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Politics

City Council approves $1-million for Central Espanol building

It used to house the Urban League, which shut down owing millions.

By JANET ZINK
Published December 15, 2006

TAMPA - The City Council on Thursday approved spending $1-million to take possession of the Centro Espanol building, which housed the now-defunct Tampa-Hillsborough Urban League.

The city will use money from federal grants, proceeds from previous sales of city land and the city's capital improvement fund to pay off part of a debt the Urban League owed to Wachovia Bank and take over the 95-year-old building.

The city plans to close the deal Dec. 22, said City Attorney David Smith.

The city in 1999 gave the Urban League the historic building, which had served as a West Tampa social club, and funneled nearly $1.4-million of government grants toward its restoration, which was never finished.

When the league dissolved, it owed Wachovia Bank $1.83-million, Tampa nearly $800,000 and Hillsborough County $416,000.

The Urban League had planned to sell the building for $1-million to the Institute for Community Development, which is run by Without Walls Church International.

But West Tampa residents objected to the sale, saying they didn't have enough information about how the building would be used. Last week, the church abandoned its plans, citing community opposition and concern that the Hillsborough County Commission wouldn't forgive its lien.

The city stepped in to take over.

Smith said city officials will work with the neighborhood to figure out how to use the building.

"We're thrilled. Surprised and thrilled," said Maura Barrios, who led the neighborhood's efforts to stop the sale of the building to the church.

The community "stands ready" to work with the city to find a use that will showcase West Tampa's diverse cultures, Barrios said. Possibilities, she said, include a children's art program, history museum, events center and community theater.

In other action, the council agreed to draft an ordinance that would increase the property tax homestead exemption for low-income senior citizens to $75,000.

The city now offers a $50,000 homestead exemption to that group. More than 2,400 people qualified for the exemption last year, said city finance director Bonnie Wise. If all those people qualified for the higher exemption, it would cost the city less than $370,000. she said.

The City Council can't pass the ordinance until after the Florida Legislature enacts into law a Constitutional amendment approved by voters in November that allows cities and counties to offer the increased exemption.

Janet Zink can be reached at jzink@sptimes.com or 813 226-3401.

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[Last modified December 15, 2006, 05:44:33]