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Neighborhood report

Mansion shuffles down the street

Developers move the Hanley House to the corner of MacDill Avenue and Agawan Street to make way for new homes.

By RICK GERSHMAN
Published March 10, 2006

After more than 60 years, one of South Tampa's most stately mansions has a new home, right down the street.

The Hanley House, built in 1945 and originally home to longtime former U.S. Rep. Sam Gibbons and his wife, took a little trip last week.

Developers of the Enclave of Palma Ceia moved the house from the center of the community's seven lots to the corner of MacDill Avenue and Agawan Street.

A crew from Brownie Moving & Heavy Hauling moved the 340-ton house using 64 self-propelled wheels March 2. The Tudor-style home will be renamed the Mayfair.

Moving the home allows the Enclave to build homes on the remaining six lots, said Maureen Rorech Dunkel, who is developing the property. It's important, she said, not to raze such historic structures.

"There is a trend developing in which many old South Tampa homes are being purchased only to be demolished to make way for new homes," said Dunkel, a Tampa entrepreneur and philanthropist.

"What people don't realize is these homes are true architectural jewels. They have stories to tell. It's a shame to knock them down because once you do, you can't get them back."

The interior of the 5,100-square-foot house will be redesigned, and some of the exterior will be remodeled, development designer Thomas Everett Lamb said. Developers plan to ask $1.35-million for it.

The remaining Enclave homes, all single-family houses, will range from 3,500 to 5,100 square feet and sell from $1.2-million to $1.8-million.

Now that the mansion has been moved, Enclave builders plan to open a sales center, build a model home and begin selling homes designed for each lot.

- Rick Gershman can be reached at rgershman@sptimes.com or 813 226-3431.

[Last modified March 9, 2006, 14:26:08]