March Update on Tours, Porch Parties, Programs & More from SPP!

Issue: March 2015

In This Issue

New Lecture Series

Upcoming Walking Tours

Quick Links

Preservation & Reuse Drives St. St. Petersburg's Economy!!

SPP likes to remind City Council, the Chamber of Commerce and developers that preservation works! And we hope you will remind your friends too! It's the renovation and reuse of historic buildings that is driving the 'Burg's success.

SPP is excited to see another example of an out of town investor being attracted by our city's sense of place and historic buildings. This time it is the renovation of the 1929 Tramor Cafeteria, located at 123 4th St. S. It is a wonderful Mediterranean Revival styled building that was designated as a local landmark in 1991.

The historic building's new use is going to be as Hofbrauhaus, the German beer hall made famous by Oktober Fest and which has begun to franchise locations in the U.S.! This reuse of a designated landmark also refutes the "argument" that historic designation prevents business from investing and reusing downtown buildings. The owners are hoping for a June opening for Hofbrauhaus at the Tramor, read the newspaper story here.

Join us for a special tour: St. Pete from the Water - An Historic Boat Tour!

As we send out this newsletter, there are still some seats left for SPP's special tour by boat. Because so many of you told SPP you would like to join the tour, SPP scheduled a second boat tour (each the same) with the first tour on April 4 and the second tour on April 11. SPP has chartered the Dolphin Cruise boat for these special historic tours, each of which will be guided by some of your favorite SPP tour guides! Go to SPP's "Upcoming Events" webpage to reserve one of the last spaces (scroll down the page to the boat tours). If the tours show as full, you are welcome to email SPP to be placed on the wait list in case of cancellations.

St. Pete from the Water - An Historic Boat Tour

When:
Sat, Apr 4 & 11, 1-3 pm
Where:
400 2nd Ave NE
Slip 46
Registration Cost:
SPP Members: $25
Non-members: $30

May Movies in the Park!!!

The ever popular Movies in the Park return each Thursday evening in May (May 7,14,21,28) so mark your calendar now for what has become known as the best "small" event on the Waterfront!

Another event to put on your calendar is the Movies in the Park "Announcement" Party on the evening of April 8. The fun takes place at the Ale & Witch. The movie titles and bands for May movies will be announced and the new poster will be unveiled and available for purchase (signed by its artist, Carrie Jadus.

It's "last call" on becoming a Movies in the Park sponsor! Your business could be featured on the original Carrie Jadus poster created just for Movies in the Park! But hurry, sponsorship opportunities are limited.

To view our sponsor packet for information on Movies in the Park and other SPP events, click here.

Next Program March 19: "From Mediterranean Revival to Mid Century Modern: Boom Architecture"

The first two programs in SPP's 2015 lecture series were greeted by large crowds in beautiful settings. The third

program promises to be just as special, featuring noted Miami architect Allan Shulman. Florida's architectural styles have developed almost exclusively during the state's real estate booms. While 1920's Mediterranean Revival style is viewed by many as Florida's defining architecture, over 90% of Florida's built environment was created after World War II. Architect Allan Shulman will discuss the forces that shaped boom architecture and the struggle to preserve what remains. The March 19 program will be at the 1926 former Church of Christ Scientist, now known as the Palladium. It is another great example of a downtown historic building being successfully reused and showing that preservation works!

A theme of Shulman's work is restoration and rehabilitation for which he has been recognized with awards from the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. Among his award winning projects are the reuse of the 1941 Miami Beach Sovereign Hotel and a hanger at the Opa Locka Airport that was founded by aviator Glenn Curtiss.

Register now! Thanks to our grant funder, the Florida Humanities Councl and to the Boom and Bust Series sponsor, Estelia Meismer Real Estate!

Mark your calendars for the next program:

"From Mediterranean Revival to Mid Century Modern: Boom Architecture"

Where:

The Palliadium,
253 5th Avenue North
St. Petersburg, FL 33710
When:
Thursday, March 19, 2015

Time:
Reception at 6:30 p.m. & Program at 7 p.m.

Make your reservation now!

Funding for this program was provided through a grant from the Florida Humanities Council with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the Florida Humanities Council or the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Join one of SPP's Special Walking Tours!

Spring weather is the perfect time to join a SPP walking tour! And don't forget, the end of April brings a close to the "regular" Saturday tours so if you've been intending to join a tour now is the time! Our "favorite" tours continue with the "Original" Downtown Tour on April 4. The Waterfront Tour will be featured on March 14 and again on April 11.

In addition to the above tours, SPP will be visiting some of the best of the 'Burg's historic neighborhoods. On March 21 Historic Uptown will be featured! The neighborhood is a National Register listed historic district deriving its significance from the varied and excellent examples of popular styled homes dating from the early 1900's thru the 1920's.

Historic Kenwood will be visited on March 28 (grand prix weekend for those looking for something away from downtown) and again on April 25, the spring season's final tour. These tours, offered in conjunction with the Historic Kenwood Neighborhood Association are always fun and each is different. Historic Kenwood is known for its bungalow homes.

On April 18 SPP will visit the funky and historic Old Southeast, known for its eclectic styles of homes, hex block sidewalks and historic waterfront Lassing Park. In conjunction with the tour, the neighborhood will be holding its annual plant swap with plants, gardening supplies, tools, etc. available to trade or share. The neighborhood will also have a raffle of donated gardening related items. The plant swap takes place in Chattaway's parking lot from 9-11:30 am. All told, it adds up to a great way to greet the weekend with the plant swap, followed by the walking tour followed and ending with a beer and chatterburger!

Finally, don't forget SPP's next Downtown Lunchtime Tour with SPP president Emily Elwyn on Friday, April 3. The approximately 1 hour tour is a great way to get a quick intro on St. Pete history! Tour starts at noon in front of Mickey's Caf� & Organics at 318 Central Ave.

All of the walking tours are free to SPP members, just $5 for non-members. Saturday tours start at 10 am. Click on the tour links above for more details, starting location for the respective tour and for reservations (recommended but not required).

ADVOCACY UPDATE!

First Block

SPP is excited the city is moving forward to designate "First Block" as a local historic district. The block has been known by various names including the Detroit Block, Janus Landing and Block 25. The block is essentially where the 'Burg started and includes the individually landmarked 1888 Detroit Hotel building on Central Avenue and the 1910 historic Bishop Hotel building on 1st Ave. N. The city initiated landmark application will be heard by the CPPC on March 10.

Certain owners in the block have publicly stated they want the unfettered right to tear down their historic buildings to build high rises and are opposed to the designation. You can find out more about the landmark application, how you can help protect the block and recognize history by going to SPP's First Block page. Please do so now! This link takes you to the City's web page where you can access the full staff report recommending the landmark district designation for what the city refers to as Block 25.

Preservation Ordinance

As we note in the newsletter column to the left, preservation and the reuse of historic buildings gives the 'Burg its sense of place. "Preserve the 'Burg" is more than a clich� as preserving the 'Burg drives the economic success of our city. Next month SPP will need your help to make sure city council also recognizes that "Preserve the 'Burg" is more than a clich�. Mark your calendar and join SPP at the April 16 city council public hearing (hearing begins at 6 pm) regarding the adoption of revisions to the preservation ordinance.

While council hearings and ordinance revisions are not anywhere as much fun as porch parties or Movies in the Park, it is safe to say that if city council fails to adopt the CPPC and SPP recommended ordinance revisions all that may ultimately be left of the city's sense of place may be a clich�.

Last month the Community Planning & Preservation Commission (CPPC) voted to send revisions to the city's preservation ordinance to city council for the final step in the approval process. The CPPC accepted many of SPP's recommendations. It is these recommendations

that city council will decide whether to adopt on April 16. Click here to read the Tampa Bay Times article about the efforts to change the ordinance to make the historic district application process neighborhood friendly. Look for SPP's special Action Alert in your email box near the end of the month for more details and other specifics on how you can help.

Next Porch Party!

We are pleased to announce SPP's next porch party in a historic home will be April 24. Mark your calendar and make your reservation now as you will be sorry if you miss out on this fun event!

The porch party will occur in a charming circa 1920 downtown bungalow owned by Valerie Knaust. Valerie decided she wanted to live downtown and purchased the historic home approximately one year ago. Valerie is a well known St. Petersburg artist and sculptor and she has beautifully restored and decorated this charming piece of downtown's past. The home, located on 2nd Street between 4th and 5th Avenues North, is an area that still retains a number of historic buildings but is very much threatened by encroaching new development. Join SPP to celebrate Valerie's preservation success story!

Downtown Bungalow Porch Party
Where: 416 2nd Street North
When: Aril 24th, 6 pm
Registration: $10, SPP Members receive two complimentary drink tickets

Visit St. Petersburg Preservation online:

www.stpetepreservation.org