TAMPA | Floridan Palace Hotel | 20 stories | 213 hotel rooms | Restoration | Completed - Page 5

cwat212 · December 20th, 2006, 05:24 PM

The castle style building is on Davis Island. It is still there. I knew I had seen that building!

You can see it in this vintage post card.

http://www.cardcow.com/32516/beautif...florida-tampa/

Robert.Maddrey · December 20th, 2006, 05:29 PM

Yes it is still there. If you are interested in old postcards of Tampa then you should check out the following link.

Post Card Collection

cwat212 · December 20th, 2006, 05:34 PM

Great link. Thanks.

Reminded me that the most beautiful hotel in Tampa survived! The old Tampa Bay Hotel which is now the University of Tampa.

Robert.Maddrey · December 20th, 2006, 05:41 PM

Well its kind of survived. If you take a tour around the property there are many aspects of it that are falling into disrepair that it does not seem UT is addressing. Also, the grounds used to be landscaped and feature a myriad of supporting structures all of which are long gone. It has survived by adapting, but we need to make sure it is adequately preserved.

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert.Maddrey

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.

This picture of the Floridan makes me hope they put both signs back on the building when it's completed rennovation, that would look very cool.

Robert.Maddrey · December 20th, 2006, 10:28 PM

I beleive I can recall the sign atop the building as a kid, so it wasn't that long ago really it was removed. <-- Born in '81

Jasonhouse · December 20th, 2006, 11:23 PM

I'm pretty sure that I remember the sign coming down too, and I moved here as a kid in '86...

I also remember the radio tower that was in southern dt... And there was no convention center... and there was a cool little shopping center on Harbour Island(which has now been mostly converted to offices or something), but otherwise, the island had but a fraction of the population it has now. The Performing Arts Center was still u/c if I recall. NOTHING we see now in Channelside existed. BofA was either finishing up or had just finished... And the Marriott, Sun Trust, County Center, Rivergate, Sam Gibbons Federal Courthouse, 100 N Tampa and countless other midrises and highrises around town were either u/c then or yet to be built... The 'skyline' sucked ass when I moved here, but I thought it was great at the time, since I had just moved here from an exurb of Harrisburg, PA.

FloridaFuture · December 20th, 2006, 11:50 PM

I think the sign would help bring back its 'old glory' and part of its identity. The sign being on top of the roof would bring a variety to Tampa's skyscraper's signs (seems like ever Tampa highrise has one in downtown) and make the building look taller and the sign on the corner would be a nice difference too.

smiley · December 21st, 2006, 12:53 AM

Well, as I am older than most of you (though not so old), I clearly remember the sign and remember it coming down. I also shopped at the Wolf and Maas Bros stores downtown as a kid. In fact, my first pediatrician had his office downtown . . .

If I remember correctly, Markopolous said he was putting the sign back

Quegiebo · December 21st, 2006, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smiley

. . . If I remember correctly, Markopolous said he was putting the sign back

You are correct sir.

tampamobster21 · December 21st, 2006, 05:53 AM

That would be freaking amazing!

FloridaFuture · January 7th, 2007, 01:52 PM

At around 8:30 last night I noticed lights were on inside the Floridian for the top few floors. It's definitley noticeable that work is continuing.

Robert.Maddrey · January 7th, 2007, 03:28 PM

Interesting. I was down there last night, having taken the girl friend to the ballet and did not see anything when we got out around 10pm. Terrific to hear there is something going on in there though, gotta be terribly spooky in there having been abandoned all these years and transient, hooker hangout prior to its closing.

John F · January 7th, 2007, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FloridaFuture

At around 8:30 last night I noticed lights were on inside the Floridian for the top few floors. It's definitley noticeable that work is continuing.

Were you there in person or are you drawing from the Ox Blue webcam for Skypoint? I've been noticing the "Lights" in the building for months, but they are just light being reflected from the other buildings in the area.

I'm not doubting you, because I'd expect night work on the project, but I'm just hoping you're not being mislead by reflections off the windows.

FloridaFuture · January 7th, 2007, 07:24 PM

No, I was there in person. Went through Channelside to get ice cream and drive around a little bit. Lights were on the top two floors. I would've gotten pics but my digital camera doesn't do well at night.

Jasonhouse · January 7th, 2007, 07:54 PM

So, I wonder how business will be for the hotel when it opens... between this and the Embassy Suites, about 700 rooms will be added to downtown's hotel inventory. I wonder how much more it can handle in the next few years? Especially now that the cruise industry in Tampa is maturing (re:growth is bumping up against infrastructural and geographical limits)... the city is doing its best to kill off Ybor's nightlife... The Pinnacle project died... The museum projects all still exist only in one's imagination... The convention center was built in a bad spot for expansion, and now can't secure the massive funding they would need to grow... It seems that dt Tampa's draw as a tourist spot is hitting some rough waters, and with a stagnant office market, it would seem to me that perhaps the demand for hotel rooms downtown isn't as robust as the city would lead us to believe.

smiley · January 7th, 2007, 08:44 PM

I think the hotel market is underserved and that the Floridan will fill a specific niche. You also have to remember htat it will only have 150 or so rooms - which is not too big. They will likely make good money on banquets and whathave you. Hell, I know many people who, if they came to Tampa would rather stay there than anywhere else - assuming the price is good (they also need to get a good brand say the "Floridan Biltmore" or something

randommichael · January 8th, 2007, 04:59 PM

Plus think of all those attorneys who need to stay there close to the courthouse.

Tallaman · January 9th, 2007, 10:04 PM

I would think the business interests in Tampa with lodging needs will keep The Floridan jumping. It will be a unique experience, regardless of its ability to accomodate for conferences. I'll bet it will experience success similar to the Vinoy in DT SP.

FloridaFuture · January 9th, 2007, 11:37 PM

While I think there will be a success, I doubt it will be like the Vinoy. The Vinoy is more of a luxury hotel then what I believe is planned for the Floridian and totally changed St. Pete. It's too bad the Courthouse had to be built just 1 block to the South of the Floridian, or the views would've been spectacular. It almost makes me think since they allowed the Courthouse to be built 1 block to the south, that they would've had no problem just tearing the Floridian down anyway since they didn't seem committed to keeping it unblocked or "in glory," so to speak.

Luckily it is being saved.

December 20th, 2006, 05:29 PM	#82
Robert.Maddrey Native Floridian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 817 Likes (Received): 0	Yes it is still there. If you are interested in old postcards of Tampa then you should check out the following link. Post Card Collection __________________ Robert W. Maddrey Editor & Owner Down Shift Magazine >> My Photos of Tampa <<

December 20th, 2006, 05:41 PM	#84
Robert.Maddrey Native Floridian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 817 Likes (Received): 0	Well its kind of survived. If you take a tour around the property there are many aspects of it that are falling into disrepair that it does not seem UT is addressing. Also, the grounds used to be landscaped and feature a myriad of supporting structures all of which are long gone. It has survived by adapting, but we need to make sure it is adequately preserved. __________________ Robert W. Maddrey Editor & Owner Down Shift Magazine >> My Photos of Tampa <<

December 20th, 2006, 10:28 PM	#86
Robert.Maddrey Native Floridian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 817 Likes (Received): 0	I beleive I can recall the sign atop the building as a kid, so it wasn't that long ago really it was removed. <-- Born in '81 __________________ Robert W. Maddrey Editor & Owner Down Shift Magazine >> My Photos of Tampa <<

December 21st, 2006, 12:53 AM	#89
smiley Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tampa Posts: 4,097 Likes (Received): 0	Well, as I am older than most of you (though not so old), I clearly remember the sign and remember it coming down. I also shopped at the Wolf and Maas Bros stores downtown as a kid. In fact, my first pediatrician had his office downtown . . . If I remember correctly, Markopolous said he was putting the sign back __________________ 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 21st, 2006, 05:53 AM	#91
tampamobster21 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 1,336 Likes (Received): 0	That would be freaking amazing! __________________ Jacques Derrida (1930 - 2004) To pretend, I actually do the thing: I have therefore only pretended to pretend.

December 20th, 2006, 05:24 PM	#81
cwat212 Palma Ceia Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 366 Likes (Received): 0	The castle style building is on Davis Island. It is still there. I knew I had seen that building! You can see it in this vintage post card. http://www.cardcow.com/32516/beautif...florida-tampa/

December 20th, 2006, 05:34 PM	#83
cwat212 Palma Ceia Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 366 Likes (Received): 0	Great link. Thanks. Reminded me that the most beautiful hotel in Tampa survived! The old Tampa Bay Hotel which is now the University of Tampa.

December 20th, 2006, 11:23 PM	#87
Jasonhouse Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 12,274 Likes (Received): 8	I'm pretty sure that I remember the sign coming down too, and I moved here as a kid in '86... I also remember the radio tower that was in southern dt... And there was no convention center... and there was a cool little shopping center on Harbour Island(which has now been mostly converted to offices or something), but otherwise, the island had but a fraction of the population it has now. The Performing Arts Center was still u/c if I recall. NOTHING we see now in Channelside existed. BofA was either finishing up or had just finished... And the Marriott, Sun Trust, County Center, Rivergate, Sam Gibbons Federal Courthouse, 100 N Tampa and countless other midrises and highrises around town were either u/c then or yet to be built... The 'skyline' sucked ass when I moved here, but I thought it was great at the time, since I had just moved here from an exurb of Harrisburg, PA.

December 20th, 2006, 11:50 PM	#88
FloridaFuture Former Mod Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tampa/Gainesville Posts: 5,234 Likes (Received): 0	I think the sign would help bring back its 'old glory' and part of its identity. The sign being on top of the roof would bring a variety to Tampa's skyscraper's signs (seems like ever Tampa highrise has one in downtown) and make the building look taller and the sign on the corner would be a nice difference too.

January 7th, 2007, 01:52 PM	#92
FloridaFuture Former Mod Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tampa/Gainesville Posts: 5,234 Likes (Received): 0	At around 8:30 last night I noticed lights were on inside the Floridian for the top few floors. It's definitley noticeable that work is continuing.

January 7th, 2007, 03:28 PM	#93
Robert.Maddrey Native Floridian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 817 Likes (Received): 0	Interesting. I was down there last night, having taken the girl friend to the ballet and did not see anything when we got out around 10pm. Terrific to hear there is something going on in there though, gotta be terribly spooky in there having been abandoned all these years and transient, hooker hangout prior to its closing. __________________ Robert W. Maddrey Editor & Owner Down Shift Magazine >> My Photos of Tampa <<

January 7th, 2007, 07:24 PM	#95
FloridaFuture Former Mod Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tampa/Gainesville Posts: 5,234 Likes (Received): 0	No, I was there in person. Went through Channelside to get ice cream and drive around a little bit. Lights were on the top two floors. I would've gotten pics but my digital camera doesn't do well at night.

January 7th, 2007, 07:54 PM	#96
Jasonhouse Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 12,274 Likes (Received): 8	So, I wonder how business will be for the hotel when it opens... between this and the Embassy Suites, about 700 rooms will be added to downtown's hotel inventory. I wonder how much more it can handle in the next few years? Especially now that the cruise industry in Tampa is maturing (re:growth is bumping up against infrastructural and geographical limits)... the city is doing its best to kill off Ybor's nightlife... The Pinnacle project died... The museum projects all still exist only in one's imagination... The convention center was built in a bad spot for expansion, and now can't secure the massive funding they would need to grow... It seems that dt Tampa's draw as a tourist spot is hitting some rough waters, and with a stagnant office market, it would seem to me that perhaps the demand for hotel rooms downtown isn't as robust as the city would lead us to believe.

January 7th, 2007, 08:44 PM	#97
smiley Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tampa Posts: 4,097 Likes (Received): 0	I think the hotel market is underserved and that the Floridan will fill a specific niche. You also have to remember htat it will only have 150 or so rooms - which is not too big. They will likely make good money on banquets and whathave you. Hell, I know many people who, if they came to Tampa would rather stay there than anywhere else - assuming the price is good (they also need to get a good brand say the "Floridan Biltmore" or something __________________ Do I contradict myself? Well then, I contradict myself. I am large. I contain multitudes. I don't pretend 'cause I don't care.

January 8th, 2007, 04:59 PM	#98
randommichael Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,414 Likes (Received): 0	Plus think of all those attorneys who need to stay there close to the courthouse.

January 9th, 2007, 10:04 PM	#99
Tallaman Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Tallahassee Posts: 241 Likes (Received): 0	I would think the business interests in Tampa with lodging needs will keep The Floridan jumping. It will be a unique experience, regardless of its ability to accomodate for conferences. I'll bet it will experience success similar to the Vinoy in DT SP.

January 9th, 2007, 11:37 PM	#100
FloridaFuture Former Mod Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tampa/Gainesville Posts: 5,234 Likes (Received): 0	While I think there will be a success, I doubt it will be like the Vinoy. The Vinoy is more of a luxury hotel then what I believe is planned for the Floridian and totally changed St. Pete. It's too bad the Courthouse had to be built just 1 block to the South of the Floridian, or the views would've been spectacular. It almost makes me think since they allowed the Courthouse to be built 1 block to the south, that they would've had no problem just tearing the Floridian down anyway since they didn't seem committed to keeping it unblocked or "in glory," so to speak. Luckily it is being saved.

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