Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio says construction won't begin until donors raise the last $17-million needed.
By DAVID KARP
Published August 9, 2003
TAMPA - Mayor Pam Iorio has a message for people eager for construction to begin on the new Tampa Museum of Art:
Show me the money.
Before Iorio allows bulldozers to roll, she wants fundraisers to secure every penny needed to build, furnish and open the museum.
The museum will get $30-million from taxpayers, with supporters coming up with $32-million for construction, furnishings and startup costs.
The museum's backers have donations and pledges totalling about $15-million. That leaves a gap of about $17-million to meet their part of the bargain.
Only then, Iorio says, can construction start. It is expected to take two years.
Iorio has taken a more cautious approach than former Mayor Dick Greco, who had given the okay for construction to begin sooner - when only part of the money was raised.
Once construction began, Greco expected the rest of the money - about $10-million - for furniture, fixtures, moving costs and startup expenses to roll in.
Iorio wasn't willing to take that risk.
"What if we begin construction and during the two-year period, the money is not raised?" Iorio said.
Museum director Emily Kass said the decision will give officials more time to carefully plan the project. She expects all the money could be raised and construction would start early next year.
"Mayor Iorio's is a more conservative approach, which is not unusual, particularly in this economic environment," Kass said. "It gives us a different goal to work toward, but it is not inconsistent with any figures we have told our prospective donors in the past."
Iorio's decision means fundraisers will face a bigger task. They must raise $10-million for furniture and startup expenses without generating excitement that would occur as donors saw the museum gradually take shape.
The delay could increase construction costs. The construction group, Beck Beers Skanska, has projected the maximum construction cost for the museum will be $43.6-million. But that price could change if supplies and labor become more expensive.
Kass said she doesn't think that will happen.
"They are all caring citizens of Tampa," Kass said of the executives at Beck Beers Skanska. "They are working with us."
If costs go up and fundraising falls short, Iorio's decision protects taxpayers from being left with a multimillion-dollar bill.
"I have to look at the upset limit to the taxpayer," Iorio said. "That is my job to look at that."
If construction began before all the private money was raised, the city might be forced to make up the difference - or be left with a half-finished museum.
Iorio said she's not willing to give more tax money to the project.
"That is not going to occur," Iorio said. "There are many other things that we have to turn our attention to."
The city plans to spend public money on building a grand park by the museum, creating a riverwalk downtown and redesigning Ashley Drive, a main thoroughfare into the city center.
When Iorio took office in April, she considered scaling back the museum. She was concerned all the private money had not been raised.
"You always have some uncertainity," Iorio said. "Anyone involved in major fundraising knows it takes a great deal of work and effort, and there are competing demands."
But she decided against downsizing since $3-million had been spent in architectural fees and millions had been raised based on the current design by architect Rafael Vinoly. It also didn't appear easy to try to build the museum in stages.
Iorio said she's pleased with how well fundraising has gone. Museum donors have pledged about $15-million. "I consider that to be extremely successful," Iorio said. "I do believe the museum will be successful."
Kass said she hopes the remaining $17-million can be raised by early next year.
"We need to go for it," Kass said. "The funding is out there. We need to secure it and make it happen."
- Times staff writer David Karp can be reached at 813 226-3376 or karp@sptimes.com
