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Historic buildings trumpet their age

More than 300 places can wear a bronze stamp of approval.

By F. TIMOTHY MARTIN
Published November 7, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG- By week's end, the Courtyard Marriot Hotel will have a polished new historic marker in front of its downtown location at 300 Fourth St. N.

The commemorative plaque is the first of many historic markers being put up to highlight contributing structures of the city's recently designated downtown historic district.

"It's great to preserve something and be a part of history. That's why we want the plaque - to help the community preserve what is here," said D'Marie Brennan, the hotel's general manager.

Formerly the Pennsylvania hotel, the building was constructed in 1925 and purchased by Courtyard Marriott in October 2005. Its owners reopened the hotel last year, having kept the original light fixtures, floors, ceilings andeven the 85-year-old elevator, albeit with updated mechanics.

Enthusiasm for historic preservation is what volunteers from St. Petersburg Preservation are hoping to cultivate.

Members came up with the idea for the solid bronze plaques, which are available for any building in the district that is at least 50 years old and retains its original character.

Volunteers are hoping that owners of many of the 359 eligible buildings will participate to help raise awareness and support for preserving historic buildings.

"We want to let people know that we honor the history of our city," said Katy Anderson, a St. Petersburg Preservation member who is heading the plaque marketing effort. "It's recognition that we have an interest in maintaining our heritage."

The downtown historic district was added to the national historic register in November 2004. The more significant buildings were constructed during the Roaring Twenties, when a national arts- and music-laden economic boom led to a corresponding rise in downtown tourism and construction.

The 320-acre district is bordered by Central Avenue to the south, Fifth Avenue N to the north, Beach Drive NE to the east, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street to the west.

Unlike a local historic designation, which imposes stringent regulations on any alterations made to a historic structure, the national designation does not impede property owners from making changes to their buildings.

That means owners who put up a plaque are under no obligation to place restrictions on their property. Still, preservationists say the designation is an important step toward protecting St. Petersburg's heritage.

"Cities have a tendency to lose their landmark structures if they're not recognized," said Peter Belmont, a local lawyer and longtime advocate for historic preservation. "In the development boom we just went though we saw the loss of many landmarks in our community."

Designed by architect Rob Hays, the plaque depicts a rough map of the district. Since St. Petersburg Preservation made them available in September, several building owners have ordered the plaques, including the Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Mirror Lake Condominiums.

"Communities have found that historic preservation is not only a thing community members are proud of but something that's good for the economy," Belmont said.

"We have an opportunity to market ourselves as a community that maintains character from the past. That's going to benefit us economically."

[Last modified November 6, 2007, 22:37:11]