A developer's plan to move the historic home for conversion to a restaurant has been canceled.
By JANET ZINK
Published October 10, 2003
For a while, it seemed that the future of a historic Brandon home held a restaurant.
As it turns out, that idea lasted about as long as chicken salad in the sun.
Two months after signing a contract, the Bayshore Co. canceled its plans to move the Galvin-Jaudon house, which has been at the center of a battle between Brandon preservationists and the home's owner, First Baptist Church of Brandon.
Bayshore had planned to move the Galvin house to property the company owns on Parsons Avenue and turn it into a restaurant. But after examining the economic viability of the plan and hearing from preservationists who want the house left where it is, Bayshore president Jim Lewis said he worried that the venture might fail.
"We're still interested in working with them but didn't think we should keep their hands tied," Lewis said.
Church representatives contacted Brandon attorney Chris Tompkins, who also had expressed interest in moving the Galvin house, but he said he no longer wants to be involved.
So after months of wrangling, the future of the house hangs in the balance.
Parviz Moosavi, who heads preservation efforts for the county, said an individual who previously expressed an interest in the house has come to him with a proposal to move it, although he declined to offer specifics.
"I'm hoping the County Commission will step back into play and offer to buy it," said Lisa Rodriguez, a member of the Brandon Historical Association.
Meanwhile, the church has at least three of the four signatures it needs to apply for a demolition permit. Representatives of the county Water Department, Tampa Electric Co. and Verizon say they received a demolition application from First Baptist in June. The county Health Department, the fourth sign-off required, had no record of the application.
Even with the signatures, a demolition permit can't be issued for the property without review by the Historic Resources Review Board, Moosavi said.
The Rev. Tommy Green of First Baptist Church said he had no comment on the matter.
The Galvin house was built in the late 1800s at 201 Victoria St. by one of Brandon's founders. First Baptist bought the property in 2002 and planned to use it for parking and, eventually, a new building for its growing congregation.
Brandon preservationists asked county officials to protect the home, but both the Historic Resources Review Board and county commissioners opted not to give the structure landmark status.
Church leaders, in an attempt at compromise, sought someone who would move the home.
Bayshore Co. offered to move the home to Parsons Professional Park and turn it into a restaurant. In July, Bayshore filed a request to modify the regulations of the parcel so it could open a restaurant.
A zoning hearing official was scheduled to consider that request Tuesday, but the company received permission to postpone the hearing until Oct. 27 because its attorney could not be present.
Although Lewis never mentioned the Galvin house in his rezoning request, a report from county staff said it would support a restaurant at that location only if it preserved the historic home.
Preservationists were opposed to the rezoning. Turning the Galvin house into a restaurant would destroy its historic significance, said Rodriguez of the Brandon Historical Association.
She said she plans to fight the rezoning even if it no longer involves the Galvin house.
