jonknee
June 16th, 2007, 06:42 PM
'Java Zone' Plans Brewing
By ELLEN GEDALIUS, The Tampa Tribune
Published: June 16, 2007
TAMPA - The head of the Tampa Convention Center wants to transform the drab strip of storefronts lining Franklin Street into a hip, funky area where people can hold impromptu work sessions or grab a beer.
John Moors, convention center administrator, said he wants to create a 'Java Zone' at the corner of Channelside Drive and Franklin Street. He envisions a place where conventioneers and locals alike can find a cup of coffee, sign on to the Internet and even drink beer.
His goal is 'not to compete with Starbucks,' Moors said, but to create a destination point for people in the convention center area.
Moors said he hopes people would want to hang out there before hockey games and other events at the St. Pete Times Forum. Harbour Island residents might like the spot. And people using the Riverwalk might find the area a good resting place.
The area would be run by the convention center, with profits going to the city. The convention center is a city department.
Moors also wants to add meeting space to the strip. A preliminary rendering shows plans for three conference rooms and a 92-seat meeting room.
The conference rooms would feature oversized furniture - akin to Starbucks or Barnes & Noble - designed for small, brainstorming sessions. That would be a different approach from the rooms now in the convention center, which tend to be filled with rows and rows of upright chairs.
Mayor Pam Iorio wholeheartedly endorsed the idea.
'We always have to be thinking of how to make it more in sync with today's times,' Iorio said. 'You have to make sure your convention center is keeping pace with today's world.'
Money to make the changes largely would come from revenue generated by the convention center. Property tax money would not be used. A cost estimate was unavailable Friday.
Any plans are at least 18 months away from reality.
The Tampa Bay History Center still occupies space along the convention center's annex. The history center's move into its new space is about 1 1/2 years away.
Also, the Tampa Museum of Art has preliminary plans to move into vacant space along the strip as well while its new building is under construction at the northern edge of Curtis Hixon Park. The art museum probably won't leave the convention center space until spring 2009.
Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or egedalius@tampatrib.com.
By ELLEN GEDALIUS, The Tampa Tribune
Published: June 16, 2007
TAMPA - The head of the Tampa Convention Center wants to transform the drab strip of storefronts lining Franklin Street into a hip, funky area where people can hold impromptu work sessions or grab a beer.
John Moors, convention center administrator, said he wants to create a 'Java Zone' at the corner of Channelside Drive and Franklin Street. He envisions a place where conventioneers and locals alike can find a cup of coffee, sign on to the Internet and even drink beer.
His goal is 'not to compete with Starbucks,' Moors said, but to create a destination point for people in the convention center area.
Moors said he hopes people would want to hang out there before hockey games and other events at the St. Pete Times Forum. Harbour Island residents might like the spot. And people using the Riverwalk might find the area a good resting place.
The area would be run by the convention center, with profits going to the city. The convention center is a city department.
Moors also wants to add meeting space to the strip. A preliminary rendering shows plans for three conference rooms and a 92-seat meeting room.
The conference rooms would feature oversized furniture - akin to Starbucks or Barnes & Noble - designed for small, brainstorming sessions. That would be a different approach from the rooms now in the convention center, which tend to be filled with rows and rows of upright chairs.
Mayor Pam Iorio wholeheartedly endorsed the idea.
'We always have to be thinking of how to make it more in sync with today's times,' Iorio said. 'You have to make sure your convention center is keeping pace with today's world.'
Money to make the changes largely would come from revenue generated by the convention center. Property tax money would not be used. A cost estimate was unavailable Friday.
Any plans are at least 18 months away from reality.
The Tampa Bay History Center still occupies space along the convention center's annex. The history center's move into its new space is about 1 1/2 years away.
Also, the Tampa Museum of Art has preliminary plans to move into vacant space along the strip as well while its new building is under construction at the northern edge of Curtis Hixon Park. The art museum probably won't leave the convention center space until spring 2009.
Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or egedalius@tampatrib.com.