Tampa Tribune and Starbucks and ARC

Here is Steve Otto's column and the Trib's Editorial.

Otto takes a harsh tone, however it's a tone that many people feel.

It must be noted that at least one ARC board member "has driven up and down Hillsborough Avenue" because that board member, Greg Barnhill, lives in Seminole Heights. Greg is not an officious twit but rather a very involved street level neighborhood activist. Greg has driven up and down Hillsbrough Avenue and Nebraska Avenue many a night literally fighting prostitution as part of the OSH NW Vehicle Patrol. (Witness his damaged vehicle from assaults)

I did not attend that or any ARC meeting and have no access to transcripts so I cannot provide any insight as to the specific meeting. Others have, and I will try to provide that some of sense tonight.

After the dust settles, it will be interesting to look this whole situation. Is Starbucks being manipulative and playing brinkmanship, and/or are some ARC's egos in the way. Are there procedural problems or inconsistencies, or is this a case by case situation reflecting individual project issues? Is there a lack of understanding as to ARC's role and goals? There were some very good comments on the issue expressed in the Hampton Terrace neighborhood forum.


1. Tampa Tribune Editorial

Starbucks Project Grounds To Halt

Published: Jun 15, 2005

There is little question that a Starbucks coffee shop at Hillsborough and Central avenues would benefit the neighborhood and improve the appearance of a vacant lot once occupied by a filling station.

Yet the project is being held up by the Architectural Review Commission, which, while trying to preserve the character of historic districts, has created a process that causes inordinate delays and expenses for some developers.

So far, the company that owns the property has spent about $350,000 seeking city approval on a project that will cost about $1 million. ``This has gone on way too long and taken way too much money,'' Bill Chalmers, the company's development director, told the Tribune's Kathy Steele.

The commission postponed approval again the other day, saying the design drawings were not consistent with those originally submitted. The differences were minor, the commission says, and should be easily resolved.

Reasonable enough. But why not alert the developer earlier in the process so the disparity could have been resolved before the meeting?

The review commission's role is important, but developers should be given straight answers in a timely fashion. The city must be nimble if it wants to attract investors to urban neighborhoods.

Mayor Pam Iorio should ensure her staff moves deliberately and quickly on construction permits. As it stands, it appears the process needs a shot or two of caffeine.
http://www.tampatrib.com/News/MGBKQUOTY9E.html

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2. Steve Otto Commentary

Jun 15, 2005

Do Officious Twits Enjoy Sipping Coffee?
STEVE OTTO


Starbucks wants to come to Seminole Heights. By all accounts, the residents of Seminole Heights would like Starbucks to build an outlet at the corner of Hillsborough and Central avenues.

The Architectural Review Commission, on the other hand, seems bound and determined that the locals will not have an opportunity to spend way too much money for a white chocolate mocha venti.

The ARC people, or, as more properly titled by a letter to the editor the other day, the ``officious twits,'' seem to think that a Starbucks won't fit in with the historical image of Hillsborough Avenue just off the Interstate 275 exit.

Apparently it's not the coffee they don't like, it's the design of the building.

Last week the ``OTs,'' as we'll call them, postponed a decision on the project for the third time, telling the developers to come back in July.

The Wizard of Oz was easier to deal with than this bunch.

He made more sense, too. All Dorothy had to do was bring back the broom of the Wicked Witch of the West. The OTs want Starbucks to come up with some sort of historically correct coffeehouse off I-275 that will fit the image of Seminole Heights.


Make Mine Unleaded Latte

Have these people ever driven down (or up) Hillsborough Avenue? The only way the Starbucks people could make their proposal more historic would be to add some gas pumps.

I wonder what would have happened if there had been a commission of OTs back when say, Henry Bradley Plant wanted to build his new hotel on the river.

Back in the 1880s, Plant wanted to put up a palatial hotel that might attract visitors from the North, who hopefully would take his new railroad down to Tampa and spend some time.

What if Plant had had to appear before a board of OTs?

``So, Mr. Plant, it says here in your proposal you want to build a hotel by the river that is going to look like a Moorish palace?''

``That's right. I want to build something that will attract tourists to Tampa and...''


Or Maybe Garlic?

``Excuse me, Mr. Plant, but this drawing shows some kind of weird towers that look like radishes on top of your building. What is that all about?''

``Well sir, those are what are called minarets. I want to create this magical hotel that visitors have never seen.''

``You want to build a Magic Kingdom here in Florida? Excuse me, sir, but this is Florida. Tourists don't want to come here to see magical places. They want to come here to hunt alligators.''

``Yes, but I believe the hotel will become a landmark that will identify Tampa as someplace special.''

``Well, we don't want to quibble Mr. Plant, but this monstrosity that you are proposing has nothing to do with the historic architecture of Tampa. Why, just look across the river from where you want to build this thing. We already have a beautiful collection of warehouses and wharves.

``What do you think people might think if they look across the river and see this strange apparition you want to build? It would make us a laughingstock.''

Well, fortunately, there were no officious twits back then. They would come later on, which explains how we got a tower that looks like a beer can - an empty beer can - and a riverfront that is going to cost millions to spruce up.

Now the OTs are out to keep the people of Seminole Heights from getting a Starbucks. About the only chance the place has of being built is if they change the design to look a little more like a used car lot.

This story can be found at: http://www.tampatrib.com/MGBQB3PXY9E.html