The Springs Tower...er both of them
From Sherry King
"The Tower That Grease & Sodium Built
(My rant for the week)
Is anyone else bothered by the new Sulphur Springs MacDonalds putting a tower on their building?
I drove by yesterday and saw the new tower and it made me mad or maybe sad, not sure which. Why is a corporation (or anyone for that matter) permitted to cheapen a beautiful historic site? Did they have to get permission to do this?
I had read somewhere, when this renovation started, that MacDonald’s was planning to pay tribute to the tower by building one on their building. At the time it didn’t strike me as anything bad, however, I wasn’t moved by their attempt to woo us with their neighborhood spirit.
I feel the original Sulphur Springs Tower is cheapened by this. This smacks of ‘Disneyism’ where anything sacred can be recreated for our entertainment.
It just seems wrong."
Previous post on the subject
14 comments:
My two cents for what it's worth. While I do think that it's a rather cheesy attempt at pandering to the neighborhood's affection for the tower, I don't think that it cheapens the original any more than the cheap trinkets hawked at the Statue of Liberty, or Mount Rushmore, or any other beloved landmark, lessens them. I haven't seen the final product, but I would think it has to be an improvement over the old one.
I did hear that Coke was getting ready to start marketing a Tampa based sports drink called TowerAde. I am kidding now.
I thought they were turning it into a White Castle. Then I realized it was a tower...
Stop your whining and get a life. If anyone has "cheapened" a historical landmark it has been the government. That tower has been sitting there for years and years and no-one has ever done much of anything to promote or expoit it for anything good. What a waste. It's just like Ybor City. No-one does anything there for over 50 years, then when night clubs start opening up, everyone starts bitching about it. The reason this happens is because Tampa (very unfortunately) is a place where the only ones willing to make a difference are big corporations with deep pockets. That's why we will have an Outback in Seminole Heights before we ever have any really successful independent, privately owned, neighborhood restaurant. That is why Starbucks makes alot of money and the Coffee Bean Cafe can't seem to keep its doors open.
Does anyone here care about it? The tower I mean? How many of you care about the park? How many of you actually go to the public pool?
Can't we just be happy it's clean?
The tower was privately owned for many, many years until the city bought it about 5 years ago when the property was going to have a Walgreens built on it- so how could the city improve what they don't own?
There was an article in the Trib this past week about the boardwalk the city will begin to build to connect the pool and the tower.
Coffee Bean closed because of Milton's own admission that he did not have the knowledge or energy to run it and his story next door - it was his first attempt at a resturant. The Bean did not close for lack of patronage - I think the neighborhood was very patient while they worked out the kinks in thier business - he choose not to continue it.
I think if we have someone is serious about running a resturant in the 'hood they will be incredibly successful - Front Porch only wants to take the money out of the hood with the least amount of effort possible (ie service issues) and Viva always had an idinity crisis - am I a resturant tonight or am I a poetry slam tonight - do I let the patrons wait for a hour to get service or do I focus on the arts. I have seen it done in other sitiations and done well - unfortunately - this was not one of them. How many times can you have company come to visit and take them to a neat resturant in the 'hood (Viva's)and then have to leave to go eat because service didn't happen?? Think I'll return for that??
This neighborhood will most definetely support a good privately owned- non franchise resturant - look at Nicko's and 3 coins - they are good examples of what they do best - greasy spoon (sorry but true)how many times on the weekend have you waited for a booth there only to have heartburn all day from the omlet yet still go back as it's in the hood and you want to support them??
Don't tell me Outback is the only option - Tampa as a whole doesn't know how to support non-franchise resturants so it's not just SH.
I've always thought the Tower Park would be a great place to have an all-day outdoor concert, something along the lines of Music Midtown (obviously smaller) or Three Rivers Music Festival in Columbia, S.C.
Look at all the parking right across the Interstate near the dog track and the tabernacle. Exit the Interstate and you're right there, talk about easy access.
And it's a nice, open field on a river to boot.You could easily draw 10,000 people with a good mix of performers.
Maybe they should think about doing it once the park renovations are done.
What great publicity for Sulphur Springs, the park, the river and Seminole Heights
And you have Party Liquors right there!!!!!!
Anon 12:48 - why be anonymous when you have so many good and intelligent things to say?
Anon 11:39 says:
"Does anyone here care about it? The tower I mean? How many of you care about the park? How many of you actually go to the public pool?"
My boyfriend and I go to the park a lot. we were at the tower lighting ceremony with a lot of other people from the 'hood, and it was incredibly cool to see that land being used for live music and picnics and people enjoying themselves. so I care, and he cares, and so do a lot of other people! stupid question, really. if you care about this neighborhood or the city in general or have any curiousity at all about your environment then you should care.
It is a really big deal that they are connecting the tower and park. It shows that our historic landmarks have value and will be maintained, instead of lying fallow and in disrepair. Now I'll have a good place to go for a walk (other than Rowlett Park) that is very close. If you haven't been to the park or pool you are missing out. Go see the nile perch and other fish that make nests in the sand in the spring. 2 winters ago we saw a manatee in the Spring. Go explore a landmark that was once nationally known!
As far as the McDonald's thing goes, I think it is o.k. They've been there a long time anyway. Why not pay homage to the tower? Burgert Bros. photos of the Springs would be better but I'm not complaining.
An Outback Restaurant in SH? YES! I would never go to the one in South Tampa again!
Question - Would anyone in the 'hood patronize a local and CLEAN billiards/pool hall?
Is the springs pool actualy clean these days?
The reason that no one goes to these local restaurants is that they suck. They're either filthy, too expensive or the food is terrible. Name ONE resaurant that doesn't fall into one of these three categories. I'd be embarrassed to take my mother to any of these places, whether Elvis, or Jesus ate there once.
Yes the pool is clean.
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