Kress building DT Tampa

[TampaMike]

I kind of like the Newberry building. I don't know what it is about it, but the retro kind of architecture would be something different and nice to keep for the city. Maybe open it up as a club with outdoor seating on the roof... that's if the Element residents wouldn't have a problem with that.

They're not the best designed buildings, but they're historic and this city has lost too many historic and architecturally appealing building. In all honesty, some city funding would be nice to keep these buildings and others intact and lasting beyond their lifetime. I know some may view it as liberal and "wasteful taxpayer money", but I'm done listening to that side.

The owners have had 15 years.... which means they have been in some economic conditions that would definitely allow for the renovation of these buildings. Last year they blamed the economic slump for the reasons nothing have been done. Ignoring the time-frame between 2003-2006 and the '98- 2001. They have had the opportunity and what can they blame for allowing it to pass? Be it that it's owned and the city can't do much, just like the Floridan Hotel which I've also voiced my frustrations with, but the city should have some voice in the buildings that exist in it's boundaries. And I'm kind of disgusted walking past Kress and the other two with the depressing black plywood covering the base.

[Del Mayberry]

Originally Posted by smiley

My recollection is that those buildings are owned by the Doran Jason group and have been for decades - they are from Miami. They wanted to knock those two buildings down anyway for their breadbox condos.

It's still on the Tampa Development master list if you want to see what it would have looked like. The plan was to save the facades and build twin towers on both sides of Kress. A company from Orlando was to do the work but some of the tiles and other parts of the facades would have to be replaced with something new to "imitate" the old architecture so the original facades would only be partial. Saul-Sena was worried that it would look "Disney" and that's when it pretty much came to a hault. This was about five or six years ago. I don't know why Doran Jason is still holding on to those buildings & I wonder if they may just walk away from them.

[Jasonhouse]

^We all know what it was going to look like.

If by "walk away", you mean they'll let these buildings fall far enough into disrepair that the city condemns them and they can be torn down, then yes that seems to be the game plan.

[Del Mayberry]

Originally Posted by Jasonhouse

^We all know what it was going to look like.

If by "walk away", you mean they'll let these buildings fall far enough into disrepair that the city condemns them and they can be torn down, then yes that seems to be the game plan.

Yes that's what I'm thinking & I would think they should already be condemned now.

And when they are torn down, who pays for that?

[TampaMike]

I think this is what we will be dealing with shortly... And the city shouldn't do anything?

http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=89287

[koopalicious]

Originally Posted by TampaMike

I think this is what we will be dealing with shortly... And the city shouldn't do anything?

I think we would all like it to be preserved, but what can the city do?

[HARTride 2012]

Originally Posted by TampaMike

I think this is what we will be dealing with shortly... And the city shouldn't do anything?

http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=89287

I remember when that school began to crumble in on itself. It is very sad. & these buildings will soon suffer the same fate.

[smiley]

And so what do you think the city should do? Is the city going to pay to repair the buildings? It can't even figure out what to do with the courthouse. It cannot really force the owners to fix the buildings. Basically, like the Floridan - you want to fix it, you buy it. Like Maas Brothers, which Saul-Sena agreed to demolish, as did fair mayor pam.

[AKBTampa]

Well the city already created a special "Matching loan" program and oh so gently tried to get Doran Jason to tap into it. But I don't think anything ever came of it. The previous council was determined to never let a disaster like the Gary School happen again. Ms. Saul-Sena is currently very involved in preservation efforts throughout the city. The fact that events are being staged in this space helps people see the value in the buildings. Hopefully once the economy turns around (if) whether Doran Jason or keeps or sells the buildings there will be enough public interest in what happens with redevelopment efforts and there will be a push for reuse.
http://www2.tbo.com/news/central-tam...-so-ar-100454/

[TampaMike]

Originally Posted by AKBTampa

Well the city already created a special "Matching loan" program and oh so gently tried to get Doran Jason to tap into it. But I don't think anything ever came of it. The previous council was determined to never let a disaster like the Gary School happen again. Ms. Saul-Sena is currently very involved in preservation efforts throughout the city. The fact that events are being staged in this space helps people see the value in the buildings. Hopefully once the economy turns around (if) whether Doran Jason or keeps or sells the buildings there will be enough public interest in what happens with redevelopment efforts and there will be a push for reuse.
http://www2.tbo.com/news/central-tam...-so-ar-100454/

If Doran Jason is the owners of the buildings when the economy rebounds..... nothing will happen. Like I said, they have had 2 opportunities to do something with them and they sat around and did nothing with them. I hope someone that has some interest in redeveloping them can buy them from Doran or at least have the city partner with someone to buy and fix them.

[jonknee]

Originally Posted by TampaMike

If Doran Jason is the owners of the buildings when the economy rebounds..... nothing will happen. Like I said, they have had 2 opportunities to do something with them and they sat around and did nothing with them. I hope someone that has some interest in redeveloping them can buy them from Doran or at least have the city partner with someone to buy and fix them.

What was the first opportunity?

[TampaMike]

Originally Posted by jonknee

What was the first opportunity?

They've owned it for 15 years. So that's what, since 1996? We have had 2 pretty decent periods of economic growth in this country that has allowed for redevelopments like this to happen. Be it, Tampa didn't see much the first time, 1998-2001. But between 2003-2007, while many projects were happening, nothing happened. And be it that it may have been financial issues that prevented it, they should had at least given partial ownership to the city to get some additional funding for renovations until something bigger could happen. They didn't do that, blamed the city for something in 2006, and we end up with crumbling buildings because of the lack of care.

And I still believe, even if it is privately owned, the city should have some say. Maybe the best way to send them a word is through what they did in 2009, fine them.

[jonknee]

Originally Posted by TampaMike

They've owned it for 15 years. So that's what, since 1996? We have had 2 pretty decent periods of economic growth in this country that has allowed for redevelopments like this to happen. Be it, Tampa didn't see much the first time, 1998-2001. But between 2003-2007, while many projects were happening, nothing happened. And be it that it may have been financial issues that prevented it, they should had at least given partial ownership to the city to get some additional funding for renovations until something bigger could happen. They didn't do that, blamed the city for something in 2006, and we end up with crumbling buildings because of the lack of care.

And I still believe, even if it is privately owned, the city should have some say. Maybe the best way to send them a word is through what they did in 2009, fine them.

The Doran Jason Group bought the Kress building in 2005....

[TampaMike]

Originally Posted by jonknee

The Doran Jason Group bought the Kress building in 2005....

Crap, I was reading something about the old Courthouse in the same article and didn't realize it. Thanks for the correction.

I guess I'll give them a pass since they really walked in while the economy was beginning to walk out. I do really hope that once the economy is at a suitable level that Doran jumps on it right at the start. Get the needed funding and start renovating the whole block.

[jonknee]

Originally Posted by TampaMike

Crap, I was reading something about the old Courthouse in the same article and didn't realize it. Thanks for the correction.

I guess I'll give them a pass since they really walked in while the economy was beginning to walk out. I do really hope that once the economy is at a suitable level that Doran jumps on it right at the start. Get the needed funding and start renovating the whole block.

And for what it's worth, they did get hassled by the city because it was a historic building. Not that I disagree, but if they could have leveled the block it's quite possible there'd be a large development there currently.

[smiley]

Actually, from the public records, while not all the details are there, it appears that Doran Jason had control from at least 1994. In 2005, Doran Jason transferred it to Kress Square, LLC entities which are managed (and probably owned) by . . . Doran Jason.

[jonknee]

Originally Posted by smiley

Actually, from the public records, while not all the details are there, it appears that Doran Jason had control from at least 1994. In 2005, Doran Jason transferred it to Kress Square, LLC entities which are managed (and probably owned) by . . . Doran Jason.

Where are you seeing that? Here's the appraiser entry. It was sold by TWC Acquisitions LLC to Kress Square II, LLC in 2005 for $1,185,018.00. Kress Square II is a holding company of Doran Jason, but TWC is not. It's owned by George Brookshire out of Jacksonville.

[Del Mayberry]

small segment on the news yesterday that part of the Kress awning fell down and the recent wind and rain was to blame. I'm sure it can be fixed. Perhaps the entire awning should be replaced.

[jonknee]

I didn't see anything. There had been some wind damage to the block in the storms a week or two ago, but nothing big. There were some workers there over the weekend though, so maybe they had already fixed it by the time I was by.

[AKBTampa]

Del Mayberry, do you know which channel did the piece?

Also, I wrote a entry on Creative Loafings Daily Loaf blog about the recent issues with events at the Kress:

http://cltampa.com/dailyloaf/archive...e#.TpceIrITCjM