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The city buys a historic building it will renovate and begins demolition of others as part of Dome district changes.
By JON WILSON, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 24, 2002
ST. PETERSBURG -- The city government has purchased the old Manhattan Casino building, taking what officials say is a big step toward accomplishing redevelopment plans in the 22nd Street S neighborhood.
The building, a city-designated historic site, will be renovated and not torn down, said Ron Barton, the city's economic development director. But its future use is still unclear.
"Certainly, we'd love to see a community-based activity, something that serves from a civic or cultural standpoint . . . or from a business or entrepreneurial standpoint," Barton said.
The city paid owner John Miller $395,000, Barton said. Miller bought the building in 1986 and used it as headquarters for his business, Sign Works.
Miller said that the business will move elsewhere, and that he is looking for a new piece of property.
"The settlement is acceptable," Miller said of the purchase price. "I can move and buy and function. They (city officials) were decent. Were they excessive? I don't think so."
In other developments along 22nd Street:
* City officials a few days ago held a ceremonial demolition of the old Star service station building at 562 22nd St. S, saying that the tear-down represented a visible start to the Dome Industrial District's pilot project.
Project plans call for bringing light industry to an area bounded by 22nd, Fifth Avenue S and Interstate 275. Before that can happen, properties across the 20-acre tract must be purchased and demolished.
A number of homes and businesses remain in the way, but all but three parcels have either been purchased or are under contract, Barton said. Moving residents and demolishing buildings should begin in earnest over the next 30 to 60 days, he said.
The city has acquired more than 60 parcels over about 18 months' time, a slow and steady process.
The Star demolition "was like the antithesis of a groundbreaking," Barton said.
"We were acknowledging to ourselves and the community that we are at a transition stage."
* The Main Street program, a state rehabilitation effort focusing on 22nd Street between Interstate 275 and 15th Street S named as its manager Lillie Collins Philogene, for 14 years the director of multicultural affairs at Eckerd College.
"I have so many ideas bouncing around in my head I can't wait to get started," said Philogene, who as a child lived on Emerson Avenue just off 22nd Street.
"I consider myself a product of 22nd," she said.
The Main Street program expects to establish an office soon at 1025 22nd St. S. The building, formerly a laundry, is being renovated.
Barton called the Manhattan building purchase important for several reasons.
For one thing, the building at 642 22nd St. S is part of the pilot project.
"If he we hadn't bought it, you'd have had this outparcel and who knows what would have happened. Demolished or lost to the community."
Officials also consider the building a link between two sections of 22nd: north of I-275 and south of it.
"If we hadn't gotten that, you would have an ever larger gap between the pilot project and whatever happens south of the interstate," he said.
Whatever renovations are done to the building will be expensive.
"That's just the nature of the beast," Barton said. "When we get into any aged facility that has historic significance, just by addressing the historic preservation issues, you automatically increase the cost."
In its day an icon to the African-American community, the Manhattan was renowned as a venue for dozens of famous jazz, gospel, and rhythm and blues musicians. The original structure is thought to have been built in 1925 by Elder Jordan Sr., an African-American pioneer.
The City Council declared the building a historic site in 1994 after the Historic Preservation Commission could not muster enough votes for the designation.
Miller bought the building in 1986 from the Fortunoff family, which had operated it as a bar and package store.