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Hotel plan for factory scrutinized

The city's Barrio Latino Commission asks developers to return next month.

By ALEXANDRA ZAYAS, Times Staff Writer
Published August 24, 2007

YBOR CITY 

Before they can convert the Oliva Cigar Factory to a hotel, developers first need the approval of the city's Barrio Latino Commission, which maintains the architectural integrity of historic buildings.

Commission members hesitated Tuesday to give developers that approval just yet.

Instead, they listened to public concerns and voiced their own, asking developers to return with more information for a hearing next month.

Architect William Dobson presented the board with RBK Architects' latest plans for a three-story, 59-room hotel, complete with a lobby, bar and patio at 2008 N 19th St.

He matched it up with a black and white 1890s Burgert Brothers photo of the 30,000-square-foot building that is Tampa's only remaining wooden cigar factory.

Developers want to restore the Oliva as closely as possible to its original condition, including a light gray shade of paint and a loading dock in the back the hotel would use as outdoor seating.

But the nostalgic plans have modern-day needs. Plans include paving 15 parking spaces and building a 24-car robotic parking garage architects describe as a "vending machine" or "carousel" for cars.

To fit it all in, developers asked the commission to waive a rule that requires a 3-foot buffer between the garage and the neighboring property, which belongs to the Ybor City Museum.

"The museum garden is the cultural core of Ybor City," said museum society president Dale Swope, referring to the courtyard the museum rents for weddings and other events. "Now we're talking about no buffer. You're going to kill us by putting that there."

What about the noise the traffic will generate? Swope asked.

Swope and other museum board members were trying to accumulate money to buy the factory when developers made an offer.

Dobson said a hotel would control noise anyway, for its sleeping guests.

The questions kept coming.

"We're a little concerned with what they're going to do with the interior," said Rich Simmons, another Ybor Museum board member. How will plumbing and wall additions change the open gallery space? he asked.

Dobson said the lobby and hallway would preserve the center column grid that is characteristic of cigar factories.

City officials had their own concerns. One thought the garage was too tall. Another thought the glass at the top of the garage looked like something out of the 1970s.

And was light gray really the original color of the building?

The board asked for more research and samples of some of the materials developers plan to use.

The developers will return to the Barrio Latino Commission on Sept. 18.

Building owner Angel Oliva told the board that a hotel will be the most viable option for his family's building.

"I don't know who, except a commercial entity that would have a profit from it, would spend the money that's going to be required," Oliva said.

Alexandra Zayas can be reached at 226-3354 or azayas@sptimes.com.

New date

Sept. 18 meeting

The Barrio Latino Commission will revisit the Oliva Cigar Factory vote at 9 a.m. Sept. 18 at City Hall, 315 E Kennedy Blvd.

[Last modified August 24, 2007, 08:17:45]