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Developers ready to donate to new Tampa art museum

Donald Trump has pledged money. Other builders say they would too - if asked.

By JANET ZINK
Published February 24, 2005

TAMPA - The parade of residential developers marching into downtown Tampa, led by Donald Trump himself, might seem a likely source of deep pockets for Tampa Museum of Art fundraisers.

Museum leaders have yet to reach in, though desperate to raise money for a $75-million building project.

Trump announced last week he was giving $100,000 to the museum. But no one from the museum had even asked him for help.

He and his partners gave, they say, because the success of their project goes hand in hand with the success of the budding downtown cultural arts district.

Other developers say they'd also be happy to give.

"I've never been approached," said Ken Morin, one of the developers of Pinnacle Place, a 340-unit condominium complex in the Channel District.

The same goes for Ken Stoltenberg, developer of the 392-unit Grand Central at Kennedy Boulevard and Channelside Drive.

"The museum adds to the vibrancy of the community," Stoltenberg said.

Like the Trump developers, backers of the 380-unit Skypoint condos across from the museum on Ashley Street went to the museum about making a contribution.

The Skypoint developers want to donate to the museum as part of their project's $200,000 public art requirement.

City officials say that's not an option, although they are looking at ways to adjust the requirement. The ordinance requires developers in the central business district to spend 0.75 percent of their project's cost on public art, up to $200,000. Developers can incorporate art into their building or write a check to the city for public art projects elsewhere.

City Council member Linda Saul-Sena, who serves on the city's public art committee, said she likes the idea of funneling some money to institutions. But, she noted, the public art ordinance was designed to inject artwork into the urban landscape.

"I believe we really want both - support for local arts institutions and we also want the investment in public art to enhance the quality of our streetscapes and public spaces," Saul-Sena said.

She lamented that the art ordinance would likely not be changed until fall, meaning "missed opportunities" amid all the development occurring in Tampa.

"If all these developments contributed to art, that would be a very important infusion of funds," she said.

Novare's John Aiken said his company is still likely to make a contribution to the museum beyond its public art requirement.

"We're committed to doing that," Aiken said. "Every great city needs a great art museum."

The Trump gift and conversations with Novare came at a time when museum capital campaign volunteers were scrambling to raise $2-million to solidify a construction loan for the new museum.

Museum supporters already have raised more than $44-million and say they need only $700,000 more to begin construction.

But once building begins, they'll need another $30-million to pay back the construction loan and increase the museum's endowment.

More developers haven't been asked because the museum's fundraising team has been following the advice of consultants who set up the capital campaign two years ago, said Jeff Tucker, a member of the Art Museum's executive committee.

The consultants recommended focusing on gifts of $500,000 or more from families, individuals and foundations.

[Last modified February 24, 2005, 00:53:06]