I haven't seen a thread on this yet, looks like we'll be having three museums in construction. I don't quite understand why everyone is set on building whole new structures, but I guess it's easier to raise money for a fancy new building than for a less fancy restoration.

Anyone have a rendering?

Museum, Fountain, Exhibits To Begin Rising Along River

http://www.tbo.com/life/MGBW03MAY0F.html

Something as rare as a string of green lights on Kennedy Boulevard will soon be commonplace in the heart of downtown:

Kids.

The Children's Museum of Tampa will begin rising this year on one of the sweetest spots along the Hillsborough River, offering a daytime destination for some of the area's smallest residents.

Designs were finalized about a month ago for the 50,000-square-foot facility, which will outshine Kid City, its aging predecessor near Lowry Park Zoo. Opened in 1965 as Safety Village, Kid City evolved into a number of child-sized play-buildings, including a Publix supermarket, a McDonald's fast food restaurant and a bank sponsored by JPMorgan Chase.

Kind of cute, but not exactly a prime destination for tourists or local families.

"Kid City is really just one exhibit," says Heidi Shimberg, chairwoman of the museum's board of directors. "The new one will have 12 more."

The museum, designed for children from birth through elementary school, will be adorned with a fountain and plush landscaping along the riverfront, Ashley Drive and Gasparilla Plaza. A children's garden will separate it from the Tampa Museum of Art, which is to be demolished and then rebuilt in time to open in spring 2009.

The children's museum is slated to open in the fall of that year.

According to Shimberg, its most striking feature will be a 30-foot-high children's climbing structure tracing the path of a raindrop from clouds to aquifer.

Other exhibits will include:

Planes, Trains, Autos and More! Demonstrates Florida history with models of Spanish galleons, a Seminole dugout canoe, trains and a futuristic hybrid car.

Art Smart. A place for trying out various types of art.

Get Going. Offers a variety of games and sports, some of them a little quirky.

En La Playa (On the Beach). Children can play in sand and build castles.

KidsPort. Offers water play, allowing children to run a mock shipping center, wade into the water to float boats, use tongs as cranes to move shipping containers and build a causeway for toy cars.

Safety Village NOW. Similar to Kid City, it encourages children to explore a make-believe town and select healthy foods, get medical treatment for dolls or adopt a pet at the veterinarian's office.

Tampa Tots. Provides an area where children younger than 3 can play while their parents watch.

Tampa Live! Children can make and perform on videos.

Plan it, Build it. Exposes children to a variety of building experiences.

The exhibits will be "kids' scale" - meaning constructed at the height of young children - and also will include classrooms, an auditorium-theater and a hall for traveling displays.

Sounds like a good little collection of exhibits for the kids. The "30 foot climbing structure" sounds really cool, but it may be inviting a lawsuit. Who knows?

Overall a good museum on the inside... hope renders of the outside are released soon...

Def sound interesting and having a 2 year old daughter I look FWD to it opening up.. as far as the ^rendering, If you get todays Tampa Tribune newspaper there was a 2 story article on it, One regarding the building, and the other regarding its new architect, or CEO or something....and it also has a rendering of the outside.. IMO looks good looks refreshing, I think it adds a nice touch to the riverwalk there.

This sounds like direct competition for MOSI. It sounds better than MOSI.

The design looks solid from the rendering. Lots of glass with a greenish facade and an outdoor, covered atrium on Ashley. Also, it looks to be about 3-5 sotries and there appears to be a terrance facing the river and UT's direction. Good thing Tamparican mentioned that there was a rendering in the paper because I missed it. I'll try to scan it when I get home from school today. :)

Doh, sometimes not getting the dead tree version of the paper makes you miss things. A scan would be much appreciated FloridaFuture.

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/JordanA_015/Museum.jpg

Thank you, FloridaFuture!

Hmmm, a musuem building I actually kind of like. Refreshing!

I can't square the rendering with the map graphic. Am I standing in the Poe Garage looking at the building? Is there going to be enough space for all those trees? I can't quite tell.
Why is it so rare to see context in the renderings we get for new projects? What is so difficult about adding context that so few people do it?

Very nice! :) Thanks, Future.

This is a plus for the area.

I certainly hope that they can meet their timeline, as well as the new art museum.

I like it.

I like it. Very modern. I do not know if I like the green.

Happysmith, maybe this will help:

http://www.tampagov.net/dept_contract_administration/images/Scematic%20Pics%20to%20City%20Council/Slide13.JPG

Check out the the Curtis Hixon redevelopment plan here:

http://www.tampagov.net/dept_contract_administration/Feature_Projects/Curtis_Hixon_Images_from_CityCoucil.asp

Poe has GOT to go

I hope that "art wall" disguises most of Poe... or, yknow, all of it... :-P

I really like the render indeed, just weird that in the rendering you don't see one single kid. :)

This is great to be a great part of Tampa. You have this museum, the Arts Museum, Skypoint, Element, TWELVE, and Novare 4 all in the same vacinity. And don't forget the RiverWalk. I can't wait for Tampa in 2012! :banana:

^^ Novare 4? I'm not familiar with this project, NPR. Have I missed something? :dunno:

I suspect that you are referring to the previous version of what is now the Twelve Arts project. ;)

I believe it is the speculation many have had that Novre has plans for a 4th tower in the area next to Skypoint. Nothing has been brought up, but I recieved an email a couple months ago from Novare saying that they have nothing on papers at the moment, but the land South of Skypoint I believe they said is a good area for another tower and they might proposed one when Element is halfway done.

Novare owns or atleast has rights to buy the block just to the south of Skypoint. Which currently has the Gold Bank building and its parking lot. Actually, if you include the Channelside project, it could be Novare 5.

Sounds like really good news for them...

http://blogs.tampabay.com/breakingnews/2007/10/glazers-give-5-.html

Glazers give $5-million to children's museum

TAMPA - The Glazer family, owners of the Tampa Bay Buccanneers, today announced a $5-million donation to a new children's museum set to be built in downtown Tampa.

Museum leaders need to raise $21-million to help pay for construction of the building, which is slated for ground breaking in the summer, said Heidi Shimberg, chairman of the museum board.

"This takes us past our first goal, so we're close to $9-million," she said. "We want to thank the Glazer family for this generous gift, which will make the building of a world-class children's museum in our community a reality."

The museum will be built on the north end of Curtis Hixon Park, next to a new Tampa Museum of Art. The current Children's Museum, next to Lowry Park Zoo, has 5,000 square feet of exhibit space, most of it outdoors in a miniature village called Kid City.

The new museum will feature 15,000 square feet for permanent displays and 5,000 square feet for rotating exhibits.

--Janet Zink, Times Staff Writer

I hope Hillsborough County helps this out, because if not, I'm assuming it closes at 5, no one is going to be able to go to that is a child to enjoy it.
But who knows the HCO has retarded school policy. Do kids even get to go on field trips anymore?
I remember in HS that HCO was trying to outlaw field trips, because I was in TV Production and I got to do the press release at BG: Howl O screams last year, and they almost didn't let me go.
Also, They are trying to get rid of Physics Day at BG.

I hope Hillsborough County helps this out, because if not, I'm assuming it closes at 5, no one is going to be able to go to that is a child to enjoy it.
But who knows the HCO has retarded school policy. Do kids even get to go on field trips anymore?
I remember in HS that HCO was trying to outlaw field trips, because I was in TV Production and I got to do the press release at BG: Howl O screams last year, and they almost didn't let me go.
Also, They are trying to get rid of Physics Day at BG.
I have gone on many field trips for JROTC, but as a mormal class, I haven't had one since 6th Grade. I believe it is mainly funding or approval from the school board that stops anything from happening.

My sister has told me that field trips before the FCAT are discouraged.

But yea, it'd be nice for the school board to pay for some perhaps in return for a school-oriented exhibit. The donation by the Glazers is a classy move.

^No field trips?

I was out of class three days of the week senior year. Get connections, people. :-P

Bucs owners give museum $5M boost

The Glazer Foundation gives its largest gift ever to the children's facility.

By JANET ZINK, Times Staff Writer
Published October 16, 2007
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TAMPA - The owners of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday announced a $5-million donation to a new children's museum to be built in downtown Tampa.

The Glazer Children's Museum, scheduled to open in 2009, will be built on the north end of Curtis Hixon Park, next to the planned new Tampa Museum of Art.

Monday's donation is the largest gift ever from the Glazer Family Foundation, established in 1999 and funded largely by the partnership that owns the Bucs.

Since it began, the foundation has awarded less than $500,000 each year to a variety of organizations, with most of the gifts topping out at less than $5,000.

The Children's Museum board had approached the Glazer foundation for a donation in the past. Edward Glazer, the foundation's president, said his brother Bryan called him about a month ago and brought up the idea of donating.

He immediately called his brother Joel and sister Darcie.

"Literally, within five minutes we said, 'It's a go,'" Edward Glazer said. "It was the quickest $5-million we've ever spent in our lives."

Glazer said whenever he travels to a new city with his three children, the first thing he looks for is kid-friendly activities. Children's museums are always one of their first stops.

Museum leaders need to raise $21-million for the 50,000-square-foot facility, which is slated for groundbreaking in the summer, said Heidi Shimberg, chairwoman of the museum board. The Glazer donation takes the museum past its first fundraising goal of $9-million, she said.

"We want to thank the Glazer family for this generous gift, which will make the building of a world-class children's museum in our community a reality," she said.

Mayor Pam Iorio plans for the city to spend $15-million renovating Curtis Hixon Park, which she says will be part of the "renaissance" of downtown.

"The Children's Museum is going to be the main attraction," she said at a news conference announcing the Glazer gift.

The current Children's Museum, next to the Lowry Park Zoo, has 5,000 square feet of exhibit space, most of it outdoors in a miniature village called Kid City.

The new three-story museum will feature 21,000 square feet for permanent displays and 8,000 square feet for rotating exhibits, classrooms, and a family resource center.

Hands-on exhibits, geared toward children from birth through age 10, will explore science, social studies and art.

Shimberg said there won't be a football exhibit at the museum, but one display will focus on the importance of an active lifestyle.

"I think there's a football in there," she said. "There's a soccer ball, too."

The Glazers also own the Manchester United soccer team.

Janet Zink can be reached at jzink@sptimes.com or 813 226-3401. Times researcher John Martin contributed to this report.

[Last modified October 16, 2007, 00:45:09]

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/10/16/Hillsborough/Bucs_owners_give_muse.shtml

While it is great they are helping out with this donation, it is aout time they gave something back to this city. Seriously, we get the bill for the stadium, they get a overly gracious percentage of ALL profits there, football related or not, we get the bill for their complex beside the stadium....good PR move - not to mention the tax write off for them- , but the city that has given so much needs more back. I can only hope that they do not get naming rights on the new museum too..I can see it now " The Glazer family Tampa Childerens Museum," or the "Childerens Museum of Tampa, brought to you by the Glazer Family."

Nice gesture, but this should only be a start.

Steve

While it is great they are helping out with this donation, it is aout time they gave something back to this city. Seriously, we get the bill for the stadium, they get a overly gracious percentage of ALL profits there, football related or not, we get the bill for their complex beside the stadium....good PR move - not to mention the tax write off for them- , but the city that has given so much needs more back. I can only hope that they do not get naming rights on the new museum too..I can see it now " The Glazer family Tampa Childerens Museum," or the "Childerens Museum of Tampa, brought to you by the Glazer Family."

Nice gesture, but this should only be a start.

Steve
Probaly not. They'll probably get some recognization inside the museum, like a own area of Bucs History and some interaction, like Football Toss or Mini Field Goal Kick, but nothing big like that. I do agree that they should give back to the city though. They could easily give us a few million for RiverWalk or fund for a extension of the trolley or even maybe fund the light speed rail, since there will probably be stop near them anyways.

This family is worth over $1 billion dollars. $5 million is a small drop in the bucket of what they should be giving.

The Glazer Children's Museum, scheduled to open in 2009, will be built on the north end of Curtis Hixon Park, next to the planned new Tampa Museum of Art.



I'm just happy to see them help push along a downtown project.

This family is worth over $1 billion dollars. $5 million is a small drop in the bucket of what they should be giving.

Darn right. 5 million is nothing compared to what they have right now. Especially after all the outrage the Glazers caused in the UK, I think it's about time they donate some of their money.

Um, how about thanking them for the $5m instead of being bitter? It's their money. They bought the Bucs when they were a laughing stock, now they are one of the more valuable teams in the country.

$5 million is a crap load. WOW. That family does a lot for the community through the Glazer Family Foundation. $5 million is just a small part of the large chunk of change they give away in this area. They should be thanked.

5 mil is a lot of money yes. But I feel they could have given more...that's all.

That's a terrible attitude to have IMO. If I invite you over and offer you a drink would you get angry if I didn't pour from the most expensive bottle I had? Just because I can give more doesn't mean the offer wasn't generous.

I don't think anyones problem has to do with how much money have (have vs. have nots). I personally feel that it's a waste to have taxpayers subsidizing the Glazer's Bucs franchise... Like 99.999% of all privately held businesses, if they can't afford to pay the bills, they shouldn't be in business.

Because of these questionable deals made between private parties and our local government, I believe most people hold some hostility towards these private owners. That's the root of this in my opinion.

The Glazers giving $5,000,000 to the Childrens Museum is generous, but I see it as a rebate of tax dollars. Call me crazy, rude, whatever, but I feel that way about all sports franchises.

Do you think Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa would have their hand out for my company if it wasn't able to make a profit? Heck no, and they shouldn't. That should go for all private businesses, including the Bucs/Lightning/Devil Rays...

Holy crap! I shuold have read the article better, it does say "The Glazer Childrens Museum." Surely that is a mistake? I for one will be pis***d off if end up naming it after them.

Ok, they have done SOME for our city, but, and it is a BIG but, I take the most offense to the questionable deals that they have made with the city, as dudeintampa pointed out. They got the stadium built with OUR tax dollars, and take the lions share of profits, then the expect the city to pony up for their offices. I know that professional sports bring a lot of economic good to a city, that cannot be denied, but for a city to take obviously bad deals is just ridiculous, IMO.

$5 mil is a LOT of money, but when it comes from the foundation like that, one that gives $500,000 per year, mostly to projects that do not top $5,000 one can see the true reasons behind the donations - tax benefits.

I sincerely hope that the name in the article was a mistake.

Steve

Fact is they could have given much less or even said no. $5 million from one family is more than 50% of the $9 million currently donated, and it's close to a quarter of the $21 million they are trying to raise to complete the project. It wouldn't hurt if other successful businesses contributed to this worthy endeavor, as well; and it wouldn't even matter if the donations were smaller. :)

As for subsidizing the Glazer's, it appears more people thought that keeping the Bucs in Tampa was a worthy investment for the community, so they approved the sales tax increase. Sure, the Glazer's got one helluva good deal; they're businessmen, that's how it works from their end. We knew the terms and we had every opportunity to say no thanks. ;)

Looks like a win-win situation to me. The Glazer's get a public relations boost and a tax break, while the Children's Museum moves one step closer to an eventual grand opening. I'm just trying to find something positive to appreciate. :cheers:

I do not understand all of the bitterness towards the Glazers. I understand that the tax payers paid for the stadium, and the Glazers are making alot of money off of that stadium, but that stadium has also made millions back for the community. Every week the Bucs play, it is a free, three hour commercial for the city. The Super Bowls have/will bring millions to the city. People visit and move to the city because we have a professional football team. I could go on and on...the point is, if it wasn't for the Glazers, we would not have a stadium, we would not have a team, and the city would suffer because of it.
The taxpayers paying for the stadium is one of best INVESTMENTS, and frankly I would vote for it again if I had to.
In fact, I would vote for another one cent sales tax to subsidize a baseball stadium in Tampa. I believe in fiscally conservative policies, but see this particular policy as an investment.

Sorry, for the rant, I'll go to bed now:)

Oh, and I completely agree with Brisco! A $5 million gift is extremely generous. I guess Vinny Lecavllier should have given more than the $3 million to the All Children's Hospital for their new wing, since he makes more than $6 million a season for the Lightning :roll eyes and sigh:

I would love to know how much you guys give for philanthropic purposes???

I am not against building stadiums, or the public financing of them - I am actually for it, as I would be for building a baseball stadium too....GO RAYS!:banana:
I am just against the bad deal that the city got...but that is another matter.

So, in the end, yes, the $5 million is a great donation, but I guess I am just a little bitter from their other motives....but hey, at least we get the museum!

Steve

I give approximately 10% of my yearly income to various charities, almost always anonymously (I don't like getting on charity mailing lists and getting hit up, I give when I find it appropriate). An no, I don't care about losing the tax deduction.

Let me just say though, if the City of Tampa/Hillsborough would like to pay the mortgage and taxes on my company's office building and inventory, and let me keep a portion of all the money my company generates for the city/county, I'd be happy to donate more.... I still look at it as a rebate the Glazer's gave.

I don't think they're evil people or anything, I just believe we, the taxpayers got screwed as usual by questionable deals such as the one they wrangled. We shouldn't let sports teams blackmail us when they say they're going to leave unless.... That's why the "Community Investment Tax" came about.

A little off topic here, but it's sad when a city has 90,000+ that will pay thousands per year to go to football/hockey/baseball games, but then can't even get enough support to get a museum off the ground. Hell, I bet those are the same people complaining about their property taxes too!

^^^I agree with you.

I think Vinny's gift to All Children's was great. He is worth substantially less than the Glazer family. I think the city got screwed with the Bucs deal, and frankly, I could care less about the team. (I'm not from Florida so I don't pull for any of Florida's teams.)

The Bucs have been screwing everybody ever since they came to town. IMO, the Glazers are in possession of a few hundred million of this community's money. The Bucs are ONLY worth what they are worth because of the contractually obligated flow of taxpayer dollars into the Bucs' bank account.

^^ Good point, there have been all sorts of trade-offs, pay-offs, tax abatements and genuinely shady dealings over the years in regards to the Bucs, the Culverhouses and most recently the Glazers and the Tampa Sports Authority.

Financial issues aside it is ironic that it was because of the Bucs franchise being awarded to Tampa that UT dissolved the Spartan football program... Back in '75/76 they did not think the community could support an NFL and college team....much less a successful college team such as the Spartans. How, ironic here in 2007 we have the USF Bulls @ #2 in the nation and the Bucs atop the NFC South. Too bad we don't still have the Spartans as well.

Hell who around town these days even knows that Tampa Stadium aka the old Sombrero was built for the UT Spartans originally. (Seated 45,000 +/-)

You have to think about things this way. Sure the Bucs bring money to Tampa, but how much does Tampa spend on police directing traffic, security etc. Tampa wouldn't fall apart if the Bucs leave.

No, Tampa would not fall apart however it would destroy public perception as to the validity of the city. Loosing an NFL franchise is a mark of shame for a city/community. The effects would run much deeper than you might first expect.

The shameful part is that taxpayers are being robbed by these sports corporations. The cities that should be ashamed are the cities with leaders too corrupt to stand up and do the right thing.

The shameful part is that taxpayers are being robbed by these sports corporations. The cities that should be ashamed are the cities with leaders too corrupt to stand up and do the right thing.

I agree, but ultimately its not much different than what other corporations such as Walmart do regularly to small town America and big cities alike. Cities pay millions of dollars towards traffic improvements, impose right of way on public property, donate property and grant tax abatements for x number of years. When said tax abatements expire, Walmart comes in and closes the location, moving it a mile or two down the road and outside of the city/county thus never replenishing any of the money afforded them in the abatement process with the added side effect of having crippled the local small business economy. Its the same thing with professional sports in an era of readily mobile franchises. Sad.

Hell who around town these days even knows that Tampa Stadium aka the old Sombrero was built for the UT Spartans originally. (Seated 45,000 +/-)

What? I didn't know that.

No, Tampa would not fall apart however it would destroy public perception as to the validity of the city. Loosing an NFL franchise is a mark of shame for a city/community. The effects would run much deeper than you might first expect.

Couldn't have said it any better. Frankly, Tampa would be heavily shamed if the Bucs ever packed up and left. The entire Tampa Bay region for that matter would be on a tourism downfall if something like that ever happened.

The shameful part is that taxpayers are being robbed by these sports corporations. The cities that should be ashamed are the cities with leaders too corrupt to stand up and do the right thing.

I'm so sick of corrupt politicans running the city in they way only they see fit. Nuff said there.

^You conflict yourself there dude with your last two remarks... My sentiment and his are mutually exclusive, because we're disagreeing. He says the cost sucks, but we would be shamed if the Bucs left... I say that all cities who are held hostage by a sports team are the ones who are shamed, and that we can be redeemed by kicking them to the curb... That will never happen, but not because it isn't the right thing to do, but because greed trumps what's right in our society.

Do the Bucs get unfair incentives and cheat the community? Yes.

Would the whole region (government and citizens) be pissed if the city kicked them out? Yes. (Hey, maybe the whole region should help finance the Bucs and not just Tampa, they are the Tampa Bay Bucs after all)

Should you criticzise the Glazers for "only" donating 5 million to the Children's museum? No, becasue they didn't HAVE to donate anything.

BTW all of the charities and foundations that the Glazers, players, and coaches run locally are all huge pluses for the community as well. :)

^You conflict yourself there dude with your last two remarks... My sentiment and his are mutually exclusive, because we're disagreeing. He says the cost sucks, but we would be shamed if the Bucs left... I say that all cities who are held hostage by a sports team are the ones who are shamed, and that we can be redeemed by kicking them to the curb... That will never happen, but not because it isn't the right thing to do, but because greed trumps what's right in our society.

I guess my question, then, is what should we have done? Voted down the tax amendment and allow the Bucs to leave for another city that would have been willing to pony-up the money needed?

What about the Rays? At some point in the near future, either Pinellas and/or Hillsborough will have to make the exact same decision or the Rays will be gone.

My point is, these sport franchises are just as important to a city, culturally, as any other "quality of life" attraction (museums, aquariums, amusement parks, the zoo, etc.). Like I stated earlier, I would prefer that government only spent money on essential items, or items that would produce a profit in the long run... and these teams make money for the government AND the community at large. I consider investing tax money to produce a long-term profit smart, not greedy.

^My point is that sports teams are not central to a city's viability in any way. (and in fact, there are many, many examples to cite all around the world where cities succeed in providing for its citizens without ever giving a cent of tax dollars to its local sports franchises)

And more to the point, if a corporation cannot sustain itself on its own business model, then I believe that business should dissolve to be replaced by one that is sustainable. No for-profit corporation should EVER be propped up by government policy in any way, and most certainly not by legislating the direct redistribution of wealth from local residents to the corporation. To me, that should be illegal, if not criminal.

Don't get me wrong, I looove watching sports. I just believe that a sports corporation's customers should be the financial basis for their business model, not the misappropriation of hundreds of millions of dollars from local government.

In closing... The Glazers gave $5mil to the Children's Museum... That's real nice, but frankly, I would rather have back the $300+ million that was handed over to the Glazers. I'm quite certain that we could build a nice museum for that, and I'm equally certain that the NFL wouldn't go bankrupt if it had to build its own facilities.

^^^ Jason you said it best in that last paragraph.

I guess my question, then, is what should we have done? Voted down the tax amendment and allow the Bucs to leave for another city that would have been willing to pony-up the money needed?

What about the Rays? At some point in the near future, either Pinellas and/or Hillsborough will have to make the exact same decision or the Rays will be gone.

My point is, these sport franchises are just as important to a city, culturally, as any other "quality of life" attraction (museums, aquariums, amusement parks, the zoo, etc.). Like I stated earlier, I would prefer that government only spent money on essential items, or items that would produce a profit in the long run... and these teams make money for the government AND the community at large. I consider investing tax money to produce a long-term profit smart, not greedy.

Well put, TamBay. As for the Glazer's - I still think the $5 million is a respectable contribution. It's just one of (hopefully) many that will bring the museum one step closer to an actual opening.

... can't change the past, folks; but with a little effort and a dose of luck, you can change what the future holds. ;)

Just found this; don't think it has already been posted.
http://www.glazermuseum.org/building.html

Thanks for the link....I am excited for the museum...but as for the name... Why would anyone want to visit a museum about the Glazer family??:puke:

Steve

Christ, I think they hired a child to make the website. It's hosted by GeoCities (what is this, 1997?). But inexperience leads to more fun for us--after looking around the source I found a muuuch more high res version of the same video. And a couple that show future exhibits.


HQ Rendering animation (http://www.glazermuseum.org/media/New_CMT_Design.avi) (nearly 720p and it weighs 67MB so prepare to wait for a minute or two)
Exhibit Galleries (http://www.glazermuseum.org/media/Exhibit_Galleries.wmv)
Plan It Build It (http://www.glazermuseum.org/media/PlanitBuildit.wmv)

^Yeah, what a (joke of a) site....

I miss the original design. The 3D rendering perhaps confirms that, indeed, that foul block with randomly placed shapes that provide "visual interest that stimulates the creativity of the children and insert more bullshit here about how we try to justify this really, really dreadful scheme." Really, really bad news. I'd rather it not be built. The Tampa Curtis Hixon Park train wreck continues.

This will look as good as the Tampa Museum of Art in about.... twelve months? I'm sure we'll be treated to a lovely landscaping to play off this masterful design - a few day-old oak "trees", mulch that will wash over the severe white sidewalks, a few palms to remind people that they are, indeed, in a sweltering hot city that's too concerned with the wrong image, and some out of context modern art that the Glazer's nephew, a struggling student at an expensive New England art school, donated out of graciousness.

Oh, the glee!

... and instead of critiquing my negativity, try visiting any American city of comparable size and you'll see why I've got nothing but contempt for this failure of a civic center.

^^ I'm with you, Maxim. What an utter disappointment. :(

... and instead of critiquing my negativity, try visiting any American city of comparable size and you'll see why I've got nothing but contempt for this failure of a civic center.
Thank you!

$5 million is great, not for some I guess.

The Stadium was built for $168 million initial investment paid for by a .5% sales tax so everyone that spends a dime in the city helps pay for the stadium. It was put to a vote and passed. Get over it, no matter what you say or do YOU Cannot change it.

It is extremely cheap compared to the $500 million it currently costs for similar stadiums in other cities.

True public tax dollars paid for the Forum. The previous owners just made $90+ million on the sale of the Lightning....No bitching there?

^ If you look back at my post, I bitched about the lightning too... I still stand by the belief that if a private for-profit entity cannot stay in business without the govt subsidizing it, it should not be in business.

^ If you look back at my post, I bitched about the lightning too... I still stand by the belief that if a private for-profit entity cannot stay in business without the govt subsidizing it, it should not be in business.


Yup, you did. Sorry. :) Only saw alot of Buc staduim gripes. We would not have any pro teams in Tampa Bay or any spring training fields without public money. For that matter, I think only the Dolphins would exist in the whole state. Am I right?

The teams can and will stay in business though...they will just move to a town that will give them a stadium built with public money. It is a fact that local gov'ts do build stadiums. I still think that TPA stadium was a bargain.

On topic, I always thought we would be better off if we spent the Children's museum money on making sure every school has up to date computer systems and science labs. That would go alot further for the development of our children than a building that few students will visit will visit a couple times a year.

We already have MOSI by USF.

Originally Posted by Maxim98

... and instead of critiquing my negativity, try visiting any American city of comparable size and you'll see why I've got nothing but contempt for this failure of a civic center.

While I will critique this are in every way conceivable - unfortunately there are worse . . .

Seeing is Believing


Monday Morning Memo has reported recently on the exciting developments planned for the Tampa Museum of Art and Curtis Hixon Park. But there is still another development that is planned for the area – the Glazer Children’s Museum. The addition of a children’s museum to downtown will mean a great deal of families discovering all there is to see and do in the city center. Learn more about what this new facility will feature and when to expect to see the cranes begin construction by clicking here:

Children's Museum PDF (http://www.tampasdowntown.com/Editor/assets/monday%20morning%20memo%20documents/glazer%20museum%20overview%2003-08.pdf)

http://www.tampasdowntown.com/newsletter.aspx?newid=67

Shouldn't we change the name of the thread to "Glazer Children's Museum?"

Steve

I'm starting to get really nervous that we'll end up with that shitty white building with random splotches of color that a child visiting the museum would have a better taste then.

http://www.tampasdowntown.com/newsletter.aspx?newid=67
:cry: what happen to the old design? :cry:

Art Smart
http://www.glazermuseum.org/images/stories/artsmart.4.jpg
http://www.glazermuseum.org/images/stories/artsmart.sculpture.2.jpg
http://www.glazermuseum.org/images/stories/artsmart.kaleidoscope1.jpg
http://www.glazermuseum.org/images/stories/artsmart.bepicasso.jpg
http://www.glazermuseum.org/images/stories/artsmart.artlab.jpg

My House, Your House
http://www.glazermuseum.org/images/stories/mhyh.3.png
http://www.glazermuseum.org/images/stories/mhyh.7.jpg
http://www.glazermuseum.org/images/stories/mhyh.10.jpg
http://www.glazermuseum.org/images/stories/mhyh.8.jpg
http://www.glazermuseum.org/images/stories/mhyh.9.jpg

Time Travels
http://www.glazermuseum.org/images/stories/village.11.png
http://www.glazermuseum.org/images/stories/village.10.jpg
http://www.glazermuseum.org/images/stories/village.15.jpg
http://www.glazermuseum.org/images/stories/village.13.jpg
http://www.glazermuseum.org/images/stories/village.12.jpg

Be An Engineer
http://www.glazermuseum.org/images/stories/engineer65.png
http://www.glazermuseum.org/images/stories/be%20and%20engineer4.jpg
http://www.glazermuseum.org/images/stories/engineer9.jpg
http://www.glazermuseum.org/images/stories/engineer3.jpg
http://www.glazermuseum.org/images/stories/engineer6.jpg

Thanks for sharing, Pres2036.

Does anyone else think the Children's Museum is turning into MOSI, phase II?

I'm all for Curtis Hixon Park and want it to succeed like anyone else, but I question the need for replica of MOSI... I'd rather see the efforts go into MOSI to make it better - and let it be our premier destination for children to experience interactive and educational exhibits.

Thanks for sharing, Pres2036.

Does anyone else think the Children's Museum is turning into MOSI, phase II?

I'm all for Curtis Hixon Park and want it to succeed like anyone else, but I question the need for replica of MOSI... I'd rather see the efforts go into MOSI to make it better - and let it be our premier destination for children to experience interactive and educational exhibits.
No biggie

Yeah, but what else can they do with a Children's Museum? Both make up what the other lacks. Maybe it is MOSI V2.0, but it's better than having neither MOSI or Children's Museum.

Kids museums are generally like MOSI. The kids museum in St. Pete is very similar. The firm I am working with now did the design on the Atlanta Children's Museum (exhibts, interior design, "experience" design, etc). The budget knocked down the intent some but it worked out well and my pre-K son likes it.

http://www.imagineit-cma.org/museum_information.html

So hopefully you see some cool stuff in there. The folks who did the 3D renders for the Tampa museum didn't wow me though. They look very prelim.

I'm not questioning the need for having something like this in Tampa, I'm just thinking we already have it and shouldn't be creating another non-profit that will naturally have to compete against another taxpayer-subsidized venue (i.e cannibalization). My thoughts are that the funds should be put into making what we already have better.

Its not exactly like MOSI, I guess its kind of like the difference between American Eagle and A&F. Same basic look, different way of presenting it. The kids museum should be more little kids oriented. MOSI should be more teenage centric. I guess its like the difference between Gap Kids and the Gap, same look, different market.

And MOSI isn't exactly part of the urban fabric. If you intend on luring travellers DT for any period of time, you have to give them things to do. It'll probably be like $10-$12 to get in which is nominal. So Joe and Jane tourist could in theory spend a day at the TMA and Kid's museum, another day at the Aquarium, another day in Ybor, you know a decent three day weekend.

I was gonna say its similar to Mosi, its definitly cool.

Also added this to the Curtis Hixon Park and Museum of Arts threads

http://www.tampagov.net/files/spotlight/20081017_cultural_district.pdf

Looks like the site is being prepped for construction...start soon?

Looks like the site is being prepped for construction...start soon?
Wouldn't be surprised if they are. They're actually behind because construction was suppose to start in September according to them.

Based on the Museum of Art webcam, construction has started on the Children's Museum also. Good to see this finally get cranked up...

Here's a neat timelapse of the construction:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=131293323105

Funny. I just watched the time lapse from the oxblue cam a few days ago.

Considering how many of us were active in the History Center thread and Museum of Art thread, it's a shame how we have let this one go.

Grand Opening is planned for Sept. 25th, so 4 months away! Another great attraction for Tampa,, the residents in that area, the Riverwalk, and Curtis Hixon Park.

Thats crazy sept 25, the building has essentially been done for at least a month but they have kinda been tinkering on things to look busy. They just had a big party in it a couple weeks ago.

Thats crazy sept 25, the building has essentially been done for at least a month but they have kinda been tinkering on things to look busy. They just had a big party in it a couple weeks ago.

It's a children's museum, there is a *lot* of interior work to do in building the exhibits (and it's all custom). Not large white walls and hanging up art.

The reception was last weekend and was in the lobby:

http://www.facebook.com/GlazerChildrensMuseum#!/album.php?aid=231831&id=627017781&ref=mf

I got a question about the Children Museum. We at least know where the Art Museum will expand when needed, does the Children Museum have any plans? And in what direction can they?

They can open a Manchester wing for $1.6 billion . . .

^Didn't the Glazers contribute $5million to the Children's Museum?

I would rather have the money back for the stadium, and they can keep the $5mil. ;)

^Can we use it for a new Rays stadium? ;)

--Joey

We can eliminate the portion of the sales tax that is going towards RJS.

New Glazer Children's Museum adds 'amazing' venue for Tampa Bay families
By Susan Thurston, Janet Zink and Kameel Stanley
In Print: Monday, September 20, 2010

Kelly Davison did her homework before coming to the Glazer Children's Museum sneak preview Sunday. She printed out the exhibit information from the museum's website and studied it with her children, Connor, 5, and Kaia, 2.

By the time they got there, they had a good idea of what they wanted to see, but worried about one thing:

"I don't know how we're going to get it all done,'' she said.

Her husband, Corey, was quick to offer a solution: "We'll just have to come back.''

That was exactly what museum officials hope for as they gear up for Saturday's public opening of Tampa's newest kids' attraction. In the works for years, the museum completes the multimillion-dollar rebirth of downtown's Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, which also is home to the Tampa Museum of Art and a stretch of the Riverwalk.

The Glazer museum opened Sunday to 60 families that won passes to a Golden Ticket party. Oompa-Loompa-like museum mascots and Captain Fear from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheered as visitors made their way through the doors.

"I thought it was amazing,'' said 10-year-old Noah Cagle, who pretend-produced a space show in the Twinkle Stars Theater with his parents and two younger sisters. "I liked how they had so many different rooms.''

Designed for children ages 10 and younger, the $20 million museum has hands-on activities to spark imagination and curiosity about how the world works. It has 12 theme areas and 170 "inter-activities."

The design-and-build area lets kids construct their own city, operate a crane and install bathroom plumbing. At Art Smart, children can be dancers, painters or kaleidoscope makers.

Similar to the Great Explorations Children's Museum in St. Petersburg, the new museum has a city area with a hospital, veterinary clinic, pizza parlor and supermarket with digital checkout scanners and pint-sized carts. Children can put a stethoscope to a stuffed dog or put together a puzzle of a human skeleton using X-rays.

"It seems like the best of each place is here,'' said Missy Vivino, who has annual passes to every kid-friendly place in town.

The museum got its start more than 20 years ago when two Tampa women raised $18,000 to open the Children's Museum of Tampa at the old Floriland Mall, with a bubble machine, a telephone switchboard, grocery store and doctor's office.

Soon after, museum backers cut a deal with the city to lease Safety Village in Lowry Park for $1 a year. The village, renamed Kid City, gave children run of a kid-sized insurance office, fire station, radio station, McDonald's, Publix and City Hall.

Planning for a larger museum began in the late 1990s. Then in 2004, Mayor Pam Iorio offered the museum a prime parcel on the edge of Curtis Hixon Park.

The Glazer museum marks the final piece of the waterfront park, which has enjoyed a boost in popularity since its recent $15 million renovation. Its dog run, playground and children's fountains attract downtown residents, workers and area families.

"The children's museum, arguably, started the ball rolling with the entire park concept," Iorio said. "They were the first to really have any space in the park. The park hadn't been designed, and we didn't even know where the art museum was going to go."

Other than the land, the city gave the museum no money. Hills*borough County contributed $3 million.

"For a family to be able to go and romp in the park for free, enjoy the waterfront and now have a children's museum, that's a quality-of-life improvement that's very important to the city," Iorio said.

Critical to the museum project were the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which donated $5 million to the capital campaign in 2007 through its Glazer Family Foundation. As the largest single benefactor, the Glazers earned the museum's naming rights.

Sandy Murman, who chaired the capital campaign, said getting the Glazer donation was a matter of timing. Malcolm Glazer's children were starting families of their own.

"They grew up in New York, where they grew up going to a children's museum," she said.

Other area children's attractions welcomed the addition.

"We've been just as excited as everyone else," said Bradley Neff, community relations director for Great Explorations. "We think that it's going to strengthen the region. We're thrilled."

Great Explorations has struggled financially, but directors say recent cost-cutting measures have helped significantly.

"We've really shook things up to where our operations are solid now," said board member Scott Wagman. "Now we have to build up our donor base."

Even though Great Explorations and the Glazer museum have similar missions, there are some differences. Great Explorations offers a smaller, more intimate experience. It also costs slightly less and has free parking.

While officials expect the Tampa museum to draw people from Pinellas County, Neff said it won't necessarily hurt Great Explorations.

"We want them to succeed," he said. "We know that folks are going to continue to patronize our museum, as well."

Leaders at Tampa's Museum of Science and Industry and Florida Aquarium echoed that sentiment, saying the new museum will bring more visitors.

"MOSI is excited that our cultural market is growing and becoming more established, therefore making Tampa more of a destination market," MOSI president Wit Ostrenko said.

Florida Aquarium executives said the museum may lower the aquarium's attendance in the short term, but not the long term.

"We're excited to see downtown Tampa gain another kid-friendly attraction,'' said aquarium spokesman Tom Wagner, noting that the aquarium caters to a broader age range.

Based on their first peek at the museum, many parents said they would consider buying an annual pass, which starts at $90. Already, the museum has 800 members and has booked 25 birthday parties.

Melissa Perkins said she and her children, Brayden, 5, and Taylor, 2, will be regulars. She liked that the museum is easy to navigate and air-conditioned.

"We'll definitely come back,'' she said. "The kids had a blast.''

http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/new-glazer-childrens-museum-adds-amazing-venue-for-tampa-bay-families/1122701

http://www.tampabay.com/features/travel/attractions/glazer-childrens-museum-sets-torrid-pace-for-attendance/1180470

Glazer Children's Museum sets torrid pace for attendance


That giggly sound you've been hearing along the downtown waterfront in Tampa is the noise of more than 200,000 people visiting the Glazer Children's Museum within the first nine months of its opening.

And the satisfied sighs you here are from officials at the museum, who announced in a news release Thursday that the museum had met its first-year attendance goal even before its final fiscal quarter is complete.

President and CEO Al Najjar reported that 200,662 people have visited the museum since opening its doors on Sept. 25, 2010. The museum had projected 200,000 for the year.

The numbers are expected to grow throughout the summer as children and adults make it a must-stop on their summer itinerary.

"We could host as many as 250,000 total attendees before we complete our first operating year," said Al Najjar in the news release. "The reception by families of the Tampa Bay area and beyond has been remarkable, and we are grateful for the way the community has embraced the museum as a family and educational resource."

Attendance to the museum is measured in terms of visitors through the door, including both membership admission as well as paid general admission, visitors to special events and paid programs, the news release said.

The museum estimates that roughly one-third of visits have been from annual members, one-third from general admission entry and one-third from access via schools, free and reduced community admissions, such as the popular Target Tuesdays at the beginning of the month that offer reduced admission in the afternoon.

Roughly 50 percent of overall attendance has originated from Hillsborough County, 30 percent from outside the Tampa Bay area and 20 percent from the six surrounding counties.

To date, the Glazer Children's Museum has sold more than 6,000 memberships.

Not surprising that tourists attend better than people who live 25 miles away.

Retail continues to come to downtown. I would have liked to see something else, perhaps something local, but beggars can't be choosers I guess. It also looks like it will be open to the public after museum hours as well.

Subway to open at museum

Watch for a Subway restaurant to open in February or March in the former Tiny Bites cafe at the Glazer Children's Museum, with a menu expanded from subs and salads to include more family fare: chicken fingers, pizza and hot dogs.

"Puff n' Stuff continues as the exclusive caterer for museum events," said marketing manager Antonio Hill. "But bringing in a vendor to manage the cafe was in our best interest rather than managing it ourselves."

The new Subway will be open to the public, consistent with the museum's hours of operation.

The Subway will remain open after-hours after construction to close off the restaurant from the museum lobby takes place.

Glazer Children's Museum, 110 W Gasparilla Plaza; (813) 443-3861.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/retail/new-to-south-tampa-flying-pan-crepes-sport-clips-subway-at-glazer-museum/1270829