Submitted by shawn on 1 February 2009 - 3:00am
(Article by Greg Barnhill)
(Edit 1 Feb 2009: Added link to ARC Presentation Site Plan.)
In the fall of 2006, the City of Tampa announced an anticipated $1,000,000 renovation/restoration of the Seminole Garden Center at 5800 Central Avenue. The renovation of the garden center is to be funded by project specific bonds, which means current city budget cuts will not curtail the completion of the project. The building, originally built in 1939 and thought to be a WPA structure, was badly damaged in the late 1970's by a fire. While not a complete loss, the interior of the structure was badly damaged and was subsequently renovated to the standards of the day, not necessarily to the historic integrity of the building.
Aided by historic Burgert Brothers photography, for exterior window restoration, and aformer resident's wedding photos (Mr. & Mrs. William Poe, former Tampa mayor) for interior restoration guidance, the City of Tampa began to plan.
February, 2007 was the initiation of several meetings which involved the Parks and Recreation department of the City of Tampa and a dedicated group of neighborhood volunteers. The committee's concerns and desires were voiced in several meetings and incorporated into on-going plans for the restoration. During these meetings, it was noted that as a city government project there would also be an adjustment of 10% to the construction budget for the "Art In Public Places" allocation. The neighborhood committee was told these funds ($10,000) would be placed in the "kitty" for a future public art project in the city of Tampa. With the assistance of city councilwoman Linda Saul Sena and the City of Tampa Department of Arts & Cultural Affairs we were able to have those funds allocated to an art project for the grounds of our garden center.
Fast forward to today -- the ARC (Architectural Review Commission -- the building sits in a local historic district) review and approval was obtained in July 2008 and the construction bid process was begun. There were 65+ requests for bid packages, which created a delay, and a final 18 bids turned in for consideration for the actual construction of the project. A builder has been tentatively selected and is awaiting final review and approval by Tampa City Council -- currently scheduled for February 2009. The renovation/restoration of the garden center and improvements to the grounds has an approximate ten month schedule for completion.
Not to forget the public art component - a request for an artist RFQ went out in the spring of 2008. There were 12 artist packets submitted for consideration and based on the information presented an artist was chosen. Her name is Leslie Fry and she is a sculptural artist based in St. Petersburg and Winooski, Vt. Please take a minute to review her website www.lesliefry.com so that you may become familiar with her past works. Leslie will be at our January, 2009 general membership meeting to discuss her selected outdoor sculpture for the grounds of the garden center.
East and West elevations 
North and South elevations
Site Plan - ARC Presentation