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Neighborhood report

Mirasol sale stirs worry for renters and building

Historic protection is explored for the 1925 apartment house, whose tenants also wonder if it will go condo.

By SHERRI DAY
Published December 23, 2005

If the owner of the Mirasol apartment building gets his wish, he will complete the sale of the building in January. Soon after, his tenants may have to find new places to live.

But more important than their personal dilemmas, many tenants said, is the building's fate.

Plans are in motion to ensure that the Mirasol, which was built as a hotel in 1925 by Davis Islands founder D.P. Davis, will not be torn down or defaced by developers.

"People need to be aware of what this building is about and what it means to a lot of people and what it means to the city," said Bing Hampton, a mortgage broker who lives in the Mirasol. "It's a treasure to have, and it's going to be a shame if somebody comes in here and doesn't hold the same respect for the building that people have who live here."

City Council member Linda Saul-Sena asked the city's Historic Preservation Commission this month to explore getting a historic designation for the site at 84 Davis Blvd. If the building receives local landmark status, its owners would have to seek permission from the Architectural Review Commission before changing its facade. National protection would require approval for interior and exterior alterations.

Historic Preservation manager Dennis Fernandez said his office has begun researching the building to see if it qualifies for historic protection. He expects to present a preliminary opinion on its historic value in February. The city would not need the owner's blessing to give the building the designation but would want the owner to be part of the process, Fernandez said.

Concerns about the building surfaced about three months ago when residents learned that owner Robert Vertz might sell. On Dec. 12, Vertz sent tenants a letter confirming his plans. According to the letter, Vertz is in an "analysis and inspection period" with unnamed buyers.

"If the results of all inspections are deemed satisfactory, The Mirasol could change ownership in early to mid January," according to the letter.

Vertz bought the 58-unit building in 1999 for $5-million, according the Hillsborough County property appraiser's records. Developers and Mirasol residents put the building's asking price between $14- and $15-million.

Vertz could not be reached for comment. His fiancee, Betsy Crutchfield, said he was traveling and would not be available until after Christmas.

Dennis Manelli, the potential buyers' lawyer, said a contract was in place for the Mirasol. He declined to name his clients or detail their proposed plans.

In the letter to his tenants, Vertz said that if the sale goes through, the new owners would honor leases and run the property as a rental site until they decide what they want to do with it.

Some tenants suspect they will have to move if Vertz sells and the new owners convert the apartments to condominiums.

Seven-year residents Anne and Bernie Kantor are already packing and moving to Beach Park.

If he must leave, Robert Latimer plans to seek housing elsewhere on Davis Islands.

"I have no desire whatsoever to move, but life changes from time to time," said Latimer, who has lived in the Mirasol for 27 years.

While the building's sale is pending, Mirasol residents can already see change all around them. Last week, Vertz removed the building's grand piano and much of its furniture and decorations.

Whether or not the sale goes through, Vertz said in the letter, the building's common areas are set for major renovation.

- Sherri Day can be reached at sday@sptimes.com or 813 226-3405.

[Last modified December 22, 2005, 09:27:09]