When the city of Tampa took control of the historic federal courthouse, Mayor Pam Iorio called on developers to "dream big dreams" for this beautiful downtown property. Nine months later, the proposals are in, and with one exception, the bids are dull, not worth the building or public reconstruction dollars.
The four-story building on Florida Avenue opened 100 years ago, first as a post office and customs house and later as a courthouse. Built in the Renaissance Revival style, with three-story columns, a grand entryway and the elegant look of stone, brass and marble, the building emits formality and order, and its imposing spread across an entire city block makes the courthouse a visible landmark.
When the city obtained the building from the federal government, the idea was to create something with the space that would live up to the building's architecture and history. Here's what five development groups have offered: luxury condos, a boutique hotel, a corporate technology center, a museum and an arts school. Several of the proposals would wall off much of the building for exclusive use - private living space, restaurants, rental halls, a spa and, under one proposal, a tea room where couples could "have a romantic interlude."
What a waste of a unique property listed in the National Register of Historic Places and recognized as the oldest significant government building in Tampa. Another restaurant? More rental space for weddings? Surely there are more rewarding uses that could maximize the building's aesthetic beauty, prime location and place in city history - especially given that most of these developers want grants, tax credits and other incentives to subsidize their money-making ventures.
There is nothing wrong with having shops and businesses in the courthouse - indeed, cafes and kiosks on the ground-level would be a way to attract a diverse crowd. But these shops should be an amenity to a larger use of the property, which is what makes a proposal by the City Initiative intriguing. This group would convert the building into theater space, galleries and offices for a mix of tenants, from graphic designers and performance artists to small, locally owned retailers.
The City Initiative needs to flesh out its business plan, but the concept is right - to resurrect the building's public purpose, to make the redevelopment more than merely another new business. Imagine the building as a commuter transit station, should the city launch express bus or rail service to the growing neighborhoods north of downtown. That would create a base of customers throughout the business day. Along with coffee shops, cafes or newsstands, the courthouse could also have space for nonprofit and civic groups. Whatever goes there should, by design, have wide appeal and give back to the community.
