martin had around 650 units planned. So I can't think it would be that.

Maybe they're still going to build the lowrise apartments next to the shops? (where valet presently is)

Maybe they're still going to build the lowrise apartments next to the shops? (where valet presently is)
Any idea who was behind that though? I tried going pages in the Channelside thread because I remember talking about it but gave up once I went back to page 92. lol