Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Save Tampa's cigar factories

No buildings symbolize Tampa's immigrant history like the grand, brick cigar factories that still grace the city. Cigarmakers who moved their plants from Havana to Key West and finally to Tampa not only established the city's defining architecture, they created more than a century ago the ethnic neighborhoods that define Tampa's character even today. Tampa's City Council should remember that history and act today to protect the factories as landmarks.

Few opportunities remain to preserve this heritage. Only 25 of some 200 factories still stand, and the council will decide whether 15 factories not currently covered should receive preservation status. The owners of several buildings say the designation would unfairly restrict their rights as property owners, because it would require them to follow architectural guidelines and obtain city approval to change the look of their buildings. They propose, and several council members support, an "opt-out" clause that would make preservation voluntary. That concession would be a mistake.

Historic preservation makes sense because it balances competing interests for the larger good. Communities have a chance to preserve their history, while property owners get value for acting as responsible stewards. One need only visit Hyde Park, Tampa's most attractive neighborhood, to see how historic standards have raised property values. These factories could attract businesses and homebuyers, jump-starting communities and the tax base.

Opponents overstate the regulatory burden that comes with preservation. The council could smooth the process for owners any number of ways. Dedicating a staffer to work with cigar factory owners, expanding access to preservation loans and grants and clarifying rules for restoration would address any legitimate concerns about red tape or cost. Making this a property rights battle obscures the issue. The government already limits how almost every owner can use his or her property. The council should protect the factories now; when it comes to historic preservation, there aren't many chances to correct a mistake.

[Last modified December 8, 2005, 00:50:19]