Where in the newspaper is it in?

I found it....here's the link.

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/01/05/Hillsborough/Condo_projects_in_wor.shtml

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/01/05/images/condos.jpg
kennedy condos

edit - ^he beat me to it

That's very nice filler. This goes on the UT side of the river, right?

yes Maxim. They say east of S Boulevard -- which is the Travelodge Inn and surface parking...

http://photos.stonegauge.com/pix/d/14-1/woodpartnerbuildings.jpg

the greyed out area represents where I think the buildings are going

I think it would be nice to build up both sides of the river and not just one.

IT is the UT side of the river but the south side of Kennedy (I think) - and the empty lot across from the Valencia, not the Travelodge - as far as I can tell - right across from where Kennedy and Grand Central split at Snell park

^right... the site is the top (east) half of what JohnF highlighted... That whole block has only two owners, and both have the typical made up corporate names used by developers.

Plus,there's no way the relatively new Wachovia Bank built like 4-5 years ago would be getting sold and torn down for its land. (sw corner of bottom block highlighted)

Nice looking project. I've always thought that area around UT (west side of river, between Kennedy & I-275) had a lot of potential.

Thought the following blurb from the Tampa Downtown Partnership website was interesting -
http://www.tampasdowntown.com/memo.htm

"Speaking of Franklin Street, some may have heard about another residential project planned for the northern part of downtown. Tampa City Council recently approved a 20-story high-rise development to be constructed near Massey Park. The name of the project has not been announced, but this is another sign things are changing for the better. The Partnership now records a total of 1,400 units either under construction or now planned for the North Franklin Street area."

Anyone have any ideas of what project they are referring to here?

Add this to the Residences at Franklin, the Arlington, and the proposed Kress project and Wood Partners (Maas) building, and Franklin Street could be a happening area in about 4-5 years.

They should be referring to The Royal. I have an image but not sure how to post it.

email it to someone and they will put it on a server and post it.

email it to me... jasonhouse@skyscrapercity.info.

I fixed it for him by putting it up on a image server.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a86/mcruder/theRoyal.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a86/mcruder/theRoyal1.jpg

^Well, I was just coming to post the renderings sent to me, but I see that you got them to work...


I think that the projec is pretty cool... It's certainly different than anything else going on in Tampa right now.

Not bad! Looks like it would hide Meth Place from one angle, which is a good thing.

Thanks Matt!

Looks ok, but I won't endorse it until I see details.

I like it. It steps out from the brick stuctures and gives it a metallic look to it. And if I'm right, the 10th floor has a pool

One thing that confuses me... That rendering depicts a 25-26 story building, not 20 stories.

One thing that confuses me... That rendering depicts a 25-26 story building, not 20 stories.
you're right, 25 floors, maybe Tampa let them add more floors and they haven't change the plans for it.

Or, maybe the DT Partnership got its information wrong...




Condo Developer Has Royal Plans For North Franklin


The Tampa Tribune
By ELLEN GEDALIUS egedalius@tampatrib.com

Published: Jan 24, 2006




TAMPA - A proposed 27-story condo project has the potential to change Tampa's skyline while breathing new life into Franklin Street.

Harry Hedges, managing member of H&R Florida Properties, plans to build a 182-unit condo tower, with 12,000 square feet of retail space and a high-end spa.

The building, slated for Franklin and Harrison streets, will be called The Royal.

"It's close to the performing arts center; it's close to the library - all the things you want in a metropolitan area," Hedges said. "Finally, we realize that bringing residential into downtown Tampa means so much to developing a livable city."

The Royal is the latest condo project planned for the once-bustling downtown corridor.

Now, many buildings sit vacant. Hedges said he hopes his project and others like it spur other landowners to develop their properties or sell to someone who can.

Wood Partners plans to turn the Maas Bros. building on Franklin Street into a 450-unit condominium with 12,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor. The building will be 33 stories.

The Arlington Hotel, on Franklin between Fortune and Royal streets, is being transformed into condos and offices. The Residences of Franklin Street is another condo project blocks from the new SkyPoint condominiums.

A developer plans three condo towers for the Kress and Grant blocks, bringing 975 units to the strip.

In all, about 1,400 units are either under construction or planned for the North Franklin area, according to the Tampa Downtown Partnership.

"It just proves that North Franklin is developing into another residential community for Tampa," said Paul Ayres, the partnership's director of marketing and business development. "Franklin will turn back into the heart of the city."

Redeveloping Franklin Street has been a priority of Mayor Pam Iorio's administration. Iorio wants more people on the streets after dark, and bringing residences and shops to Franklin is one way to do it, she has said.

Hedges' daughter, Leslie Shirah, plans to open Fly Bar & Restaurant on Franklin Street in June. The restaurant will be open late and feature live music.

At the Royal, the smallest units will be about 650 square feet. The penthouse will be about 3,800 square feet. The average cost, per square foot, is $370.

Hedges hopes to break ground next year.

I'm very much a fan of it. Something fresh!

I like it. Very much dig that metallic wall. :)

Men Plan Tampa Heights Condos

The Tampa Tribune
By JOS PATIO GIRONA jpatino@tampatrib.com
Published: Jan 19, 2006


TAMPA HEIGHTS - Two years after the Stetson University College of Law opened, the first residential development near the school is being planned.

Two businessmen have combined their properties at Franklin and Tampa streets to ride the wave of downtown development that appears to be heading north on Franklin. The project could boost an area in limbo for years.

Tom Rodgers, who owns Robertson Billiard Supplies, 1721 N. Franklin St., and Fermin Rodriguez propose 16 condominium lofts at the site of an office building Rodriguez owns at 1703 Tampa St.

"We are hoping it sets the mood for the look of the area," Rodriguez said.

Rodgers said he began discussing developing a large commercial and residential project with area business and landowners several years ago but never reached a consensus.

When the Tampa Heights building where Rodgers manufactured custom pool tables burned in December 2004, he and Rodriguez agreed to develop their properties. The manufacturing building, 1616 Franklin St., was behind Rodriguez's office building.

The proposed three-story, Mediterranean-style University Lofts would have 1,300-square-foot units with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage. There would be a courtyard with a fountain and 4,000 square feet of first-floor retail.

The lofts could be priced at $400,000, Rodgers said.

The city council is scheduled Feb. 9 to consider rezoning the properties from commercial intensive to planned development.

Lena Young-Green, president of the Tampa Heights Civic Association, said her group supports the project and considers it a complement to the law school.

"We are looking for anything that will make that area better," Young-Green said. "Coming from downtown, that is the front door to Tampa Heights.

"We have learned to be patient," she said. "One of the things that encourages us is that it's moving. We understand projects take some time."

Rodgers and Rodriguez have known each other for six years.

Rodriguez, 78, who retired as a pharmacist in 1989, bought his one-story office building 25 years ago after a friend encouraged him to purchase property for retirement income. His tenants are a courier service and a paralegal, but the office building isn't full.

Rodgers and his wife, Debra, bought the pool table business from her father 15 years ago.

"There is no question in our minds that this area is going to boom," Rodriguez said. "I have been waiting for it for 25 years. Now it's here."

Maybe this will be the next area to start developing (north of the interstate) but is it all considered Tampa Heights and how high can they build? Would look nice to see some taller buildings on the other side of 275.

Maybe this will be the next area to start developing (north of the interstate) but is it all considered Tampa Heights and how high can they build? Would look nice to see some taller buildings on the other side of 275.

Since that land it farther from Peter Knight Airport, it probably doesn't face the same safety limitations on height that buildings in the current tower area of downtown face (seems to be about 600'). Knowing the city council, however, they would probably be reluctant to zone that area for super towers until the current central business district is all built up.

That area probably was zoned for small stuff a long time ago. In a mid-rise or high-rise you would have a great view of DT and malfunction junction. We will just have to wait and see what happens.

Since that land it farther from Peter Knight Airport, it probably doesn't face the same safety limitations on height that buildings in the current tower area of downtown face (seems to be about 600'). Knowing the city council, however, they would probably be reluctant to zone that area for super towers until the current central business district is all built up.

I would actually agree with building up the CBD and Channelside first because otherwise your just spreading semi-urbanism that Tampa already has. Its better to be dense in the core then to have a large fringy core. IMO

In reality, if one looks at the "CBD" portion of DT Tampa, there isn't much that isn't already locked up with existing highrises, plans for a new project, public use, or some other form of developent that isn't going to be bulldozed any time soon...Stray too far from the intersection of Florida and Kennedy, and suddenly you're supposedly in some other part of town like the "North Franklin historic district" or the "cultural arts district" or the "Channelside district".... Horseshit. It's all DOWNTOWN.

To me, anything within the longheld geographic definition of "downtown"... that is, I-275/Ybor Channel/Garrison Channel/Hillsborough River... is basically fair game for any hieght or density that the FAA will tolerate or the infrastructure (now or future) can reasonably accomodate.

Propose something significantly taller than what's nearby outside of that zone, and then people can start feeling justified in getting their panties in a knot over hieght and shadows and so on.

I completely agree. If you are on the downtown peninsula - from the top of Ybor CHannel across to the 275 bridge over the river - you should be able to go up. period. All those districts are BS that started with the downtown development authority. It was all downtown and port before - most of the waterfront even had wharves on it. Gasparilla used to start at Curtis Hixon Hall (now the park) and wind through downtown.



Adamo is not there though. I think some limits on Adamo are ok.

Tampa should take what ever it can get for the DT region. I would much rather see a 40 story skyscraper near I-275, then an industrial factory or run down neighborhoods as some cities have.

There seems to be a common misperception by many that downtown is strictly defined by the CBD. There's a columnist for the St Pete Times that had (another) negative writeup on downtown Tampa recently, this time revolving around the Lights on Tampa event. She claims that this only "illuminated" how little there is to do downtown.

Excuse me? I guess the Times Forum, TBPAC, and Aquarium aren't included in her "downtown." Maybe all the restaurants and movie theatres in Channelside don't count either. :bash:

It just so happens that most of the activity happens to be on the periphery of Tampa's downtown. This will change, and the sooner it can put an muffle on her repetitive and short-sighted criticism, the better.

AS was demonstrated last week, again, the Times is about the worst offender in dividing the area.

There seems to be a common misperception by many that downtown is strictly defined by the CBD. There's a columnist for the St Pete Times that had (another) negative writeup on downtown Tampa recently, this time revolving around the Lights on Tampa event. She claims that this only "illuminated" how little there is to do downtown.

Excuse me? I guess the Times Forum, TBPAC, and Aquarium aren't included in her "downtown." Maybe all the restaurants and movie theatres in Channelside don't count either. :bash:

Extending the trolly into the CBD would help this misconception... but so would somehow making it clear that Channelside is downtown. Channelside is often presented as a totally seperate entity to downtown.

But just for the sake of sayaing so, my friend didn't have a very good time trying to view "Lights on Tampa." Half of what was promised was lit (http://sticksoffire.com/2006/01/20/half-lit-in-tampa/)

Just a rundown of this area's urban projects....

Grant Block- 44 stories, approved
Novare Towers- 2x34 stories, proposed
Wood Tower- 33 stories, proposed
Skypoint- 32 stories, U/C
Kress Block- 27 and 23 stories, approved
Royal- 27 stories, proposed
Floridian Rennovation- 23 stories, U/C
Residence @ Franklin- 8 stories U/C
Citi Lofts- 4 stories, proposed
Arlington Rennovation- 2 stories, U/C

8 towers atleast 23 stories :cheers: 9 if you count Floridian Rennovation :cheers:

By the Way - the Maas Bros. building is being fenced off today - so I assume it is coming down soon - which is a very sad thing for me, personally, as I remember shopping in there. BUt remember the Wolf Bros store too . . .

New locations for displaced Manhattan Bagel and Franklin Street News -
http://www.tampasdowntown.com/memo.htm

Businesses that were displaced by the pending demolition of the former Maas Brothers Department Store building continue to report they are finding new locations in downtown. Last week we reported that the owners of Manhattan Bagel were opening at 510 N. Franklin Street in the former location of Got Pizza. Franklin St News has also made a move and is open for business at 404 E. Zack St next to Carmen’s Sandwich Shop.

does anyone know anything about a small project called "the carriage house" on north franklin street?

Gates were open at The Arlington this morning on my bike ride, so I poked around a little. Still a tremendous amount of work to do on this project, at least on the ground floor (didn't get to see the lofts upstairs), but it's moving along more quickly these days than last autumn.
New For Sale sign on 1211 N Tampa, too, so I'm all excited about that. Plan to call and waste the realtor's time tomorrow asking about it. There's a new trailer up on the plot of land that will one day house the City Lofts development; don't know whether that means they're getting started soon, or what.
Fly was all boarded up but last week on my way home I saw the owner/chef (not exactly sure whether she's both or what) checking the place out and the plywood was down. They've done a great job rehabbing that old place (and it's moving along faster than Arlington, that's for sure, though it's a smaller job).
Has anyone heard dates re: the Kress project? Like, when are they expecting to begin work--any kind of work? Place is just... dead, at the moment.
I saw The Carriage House on a map several weeks ago. It would occupy, according to that map (which I thought I got from tampasdowntown.com but couldn't find just a moment ago), the western portion of the skinny block immediately across the street from Rez on Franklin--between Fortune and Royal--and would have 12 units in 4 floors. Now, another newer project has recently been announced, The Royal, which was on the same block. Maybe they're to coexist, or maybe Carriage House is dead.

There was a blurb in an article recently about the Doran Jason Group's project...They are presently fighting with the city over which parts of their project will have to adhere to historic guidelines and review. because of that alone, the project has surely been set back at least 90 days...

There was a blurb in an article recently about the Doran Jason Group's project...They are presently fighting with the city over which parts of their project will have to adhere to historic guidelines and review. because of that alone, the project has surely been set back at least 90 days...

I'll be pleasantly surprised if this project flies. Seems like Doran Jason has been trying to do something of consequence downtown for twenty years now.

Well, setbacks or no at least there was something in the paper. I don't know what to think of Kress or Doran Jason, frankly; I've never been a huge fan of their design and I sort of wish there was a better mix of uses in the neighborhood (which is to say a tower with some office space rather than pure condos), but at the same time there will never be a real "Franklin Renaissance" if Kress and the block to the north stay vacant; there needs to be a continuous strip of SOMETHING safe and alive running north from Tampa Theatre or the area's just going to seem like a mishmash. I already wonder about how they're filling those condos at Rez of Franklin; the neighborhood sucks (believe me, I live two blocks away).

Also, where I mentioned the location of Carriage House before, I was wrong. The skinny block across from the Rez isn't between Royal and Fortune, it's between Royal and Harrison. Noticed that on my way home today.

I am not quite sure why the city council is determined to screw up every plan - they want to add historical designations to the other two buildings on the lot. That is fine, but the project has already applied to approval. I am not sure I buy this retroactive thing. Maybe another developer got to the council and asked for a little help. Would not be the first time in Tampa - how do you think the park next to the Marriott got built - and the museum on the water. . .

Wait, what would Novare's issue be in all this? Trying to stop the Kress development so their projects do better? That's pretty dirty, dirtier even than I imagine developers would be. We're not talking about Congressmen here...

Wait, what would Novare's issue be in all this? Trying to stop the Kress development so their projects do better? That's pretty dirty, dirtier even than I imagine developers would be. We're not talking about Congressmen here...


That's exactly what he's talking about.


Just remember, city councils are the Pop Warner league for Congress... You don't get to Congress unless you prove to the thugs buying your way into office that you know how to play the game and deliver for your puppet master.

The only way to circumvent the minor leagues is if you're from a family like the Bushes or Kennedys or what have you, where the family name lets the puppetmasters know that you're for sale to the highest bidder. :bash:

Gee, too bad my name is Smith. We're only over 1% of the country, but none of us are even remotely important...

Terribly shortsighted, if true, of Novare to do that. Consider: one of their shiny new condos is going to look across the street at the Kress block. Would they rather have a bombed-out graffiti trap (though some of the graffiti is amusing) or another development? Or perhaps they want to buy the lot and do their own development? (I doubt that a great deal.)

As I said, the neighborhood is complete shite. I do not enjoy walking round down there after dark. I can't get to the Hub for a beer without being accosted by at least three different homeless people asking for a handout. Much as I look forward to Fly's opening, and I will go there with my neighbors and we will walk the two blocks, I know it's going to involve bums. I got nothing against the bums, frankly--half of them are veterans who've slipped off the radar screen and I do feel sorry for them and want to do something for them--but I would like to be able to walk around in <b>my</b> neighborhood after dark without their wheedling every couple of blocks.

If Novare is truly trying to put the skids on the Kress development (Pop Warner league for Congress, that was great), they are just shooting themselves in the foot. Are they planning to build all-in-one fortresses with restaurants, stores, and everything else so their tenants won't have to ever leave the building? Because if not, they should be supporting every other development in the neighborhood. The only thing that's going to force the bums to go somewhere else is a permanent dense population of people who won't put up with it. Vacant and run-down buildings don't generally house that sort of population.

Dammit, this is my neighborhood we're talking about here. Now I'm all pissed. Time to go to a city council meeting.

I know! I could run for city council! I used to play Pop Warner ball. It's just crazy enough to work...

Let me be perfectly clear here:

I HAVE NO EVIDENCE NOR HAVE I HEARD A RUMOR THAT ANYTHING INVOLVING NOVARE AND THE KRESS BLOCK TOOK PLACE. I AM MERELY SAYING THAT THE DECISION WAS VERY ODD. I AM NOT SAYING THAT NOVARE ACTUALLY DID ANYTHING LESS THAN PROPER.

That being said, I would not be surprised to hear that local politics and money somehow got involved- whoever that may have involved. Like I said, if you believe widely circulated stories, it would not be the first time land deals and council decisions were taken to favor one development by slowing down or hurting another. There may be a reasonable explanation for the action taken, but I have not heard it. In the absence of an overtly logical reason for the action, it is obvious to consider the possibility of a covertly logical reason. What that may be is only speculation - which is what my previous post obviously is.

No, no, I totally understand that. That's why I said it was time to go to a city council meeting and not time to go picket Novare. I've always assumed they were good people. Novare, not the city council.

Odd decision though, yes--especially given the crapulent condition of the other buildings on that block. And what of the block to the north, have they decided the old wig store is too historic to tear down?

>Like I said, if you believe widely circulated stories, it would not be the first >time land deals and council decisions were taken to favor one development >by slowing down or hurting another.


Let's be clear Doran Jason has owned this property for approx 10 years...and have not taken advantage. Now they have the Novare/Wood combo coming into town and in a matter of months brokering deals to buy 5 city blocks - I think were all confident they will build on all 5.

Maybe Doran should remove his daughter from running the show in Tampa.
She's obviously too busy with her Davis Island home issue.

Besides, they're supposed to build the 44 story tower on the block N of Kress - which has no historic value - any guesses how long before they make it happen?

I'll guess it will never happen. Again, I'm not familiar with anything Doran Jason has accomplished in DT Tampa. Beginning with their failed Tampa Financial Center, they've been starcrossed.

Novare has NOTHING to do with the Kress/Grant Block delays! Rose Ferlita was convinced that when the project was approved (seems like years ago now doesn't it) that Atty. Jim Shimberg (representing Doran Jason) agreed to have other parts of the project reviewed by the ARC before proceeding.

Shimberg argued yesterday that the project was approved (again, oh so many years ago now it seems) with only one stipulation from city council that the project architect redesign the base and parts of the tower to make it more asthetically appealing. Janette Jason said that they would try to keep it in line with the historical facade of the Kress site. Ferlita argued yesterday a.m. that it was more than a stipulation - that they, in fact, agreed to have the ARC review the project again to approve the requested changes.

The new Grant building renderings that were shown to the council yesterday a.m. were better as far as what you would see at ground level - didn't see any obvious change in the tower portion.

There was a discussion about the legality of some "2nd review for consideration" (?? I think that's what it was called??) which was what Ferlita sad they (Doran Jason) were there for yesterday. The city attorney basically told council members to watch what they say as there could be legal ramifications because the RFC was not open to the public... blah blah blah and some additional legaleze...

Jim Shimberg and Janette Jason made their arguments and the city council finally agreed to make a decision by next Thursday -- this only after Dingfelder chided the entire council because, as he sees it, they can't seem to make a final decision on anything and that they collectively frustrate developers who show an interest in Tampa while creating additional, unnecessary work for themselves.

Dingfelder basically said to the council to either fish or cut bait, and to stop "administering" these projects to death! Enough of the re-re-re-review of the previous three reviews.

^^Thanks for the great update. And great job Dingfelder! :cheers: Good to know though the city wont let this kress block pass without some adjustments though, because they were hideous towers.

Wait, what would Novare's issue be in all this? Trying to stop the Kress development so their projects do better? That's pretty dirty, dirtier even than I imagine developers would be. We're not talking about Congressmen here...

Are you kidding? Developers and local officials make congressmen look like boyscouts.

Jim Shimberg and Janette Jason made their arguments and the city council finally agreed to make a decision by next Thursday -- this only after Dingfelder chided the entire council because, as he sees it, they can't seem to make a final decision on anything and that they collectively frustrate developers who show an interest in Tampa while creating additional, unnecessary work for themselves.

Dingfelder basically said to the council to either fish or cut bait, and to stop "administering" these projects to death! Enough of the re-re-re-review of the previous three reviews.

This is the exact opposite of the process as it is going on in DT Orlando. The city council in Orlando are all in bed with the developers against the sentiment of the public. All the projects are approved before they are even proposed, and that is probably why you see the diversity in the designs for the big 0. I'm so happy to not have to live there anymore!

Anyone have a rendering of the Grant tower?

^^ There are two renderings back on page 9 of this thread :)

This is the exact opposite of the process as it is going on in DT Orlando. The city council in Orlando are all in bed with the developers against the sentiment of the public. All the projects are approved before they are even proposed, and that is probably why you see the diversity in the designs for the big 0. I'm so happy to not have to live there anymore!

Huh ? You're glad not to be around diverse designs anymore ?

Huh ? You're glad not to be around diverse designs anymore ?

I think he meant cheap designs because the developers knew the orlando city council wouldn't care.

I think he meant cheap designs because the developers knew the orlando city council wouldn't care.

If he meant cheap designs, I don't know where he'd get that either.

.nm.

NOt cheap in design, but more of a "whoring" of your downtown without thorough review. The level of corruption in Orlando is overwhelming. It is the exact opposite of what is going on in Tampa. The lack of govenment control in Orlando has caused an abundance of over-confidence in what the area can handle. Tampa on the other hand has the developers scared to break the molds and the projects have not rolled in. I'm fairly certain that statistics will win out with Orlando.

By 'overconfidence' do you mean approving more units than can possibly be absorbed ? If so, I don't see where that's a problem for Orlando. I think it will all shake out.

And I'm rooting for Tampa at the same time.

Wow Zero - that really makes no sense and is completely inaccurate factually - as far as I can tell.

I'm just glad to be out of Orlando. The diversity of designs has more to do with the delusions of granduer of a small subset of Orlando residents that make living there border on intolerable. There is a disconnect between the people that run the city and the actual people that live there. Even more so, I theorize that the level of corruption in Orlando is rampant for a city it's size. The city is too deep in the pockets of a few individuals and not looking out for you and me.

My original rant was to the fact that Tampa is actually causing the demise of projects by being too stringent. People are just not willing to spend the time or money on design to have it ripped apart by 2 bit hacks. That this action is the opposite of what is going on in Orlando.

History, Future On Collision Course
Skip directly to the full story.
Condos planned for North Franklin Street, shown in an artist's rendering, would surround and preserve the historic Kress Building.

Doran Jason Group


By ELLEN GEDALIUS egedalius@tampatrib.com

Published: Mar 9, 2006

TAMPA - A plan to bring 975 condo units to downtown Tampa hinges today on the city council's frame of mind on historic preservation.

Predicting how council members will vote on the issue is difficult, and some even acknowledge they're sending the public a mixed message about where they stand on historic preservation.

Several weeks ago, council members voted 5-2 to explore revamping the city's historic preservation laws and allow property owners to refuse that designation. The move came during a heated debate over the future of cigar factories.

Today, council members will decide whether to designate the J.J. Newberry and F.W. Woolworth dime store buildings historic - buildings that are slated to become condo towers. In a 5-0 preliminary vote two weeks ago, the council told the developer she had to comply with historic regulations, despite her objections.

"It looks like I'm flip-flopping, I know," said City Councilwoman Rose Ferlita, who voted with the majority on both issues.

Today, John Grandoff, the developer's attorney, will argue that the spirit of the cigar factory debate should be upheld when considering whether to label the Newberry and Woolworth buildings historic. City attorneys will say the existing rules - which don't require owner consent - are in effect. Preservationists will say that if the buildings are destroyed, part of Tampa's history will disappear.

Jeannette Jason of the Doran Jason Group plans a project that could help change the face of North Franklin Street. The proposal spans two city blocks. Jason wants to build a 44-story condo tower with 574 units on one block.

On the other block, she wants to build two towers, one with 296 units in the Woolworth building and the other with 105 units in the Newberry building. The Kress building would be in the middle and serve as a lobby with retail and office space.

The Kress building has been labeled historic. Jason said Wednesday she is happy to preserve the facades of the Newberry and Woolworth buildings, but she doesn't want the official label from the city.

The label means changes to the property must be approved by the Architectural Review Commission, a board with a reputation for nitpicking and requiring expensive materials be used in renovations. Board supporters say the commission does its job well and demands quality.

If the city council labels the Newberry and Woolworth buildings historic, Jason said, the south block portion of her project would not proceed.

"They're going to stay boarded up for a long time," Jason said.

Mayor Pam Iorio hopes a compromise can be reached.

"There ought to be a way to preserve parts of buildings with administrative oversight without going through the designation process," Iorio said.

In other words, city staff could ensure the facades were preserved rather than the review commission.

Iorio, who predicts the project would bring thousands of residents to Franklin, fears if condos aren't built, the Kress building eventually would deteriorate from neglect.

She recognizes, though, that the decision rests with council.

Ferlita, in explaining her votes, said she knew from the start that the cigar factory owners were opposed to historic designation. She said she was under the impression Jason supported the designation, and Jason's stance now is an "eleventh-hour" change of heart.

Jason and her attorneys, Jim Shimberg and Grandoff, say they always supported preserving the facades but never wanted the official designation.

Councilman Kevin White draws a distinction between the cigar factories - of which about 20 remain - and Kress, Woolworth and Newberry, the only buildings left of their kind.

Any revised ordinance, he said, should be narrowly written, allowing for opt-out provisions only when several of the building type remain.

Councilman John Dingfelder, who has voted consistently on the issue, said the public needs to know where the council stands on preservation.

"People want intelligence and they want consistency from their government," he said.

Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena wouldn't discuss the votes but said she realizes the preservation process has its problems. She is working with city staff on making the process quicker, more consistent and clearer.

Saul-Sena voted in favor of preservation both times.

The Woolworth building was the site of lunch-counter sit-ins in the 1960s.

The Newberry store was founded in 1911 and is noted for its art modern architecture.

Ironically, the council today also will consider allowing a condo project on the Maas Bros. site. The Maas Bros. building fell into disrepair after years of neglect, and a demolition crew is bringing down the historic store.


http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBKX6RKKKE.html (http://http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBKX6RKKKE.html)

Put preservation of the facades in the site plan and get on with it.

Commieblock.

It would be nice if they could paint those huge white façades with a popping, more vibrant color or a mural. A paint job would be cheap and look much better imo. I <3 diversity.

History Tops Condos

By ELLEN GEDALIUS egedalius@tampatrib.com

Published: Mar 10, 2006

TAMPA - A condo project that could have brought thousands of residents to Franklin Street was all but killed Thursday by the city council.

The project was considered by many, including Mayor Pam Iorio, to be a cornerstone of the revitalization of downtown Tampa.

In a 6-1 vote, the council agreed to designate the facades of the J.J. Newberry and F.W. Woolworth dime store buildings historic. That vote effectively scrapped the project because the developers object to the designation.

"You can stare at the same old buildings and watch them deteriorate," developer Jeannette Jason, of the Doran Jason Group, said after the vote.

"Right now, the project is dead," said her father, Doran Jason.

The project would have brought 975 condo units to Franklin Street: a 44-story condo tower with 574 units on one block and two towers, one with 296 units and the other with 105 units, on the other block. The Kress building, which has been labeled historic, would have been between the two towers and served as a lobby with office and retail space.

The developers have said they are willing to preserve the Newberry and Woolworth buildings, but they did not want to be burdened by the Architectural Review Commission process. The board has a reputation for nitpicking and requiring expensive material be used in renovations.

Iorio, who long has championed the project, tried to broker a compromise Thursday morning. She summoned a meeting of top city staff, the developers and the attorneys.

As the group met in her conference room, preservationists sat on a couch and on the floor in the lobby strategizing, calling supporters on their cell phones, poring over documents and demanding time with the mayor. After the nearly 50-minute meeting with developers, Iorio left for another appointment, but her staff stuck around to meet with preservationists.

The compromise would have required the developer to preserve the facades of the buildings and be subject to periodic review by city staff rather than the Architectural Review Commission.

That was the idea brought to the city council for consideration, but the council balked. One after another, all except Shawn Harrison lined up to support historic designation.

They argued that the buildings - home to civil rights lunch-counter sit-ins and examples of unique architecture - are, indeed, historic and should be labeled as such. The notion of allowing the developers to preserve the buildings without Architectural Review Commission review didn't sit right with them.

"If they're historic, they should be designated," Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena said. "They should be authentic, not Disney World."

Harrison, in voicing opposition, said the administration's compromise would be a unique - and perhaps better - way to handle historic preservation issues.

"What we're doing is sticking with the process, which everyone thinks doesn't work," Harrison said. "If we designate, we go right back to the process we say doesn't work."

Attorneys for the project likely will ask the council to reconsider, but given the overwhelming vote for preservation, an about-face is unlikely.

Iorio has the power to veto the council's action, but she said late Thursday she respects the council's decision.

Iorio has tried throughout her administration to bring more development downtown, especially to North Franklin. She wants people on the city's streets from 5 to 9 p.m., not just 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"Sometimes people win a battle when they really lose the war," Iorio said. "Today it seems a battle has been won for historic preservation, but in fact it won't be."

The owners, she said, will walk away. The Kress building, she predicts, will deteriorate. :bash:

http://news.tbo.com/news/metro/MGB6T3PWLKE.html

I guess compromise is far too much to expect.

this is sad since I believe this developer had talked about bringing some reasonably priced units for the working class/middle class

When the building falls down then who cares if its historic anyway? Nobody will keep the building in decent condition. I say save the facade, then build the tower.

The thing that frustrates me about this city council is the lack of consistency in their voting. No historical designation for the Maas Brothers building. No historical designation for our few remaining cigar factories, which I consider much more unique and historically significant to the city of Tampa than the Woolworth building. Yet they voted overwhelmingly in favor of this particular designation.

Time will tell if this vote and the subsequent the bitter parting words of the developers seal the doom of this project.

In case anyone would like to register for additional information on the new Wood Brothers project (old Maas Bros. building site), here is their new website - http://www.livedowntowntampa.com/

These City Councils got to go. We need some flesh bloods in there. The mayor even asked them to compromise and work it out with the developer and they didn't meet with her half way. I was hoping to buy one of the condo unit with Kress but now I'm P.O. Anyone of them are up for re-election this fall?

These buildings will just sit and rot for another 100 years and serve no purpose while doing so. But during the 2009 superbowl, people from all over America will come to downtown and be so impressed with an old historical building. Right?

These City Councils got to go. We need some flesh bloods in there. The mayor even asked them to compromise and work it out with the developer and they didn't meet with her half way. I was hoping to buy one of the condo unit with Kress but now I'm P.O. Anyone of them are up for re-election this fall?


Sign up to buy a unit from Novare or Wood Partners....have you seen the rendeings/amenities? Same price point but they have a far better product not to mention the financial backing.

What a load. What do these people think is going to happen? Do they expect somebody to sweep in next week with a plan to restore the lot as is, with gleaming soda fountains and shelves full of 1950's kitchen appliances? Will the friendly soda jerk pour you a bubbly Coca-Cola and regale you with the tales of yesteryear? Will Negroes have to go in the back door? Is that what these people think?

Since Saul-Sena is so damn picky, why doesn't she just draw up what she wants for the Kress block and pick a developer who is willing to build it that way. Did the 44 story Grant block building die with Kress?

I believe the Grant project was/is considered independent from the Kress by the city (approval was already granted) and the developer (they are quoted as saying they will build the Grant tower and let the Kress decay).

Did anyone happen to read today's "Monday Morning Memo" from Tampa Downtown Partnership? They did a small update on Franklin Street projects. But what was wierd is that it said over 400 units was recently approved for the Kress block. Did I miss something? According to last Thursday's City Council, the Kress project is dead. Maybe they meant to say the Grant block.

^surely a typo...

^surely a typo...

So will the Grant block get built? If it will that'd be great because the design was vastly superior to the kress block, even though the buildings wont be restored, grrrr.

Mar 15, 2006

Is City Council Historic Or Just Plain Hysteric?
By STEVE OTTO



Watching the Tampa City Council at work is sort of like that old Chinese proverb (I guess it's old; I don't know any new Chinese proverbs) that says a camel is a horse designed by a committee.

Right now, the horse in question is downtown Tampa, and the city council is the committee left to design its future.

Unfortunately, this particular council seems unsure of just what a city is supposed to look like.

Though the council seems less inclined to preserve the livability of its suburban neighborhoods, where homeowners are forced to sit through meeting after meeting to battle developers, it is the opposite for downtown.

It's as if they would rather keep it a dead city.

Last week's decision on the old Kress building is a perfect example. The project called for 975 condo units on three towers, two of them surrounding the building.

Five-And-Dime History
The problem came when the council decided that the old facades of the J.J. Newberry and F.W. Woolworth buildings were historic and needed to be deemed historic. The move would have meant that every time the developers wanted to do anything, they would have had to work their way through the Architectural Review Commission, which is so wishy-washy it can't decide which side of the bed to get up on in the morning.

There is nothing historic in the two facades, which are all that is left of the two dime stores.

Jeannette Jason, who runs the Tampa office of the Doran Jason Group, which has been assembling its plans for the project since 1994, said the project is dead in the water. "You can stare at the same old buildings and watch them deteriorate," she said after the hearing.

Massive Boo-Boo
Oddly, which I suppose is not unusual down there, the council approved plans for a 32-story condo tower across the street, where they are tearing down the deteriorated Maas Bros. department store, which probably did have some historic value. At least it did for one kid who used to live for the fifth-floor Toyland at Christmas.

"I don't know what they were thinking," Jason said the other day. "We have worked so hard to preserve the Kress facade, which does have some value. You know, there are windows of opportunities for projects like this.

"This is also a question of timing. If we don't do it now, then it will just sit there."

There are indications the mayor, who recognizes the project is the cornerstone for development north of the downtown core, is going to try to bring the parties together this week. There are plenty of reasons to be cautious, especially in a building-boom cycle, about what is happening. The county and city have been woefully inconsistent, not just in where they have allowed developers to move in but in preserving what is important to our history.

Look at the symbol of the county, and you wonder at how we allowed the old courthouse to be taken down.

But these are shells of dime stores. There is nothing left. If there was any history, it would have been the old Woolworth lunch counter, where desegregation won a big battle decades ago.

Right now, the old buildings are only symbols of a confused council that has no idea of what it wants its downtown to look like, if it wants a downtown at all.



This story can be found at: http://www.tampatrib.com/MGBBUWB0TKE.html


Go Back To The Story

Hey, wow. a reasonable idea from mr. suburbia.

City To Reconsider Old Dime Stores' Historic Labeling
Skip directly to the full story.
By ELLEN GEDALIUS egedalius@tampatrib.com

Published: Mar 17, 2006

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TAMPA - Remember last week when the city council voted overwhelmingly to designate the facades of the J.J. Newberry and F.W. Woolworth buildings historic?

Never mind.

Heeding the advice of City Attorney David Smith, the council agreed Thursday to begin anew the historic designation process for the Newberry and Woolworth buildings. That could mean hours of additional debate on a subject the council had seemed to firmly settle last week.

At stake is Jeannette Jason's plan to bring three condo towers, with 975 units, to Franklin Street downtown. As part of the project, Jason would build one tower at the Newberry building and one at the Woolworth building. The Kress building, in the middle, already has been designated historic and would serve as a lobby with office and retail space. Though the Newberry and Woolworth condo projects are in jeopardy, she still plans to build the third tower with 574 units.

Jason has said she is willing to preserve the buildings but doesn't want the official designation because she doesn't want to be regulated by the Architectural Review Commission. "It's a step in the right direction, but I'm concerned about the time delay," Jason said when reached Thursday after the vote. "The market is there right now, and there's a lot of competition. We're losing a lot of time, and time is money."

Responding to complaints from the developer's attorney, Jim Shimberg, that he had been denied some due-process considerations during the second public hearing, Smith made his recommendation to the council. His suggestion also was prompted by confusion among some council members about exactly how much of the facades they intended to designate.

Shimberg had complained that some of his comments were taken out of context and he wasn't given an opportunity to clarify.

Councilman John Dingfelder said the developer and the attorneys had plenty of time to talk during the first public hearing.

"Why isn't that due process?" Dingfelder said.

The preservationists and the developers now plan to work toward a compromise.

"This is an opportunity to make something happen," Elizabeth Johnson of Tampa Preservation Inc. said.

Meanwhile, city staff members are looking for ways to provide more flexibility when considering historic designations, such as allowing property owners to opt-out of designation and preserving property without the official designation.

They need to get the Grant block building started. Seems like they are waiting for the Kress mess to be resolved to do so. The Kress block is way too complicated now. The Newberry facade has tiles and glass block that can not be salvaged. They would have to replace/replicate those parts, so then you don't have the entire preserved facade. It's just not possible. Now the Kress block issues are ongoing and only compromises can happen. Seems like it would be an extremely delicate process to tear down Newberry and Woolworth without further damaging the facades. Even if it happens, who will be responsible for maintaining the facades from now on?

I say tear down Woolworth and Newberry and build the commie sandwich. The Kress building is the most salvagable of the three, so get this done so that it will come back to life. For historical significance maybe add a stone marker (landmark?) with an engraved story of the civil rights sit-ins built on the sidewalk. I bet there are not going to be that many people who will care or will go to that part of DT just to see it.

Just when everyone was making the city council look dumb, now they're reconsidering their decision, which is good but it makes you wonder about things....

There is nothing to consider. Every time the media abuses them, they backtrack. They did it on the height of the Grant block. They were against it and got pounded - then they relented. If only someone would pound about Channelside and master plans. Maybe a letter to the editor or two is in order.

It seems like Wood Partners and Novare belong somehow together....some of the developments are listed on both company's websites....

It seems like Wood Partners and Novare belong somehow together....some of the developments are listed on both company's websites....

Yes Novare and Wood work together on almost all of their projects. Timing is a key role in how they work together. When Skypoint's sales were done and is starting to rise, thats when they got the approval and demolished current structures for the Wood tower. Probaly when Wood Tower is sold out they'll probaly begin to work on the Novare twins or the Channelside project.

This broke ground on 6-26
http://www.mspcityhomes.com/images/frank_r1_c4.gif

does anyone have anyother info on the franklin street city lofts? price? floorplans? website for the project?

here is the website. http://mspcityhomes.com/frank.htm

Ok, Can't remember if this is where we are putting Floridn info but I drove by this weekendand noticed that they have removed much of the covering on the lower facade revealing the structure. I take this as further sign that they are really working on the building.

I found this interesting progress photo (taken June 2006) on the construction contractor's website:

http://www.rjbunburyinc.com/Current%20Projects/Residencesoffranklin.htm

http://www.rjbunburyinc.com/Current%20Projects/Images/Residencesoffranklinst/franklin62306.gif

I really like the angle of the photo.

Ya I do too, but damn look at all that surface parking. :runaway:

I just want to point out that the little building to the right of the main building was totally rehabbed too. I am not sure why.

I wonder what awaits the lot across the street

that little building will be a restaraunt named "Fly". It looks like it is almost finished.

Looking awesome so far. The area around it looks crappy.

Is it just me or could North Downtown use a nice parking garage say 6-10 stories? :dunno:

Fly is set to open on the 22nd. Pity I won't be here for it.
And yes, the area around it is quite crappy. However, between Rez@Franklin, City Lofts, the Arlington, and Fly all under construction, the neighborhood has good potential to change for the better. We can only hope.
As for the parking, if I had a magic wand I could wave to make politicians do my bidding, I'd get the state and city to agree that the open parking lot north of the Park Trammel building will be turned into a parking garage, and the state would then sell the open lots on the east side of Franklin to developers. But I don't have that wand. Damn it.

I just want to point out that the little building to the right of the main building was totally rehabbed too. I am not sure why.

I wonder what awaits the lot across the street

Hey Smilie, isn't that where the proposed "Royal" tower is going? Or was that a block north. hummm

I can't remember...

It is indeed. I found this list of construction projects. Here is the website: http://www.tampagov.net/dept_urban_development/images/maps%20PG/Development/1%20Downtown_residential_Projects.jpg Can you guys take the ones that are on here and tell me what is good and what is not.

^^ hey mobster... so why don't you do the research for us? :)

You found the site... (nice find b.t.w.) so follow through! You're smart enough.

As for the parking, if I had a magic wand I could wave to make politicians do my bidding, I'd get the state and city to agree that the open parking lot north of the Park Trammel building will be turned into a parking garage, and the state would then sell the open lots on the east side of Franklin to developers. But I don't have that wand. Damn it.

Actually it'd be even nicer if the city built the parkin garage, relieving some of these lots, and then turned some of these lots into "pocket parks". The rest of the relieved lots could still be put up for sale. :)

^^ hey mobster... so why don't you do the research for us? :)

You found the site... (nice find b.t.w.) so follow through! You're smart enough.

Although this doesn't belong here, since mobster put the link for it here, I'll post this map because it is a good map that could be used for the project list in the development thread.

http://www.tampagov.net/dept_urban_development/images/maps%20PG/Development/1%20Downtown_residential_Projects.jpg

Green appears to be proposed/approved.
Yellow is completed.
Pink is U/C.

Yea, now I'll trust this if someone can show me one person working one anything at seaport channelside - cause in the last few months I haven't seen any

Ya everything I've heard says its U/C which would be great becasue you can see that is a huge chunk of land. I haven't visually seen anything yet either so I'm skeptical. The map appears to be new however becasue it has Museum Tower and Finergy, but it doesn't have Novare channelside.

I can not figure out why it does not have it on there.

I think there is a unit left in the Arlington if you are still interested let me know.
realtyrae@yahoo.com

This from the Tampa Downtown Partnership website -
Last week it was reported that work on The Floridan Hotel would be completed in 2009. The Partnership has learned from the developer that things are moving along nicely and the new estimated completion time for The Floridan Hotel is the middle of 2007!

Does this seem overly ambitious to anyone else?

I thought that a while ago somewhere on this thread they said that it would take only a year.

Finish in a year? Yeah, I think it's possible. I don't know about plausible though, since I have no idea how far along the project is at this point.

Well, an architect firned of mine and I were checking it out and the project manager (or site manager) inside (very nice, by the way) said a year - though they will need to seriously ramp it up. I can wait, as long as they are really working

Well I walked by there and saw that there were two dump trucks there and a butt load of cars on site. Also, on the first floor it looks like there is an office in there with schematics on the desk.

Developers win battle over landmarks
A pact gives developers more leeway on the Woolworth-Newberry block condo project.
By JANET ZINK, Times Staff Writer
Published August 4, 2006

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TAMPA - Preservationists received a blow Thursday when the City Council backed away from its earlier vote to bestow historic landmark status of the facades of two downtown buildings.

Developers who want to build 975 condominiums on a block that now holds the old Newberry and Woolworth buildings had balked at a March vote to designate them landmarks. After months of negotiations, the council Thursday approved an agreement that city officials say will protect the properties through zoning regulations and oversight by city staff.

Defenders of historic preservation aren't so sure.

"This is a black day for preservation in the city of Tampa," said Beth Johnson, an attorney working with the nonprofit group Tampa Preservation Inc.

The council's 5-2 vote to approve the agreement allows the removal of the landmark designation through public hearings before the Historic Preservation Commission, according to City Attorney David Smith.

Council members Linda Saul-Sena and John Dingfelder voted against the agreement.

"It is our responsibility to protect and guard the city's historic resources," Saul-Sena said.

The Kress building, located between the other two structures on N Franklin Street, also was designated a landmark, but with the consent of the owners, who are also the developers. They plan to incorporate the Kress building into the new condo towers.

But the designation means any changes to the buildings must be reviewed by the city's Architectural Review Commission, a process the developers, Kress Square LLC, said they wanted to avoid with the Newberry and Woolworth facades.

Jeanette Jason, a principal in Kress Square, had said if the facades were named historic landmarks she would significantly scale back her project.

Mayor Pam Iorio has been pushing residential redevelopment of N Franklin Street, and at the City Council meeting in March, City Attorney Smith presented a compromise similar to the one approved Thursday.

But the City Council rejected that proposal and voted for the designation.

So the developers asked to take the matter to mediation.

City staff and the developers fleshed out the original compromise, adding to it a nine-page outline of facade preservation requirements. The mediator blessed the agreement, which went before the City Council for consideration Thursday.

Johnson argued that the compromise was a "wholesale reversal" of the City Council's earlier decision.

"You could drive a truck through these facade protections," she said. They're too vague, she said, and in many instances only require the developers to take "reasonable measures" to preserve the structures.

"A red flag goes up in my mind when you let a developer determine what's reasonable," she said.

But John Grandoff, an attorney for Kress Square, convinced council members the agreement would protect the buildings. He read to them the mediator's conclusion that the agreement gives the city "significant oversight and control" of the project.

Grandoff said construction of the condos will begin as soon as possible.

Janet Zink can be reached at jzink@sptimes.com or 813 226-3401.

[Last modified August 4, 2006, 05:54:13]
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/08/04/Hillsborough/Developers_win_battle.shtml

^^ well what a waste of fricken time that was! They could have agreed to this back in March...

wonder how much this shit cost the taxpayer and the developer?

Tickets to the circus, anyone?!?! :bash:

Developers win battle over landmarks

I thought that they had already gone through this mumbo jumbo bullshit. Also, does anyone actually know what the timeline is for Kress and Grant block? They are saying as soon as possible. That seems like it is as vague as, "some time in the near future".

^^As long as the Kress facade/building is saved I'm happy.

Deliciously edgy
The Fly Bar & Restaurant opens on Franklin Street, the brainchild of a woman who feels just fine on the fringe.
By RICK GERSHMAN
Published August 4, 2006

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DOWNTOWN

This area is not known for bars, unless you count those in the boarded-up jail. It's not known for nightlife, unless you count the people waiting for the night's final city bus.

But on the north end of downtown, on a sketchy stretch of Franklin Street, Leslie Shirah has opened the Fly Bar & Restaurant.

Like a shining oasis in the middle of the desert, the Fly couldn't seem more out of place here, at least at first.

There's no pedestrian traffic around 1202 N Franklin St., three blocks north of the legendary Tampa Theatre and iconic watering hole the Hub. There are a few offices around, a whole lot of construction and a whole lot of nothing else.

There will be, though. Two large condominiums are under way next door: the Residences of Franklin Street and the Royal. Shirah's father, Harry Hedges, who owns the Fly property, is developing the Royal.

For now, though, Shirah pronounced SHY-rah has her work cut out. After jumping through the numerous hoops required to open a restaurant in the city, she finally had the grand opening for the Fly last Saturday. All things considered, it went exceptionally well.

Will city residents support the funky Fly until the community grows around it? Only time will tell. But Shirah, a Tampa native whose parents live on Davis Islands, has been through this before, having opened three restaurants in "emerging" San Francisco neighborhoods.

"All of my restaurants are in these kinds of eclectic areas," she said. "When I first told my dad I wanted to open here, he was like, 'Are you sure?' But I like sketchy if it has a soul to it. And I feel there's a soul here. And we're going to support it by bringing in local art and local music and creating a community."

Nancy Kipnis, a public relations consultant who works with downtown businesses, helped Shirah market the grand opening.

"I admire her because of her guts to do it. She's a real pioneer," Kipnis said. "This is probably one of the only places in Tampa that really offers that urban vibe. It's great to walk in and see a really cool, edgy place, with the brick exposed and local artists on the walls.

"It's perfect for our town. I was getting to the point where if I had to eat at another mall, I was going to shoot myself."

Shirah grew up in Sunset Park and graduated from Plant High School in 1988. She brought back to Tampa the same concepts she instituted at her San Francisco clubs: a cool, comfortable, urban ambience dedicated to the efforts of local artists, with live music several nights and a DJ on others. The building dates to 1923, and Shirah has retained its historical elements.

Three local artists contributed to the Fly's look: Sean Spoto, whose paintings adorn walls throughout the establishment; Adam Welch, who constructed the tabletops, back bar and other elements; and Dan King, who did all the ironwork. She provides space on the walls to local artists for free.

"I just want people to feel good, to feel comfortable," said Shirah, 36. "I want it to feel relaxed but sexy."

The Fly - named after Shirah's first San Francisco club - doesn't have a traditional dinner service, either. The menu leans toward "shared plates," though Shirah said they are not "tapas," the term most locals would use to define them.

These are more like full dishes but in smaller portions and presented in ways that make them easily shared by a group, she said. They also are not primarily Spanish in origin. The theme is "world fusion," marrying elements from many different cultures.

There are about 125 seats for dining. It's open until 3 a.m. every night, depending on business. The restaurant opens for lunch at 11:30 a.m. weekdays and at 5 p.m. on the weekends. The full dinner menu is available at 5 daily.

The Fly has a weekday happy hour from 3 to 6:30 p.m., plus half-price items on the "swing shift" menu, which includes coriander-crusted yellowfin tuna and Kobe beef sliders.

The full menu offers dishes like tumeric-spiced lamb, Parmesan-dusted sea scallops and roasted striped corvina bass.

Carmen de la Cruz, 28, dug the Fly's vibe on opening night and used the restaurant's valet service, which runs Thursday through Saturday. She wasn't sure she could see too much late-night downtown business here, though.

"It's coming, but it will be a while," said de la Cruz, who works downtown as an office manager. "I think it will do well for happy hour, but I don't know if you'll get people to come all the way here for drinks in the evenings. But they should because it is nice."

Shirah said she wasn't worried: "When we opened the Fly in San Francisco, it was in a very sketchy region. And I know this sounds arrogant, which I don't mean, but the neighborhood really grew around it."

The Fly is growing, too. Shirah is getting permits to add outdoor dining along a sidewalk patio area. Meanwhile, the bar has a rooftop area where people can congregate to drink and smoke, or just enjoy a view of the city.

The Fly has plenty of parking across the street so customers don't have to walk a long way to their cars, she said.

"I have never, ever felt threatened down here," she said. "The cops drive around quite often, and it's incredibly well lit."

Buddies Jason Oh and Devon Martin weren't concerned with the environs. The Davis Islands roommates, who work downtown as loan officers, felt right at home. That's especially true of Oh, who grew up near San Francisco.

"This is exactly what we need down here," said Oh, 25. It would "be cool if it was on the other end of downtown, but there's enough stuff coming in there already. But the food's good and it's a chill place and we need more of that."

Martin, 30, liked it because "you think it's going to be pretentious, but it's not, and it seems like it can get pretty romantic and jazzy here in the evenings."

So they'll be back. Will that be enough to keep the Fly in business? Shirah hopes so.

"What I hope most is that Tampa comes out and supports businesses like these," she said. "If you don't come out, it goes away."

Rick Gershman can be reached at rgershman@sptimes.com or 226-3431.

[Last modified August 3, 2006, 11:03:44]

What exactly do they mean by the Royal being "under way"?

I'm sure her father would advise her not to open a restaraunt if the Royal wasn't going to happen. Their version of "under way" and ours is probably 2 different things.

I'm betting that the "Royal" treatment at the Fly Bar Restaurant is underway... :)

Kress Building Is On Market

By ELLEN GEDALIUS The Tampa Tribune

Published: Aug 9, 2006



TAMPA - The owner of the Kress building is so frustrated with the city that she might sell the property to another developer.

The property on North Franklin Street is listed for sale, throwing into question whether a plan to put 974 condo units there will materialize.

Property owner Jeannette Jason says the delays at city hall prompted her to try to sell the property. She has been battling with city officials for months over whether the facades of the adjacent F.W. Woolworth and J.J. Newberry buildings should be designated as historical.

"Market conditions have definitely changed," Jason said. "We've been delayed over a year. Can we still go forward with the condo market? Can we still go forward with the price points we proposed?"

The price range was $150,000 to $450,000.

Jason does not want the buildings labeled historical. Last week, the council approved a settlement agreement that outlines steps the developers must take to preserve the buildings without the formal designation - a move that was seen as a victory for the developers and a defeat for historical preservationists.

Still, the process is far from over. The city now needs to formally undo the previous historical designation of the facades, a process that includes several more public hearings.

The decision last week, however, essentially reversed a March decision to label the buildings historical.

But bad feelings persist from the March decision, after which Jason's father, Doran, declared the project all but dead.

"After the March hearing, Doran pretty much threw his hands up and said he had enough," Jason said.

"The city doesn't have a lot of confidence in us as developers."

Jason said she has been interested for a long time in finding a development partner. That remains an option, but so does an outright sale.

According to the marketing Web site, the estimated development expenses are expected to reach $201 million. Estimated gross sales could reach $386 million.

The suggested starting bid on the property, which also includes the former Grant building, is $32 million.

The zoning and settlement agreement run with the property, City Attorney David Smith said.

If a new developer wants to make any changes, the developer will have to ask the council for a rezoning.

Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena, who has argued that the buildings should formally be designated historical, is skeptical.

"The fact these buildings are for sale underscores the need for protection with designation," Saul-Sena said. "Regardless of their ownership."

So as many of us thought would eventually start happening the bar and restaurant business along Franklin avenue is finally starting , my friend said that it is in the mold of a San Francisco club, with an outside terrace deck..

As more of these buildings get built around this area finally Tampa could just start becoming more of a nightlife downtown entertainment district, like everyone wants..

Damn if I had the money I would invest in a Martini-bar with couches and nice decor great music maybe some bands..

It's all coming sooner than we think..

Please support this bar as many more will come if it is a success.. :cheers: :dance:

I am so excited that this bar/ restaurant is open. Has anyone gone there yet? I heard the one in SF is awesome, and cheap.

It's a cool place to go for drinks after work - roof top terrace was a nice addition. Not really a late night destination...yet

Are their drinks cheap?

I stopped by Fly last weekend after a movie in Ybor. Inside was loud, but pretty funky. Hip crowd, cool art. But very loud.

Went and had a drink upstairs on the deck. Cool vibe to it, but - and I hate to be a wet sponge here - I can foresee issues with this place being directly adjacent to the Residences on Franklin.

There were a couple innebriated young ladies talking very loudly (so that I and the other guests now know more about their business than I'd like), and this type of noise will undoubtedly carry over to the units just yards away.

I would love to see this place succeed, just as I look forward to the residential dev on N. Franklin continuing to grow. I just have my doubts about how harmoniously these two will be able to coexist.

In terms of mosaic - I think no one should worry too much, as this was posted on the front page of novare's website today:

http://www.novaregroup.com/resources/St.Pete_Times_07-10-06.pdf

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/9148/scan0047co0.jpg

Damn! What a difference a pic makes! When the initial rendering came out, I must say that I was not impressed with the project, but this rendering is a 1000 times better than the original...

Now, I hope they DO build this tower. Thanks for posting, bueller, and welcome aboard! :)

Where'd did you get that rendering from? Was it from a developer or project website? That does look much better and something a little different for Tampa.

^^ yeah, it has kind of a "The Place" feel to it with the artistic looking wall.

It's in line with the very modern towers you find in Toronto or Vancouver -- hell, many cities for that matter... I'm trying to figure out just which parking lot it's going to scratch of the list.

Thanks... the detail really allows the design to shine... well, in comparison to other less inspired designs.

Design (in Tampa) lives !

Awesome tower, aswell as Place 2. Thanks for the renderings bueller

Moving forward on the Floridan... :)

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/08/18/Citytimes/Grace__with_a_wrinkle.shtml

Grace, with a wrinkle
The Floridan Hotel begins a comeback, with a concern nearby.
By RICK GERSHMAN
Published August 18, 2006

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DOWNTOWN

Don't mind the dust, the dirt, the disrepair. The Floridan is still a big, proud, imposing structure - for 40 years, Tampa's tallest - but it has been through a lot the past two decades.

The iconic hotel last housed guests in 1987. It was boarded up soon after, and its main occupants from then on were birds and other wild creatures. Five different development groups took a stab at redeveloping the historic property, but none could make it work.

The Floridan's latest owner, Clearwater developer Antonios Markopoulos, hopes to restore the Floridan to the glory it knew in the first half of the 20th century. For the past year, he has worked to satisfy the city's Architectural Review Commission requirements to begin restoring the property.

Construction crews are ready to begin working on the Floridan in earnest next week, said Lisa Shasteen, an attorney representing the project. If all goes well, a boutique hotel - at least four stars, perhaps even five - will emerge in 12 to 18 months.

But then there's the matter of the neighbors.

At 240 feet, the Floridan was Tampa's tallest building from its 1927 opening to 1966, when it was surpassed by the 280-foot Franklin Exchange Building. Now it faces the prospect of being dwarfed by its northern next-door neighbor on Florida Avenue.

In this case, next door really means next door. The 19-story Floridan is connected to a small post office in the adjacent half-acre lot. After the post office's lease expires in July 2007, a Miami developer who owns the property plans to build a condominium tower and parking garage on the lot at 925 N Florida Ave.

How close the structures will be to the Floridan has yet to be determined, though developer Haim Einhorn said he has agreed to "some egress" to allow the Floridan necessary emergency exits and such.

When he announced Tampa City Lofts in March, Einhorn planned to build one of Tampa's tallest buildings, a 479-foot tower with 250 units. He envisioned 8,500 square feet of retail plus a parking garage with 380 spaces for residents and 50 spaces for retail customers and visitors.

Einhorn said Tuesday that he plans to scale back the designs to some degree. The building will be shorter than the initial proposal, he said, though it's "too early" to know how much.

After meeting with the Floridan team and Wilson Stair, the city's urban design manager, Einhorn said it was clear that his plan wouldn't pass muster.

Just as important, he said, he wants his project to complement the Floridan.

"For the last 25 years in Miami, I've been involved with historic properties," Einhorn said. "We definitely understand the needs of the Floridan and the city with all the different historic issues."

Einhorn, who was part of a group that used to own the Floridan, said he decided to delay petitioning for city approval for a few months because he realized the original plan "was going to leave a bad taste in their mouths."

So his designers are working to put an acceptable plan together before going forward, probably in October, he said.

Einhorn will need the city to sign off on changing the lot's existing zoning, which allows construction of up to 120 feet. Last month, the City Council rejected a plan to build a 423-foot condo tower nearby on N Franklin Street, calling it too large for the area.

Shasteen, who represents the Floridan project, said that while discussions with Einhorn have been friendly, she and Markopoulos - who bought the hotel for $6-million in April - have reason to be concerned.

"This Floridan project is important to everyone in the city of Tampa," she said, "and it would be terrible that after 20 years of having it vacant, you'd kill it by putting something next door."

One concern is that Einhorn's development would entirely block the view of many Floridan guests in north-facing rooms.

Also, Markopoulos plans to build a swimming pool and outdoor leisure area atop a four-story parking garage and ballroom area on the east side of the hotel, next to Einhorn's planned parking garage.

"So then you'd have all the pollution coming in" from the cars next door, Markopoulos said.

Shasteen said Markopoulos took on the restoration because "he loves to take something that's been dead for all these years and bring it back to life." She said Markopoulos estimates the cost of restoring the hotel at $14-million.

The Floridan remained among the area's best accommodations through World War II. Newer suburban hotels became popular in the 1950s, and the hotel became the place to find a clean, cheap room downtown. By the late '60s, it had turned to monthly rentals.

It originally had 426 rooms, more than double the number planned for the renovated Floridan, Shasteen said. It will have 194 standard rooms at 400 square feet, 16 suites and two penthouses.

For the past year, crews have worked to clean the interior and exterior of the building, which is across Cass Street from the federal courthouse. Next week, Shasteen said, the real work begins.

It couldn't come any sooner, Markopoulos said.

"We're trying to create a great experience here," he said. "I love challenges in my life. But you see the potential and you make something new. That's the most fun part."

Rick Gershman can be reached at rgershman@sptimes.com or 226-3431.

Dagum. Never thought i'd miss Tampa much, but the Horn of Africa sucks.
Please, can anybody tell me the latest on the following:
The CityLofts townhomes that are supposed to go directly north of Fly, have they started construction?
What about the lot north of that, has that sold?
What about the brick building on N Tampa, behind City Lofts, has that sold?
How is Rez @ Franklin coming along?
How is the Arlington coming along?
And what exactly did the paper mean when they said the Royal was under construction? Anybody? I'm dying for news of my neighborhood.

Hey Happysmith,

Greetings from Tampa. Everyone here has been vigilant about Tropical Storm Ernesto, which was projected to head directly at us at one point as a hurricane. Now looks like it's more likely to enter the Southern tip of FL after going through Eastern Cuba as a tropical storm.

OK, on to your neighborhood -
* Fly seems to be a moderate hit, and has been doing pretty good business on the weekends (don't know about weeknights).
* Next door, The Residences at Franklin are getting their final coats of paint and are looking close to finish. I believe I read something about residents moving in Sept / Oct time frame.
* North of that, the Franklin City Lofts have indeed broken ground. Haven't been up there in a couple weeks, but I'll try to drive by this week to check out the progress.
* Across the street, The Arlington is plodding along. I think I heard something about closings taking place in September, but this has been delayed before. They seem to be very close, however.
* There's visible signs of work on the Floridan's exterior. There was a cool photo in the Times showing a worker restoring an ornate ceiling in what I would guess was a ballroom. Would love to get a hall pass to check out the insides of this building!
* You've probably seen the progress online of Skypoint. It's really starting to make its mark on the downtown skyline.
* I've heard that Mosaic will be breaking ground this fall just North of TECO. No word yet on their website, but those Novare boys seem to move quickly once they've decided to move forward.

That's about it for North Downtown. Hope that helps quell your curiousity. Good luck in Africa.


Across the street,

"Einhorn will need the city to sign off on changing the lot's existing zoning, which allows construction of up to 120 feet. Last month, the City Council rejected a plan to build a 423-foot condo tower nearby on N Franklin Street, calling it too large for the area."

Does anyone know which tower they are talking about? I'm soooooo confused! :(

^^ Not sure which tower was rejected. The proposed Tampa City Lofts that needs rezoning is on the same block as the Floridan, can't see that happening.

I wonder if they're talking about the Royal? I believe the Grant project (located across the street from the Floridan) was already approved at its height. I'm sure somebody will know which tower was nixed...

Hey guys, Novare has added Mosiac back on their "projects" list, but without a new rendering. The project still lives! :)

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/9148/scan0047co0.jpg

I hope that this wasn't the project that was nixed because it was "too high". I really like the point tower design.

Has anyone heard about which Franklin St. project was scrapped? I haven't heard anything... :dunno:

Anyone know the developers of the tower?

I think that it was CityLofts (37 stories) next to the Floridan.

Tampa City Lofts was rejected. The above rendering is for the condo project "Royal" which is being developed by the same people as "Fly", H and R Properties. The Royal, I heard in a rather recent article is still alive and moving along.

Thanks for clearing that up, guys. ;)

Maybe they'll find another address to build the City Lofts project... come to think of it, it did look a bit out of place in the rendering.

The way they had it in the rendering it looked like a monolith and it was extremely out of place. I would love for it to be more towards SkyPoint.

^^ that would be nice to see -- and make it a 700 footer, as well. They could buy the GoldBank bldg. from Novare (lol); or better yet, make a deal with TECO.

Start off with a 14 story garage w/retail space on the lower floors; offer 10 floors of office space to TECO (in exchange for a deal on the property); top the TECO offices with 35 floors of condos, (with floor 25 including a clubhouse, workout room, pool, cabana, landscaped walk area); and dedicate floor 60 as a restaurant/bar/lounge open to the public.

Can ya picture the views in your mind's eye right now? Sweeeeeeeet (lol) :)

That would be amazing. We could only dream. I think that Novare would not even sell that property. I think that in the future they could relocate the M&I Bank building and build something there that would be distinctive. I would love for Novare to do a project with a Chrysler building feel. I know that it is WAY out of their norm, but I still would love to see it.

If you all have a moment, check out how far Novare's tower "Viridian" in Nashville has come.

http://oxblue.com/client/rjgviridian/

If you go to the shot taken at 6:03 this morning, you will see how they've lit up the top of the bldg and the pool area (which has been filled, b.t.w.). :)

Early evening shots provide a good idea as to the paint scheme chosen for the tower. What's more, the pool has been filled and they've already installed many of the balconies, as well. :)

It looks good!

Today I saw obvious activity at the Foridian. Sections being fenced off and lots of trucks surronding the site. The "Mosaic" also had some people on site.

Yea, the lower level windows have been fixed up. You can see into the second floor

Go to my site discovertampasfuture.blogspot.com to see the only picture I was able to get before my camera died. Pardon the quality of the picture, I had to enlarge it and it distorted the clarity of the image.

It's actually going to be called "Element" according to the Intown Tampa website. Amazing they just changed the name like that.

Sorry, I wrote that before we all got the news of the name change.

Sorry, I wrote that before we all got the news of the name change.

Tampa mobster what street is Element going to be on? Directly north of Skypoint or NE of Skypoint???

It is going to be on the corners of Polk, Franklin, Tampa, and Cass.

Not sure if this is old news or not - Looks like Doran Jason was shoping the Kress project to investors... Much better rendering included:

http://www.loopnet.com/Attachments/2/D/E/2DE0D104-6E89-47E1-AA66-A95A2C874CC8_or.jpg

http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/MainSite/Listing/Profile/ProfileSE.aspx?LID=14713102&linkcode=1070&sourcecode=1lww2t006a00001

MORE KRESS:
http://www.kresssquare.com/

AND CHECK OUT THIS:
http://www.kresssquare.com/flyer.pdf

Page 3 has a great image of downtown Tampa Developments

^^That rendering is much better. Now I would actually hope it gets built even though now its probaly to late.:doh:

Also, that development list is pretty cool even if it's a little small.

Still ick.

I like it.

There's nothing like some commie block (this time, pasted over in yellow with a few concrete block "ornaments" to give it a more "ritzy" look) to fill up 2 acres downtown. That would be a very serious eye sore.

I think that for this development they should have given it a more Chicago School look. I think that the cast-iron and full-length glass look with the Kress in the middle would look cool, and I think that the timing of the Kress building was in the same era as the Chicago style. If they really wanted to make this building look like the Kress building then they would have tried to match the facade to that of Kress.

^Such a scheme would cost several million more to construct, causing units to cost tens of thousands of dollars more.


There's nothing like some commie block (this time, pasted over in yellow with a few concrete block "ornaments" to give it a more "ritzy" look) to fill up 2 acres downtown. That would be a very serious eye sore.

Welcome to reality, where what you see is what you get if you truly want to have places downtown that the "working class" can afford to buy.

they could poke a couple windows in it, looks like there won't be any view.

Youhave to understand the layout of the floorplates... The north tower is VERY slender... The blank parts on the north face are likely to be where the emergency stairs are, and are probably abutted by the kitchens and bathrooms (wetwall)...

Now what I would advocate is using larger windows, to allow more light into the units... But that costs more... (I think it would be worth the cost)

Wow, if that rendering is accurate...yeesh. It certainly would fit in with the new County Courthouse, i.e. a waste of airspace. A good architect would be able to come up with an exterior design that is both economical and less high-rise-slum-looking.

Wow, if that rendering is accurate...yeesh. It certainly would fit in with the new County Courthouse, i.e. a waste of airspace. A good architect would be able to come up with an exterior design that is both economical and less high-rise-slum-looking.


As Jason said, it would cause too much to make an innovative and more attractive building. Plus I don't think this design is horrible. It reminds me of some smaller, historic stuff in New York City. Remember these towes may not even hit 300' so in fact they would be filler. Plus the fact that it saves the Kress building and the other 2 facades, (an addition to the project due to the council) it is a positive project and I hope it gets built.

Whether or not something is caused effective doesn't change the fact that the design is worthless and it shouldn't (and won't) be built.

I'm not advocating for an upper-class downtown, but rather one with design that is (god forbid) creative. This project is just as inspired as a series of boring track homes out in New Tampa and I'm pleased to see it fall apart. Either wait for market demand to move to a more affordable equilibrium or offer tax incentives to developers who propose more attractive projects, or don't clutter up the skyline with more garbage.

I do not think the towers mesh well with the historic facades, especially the Kress. With some rework perhaps this could be corrected and a better design at a reasonable price point could be found.

^^ my thoughts exactly, CBR3.

One of the uglier projects of Tampa, 610 Franklin, may have been redesigned, and it looks better. The general shape is the same but the facade has been improved. To see the possible redesign go to: http://www.woodpartners.com. Then go to "communities", then "Orlando/Tampa", then "For Sale", then "Coming Soon", then "Six Ten Franklin" and it should pop up. I can't post it, because it's in adobe and I can't post a direct link because there is none. Yeah frustrating site but it looks much improved, still not great but improved. :cheers:

It looks better from the front view but with the angled footprint, the sideview will be wider than skypoint. It is going to look like a huge wall from the sideview. Too much in my opinion. It definitely needs a step back to decrease the width towards the top of the building.

Doesn't seem like much of a redesign. It's better than an empty lot, but barely. The parking pedestal needs serious help. I'm not sure if it should be painted or left with this untreated look. I appreciate the cornice on top of the garage but it isn't enough. Hopefully the street level will be more refined. I don't know what to say about the side, which is definitely a huge slab, hehe. It could be worse...

I have a JPG of the image, but photobucket is being hellish so I'll try and upload it later.

http://www.gost.biz/tampaurban/images/towers/woods_maas.jpg

I know some member's don't like the design but I think it is good. I like the angles the building has.

the building will be close to 300 ft accross at its widest point. Skypoint is at most a little over 200ft accross. That seems more like a big wall to me.

any idea what the proposed height is?

I can't f***ing believe this is the shitbox we get in place of the Maas building.


Here's a newsflash for the developer: You purchased and tore down one of this city's last remaining landmarks... It is now your responsibility to replace the landmark you destroyed with a replacement landmark. The shit-ass design you have been showing the public is not an acceptable replacement!

It isn't that bad, although there is some things they can fix. The top is just tasteless. Is it trying to hide something? I would rather have a crown on it then that thing. The garage is poorly designed. Looks like something from the 1970's. Doesn't match with the rest. I would want a complete redesign of it.

The design isn't bad but the parking garage is hideous. It would've been a much better project if they would've kept the Mass facade for the garage. The building will be a very long slab, and I think they should taper the building down as it goes back so it isn't just a straight line, or put a crown acroos the whole top not just the corner. Also the top looks like a cage, like trying to hide an air conditioning unit or something.

The design isn't bad but the parking garage is hideous. It would've been a much better project if they would've kept the Mass facade for the garage. The building will be a very long slab, and I think they should taper the building down as it goes back so it isn't just a straight line, or put a crown acroos the whole top not just the corner. Also the top looks like a cage, like trying to hide an air conditioning unit or something.


They should have kept street level shops and put the parking behind it.

I can live with the building and the garage, just lose the burger king crown on top.

^^ :rofl:
First the bug zapper, then the cage and now the burger king crown. There really should be a contest. :lol:

I gotta admit, I love the color and the glass; and like youngkg, I like the angles. What's more, I like that you actually see something green growing in the rendering. Finally some frickin' big trees and a patch of grass in the same rendering. The color scheme should fit in nicely with Skypoint's blue and Element's emerald. I kinda hope they build the Twelve Arts' 47 stories in black glass. I'd like that mix of diversity...

I don't care much for the burger king crown either. I just hope if they build it that the spire (lit up) will look decent at night. I agree with FloridaFuture's point, "...they should taper the building down as it goes back so it isn't just a straight line..." because the central tower appears massive at its rendered angle -- kinda overwhelming.

I'm disgusted that the maas bldg. had to fall because of either a lack of will or financing to preserve the structure, but this will certainly benefit Tampa's Arts district more than the empty lot that's left behind.

Weighing the pros and cons, I hope they eventually build it. Something tells me it might grow on us as time allows, sometimes. :) I guess the real question is, will 500 people like it enough to call her home?

I personally think they should scrap the whole plan and build something like this...:> http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/78WillisBuilding_pic4.jpg
It would be 600 feet or 183m. Imagine this thing, minus the short thing in the back.

I kind of like it...

Nice to see trees but unfortunately they are not located on the project block as the picture would lead you to believe. The entire block will be consumed by the project footprint itself .
I'm ok with the design and it's better then nothing but I hope we, as a city, do not begin to accept each project taking up an entire block footprint for parking and then a tower in various angles all over the city. They will all begin to look the same once there are a few completed.
I would prefer thinner, taller towers which preserve part of the block for public parks, art, and access.
Just my opinion but I think the city should encourage some variety by way of incentives or extra density.

^They don't have to do anything but tell the developer their design looks like ill conceived, cheap s***, and they won't allow such s*** to be built. Especially not as a replacement to what was a city landmark.

Nice to see trees but unfortunately they are not located on the project block as the picture would lead you to believe.

Yup, there are no trees actually part of the project, according to this rendering. The rendering just have trees scattered about in places where they won't be.

any idea what the proposed height is?

Last I heard to spire it was going to be in the 450 foot range, and this is approved I believe not proposed.

Another problem with this design, if the rendering faceas North or South, is that it will make huge shadows.

I wouldn't be too worried about shadows... The shadows this building would throw in any orientation still won't compare to the kinds of shadows already thrown off of BofA and 100 N Tampa... That's a natural by product of putting modern office and condo towers on the dwarfish blocks in DT Tampa.

Long dormant thread, sorry for bringing it back up but I was wondering if anyone had floorplans for the Residence of Franklin Street project? Or if you can point to them on the web?

http://www.theresidencesonfranklinstreet.com/floorplans.htm

The images of the floorplans are really tiny and they don't let you look them up for the ones that are sold out, but you can outsmart the system and look them all up if you guess the image names, I have attached below:

http://www.theresidencesonfranklinstreet.com/images/A.gif

http://www.theresidencesonfranklinstreet.com/images/A.gif

http://www.theresidencesonfranklinstreet.com/images/B.gif

http://www.theresidencesonfranklinstreet.com/images/C.gif

http://www.theresidencesonfranklinstreet.com/images/D.gif

http://www.theresidencesonfranklinstreet.com/images/E.gif

http://www.theresidencesonfranklinstreet.com/images/F.gif

Has anyone heard on the progress of "The Royal"?

Thanks Jonknee, kicking ass and taking names like always!