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Oldsmar ponders price of culture
By MEGAN SCOTT OLDSMAR -- For $3.9-million, the city could turn a waterfront estate and mansion into a cultural arts center with a 500-seat theater, a historical museum and rotating art exhibits. That's what an architect told City Council members Tuesday night. "I think you've done a terrific job of getting started with your facility now," said John Toppe, executive vice president of Harvard Jolly Clees Toppe Architects, a St. Petersburg firm. But any proposals on what to do with the 6.71-acre Kumar estate are a little premature. Oldsmar doesn't even own the property, and the council is not expected to close on the deal until March. Meanwhile, the Kumars have asked to keep 0.8 acres of their 75-year-old estate so they can build a new home. They were planning to move to West Palm Beach, but after spending a few weekends there, they decided they liked Oldsmar better. The city has agreed to reduce the original contract price of $2.5-million by $300,000 so the Kumars can keep part of the property. In October, the council unanimously approved applying for a $2.6-million, 20-year loan to buy the Shore Drive property. "I think we need to get started on it as soon as possible, to get the visual arts in there," said Oldsmar Mayor Jerry Beverland. "This is going to be a multiyear project. We're not going to do this overnight." Toppe said the building is in relatively good condition but that some repairs are needed, costing $250,000 to $600,000. The steel was exposed on 25 to 33 percent of the beams and slabs, a result of not placing the reinforcing steel deep enough in the concrete. And on 75 percent of those beams, the exposed steel has caused corrosion. Toppe said the home on the property is big enough to house a 25,000-square-foot visual arts program, including a children's museum and community rooms. An 18,000-square-foot expansion would be needed if the city wanted a performing arts hall. Council members did not discuss the proposal Tuesday night, but council member Brian Michaels said Wednesday, "I didn't see any sidewalks, gazebos in there. We've been getting comments from residents that they want to have this low-key and very passive. A 500-seat theater and 200 parking spaces, I consider that pretty high use." Toppe estimates the total project would cost $3.95-million, but he recommends a phased approach. The first phase would be to make sure the building is secure and the deterioration has stopped. Then the Kumar residence, a guest apartment and a caretaker's apartment could become the community center, cultural center and classrooms, Toppe said. He estimates that cost at $750,000. "That would mean they could start using the building, start offering classes and then begin the real design and planning process for the ultimate buildings," said Toppe. "At the same time, they can begin private fundraising and seek state grants for cultural facilities." Beverland said he wants to maintain the original structure as much as possible. The Kumar estate has 440 feet of waterfront at the top of Old Tampa Bay. The home on the property is the first floor of a hotel built in 1927. "I was more interested in the actual structure itself to see what the structural components were and how they held up over the years," he said. "As far as his presentation on the possible uses, that's what it was: a possible use. I don't ever envision a performing arts center there." Also on Tuesday, City Council members approved a 4 percent raise for City Clerk Lisa Lene and City Manager Bruce Haddock. Lene's annual salary increases to $45,984 and Haddock's to $98,360. Both received favorable ratings in their last five evaluations. -- Megan Scott can be reached at (727) 445-4183 or mscott@sptimes.co .
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