Historic Courthouse Restoration

[cwat212]

agreed but there is already a library off Ashley a few blocks north.

[JBrisco]

Originally Posted by cwat212

agreed but there is already a library off Ashley a few blocks north.

But that library is a piece of 60/70's crappy architecture.

[cwat212]

oh, no doubt. sits on pretty prime land too.

[Jasonhouse]

^I'm assuming you didn't read the thread?

[cwat212]

yup, guess i missed your post.

[FloridaFuture]

I also feel the courthouse would be a great spot for the library.

It would spread something more towrards the center of downtown that is supposed to be used by residents more often then museums. Therefore should be more centrally located so more resident/workers can walk or bike to it.

Although it's nice that there will be the Art Museum, Children's Museum, the redone park and the Performing Art Center are all right there, the cornerstones of downtown need to be spread out more. IMO

[cwat212]

I agree that we need to use the courthouse for something and would love to have it as our DT library..but...

with the internet and other means of info, will there still be a need for a real library in 10 yrs?

it is an honest question. think how we have progressed in the last decade.....just a thought.

[Jasonhouse]

^Well of course there is a longterm need for libraries, but that's actually part of the motivation for my suggestion. The courthouse I think would be a bit smaller than the current library after being modified, but I don't think that will be a problem. My thing is that this puts the library in a more 'sociable' location downtown, and allows us to be rid of that hideous library where it currents sits. The library would be in a good spot for at least the next 2-3 generations at that point.

[cwat212]

Library...had to look at it twice....How hard is it to type library ....let alone libraries....? If you don't admit is was tough, well.....

I've heard - library, museum, hotel, etc.....it all makes better sense than what it is today which is nothing but an empty building. Everyday I drive by the building it makes me ill.

You say "of course" we will need pubilc libraries for 2-3 generations, some may disagree. Why will there be a need for public libraries? ....8 tracks, records, tapes, all don't exist but the music still does. We now store it differently - digitally. Granted, alot of music is still sold in stores, but online sales are growing at incredible rates. I think most would agree that the age of music stores is limited..... Truely, all literature written in the last few centuries could be contained digitally in a small room. You could get all the novels you want downloaded in seconds onto a personal book or reader. A library's entire inventory could be contained digitally in a small room in the history museum.

dismiss it as you may but...

It was just a thought. I still take my kids to the library and they love it. Just not on your same page as you i guess.

[Jasonhouse]

Libraries are much more than storage you know.


Whatever they do, I hope the building continues to serve a public purpose, and not be shut off to the world by turning into an office building, or some quirky condo project, like has occurred with similar facilities in other cities (such as Philadelphia).

[JBrisco]

Do they still use the historic free libraries in West Tampa and Downtown Tampa?

[cwat212]

Originally Posted by Jasonhouse

Libraries are much more than storage you know.

Storage I say. nothing more than storage.

[Jasonhouse]

bwahaha

[HARTride 2012]

Well, Libraries these day have more than just books and magazines. They have computers with lots of online resources, many have WI-Fi access, some larger libraries have cafes where people can have a bite and enjoy their books. There's so much more to a library now than there was many years ago...partly due to technology.

[jonknee]

Well they are having to adapt by becoming more of "community centers" than actual libraries. I think they will still be around in some form for quite a while, but there will be big changes. Despite a lot of technical effort, eBooks haven't caught on so there will be demand for printed text for quite some time.

I could see something like print on demand being the way of the future for libraries. They have a core set of popular texts and computer access that includes a web front end for the local POD db. Suddenly a small community center / library has access to a million titles.

[cwat212]

Originally Posted by jonknee

Well they are having to adapt by becoming more of "community centers" than actual libraries. I think they will still be around in some form for quite a while, but there will be big changes. Despite a lot of technical effort, eBooks haven't caught on so there will be demand for printed text for quite some time.

I could see something like print on demand being the way of the future for libraries. They have a core set of popular texts and computer access that includes a web front end for the local POD db. Suddenly a small community center / library has access to a million titles.

Wow. Thanks Jon. I made a point similar to yours...the future may change the need for libraries as they now exist.......but I get a bwhaahahaa from the mod, Jason.

[cwat212]

wslupeki: From you post - Insert "Starbucks" for libraries and "Coffee" for books and magazines and you are describing today's modern "library"...

[Casey]

Idea posed for courthouse

The American Institute of Architects will explore remaking the unoccupied building.

The 102-year-old courthouse in Tampa was closed in 1998 after the federal court moved. The American Institute of Architects is interested in making it a "center for the built environment," but the structure needs work. Asbestos and parking will be issues.

TAMPA - The quest to find a new use for the old federal courthouse downtown has taken another turn.

Mayor Pam Iorio has agreed to give the Tampa chapter of the American Institute of Architects six months to explore remaking the 102-year-old building into a "center for the built environment." The concept includes office space for the architects group and other organizations, an urban-planning research center, galleries, retail and restaurants.

"This is exploratory only," Iorio said. "After the AIA has had six months of additional fact finding and a business plan to show us, we would then make a determination as to whether or not to move forward on a more formal basis."

Iorio said she's committing no city money to the project but will sign a letter of intent with the AIA.

Pete Karamitsanis, president-elect of Tampa's AIA chapter, said in the coming months the group will look into funding options and tenants.

"The whole idea is to put together everybody who has something to do with the built environment. We can do research, get grants and work with universities," he said.

No one yet knows how much it would all cost to remake the building, which among other things requires asbestos removal.

"That's what the six months are all about," he said.

He expects to get help from the building industry.

"We're trying to spread the burden to different companies," Karamitsanis said.

The Hillsborough County School Board has been considering the courthouse since early last year as the location of a high school for special-needs students. But those plans have been stalled by parking limitations.

"We're not sure what the solution is," said Steve Hegarty, a spokesman for the school district. "We're going to continue to work on this and express interest until the city says we have some other deal."

Karamitsanis said parking is a problem, but he hopes to resolve the issue in the coming months.

The group also will look at the logistics of demolishing the newer section of the building, constructed in the 1930s, and environmental concerns, such as mold and asbestos.

Karamitsanis envisions the old courthouse as a central location for offices of architects, engineers, interior designers and the Tampa Downtown Partnership as well as the city's historic preservation staff.

Karamitsanis says he'll also approach the architecture schools at the University of Florida and the University of South Florida about using space there and gauge interest in a design center where companies that sell or manufacture building materials can display their wares.

"Today if you want to take a client to pick tile, to pick bathroom fixtures, to pick pavers, you've got to go to all over creation," Karamitsanis said. "There are cities that have design centers where you can take a client there and a whole lot of manufacturers or suppliers exhibit their work."

The courthouse on Florida Avenue closed in 1998 after the Sam M. Gibbons U.S. Courthouse opened two blocks away. The federal government deeded the building to the city of Tampa in 2003, and city officials asked for proposals for redeveloping the site.

In 2004, a selection committee named Pradip C. Patel's plan to invest $6.5-million to turn the building into a photography museum and charter school as the winning proposal.

But six months later, Iorio announced she wanted to move the Tampa Museum of Art into the building. When those plans fizzled in the face of overwhelming community opposition, Patel was no longer interested in the project.

Since then, the building has been mothballed. The city pays about $60,000 a year to maintain it.

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/10/23/Hi...r_courth.shtml

[Jasonhouse]

Intriguing.

[tampamobster21]

Now this just an idea. Go on this on with me. I think that the old Fed. Courthouse should play host to smaller exhibits kind of like a Convention Center. They could utilize the multi-floors for different genres, and also have some sort of theatre or playhouse there. Make it open to the public.