Hillsborough County: County input sought on historic sites
The review board's ideas include education and inducements as well as direction from commissioners. A workshop discussion is planned.
By LETITIA STEIN
Published September 3, 2004
TAMPA - Creating stately plaques and educating homeowners may offer a cost-effective way to encourage historic preservation in Hillsborough County. But money and clear direction from county officials would help, too.
County commissioners will review such ideas during a workshop Wednesday with the county's Historic Resources Review Board. The advisory council wants the county to find ways to promote historic preservation, following commissioners' recent decisions that property owners rights superseded efforts to safeguard historic properties in fast-growing Brandon.
The decisions focused on whether to designate the sites as landmarks - and ensure their preservation - without the consent of property owners. County rules are silent on the matter.
"We need some guidelines," said Daniel Corda, chairman of the review board, which recommends to commissioners which properties are worthy of landmark status. "Now, it's not clear."
Members of the historic review board recently met to brainstorm ideas that would foster historic preservation. For starters, they could build pride among residents who restore historic properties by awarding them plaques and other high-profile honors.
And they want to raise awareness through education initiatives.
"Historic preservation takes a long, long time," said Jeff Thirlwall, a regional consultant for the state's Division of Historical Resources. He advised the review board to be patient. "You're not going to win every heart and mind. It's a matter of consensus."
The review board members also proposed asking the county to provide financial incentives such as waiving certain fees and taxes, or offering special funding.
The money also could help in emergency situations - when a historic property is facing demolition. In those cases, the county may consider stepping in to save the home.
Such funding and guidelines didn't exist earlier this year, when commissioners were forced to address thorny issues involving historic preservation.
For a year, historic preservationists battled to save a house on Victoria Street where postmaster and Brandon founder Daniel Galvin once lived. In April, the Galvin-Jaudon house was torn down by its owner, First Baptist Church of Brandon.
The church had bought the house after county commissioners, observing an unwritten policy of designating landmarks only with owner consent, assured the building would not be protected with historic designation. Still, the controversy prompted the review board to explore landmark designations on historic properties even when owners did not give consent.
The first test of that approach came last month, when commissioners considered designating a turn-of-the-century Valrico building, known as the Galvin-Carl house, where Galvin also once lived.
Commissioners rejected a recommendation to designate it, because the property owners did not want the status and its financial burdens. But the politicians pledged to work with the review board to find ways to encourage historic preservation in unincorporated Hillsborough.
"We can and should make it as friendly as possible toward historic preservation," said Commissioner Ronda Storms.
Commissioners have agreed within the last year to designate as landmarks three properties, including the Sun City Center Power House and a home in Bealsville near the county line. In May, a 1928 bungalow on Moon Avenue was designated a Brandon landmark.
Still, some preservationists in east Hillsborough have given up hope.
"I feel that a workshop is a waste of time," said Michael Carducci, a preservationist involved in the unsuccessful battle to save the Galvin-Jaudon house. "They will never understand our history, our commitment to this area, because they are not from here," he said.
A Hillsborough County Commission workshop will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the second floor board room at County Center, 601 E Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. The meeting is open to the public.
