The landmark's owner offers Clearwater a deal: Take it away within 90 days or it will be razed. City officials are lukewarm.
By JENNIFER FARRELL
Published May 10, 2003
CLEARWATER - Rather than tear down the Clearwater Train Station, former city commissioner and Pinch-A-Penny pool supply founder Fred Thomas has offered the city a chance to take it off his hands.
But the offer, which comes with strict time limits and a condition that the historic landmark not be used for profit, has drawn a lukewarm reaction from city officials.
"I'm not sure the city has exactly the right place for it," Commissioner Hoyt Hamilton said Friday. "We've got to do some more thinking."
In a letter sent Wednesday, Thomas gave the city 30 days to respond and 90 days to move the building from 657 Court St.
"If you decline the offer," Thomas wrote, "the structure will be demolished in order to develop the property."
In its place, Thomas wants to build a convenience store and gas station.
On Friday, Commissioner Frank Hibbard marveled at what he described as Thomas' "audacity."
"If we removed it, we would be doing him a favor," Hibbard said. "I would not be willing to do that with any conditions."
Hibbard questioned the wisdom of spending money on the building, which dates to 1924, but in recent years has been used as a restaurant.
"I don't think it looks historic anymore," he said. "I don't know what it would take to restore it."
Commissioner Bill Jonson said he would like time to find a private-sector sponsor to help pay for the project.
"I would hope that it wouldn't be torn down and that we'd have some time to look at it," he said.
"I would hope that his generosity might extend to a little more flexibility on the property."
