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What's Brewing

Another Henry B. Plant?

By SUSAN THURSTON
Published January 14, 2005

A few things puzzle me about Donald Trump.

How did he lose money owning casinos?

Why doesn't he spend some of his wealth fixing that hair?

And, now, why Tampa for a real estate deal?

News that the Donald was setting up shop here has generated both excitement and bewilderment. People want to see the project before they believe it, despite reports that it's selling out fast.

At the very least, it's interesting, given all the energy being spent on turning downtown into a 24-hour city.

I SHOOK DOWN people for opinions at Lykes Gaslight Park this week and heard mixed reviews of the 52-story condo project along the Hillsborough River. Does Trump's interest mean Tampa has arrived as a real city?

Maybe, maybe not.

Dave Herzog, who works in the Clerk of the Circuit Court's office, said he was "amused" by the announcement and all the buzz that ensued. He wished Trump the best of luck but adds these words of caution:

"A lot of the old money in Tampa is conservative. Northerners have come down here and flashed money in the past. Some succeed. Most don't."

Jim Froonjian, a union electrical worker, finds the hype baffling. After all, Tampa really arrived when it landed the Bucs.

"My life is not going to change one way or another," he said.

Tami Music, a downtown office worker who commutes from Valrico, wondered who in Tampa would buy the units, priced from $700,000 to more than $6-million.

"How many rich people do we have?" she said. "I didn't know we had that much to offer."

LOCAL DEVELOPERS and government officials seemed the most enthusiastic about plans for the Trump Tower Tampa. If a billionaire real estate mogul thinks Tampa is the place to be, then so will everyone else.

"I think it validates the work that all of us have done," said Nick Pavonetti, a real estate consultant who helped develop the new Victory Lofts in the Channel District.

The Victory Lofts were among the first condos to arrive in the up-and-coming Channel District. Of 89 units, all but four penthouses have sold. Based on Trump's project, Pavonetti now considers them a bargain for $700,000.

Suddenly, what we thought were scandalous prices sound reasonable, sort of like visiting Dillard's after a trip to Nordstrom. For local homeowners, that's scary and thrilling at the same time.

Perhaps the most intriguing comment I heard came from Rodney Kite-Powell, curator of the Tampa Bay History Center. He likened Trump's coming to the arrival of Henry B. Plant and the 1891 opening of the Tampa Bay Hotel, which gave downtown its signature minarets.

News that the railroad magnate was building a hotel in Tampa similarly created front-page headlines. People considered Plant a celebrity. And he didn't even have his own TV show.

Plant's commitment to Tampa reinforced what locals were doing and gave them a boost, Kite-Powell said.

"Plant was greeted with huge cheers like Trump," he said.

Trump has teamed with SimDag-RoBEL LLC, a partnership of five Tampa Bay area developers: Dr. Howard Howell, Patrick Sheppard, Frank Dagostino, Jody Simon and Robert E. Lyons. South Tampa real estate queen Toni Everett is leading the sales.

The group has been working on the $220-million project for more than a year and pitched the deal to Trump through mutual acquaintances. They chose downtown because it lacked housing. The waterfront location suggested a luxury building.

Trump could have picked any city to launch another real estate venture, but chose Tampa based on the hot housing market and the city's efforts to liven up downtown, they said.

"I think he's very aware of all the up-and-coming areas," said Dagostino, a University of South Florida graduate.

Trump did not meet with the local partners in Tampa before striking the deal on Monday but has visited the site and plans to attend the sales kickoff party in February.

Tampa will likely roll out the red carpet for its newest celeb.

I wonder if anyone has told him we expect more minarets out of the deal.

THE LAST DROP: The party's over. After 14 years, local lawyer John Fitzgibbons has decided to give up his annual Gasparilla party. In letters that went out this week, he said the party had overgrown built-up Harbour Island. His father died in July and his mother is in poor health. They had always been a big part of the celebration, and his heart isn't in it anymore. Thanks for the memories, John.

Times researcher Cathy Wos contributed to this report. Susan Thurston can be reached at 226-3394 or thurston@sptimes.com

[Last modified January 13, 2005, 10:13:09]