The low-rise building at the corner..

[Gretzky_99]

of Ashley and Kennedy, it was/is on the southwest corner of the intersection. Is that building still there? I moved from Tampa in October 2008, i thought i rememberd that building was being demolished. The company i worked for used to work with an architect on that building. Is it gone? I don't recall the name of the building, i know there was a parking garage below it. It was right next to the hotel on the river...

just curious.

[Casey]

Originally Posted by Gretzky_99

of Ashley and Kennedy, it was/is on the southwest corner of the intersection. Is that building still there? I moved from Tampa in October 2008, i thought i rememberd that building was being demolished. The company i worked for used to work with an architect on that building. Is it gone? I don't recall the name of the building, i know there was a parking garage below it. It was right next to the hotel on the river...

just curious.

Yes, that building still stands.

[Del Mayberry]

Originally Posted by Casey

Yes, that building still stands.

and it's on my ugly buildings list.

[HARTride 2012]

Originally Posted by Del Mayberry

and it's on my ugly buildings list.

Haha, mine too,

Is that building still occupied? If I'm not mistaken, didn't HART have its executive offices housed there before they moved them to the Streetcar garage in Ybor?

[tampasteve]

IIRC they made everyone vacate in the process of building a condo there (View, or something like that). It was a nice looking thin condo tower, I do not know if they ever rented it out again though.

Steve

[Gretzky_99]

Yeah, that was my last memory of it.. being vacated. I do remember at one point they had proposed a high rise condo for that corner..when the market dropped, that plan dropped too. I still remember years ago, doing a surbey for a tenant improvement in Bank of America Plaza, the vacated office had posters and drawings for the Hillsborough River Tower..across the river next to the Channel 8 studios, using what is now the dirt parking lot.. so many dreams, so little cash flow.. ahh.. Tampa..

[Gretzky_99]

Yeah, that was my last memory of it.. being vacated. I do remember at one point they had proposed a high rise condo for that corner..when the market dropped, that plan dropped too. I still remember years ago, doing a survey for a tenant improvement in Bank of America Plaza, the vacated office had posters and drawings for the Hillsborough River Tower..across the river next to the Channel 8 studios, using what is now the dirt parking lot.. so many dreams, so little cash flow.. ahh.. Tampa..

[Del Mayberry]

Venu sales crapped out not only because of the market, but probably also because of the location & no balconies. Everybody loved the building but the interiors must have really sucked. My guess is at pre-construction prices, people didn't want to pay a half million for a shoebox with no balconies & a view of the beercan.

[tampasteve]

Yes, according to old docs they were trying to sell 900sq ft unit for $400,000 and a 4,000 sq ft for more than $4 million.



Steve

[Del Mayberry]

Originally Posted by Gretzky_99

of Ashley and Kennedy, it was/is on the southwest corner of the intersection. Is that building still there? I moved from Tampa in October 2008, i thought i rememberd that building was being demolished. The company i worked for used to work with an architect on that building. Is it gone? I don't recall the name of the building, i know there was a parking garage below it. It was right next to the hotel on the river...

just curious.

Look in page 2 of Bueller's Tampa photos thread. There is a semi-ariel view of that corner.

[tampasteve]

Looks like this property is FINALY moving forward. This time as a hotel, possibly a W, Aloft, or similar brand:
http://www2.tbo.com/news/breaking-ne...tel-ar-527404/

Old bank may be reborn as boutique hotel
TODD L. CHAPPEL/STAFF

By RICHARD MULLINS | The Tampa Tribune
Published: October 10, 2012

If all goes well, the former Mercantile Bank building downtown could soon be transformed into a sleek new boutique hotel. And if that sounds familiar, it's because several developers have looked at that property, only to see their dreams dissolve amid the recession.

Enter Convergent Capital Partners, which acquired the property at 100 W. Kennedy Blvd. for $2 million in May with a plan to start renovations next May, with some interior work possibly starting before then, said Santosh Govindaraju, portfolio manager for Convergent.

"We want this to be a place where people meet at the hotel for a drink, have a walk down the Riverwalk or sit on the outdoor patio and see that gorgeous view of the University of Tampa," Govindaraju said.

The building, at the southwest corner of Kennedy Boulevard and Ashley Drive, now sits vacant except for some lower-deck parking spaces that are rented out monthly for nearby office workers. Convergent initially looked at renovating the building for use as office space again but ultimately chose entertainment and hotel uses because of the property's view and location on the Hillsborough River.

The good news, Govindaraju said, is the building has no asbestos or mold, and the above-ground structure is stable. The not-so-good news is the company must replace elevators, reseal the roof and handle the main challenge: The basement.

The lowest parking deck is at the river's waterline, and when the river swells especially high, water intrudes into the parking spaces. But Govindaraju said the renovation budget of $6 million to $7 million covers the cost of stabilizing the sea wall permanently.

A number of developers have eyed that site primarily because of its scenic location. At one point in 2006, developers envisioned a 50-story, 215-unit condo tower spire called "Venu" with $800,000 units. That would have towered above the Bank of America building next door.

That dream faded when the real estate bubble popped. The demonstration lounge for "Venu" still sits abandoned in the 8th floor of the bank building — with an architectural model of the spire still standing.

Convergent developed its Mercantile Bank building plans after redeveloping the Emerald Greens Golf Resort and Country Club in Carrollwood and taking over the central shopping area at FishHawk Ranch in Lithia. At one point this year, the company considered a bid for the Belleview Biltmore hotel in Belleair but did not move forward with the deal. Convergent now owns the Mercantile Bank property outright.

Often, hotel developers build out a property and, during the process, they pick the particular brand name. Govindaraju declined to say which brand Convergent is targeting. From his description of the feel and architecture of a sleek bar and lounge, guests would see similarities in this project to a W hotel, Aloft or Soho Grand — with sleek, modern styles rather than ornate stuffiness.
.......
rmullins@tampatrib.com (813) 259-7919 Twitter: @DailyDeadline

The linked article is longer.


Steve

[kmthurman]

This is the other hotel I was talking about. Hopefully they'll connect it to the Riverwalk as part of the renovation or Riverwalk expansion so you can walk from the bridge up stairs to their massive deck.

[Casey]

I like the proposed use of the building. I don't like the building itself.

[rmaddrey]

I can't believe the proposal for that property does not call for it's demolition... Even renovated, I believe the old adage about not being able to polish a turd holds true. I remember the Venu proposal, specifically the 3D rendered video they made to go along with said proposal; it was amazing. While it's been sad to see that lot sit empty and vacant I think it's even sadder to think of it's future mediocrity.

[koopalicious]

The building can be renovated quite nicely, but I doubt it is possible with the budget mentioned. $6 million to $7 million for a boutique hotel? What?

[TampaMike]

I'm looking forward to it but the renovation budget at the moment seems too low for anything elegant to come out of it. $6 to $7 million for this building? Basement needs fixing, elevators, roofing, plumbing, pretty much gutting the whole hotel to make hotel quality-sized rooms, hopefully a pool, exterior work like painting and hopefully some balconies, and hopefully a connection to Riverwalk and a restaurant to accommodate guests and the city as a whole.

If $7 million is the budget, expect shit to come out from shit.

[Del Mayberry]

What a disappointment. I was hoping they would tear down this ugly ass building. And this company.. I hate any company with the word "Capital" in it.

[tampasteve]

Meh, I am just happy that lot will not be vacant any longer. It is really depressing to walk by it.

I will hold my design judgement until some renderings come out. With that said, I have never seen a bad looking W or Aloft, if they indeed go that flag.

Steve

[TPAMAN]

And there it is! For such a prominent corner in downtown, it's a shame and a reflection of what Tampa will approve or settle for. A tall tower with some outdoor areas over the water and even the intersection would have really added some life to this corner. Instead we get another example of a wasted opportunity to do something special.

[TampaMike]

Originally Posted by TPAMAN

And there it is! For such a prominent corner in downtown, it's a shame and a reflection of what Tampa will approve or settle for. A tall tower with some outdoor areas over the water and even the intersection would have really added some life to this corner. Instead we get another example of a wasted opportunity to do something special.

Can't really blame the city for Venu failing, it came with the housing bubble bursting and the recession. Lets remind ourselves that it was the city that actually approved Venu, so the city did right for a change. At the same time, they would probably approve a McDonald's drive-thru on that lot if it was ever proposed.