TAMPA | Floridan Palace Hotel | 20 stories | 213 hotel rooms | Restoration | Completed

[smiley]

As long as the Floridan is done, I will be happy. The rest is gravy.

[John F]

They just had a piece on this on Channel 13 -- I can't give much from the piece but I can say that the hotel inside looked like a disaster. I don't say that for any other reason than being a bit confused.

How many developers have purchased the Floridian over the last few eyars with plans to do this-or-that with the hotel? I've seen a few groups ove rthe years with plans and I would have thought someone would have at least cleaned up the mess inside.

That's not saying the plac eneeds to be condemned and demolished. No sir -- restoring that building to it's former peak just might be atougher job in the long run but not undo-able at all. It almost makes me feel like, when it's done,it will put the othe rhotels downtown to shame (sans maybe the Waterside....)

[smiley]

IT will put the msto shame if it is restored.

Many people have bought the building but they had some issues:
1) they all hinged their plans on Fed tax issues
2) north downtown was a mess and is now getting better
3) the city hadn't really woken up to the possibilites - though, of course, Mayor Greco had.

There is a real chance and to me that is one of the most important things you can do downtown - it is unacceptable to have a vacant decaying 22 story building in the middle of the city - that breeds a feeling of blight. If and when it is restored it will really change a lot - especailly if the other project are built near it.

I am telling you that hotel will rock all the time if they fix it up.

[smiley]

And I want them to put the sign back on the roof.

[brickell]

This is one of my favorite Florida buildings and am elated to hear this news. Just hope it goes through this time.

I also hope that the prices are not over my head. I'll be counting the days for when I can get a room.

[SDK4]

Restoring a hotel this old to it's former condition will be great. I'm glad they decided to keep this one and not knock it down to build a new one.

[FLHawk]

Is the ratty old post office that butts up against the Floridan staying? Did Markopoulos (sp?) buy the whole block, or just the Floridan?

[sarasotan]

Bigger, Better Plans In Store For Floridan

http://southtampa.tbo.com/southtampa/MGBGDZ9079E.html

By JANIS D. FROELICH jfroelich@tampabay.com
Published: May 26, 2005

Advertisement

TAMPA … The bad news is the chandeliers are gone. The good news is the latest developer to own The Floridan since it closed in 1989 … there have been five previous developers … plans to ""restore the hotel even better than it once was.''

So says attorney Lisa Shasteen, who represents Antonios Markopoulos, recent purchaser of The Floridan Hotel for $6 million.

""There are no light fixtures left,'' said Shasteen, who estimates almost a two-year process to restore the once grand hotel.

She said the city's Architectural Review Commission recently opened a file on the hotel, which means the process to begin the renovation is at its earliest stage.

Shasteen said when the hotel at Cass Street and Florida Avenue is reopened, there will be fewer rooms, but there will be a fine dining restaurant.

Shasteen said a display area will be devoted to the glory days of The Floridan when the new place opens. Those with historical photographs and artifacts from the luxury hotel can call her at (813) 220-3000.

Reporter Janis D. Froelich can be reached at (813) 259- 7143.

[smiley]

It's nice they seem serious, but we shall see.

Maybe the Superbowl will inspire them

[ATampaArnold]

I would love to see what a restored Floridan would look like, too bad there are no pictures

[John F]

Has there been any reports about the Floridian and the renovation process? is there any action at the building that can be seen from teh street level? dumpsters out frong and what not?

[thehappysmith]

Apart from the inflatable snowmen that went up in December, the last activity I saw at the place was signage indicating some sort of tax exemption hearing at the city on December 8th. I haven't heard anything since then. The hotel is on my normal Sunday morning bike route and I haven't seen any changes.

[smiley]

They are before the ARC all the time. Fixing up a building liek that takes a lot of paperwork.

[John F]

Thanks guys. I've jsut been running into someone on teh web who doesn't believe anything is happening with the building and that no developer "has the balls to renovate the hotel and bring it back to it's former glory."

[smiley]

Whoever it is, tell em to tune into the ARC hearings - they are sure to catch the Floridan discussions.

and if he did not notice that all the windows are either open or undergoing some sort of activity after 15 years of nothing - he is not looking.

I am the biggest cynica about Tampa, but even I have started to believe that, unlike Maas, which will come down for no good reason other than the blindness of our "leaders" - the Floridan might actually get salvaged.

[TamHavPolis]

Originally Posted by smiley

unlike Maas, which will come down for no good reason other than the blindness of our "leaders" - the Floridan might actually get salvaged.

While I'm with you on the idea of preserving some of the grander old buildings downtown, the impression that I've been under about the Maas Bros. building was that neglect and other damage to the building (+ asbestos removal?) made rehabing the building financially untenable. It's a shame, but if you can't get a developer to finance a renovation because it won't be profitable, then knocking it down and putting the land to some use is superior to leaving the building abandoned.

Now, I would be behind some program to help subsidize restoration costs for buildings like Maas Bros. to make keeping them up profitable. But you can't force someone to invest in a dog, and it makes no sense to have valuable land wasted.

[smiley]

IT is expensive but doable. Many other cities have taken buildings that were in awful condition and renovated them. They jsut keep taking the easy and silly way out to "modernity"

[robbie]

Have any of you ever been inside the Floridan? I never have, but I have heard that the rooms were very small. If it doesn't work out for a hotel restore then lofts would be great.

[biga1968]

Can the developers apply to some kind of a Federal Grants or something similar to that which allocate some funds to help finance in restoring historic building?

[smiley]

The rooms were small - they are altering the rooms

They are applying for grants (if they have not been approved previously)