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Back to the
Future
 Unique
to Tampa Bay are the many cigar factories that dot the urban landscape
and were once the mainstay of the local economy. Much of
Tampa
Bay’s history is based on these factories and the Cuban
workers
who settled in the surrounding neighborhoods. The cigar
factories
were built in the 19th century to house hundreds of men and women
rolling cigars while a lector read to them the local news and news from
Cuba. The factories supported entire neighborhoods of small
modest homes.
These buildings of brick and heavy timbers now stand vacant.
Owners feel stymied by preservation guidelines. They see
renovation for another commercial use as too expensive to be feasible.
AIA
Tampa Bay saw opportunity in the owners’
dilemma. Not
only could the Chapter serve as a resource to owners about adaptive
reuse to retain the city’s architecture heritage and unique
history but also through specialized education programs in local high
schools they could inform a new generation about the techniques of
preservation and the importance of preserving the City’s
history.
Building on previous involvement in preservation projects, AIA Tampa
Bay worked with owners, public officials, civic leaders, and
neighborhoods to enable owners to undertake renovation in a financially
feasible manner while respecting the integrity of the old buildings and
adding value to the surrounding neighborhoods.
They worked with the school district to create a specialized class for
high school students to teach the principles and techniques of historic
preservation and give them hands on experience in one of the historic
properties. In addition to the classroom and work at the
site,
students participated in community meetings and meetings with
owners. Scholarships to summer architecture camp are part of
the
program.
After completion and evaluation of the pilot program, AIA Tampa Bay
plans to offer the curriculum to other high schools in the district.
View
all Blueprint Initiatives |
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