Save the Historic Lamar

04/19/2022

For those unable to attend this evening’s TIS CRC Meeting #97, here is our full public objection presentation.

After careful consideration, we chose to object to the way FDOT West Central - Tampa Area (FDOT-D7) treated the contributing structure at 1902 N. Lamar Ave. during the 5+ years it was in their possession. Per Stipulation IV. of the TIS MOA, FDOT-D7 was to properly secure the structure to prevent it from being adversely impacted by vandalism, illegal occupancy, & weather damage until the architectural salvage requirement, including the salvage report, was completed.

As our presentation shows, the salvage report was not completed till September 2021; therefore, Stipulation V. B. was not fulfilled till September 2021 & the structure should have been secured according to National Park Service Preservation Brief 31: Mothballing Historic Buildings in the interim.

A ruling on the matter is now in the hands of the Federal Highway Administration in Washington, D.C.

04/10/2022

We have not gone away, but are hard at work with listening to Tampa Heights voices regarding future visions for what can become of the Lamar property & its adjacent parcels since FDOT West Central - Tampa Area tore down the contributing structure at 1902 N. Lamar Ave.

In this image, we seek to explore the possibility of the farmers’ market as proposed by former Tampa Heights Civic Assoc President Shane Ragiel in a Facebook post. Here we have incorporated architectural features of both the Lamar structure & those that once neighbored it to create the market space. Notice the rounded & rectilinear forms of the Lamar’s parapet incorporated into the aesthetic of the structure, in addition to the clay tile mansard roof. We have also added wood slat work to remember the residential structures that once occupied the parcels adjacent to the Lamar.

While we are wrapping up the concept for this idea at the moment, we will be starting work shortly with Lena Young Green & her vision to place a building on these parcels that would be proposed for housing the Central Avenue Experience.

02/18/2022

We received confirmation from the FDOT West Central - Tampa Area that the Tampa Interstate Study’s (TIS) Cultural Resources Committee (CRC) will be meeting during the first week of April 2022 to discuss the objection we raised to the demolition of the Tampa Heights Historic District’s contributing structure that once stood at 1902 N. Lamar Ave.

This meeting will be in the evening as we requested to ensure the public can participate to the fullest extent.

We will be able to present our findings relating to the objection & are currently in the process of assembling this information.

There will be also time at the end of the meeting for public comment, so we will keep everyone informed when & where the meeting will be.

Keep engaged with our page to get future updates on this upcoming meeting.

02/03/2022

As the Lamar was being demolished by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) this past Monday (1/31/22), we issued a public objection to the demolition based on evidence that suggests the FDOT failed to complete the salvage of the building’s historic architectural elements & materials before proceeding with demolition.

The FDOT is required to complete the salvage of these elements & materials based on a stipulation included in the Tampa Interstate Study’s (TIS) Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), a historic preservation agreement applying to a majority of the historic districts that portions of I-275 & I-4 run thru in Tampa.

We received a response relating to our objection today from the ACHP - Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, one of the TIS MOA stakeholders. The response identifies that it would be prudent for the FDOT to request assistance from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to resolve the objection. They also recommended a meeting be held among TIS MOA stakeholders to discuss the objection & the resolution FHWA proposes.

Though the Lamar is now gone, we feel this is a good first step to hold the FDOT accountable for its disdain towards matters concerning historic preservation & the preservation of the historic districts its interstate facilities run thru. We issued a statement today requesting the recommended stakeholder meeting be in the evening so the public can be in attendance to witness its proceedings.

We have included our correspondence, evidence, & applicable portions of the TIS MOA as part of this post.

We will continue to keep everyone updated on this development.

01/31/2022

FDOT released a statement:

"The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) demolished the structure at 1902 N. Lamar Ave. due to unsafe conditions [alleged], multiple police calls [alleged - only one for arson that we know of] and the building’s deteriorated conditions [that FDOT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALLOWING]."

Residents seek another delay in demolition of historic home

01/31/2022

Folks, it is with a heavy heart that we must report that as of 10:00 a.m. today, Monday, January 31st, FDOT has demolished the Historic Lamar House.

FDOT is demolishing this building for future planned highway widening, despite the offers to purchase, lease, and rehab the building that we know were submitted, and despite the fact that the property is not needed for the current downtown interchage (DTI) widening project.

We are at a loss. The injustice is profound. If you too are angry, please call the man who made the call, FDOT-D7 Secretary David Gwynn at (813) 975-6039. Hillsborough County Commissioner Gwen Myers should also hear from you at (813) 272-5720 or (813) 272-7048, as she recently expressed her support of ignoring the outcry of this community in favor of whatever FDOT wants to do.

01/22/2022

We completed a site investigation of the contributing structure at 1902 N. Lamar Ave. yesterday (Friday, January 21, 2022).

The investigation was supervised by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) after requesting the visit to investigate last week.

As suspected, we found that a majority of the current deficiencies relating to the structure are based on the FDOT neglecting the property since acquiring it in July of 2015.

Though our investigation was only limited to the structure's first floor due to safety reasons, we found evidence of arson, the structure's windows vandalized, and a suspected significant water-related roof breach greatly damaged the spaces found in the back portion of the structure.

We confirmed the structure is wood frame and was constructed using the Western Framing Method. We could tell this Method was used due to dimensional lumber composing the structure's exterior sheathing layer being placed at a diagonal. Incidental cases of termite damage to the wood was observed; however, this observed damage was not to a level to compromise the structure's overall structural integrity.

We have concluded most of the building deficiencies observed could have been prevented by the FDOT simply following the guidance provided by the National Park Service's (NPS) "Mothballing Historic Buildings” (Preservation Brief 31, Sharon C. Park, NPS Preservation Assistance Division, September 1993) publication. Though following this guidance was a requirement of the TIS MOA, the FDOT provided a response to us that it is no longer required to follow it since Stipulation III. A & B of the said MOA has been fulfilled; however, as a matter of the public interest, the guidance should have been followed to thwart the delinquent activities the FDOT has cited as a portion of its grounds for the structure's demolition.

Additionally, the FDOT could have followed the guidance provided by NPS's "Roofing for Historic Buildings" (Preservation Brief 4, Sarah M. Sweetser) publication to prevent the interior damage the building sustained due to the suspected drainage &/or building envelope failure experienced by the structure's roof that damaged portions of the structure's interior.

We are currently preparing a report to provide the FDOT in order to record the findings documented during the visit.

01/12/2022

We just wanted to thank everyone who participated in yesterday's public comment period during the Hillsborough TPO Governing Board Meeting!

Collectively, all comments totaled 45+ minutes of speaking time and were in favor of both stopping the demolition of the contributing structure at 1902 N. Lamar Ave. & in protest of the Florida Department of Transportation's plans to further impact Tampa's historic, urban neighborhoods through continued interstate highway expansion.

With the Governing Board not yet making a motion to put a resolution relating to these items to vote as requested by the TPO Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) & the community, we must continue with our efforts to get this resolution put up for a vote & passed by continuing to address the Governing Board at its upcoming monthly meetings.

01/09/2022

Our mission to and Tampa's sacred, urban, historic neighborhoods from the threats of interstate expansion needs to continue at the Hillsborough TPO Governing Board Meeting this Tuesday, January 11, 2022 at 10:00 AM.

Sign-up using the link included at the bottom of this post to tell the TPO Governing Board to do the following during the Meeting's Virtual Public Comment Period:

1. Stop the FDOT's destruction of historic property in Tampa Heights, including the planned destruction of the contributing structure at 1902 N. Lamar Ave.

2. Stop the FDOT's ability to continue with the physical expansion of the interstate (I-275 barrier wall intrusion) in Tampa Heights.

3. Declare temporary moratorium and conduct a full vetting of those aspects of the FDOT's Downtown Interchange Operational and Safety Improvements Project related to barrier wall intrusion along the eastern border of Tampa Heights.

4. Support the TPO CAC Resolution addressing these points passed on Wednesday, January 5, 2022.

Virtual Public Comment Period Link:
https://hcflgov.formstack.com/forms/mpo_board_public_comment_signup_form?fbclid=IwAR2jaS5IuSD7xmnmbAI2IyhHoVSbuZZkK0OOkx_UrmqcH5uKNKdmU1TYmGc

You must call into the conference with the same number you provided on the form below. You must call using the same number so staff may identify and associate your name with your number. This is required so we may recognize you and unmute your line.