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City delays landmark proposals
By Times Staff Writer
Published April 22, 2005
WEST TAMPA - City officials have been working for nearly a year to get 15 former Tampa cigar factories designated as local landmarks.
But their efforts have been stalled by five property owners who don't want the designation.
Last week the City Council decided to postpone the issue for six months.
"It's a very complicated issue," business and housing development director Cynthia Miller told council members when asking for the continuance.
She said she needed more time to work with the dissenting property owners and the city's Historic Preservation Commission, which recommended landmarking the buildings.
John Grandoff, an attorney representing the five owners, said another six months won't change their minds. They don't want the designation.
Meanwhile, the city has started the process of creating a West Tampa Historic District, which would include the factories of four of Grandoff's clients.
If the City Council approves the district, the building owners would face the same restrictions imposed by landmark status. They would have to follow architectural guidelines and get approval from a review board to change their properties.
The first public hearing on the creation of the historic district is at 5:30 p.m. May 17 at City Hall, 315 E Kennedy Blvd.
[Last modified April 21, 2005, 08:33:10]
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