There’s a public meeting to discuss the demolition of the Seminole Heights Baptist Church – Creative Loafing Tampa

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UPDATED: 05/22/20 2:39 p.m.

On June 9, the Historic Preservation Commission of the City of Tampa is holding a public meeting to discuss the future of the Seminole Heights Baptist Church, which is arguably the most prominent structure in Seminole Heights (its steeple can be seen from I-275).

A city document says the request pertains to the demolition of property listed, Eligible for listing, or pending listing in the National Register of Historic Places (National Register) individually or as contributing in a National Register-listed historic district or property in the HPC workplan. The document also mentions a request for determination of economic hardship.

Creative Loafing Tampa Bays calls and voicemails to the listed authorized agent, former Tampa City Attorney Julia C. Mandell, have yet to be returned along with calls and messages to City of Tampa building inspector Jerry Schrenker, and Eddie Browder.

Browders LinkedIn profile says hes a project manager and landscape architect at Orlando engineering firm S&ME. S&ME submitted a plan for the church, located at 810 E. Hillsborough Ave. in Tampas Seminole Heights neighborhood, to the city.

Those plans, like many related to this demolition, can be seen by anyone via the citys Tampas Accela Citizen Access site.

City of Tampa

And for now, without comment from the engineering firm, developer and city officials or any of the newest documents, we have to speculate about the process and future of the historic structure (with a lowercase "h," by the way, not "Historic" as in on the National Register of Historic Places).

Josh Frank, Principal and Urban Designer at Wide Open Officewhich works to establish new relationships between people and their environment through landscape architecture, urban design and community developmenttold CL that these are typical documents for these kinds of proposals.

But based on the docs available,the plan for the demolition of the church could pretty well be on its way.

Frank, 31, said those plans could be for marketing and pointed out that there could be a new plan for the site that isn't online yet.

But a look at aforementioned test fit site plan, which shows a 10,860 square-foot free standing emergency room within the footprint of the church, which was founded in 1921. The plan also shows a future expansion zone (blue dotted line, ironically next to the shadow of the churchs famous steeple) in addition to a list of all the requirements for permitting on the right side of the sheet. There are square footage numbers for the parking, plus floor-to-area ratio numbers that all signify that the project is pretty close to applying for permits.

If it was purely for funsies, you wouldn't necessarily do those calculations, Frank told CL.

Sill, to many on urban development blogs like URBN Tampa Bay, it looks like there's an intent to demolish the church.

The old fire station on the Taliaferro side of the property is also in jeopardy according to the preliminary site plan.

The plan also shows a desire for a curb cut (entrance/exit) on Hillsborough Avenue, but a note on the plan says it is unlikely to be approved.

Frank agrees that the curb cut will be disapproved since Hillsborough Avenue is an Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) road thats close to the interstate.

That shows me that they know what they're doing and that maybe they've had conversations with FDOT to some degree, Frank said.

Brant Adams, Pastor of Seminole Heights Baptist told CL that, "The plan you are looking at is not official or anything that has been submitted, from preliminary discussions."

He said church members are trying discover what their rights as a property owner are.

"The Church Membership is the property owner, whom has built and removed many buildings over the decades on this property," Adams added.

CL also reached out to Atelier Architectures Vivian Salaga, who is listed as the Chair for Tampas Historic Preservation Commission.Salaga wrote that, Unfortunately, I cannot speak with you regarding this matter.

I sit on the Historic Preservation Commission and this would be considered ex parte communication and render me unable to act on this matter at the public hearing, Salaga added in an email.

CL then asked for comment from Dennis Fernandez, Manager of Tampas office for Architectural Review and Historic Preservation.

This is a developing story, and we will update this post later today.

The public meeting is set for Tuesday, June 9 at 9 a.m. inside meeting rooms 14-17 on the first floor of the Tampa Convention Center, located at 333 S. Franklin St. Social distancing measures will be in practice, and members of the public who do not wish to appear in person may submit written comments for the Architectural Review & Historic Preservation Office by mail (4900 W. Lemon St., Tampa, FL 33609) or email (beverly.jewesak@tampagov.net) no later than 24 hours before the meeting.

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There's a public meeting to discuss the demolition of the Seminole Heights Baptist Church - Creative Loafing Tampa