Critics call it an eyesore. The restaurant hopes to complete repairs and avoid a November code enforcement hearing.
By ROB BRANNON
Published October 17, 2003
HISTORIC HYDE PARK - It's tall, a mildewed shade of white, and just plain ugly.
Not the kind of building you would associate with a famous fine-dining establishment such as Bern's Steak House.
Some neighbors say the storage building owned by Bern's at 2121 Watrous Ave. is an embarrassment to the community of preserved historic homes and manicured yards.
"That place has been run down for years," said Devin Baillairge. "It's been an eyesore."
It seems the city of Tampa thinks so, too. In May, a city code inspector visited the site and noted several violations, including rotting walls, exposed roof framework, and rotten windows and frames.
Bern's responded by boarding up the windows. As far as code enforcement was concerned, that solved the problem.
Not everyone agreed. A resident, who remains anonymous, called the city's historic preservation office to complain. It turns out that the repairs violated city code because the building falls within the Old Hyde Park historic district.
Bern's took down the boards but was cited again by code enforcement in August. Now the restaurant must consult historic preservation officials to find out which materials should be used to repair the structure, built in 1919.
"We're working to correct the problem," said Bern's spokeswoman Heather Sherer-Berkoff. "There's been some miscommunication of materials."
The issue is scheduled to go to a city code enforcement hearing master in November, she said. However, Bern's hopes to make the repairs earlier to avoid the hearing.
Del Acosta, Tampa's historic preservation manager, said it's up to Bern's to submit plans for bringing the building up to code. Tearing it down is not an option, he said.
Jeanne Holton Carufel, president of the Historic Hyde Park Neighborhood Association, said she had not heard about the complaint but was not surprised.
"There have always been complaints about Dumpsters and things like that," she said.
Carufel added that based on her conversations with Bern's owner, David Laxer, she believes he is working hard to become a better neighbor.
Sherer-Berkoff said no one has objected at the restaurant.
"If people are complaining, they're going directly to the city," she said. "Obviously, it would be easier if they complained directly to us so we can fix it."
Fixing the Watrous building is exactly what Baillairge, a former neighborhood association president, wants to see happen. "They need to put some money into it," Baillairge said. "Fix it up and make it presentable so it can fit in with the rest of the neighborhood."
- Times researcher John Martin contributed to this report. Rob Brannon can be reached at 226-3434 or rbrannon@sptimes.com
