TAMPA | Floridan Palace Hotel | 20 stories | 213 hotel rooms | Restoration | Completed - Page 4

tampamobster21 · December 15th, 2006, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuvHighrisers

Does anyone know which "nuevo design" condo project was shelved because of this purchase?

This is the project you are talking about. Which by the way is EXTREMELY out of scale! It would be nice to have a building this tall, but not so close to the Floridan.

dmpeek77 · December 15th, 2006, 07:57 AM

has anyone ever been to the flat iron building in nyc? any project that adds density to the area would fit in.... JUST BECUASE HISTORY CANNOT TOP PRESEBNT, DOES NOT MEAN IT DOES NOT FIT IN.

TPAMAN · December 15th, 2006, 06:03 PM

Arbel never applied for the zoning change, they only had conceptual plans as they had never built a high rise.

tampamobster21 · December 16th, 2006, 06:43 AM

It looks like the building if it were to scale would have been about 700 feet. Which, I think is great and that we need to start building a new area of highrises and not clustering them in a six block radius. I pity the fool who said to demolish all of Tampas old hotels and bank buildings because I think that our skyline would be double what it is now.

FloridaFuture · December 16th, 2006, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tampamobster21

I pity the fool who said to demolish all of Tampas old hotels and bank buildings because I think that our skyline would be double what it is now.

It wouldn't be double, not even close, but it would be more dense in Northern Downtown and a lot nicer as far as quality of arcitechture, diversity and maybe pride.

smiley · December 16th, 2006, 06:33 PM

Look, the buildings were demoed because paying taxes on an empty building with no breaks and no means of making money off of it while waiting to redevelop it is not a logical business practice. You can thank Sandy Freedman and the City Council (mostly the democrats - a fact, not a dig - the Republicans promote silly growth, the democrats tend to hinder growth) for that past practice. IT is has been made a bit better recently.

Jasonhouse · December 16th, 2006, 08:00 PM

It still boggles the mind that such buildings were totally worthless in a city that was growing as much as Tampa was.

John F · December 16th, 2006, 08:24 PM

It's like I read recently when someone described the BRT efforts on both sides of the bay: It's like Tampa Bay has to try to re-invent the wheel with things instead of just using what's there.

That's transit, though. This is development and yet I get the same feeling. What we have is never good enough for the developers, and yet what is put in place doesn't always make up for what was lost.

I'm just glad the Floridan kept standing instead of being demolished for a 47 story parking tower or something :p

randommichael · December 18th, 2006, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John F

It's like I read recently when someone described the BRT efforts on both sides of the bay: It's like Tampa Bay has to try to re-invent the wheel with things instead of just using what's there.

That's transit, though. This is development and yet I get the same feeling. What we have is never good enough for the developers, and yet what is put in place doesn't always make up for what was lost.

I'm just glad the Floridan kept standing instead of being demolished for a 47 story parking tower or something :p

Maybe they will building the 47 story parking tower next door or something!

tampamobster21 · December 19th, 2006, 03:48 PM

Or maybe a 60 story statue of Jeb Bush. I think that they could possiblity put a hotel up next to the Floridan.

Robert.Maddrey · December 20th, 2006, 12:33 AM

It boggles my mind that of all the beautiful old hotels which once graced down town the only one to remain will be the Floridian. Least inspiring in terms or architecture or amenities the only thing it had going for it was, height. A drab brown monolith that has set vacant for nearly 20 years now. Personally of all the old tourist palaces of the 1920's the Tampa Terrace was my favorite.

The Five Greats

Title: [Tampa Terrace Hotel : Tampa, Florida] [graphic]
Publication info: Not before 1924.
Physical descrip: 1 photoprint : b&w ; 5 x 4 in.

Title: [Hotel Floridan : Tampa, Florida] [graphic]
Publication info: Not before 1930.
Physical descrip: 1 photoprint b&w 5 x 7 in.
Series Title: (Louise Frisbie collection)
General Note: Built in 1920s.

Title: [De Soto Hotel : Tampa, Florida] [graphic]
Publication info: 1922.
Physical descrip: 1 photoprint b&w 8 x 10 in.

FloridaFuture · December 20th, 2006, 01:05 AM

:Sigh:....it's almost painful to look.

tampamobster21 · December 20th, 2006, 04:34 AM

Some of these were really, really beautiful.

Robert.Maddrey · December 20th, 2006, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tampamobster21

Some of these were really, really beautiful.

Definitely. Had the Tampa Terrace have been saved and not turned into a parking lot this could easily have been a centerpiece of down town. Updated, renovated and integrated into the modern community a hotel of this sort would have paid homage to Tampa's roots. Its a miracle other signifigant cultural landmarks such as the Kress Building and the Tampa Theater have managed to survive.

Food for thought, or perhaps just a juxtaposition to current trends. Its interesting to see just how well developed Tampa was becoming prior to the heights of urban sprawl.

Title: [Panoramic view from city hall : Tampa, Florida] [graphic]
Publication info: 1924.
Physical descrip: 1 photoprint b&w 10 x 8 in.
Series Title: (Reference collection)
General Note: This is part 5 of 6 numbered Rc20702-20707, sn:18401-18406.
General Note: This view is looking northwest with the Tampa Terrace Hotel under construction at the right.

zerobullchip · December 20th, 2006, 05:43 AM

Also notice the Mass Transit system in effect back in the 20's.

Robert.Maddrey · December 20th, 2006, 05:54 AM

Yep, a trolley system which spanned Port Tampa to Ballast Point and as far north as Sulfur Springs. Truely impressive, and some how it was all ripped out and paved over in 1949 to improve transit for suburbs.

dmpeek77 · December 20th, 2006, 06:36 AM

some very cool pics

zerobullchip · December 20th, 2006, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert.Maddrey

Yep, a trolley system which spanned Port Tampa to Ballast Point and as far north as Sulfur Springs. Truely impressive, and some how it was all ripped out and paved over in 1949 to improve transit for suburbs.

I believe a line went to West Tampa too

Robert.Maddrey · December 20th, 2006, 03:49 PM

One of these days when I have the ever elusive free time I need to dig through the historical archives and see if I can find a map of the trolley system. It would be awesome to see where the various stops and transit stations were located. I grew up with stories from my grandparents of catching the trolley at Ballast Point and taking it down town to the Tampa Theater and such for a nickel.

cwat212 · December 20th, 2006, 05:19 PM

Wow. Its criminal to have destroyed these gems! Luckily the Floridan is getting a new life.

A couple others still exist although not in downtown.

1. The Bayshore Royal Hotel is still there. Now a condo building where Ceviche is. Howard and Bayshore.

2. The Castle looking building below the Hotel Biscayne still exists. I know I have seen it.

Postcard from the Mirasol Hotel on Bayshore:
Check out this website:

http://www.cardcow.com/45272/hotel-m...florida-tampa/

I was looking through some of the vintage post cards from Tampa. Shame we lost all these great buildings.

December 16th, 2006, 06:43 AM	#64
tampamobster21 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 1,336 Likes (Received): 0	It looks like the building if it were to scale would have been about 700 feet. Which, I think is great and that we need to start building a new area of highrises and not clustering them in a six block radius. I pity the fool who said to demolish all of Tampas old hotels and bank buildings because I think that our skyline would be double what it is now. __________________ Jacques Derrida (1930 - 2004) To pretend, I actually do the thing: I have therefore only pretended to pretend.

December 16th, 2006, 06:33 PM	#66
smiley Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tampa Posts: 4,095 Likes (Received): 0	Look, the buildings were demoed because paying taxes on an empty building with no breaks and no means of making money off of it while waiting to redevelop it is not a logical business practice. You can thank Sandy Freedman and the City Council (mostly the democrats - a fact, not a dig - the Republicans promote silly growth, the democrats tend to hinder growth) for that past practice. IT is has been made a bit better recently. __________________ Do I contradict myself? Well then, I contradict myself. I am large. I contain multitudes. I don't pretend 'cause I don't care.

December 16th, 2006, 08:24 PM	#68
John F Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Palm Harbor, Florida Posts: 2,213 Likes (Received): 0	It's like I read recently when someone described the BRT efforts on both sides of the bay: It's like Tampa Bay has to try to re-invent the wheel with things instead of just using what's there. That's transit, though. This is development and yet I get the same feeling. What we have is never good enough for the developers, and yet what is put in place doesn't always make up for what was lost. I'm just glad the Floridan kept standing instead of being demolished for a 47 story parking tower or something :p __________________ Raw Charge - Tampa Bay Lightning hockey

December 19th, 2006, 03:48 PM	#70
tampamobster21 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 1,336 Likes (Received): 0	Or maybe a 60 story statue of Jeb Bush. I think that they could possiblity put a hotel up next to the Floridan. __________________ Jacques Derrida (1930 - 2004) To pretend, I actually do the thing: I have therefore only pretended to pretend.

December 20th, 2006, 12:33 AM	#71
Robert.Maddrey Native Floridian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 817 Likes (Received): 0	It boggles my mind that of all the beautiful old hotels which once graced down town the only one to remain will be the Floridian. Least inspiring in terms or architecture or amenities the only thing it had going for it was, height. A drab brown monolith that has set vacant for nearly 20 years now. Personally of all the old tourist palaces of the 1920's the Tampa Terrace was my favorite. The Five Greats Title: [Tampa Terrace Hotel : Tampa, Florida] [graphic] Publication info: Not before 1924. Physical descrip: 1 photoprint : b&w ; 5 x 4 in. Title: [Hotel Floridan : Tampa, Florida] [graphic] Publication info: Not before 1930. Physical descrip: 1 photoprint b&w 5 x 7 in. Series Title: (Louise Frisbie collection) General Note: Built in 1920s. Title: [De Soto Hotel : Tampa, Florida] [graphic] Publication info: 1922. Physical descrip: 1 photoprint b&w 8 x 10 in. __________________ Robert W. Maddrey Editor & Owner Down Shift Magazine >> My Photos of Tampa <<

December 15th, 2006, 07:57 AM	#62
dmpeek77 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chicago also Tampa Bay Posts: 206 Likes (Received): 0	has anyone ever been to the flat iron building in nyc? any project that adds density to the area would fit in.... JUST BECUASE HISTORY CANNOT TOP PRESEBNT, DOES NOT MEAN IT DOES NOT FIT IN.

December 15th, 2006, 06:03 PM	#63
TPAMAN Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 429 Likes (Received): 3	Arbel never applied for the zoning change, they only had conceptual plans as they had never built a high rise.

December 16th, 2006, 08:00 PM	#67
Jasonhouse Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 12,268 Likes (Received): 7	It still boggles the mind that such buildings were totally worthless in a city that was growing as much as Tampa was.

December 20th, 2006, 01:05 AM	#72
FloridaFuture Former Mod Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tampa/Gainesville Posts: 5,234 Likes (Received): 0	:Sigh:....it's almost painful to look.

December 20th, 2006, 04:34 AM	#73
tampamobster21 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 1,336 Likes (Received): 0	Some of these were really, really beautiful. __________________ Jacques Derrida (1930 - 2004) To pretend, I actually do the thing: I have therefore only pretended to pretend.

December 20th, 2006, 05:43 AM	#75
zerobullchip BANNED Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 224 Likes (Received): 0	Also notice the Mass Transit system in effect back in the 20's.

December 20th, 2006, 05:54 AM	#76
Robert.Maddrey Native Floridian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 817 Likes (Received): 0	Yep, a trolley system which spanned Port Tampa to Ballast Point and as far north as Sulfur Springs. Truely impressive, and some how it was all ripped out and paved over in 1949 to improve transit for suburbs. __________________ Robert W. Maddrey Editor & Owner Down Shift Magazine >> My Photos of Tampa <<

December 20th, 2006, 06:36 AM	#77
dmpeek77 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chicago also Tampa Bay Posts: 206 Likes (Received): 0	some very cool pics

December 20th, 2006, 03:49 PM	#79
Robert.Maddrey Native Floridian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 817 Likes (Received): 0	One of these days when I have the ever elusive free time I need to dig through the historical archives and see if I can find a map of the trolley system. It would be awesome to see where the various stops and transit stations were located. I grew up with stories from my grandparents of catching the trolley at Ballast Point and taking it down town to the Tampa Theater and such for a nickel. __________________ Robert W. Maddrey Editor & Owner Down Shift Magazine >> My Photos of Tampa <<

December 20th, 2006, 05:19 PM	#80
cwat212 Palma Ceia Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 366 Likes (Received): 0	Wow. Its criminal to have destroyed these gems! Luckily the Floridan is getting a new life. A couple others still exist although not in downtown. 1. The Bayshore Royal Hotel is still there. Now a condo building where Ceviche is. Howard and Bayshore. 2. The Castle looking building below the Hotel Biscayne still exists. I know I have seen it. Postcard from the Mirasol Hotel on Bayshore: Check out this website: http://www.cardcow.com/45272/hotel-m...florida-tampa/ I was looking through some of the vintage post cards from Tampa. Shame we lost all these great buildings. Last edited by cwat212; December 20th, 2006 at 05:25 PM.

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