Kumar property plan takes form

Oldsmar council members envision the mansion on Shore Drive E as a waterfront cultural arts center.

By ED QUIOCO, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published November 4, 2002

OLDSMAR -- City Council members have reached an informal consensus to limit the development of the Kumar property, a waterfront estate and mansion the city plans to buy for $2.5-million.

At a work session last week, council members supported designating the property for recreation and open space. City officials also received a property appraisal estimating the value of the lot and home at about $2.5-million.

"This thing is a done deal," said Mayor Jerry Beverland, the chief supporter of the purchase.

Beverland has touted buying the estate because the mansion is the first floor of a hotel built in the 1920s as part of the original plans for the city. He has pushed to use the mansion, which he calls "a piece of history," as a city cultural arts center.

"Now the city can still see the bay on a beautiful piece of land, and it's going to be a magnificent arts center," he said. "It will be the pride of the city and Pinellas County. It will be another jewel for the city of Oldsmar."

The property, which is on Shore Drive E, is owned by Roger and Lila Kumar and has 440 feet of waterfront at the top of Old Tampa Bay along with a 23,000-square-foot home. The Kumars are longtime Oldsmar residents who are considering moving and wanted to give the city the first shot at buying the land.

Last month, council members approved taking out a 20-year loan through the Florida League of Cities to pay for the purchase. The loan requires the city to pledge using utility tax revenue to pay for the loan. In August, city officials placed the property under contract and have until Dec. 30 to close the deal.

But not everyone on the council is satisfied with the plans for the property.

Council member Brian Michaels said although he supports buying the lot, he would like to know more specifics about what the city is going to do with the estate.

For example, he said: If the city is going to use the building as an arts center, what will the hours of operation be? What activities will be held there? How will the center survive financially?

"I guess the $2.5-million question is what will we use it for," Michaels said. "It's a lot of money. It's the biggest land purchase the city has ever made, and we don't have a use for it. I got more questions than I got answers to. Hopefully, the vision will get clearer."

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