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Tampa: Top design award goes to unusual loft project

The Planning Commission honors the Sanctuary Lofts project and other developments for improving the community's quality of life.

From a park honoring American Indians to a dilapidated church transformed into lofts, Hillsborough County's top planning group this week honored more than a dozen community projects with its 2004 design awards.

The Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission recognized 13 projects during the 22nd Annual Community Design Awards Ceremony at the University Area Community Center Complex.

"They're not architecture awards," said commission spokeswoman Christine Waldman. "The awards are for how these projects enhance and improve the quality of life."

The top honor - the Jan Abell Award - went to Sanctuary Lofts, at 502 E Ross Ave. in Tampa Heights. Founded in 2001, the award honors architect Jan Abell, who died in a 2000 horse-riding accident.

Abell, who was known for her preservation efforts, was responsible for restoring St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in downtown Tampa and the Centro Espanol building in Ybor City.

In awarding the honor, judges looked for a project that showed excellence in every aspect of planning and execution. Judges wanted one that promoted good land use, complemented the neighborhood and retained the original character of the building.

"It is certainly not an award that we give out every year," Waldman said.

Past Jan Abell awards went to Centro Espanol in 2001 and Ybor Square in 2002. It was not given last year.

This year's design awards focus on how building and development projects in Hillsborough County better the community. Other winners included the Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park next to the St. Pete Times Forum and the Marion Transit Center on Marion Street in downtown Tampa. Out of 32 entries, 13 received awards.

The judges were non-Hillsborough County residents prominent in the fields of planning, urban design, development, architecture or landscape architecture. Thursday's awards ceremony was expected to attract about 350 people from across the county.

"It started out with a little wine and cheese thing with the Tampa Chamber of Commerce when it was initiated 22 years ago," Waldman said. "Over time, it's gotten more sophisticated."

- Jonathan Milton can be reached at 226-3374 or at milton@sptimes.com

The Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission this week awarded 13 community projects for their outstanding designs and local contributions. Among the South Tampa area projects:

Jan Abell Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Community

- Sanctuary Lofts for historic preservation and restoration, given to the Tampa Neighborhood Development Corp. and the Versaggi Family Trust.

- Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park as an environmental project, given to the city of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department, Hardeman Kempton and Associates, and URS Corp.

- Marion Transit Center as an urban infill project, given to the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority; Reynolds, Smith and Hills, Inc.; and Stan Geda Associates, P.A.

- Southern Transportation Plaza as a public project, given to the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit, Sylla, Inc. and Genesis Group.

- Hillsborough Community College Child Development Center in Ybor City for historic preservation and restoration, given to Fleischman Garcia Architecture and HCC.

- Tampa's Green Printing Initiative, given to the Mayor's Beautification Program, Southeast Seminole Heights Civic Association and the city of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department.

- Plant High School's gate and fencing along Dale Mabry Highway, given to Fleischman Garcia Architecture, Plant High School, Plant High PTSA, and alumni and friends.

- Cohn, Cohn & Hendrix law office on Azeele Street for historic preservation and restoration, given to Cohn, Cohn & Hendrix and the Beck Group.