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Factory debate rolls on

As a key decision looms, one owner makes peace with the rules.

By RICK GERSHMAN
Published June 16, 2006

HYDE PARK NORTH - To Nicholas Jammal, renovating and protecting Tampa's legendary cigar factories doesn't have to be such a contentious issue.

Historic preservation and property owners' rights can go hand in hand, said Jammal, an engineer who is renovating the 102-year-old Berriman-Morgan Cigar Factory on Howard Avenue. It's just a matter of common sense and reasonable expectations.

"We do have to make an effort to preserve our history,'' Jammal said. "But the process really doesn't need to be so difficult."

Jammal was referring to the architectural review process, which has bothered many owners of historically designated properties. The Berriman-Morgan factory at Howard and Interstate 275 already was designated a historical landmark when Jammal purchased it in May 2004.

Several owners of the city's 15 remaining nondesignated cigar factories have fought designation, which would require that owners receive permission to make any changes to their buildings. Ten additional cigar factories fall under the auspices of the Barrio Latino Commission in Ybor City.

In February, the City Council voted 5-2 to move toward changing the city's historic preservation code to require owners' consent before starting the designation process. That's scheduled to come back to the council again Aug. 3.

Local preservationists are gearing up for the meeting. Last week, a small group held an organizational meeting to establish committees and determine a course of action to fight the city's proposal.

They began circulating a petition asking signers to "Save Our Heritage - Preserve Our History" by supporting designation of the 15 "unprotected" factories.

"I don't think this is property owners vs. preservation,'' said Beth Johnson, who is working with the preservation movement. "But over time, it seems like certain people in this city have been allowed to be convinced that preservation is not a good thing."

The coalition to preserve the factories is keeping its strategies close to the vest: Members politely asked a newspaper reporter to leave the organizational meeting, citing confidentiality concerns. But Johnson later discussed the volunteers' hopes in a phone interview.

"We'd just like to see a return to the appreciation for what great things preservation has done for the city of Tampa," Johnson said. "I know it sounds a little basic, but that's what we want to get back to, is the basics."

Cigar factory owners have contended that the architectural review process is too arbitrary and onerous. Jammal said decisions delayed his project for a long time.

When the council asked owners to prove that such a designation would create a financial burden, the owners claimed that would require them to hire architects and engineers to do a building study.

And attorney John Grandoff, who represents some cigar factory owners, contended that "property rights are a civil right, and it's high time that people start respecting that.''

Del Acosta, the city administrator for architectural reviews, said "our program is not dissimilar to designation programs throughout the United States." Numerous factories have been successfully renovated within designated guidelines, he said.

In renovating the factory on Howard, Jammal said he's doing everything he can to ensure all aspects of the restoration are appropriate. The 32,000-square-foot factory has three stories plus a basement.

Jammal, who hopes to finish the work by December, plans to lease the building for professional offices. Prospective tenants could include engineers, architects, accountants or lawyers, he said.

There's a lot of work to do, including running water and sewer lines; repairing floors and ceilings; and replacing doors, windows, arches, molding and other elements.

It's in preservationists' best interests to work with owners to make these projects financially viable, he said.

"Historic preservation becomes impossible when its not economically feasible," Jammal said. "I really think the people who own these buildings, they want to do the right thing."

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

[Last modified June 16, 2006, 15:11:50]