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Official Paints Unsightly Picture

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By GEORGE WILKENS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 6, 2008

Updated: 08/06/2008 05:50 pm

PLANT CITY - The 2005 fire that destroyed nearly a block of historic downtown created what one Plant City commissioner calls an eyesore and a blight.

"It looks like it's bombed out," Mike Sparkman told fellow commissioners during the July 28 budget workshop that included reference to the midtown project. Calling it "an eyesore to downtown" and "a blighted area in the heart of our city," Sparkman urged improvements be made there before proceeding with the planned redevelopment of the 85-acre midtown area to the south.

The corner parcel from the Whistle Stop Cafe, 102 S. Collins St., south to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard serves as a parking lot for Snellgrove's Restaurant, on the opposite side of Collins.

The open lot exposes the walls of bordering buildings, a view Sparkman wants blocked, one way or another.

"I want to block off alleyways, backs of buildings to stop such an open eyesore," he said after the workshop.

The February 2005 fire destroyed nearly a block of historical buildings on Collins Street, although firefighters saved a wall decorated with a historical mural at Collins and the boulevard. Snellgrove's owner Curtis DeVane bought the site after a previous owner hired a contractor to tear down the wall and mural. DeVane made the property into a parking lot.

Sparkman said improvement is necessary to protect the integrity of the downtown historic district.

"We've got a lot of people who invested a lot of money downtown and are not going to tolerate that kind of an eyesore," he said. "You drive by there and it looks like something you expect to see in Europe in World War II."

Sparkman has asked Stephanie Ferrell, a Tampa architect who specializes in historic restoration, to outline the city's options.

Sparkman said the city needs to develop specifications to resolve the appearance of the site. Working with Assistant City Manager Greg Horwedel within the next few months, Sparkman plans to draft a proposal for city commission consideration.

"I think basically what we as a government have to do is what is best for the community," said Sparkman, who did not rule out the city acquiring the property.

"We could take it by eminent domain for public use," he said. "We could resell it or do several different options. That's basically what we're looking at: what should we do and what best serves our community?"

Responding during the workshop to Sparkman's remarks, Mayor Rick Lott said, "I'd love to see that property be improved dramatically."

Lott also expressed concerns about a large, incomplete mural on the back wall of a building that houses Express Yourself Coffee 101 and Focus magazine, 101 E.J. Arden Mays Blvd. The partially completed mural abuts the parking area and is visible from Collins Street.

"I think that mural needs to be redone or completely taken down," the mayor said. "It does not blend well with downtown Plant City."

Heather Davis, owner of the coffee shop, said the mural is a work in progress.

The image of a black woman initially included in the mural painted by Plant City brothers Blake and James Emory was painted over by them early this year in response to criticism from some in the city's black community.

Some saw the image as woman wearing a bandana and claimed it was a racial stereotype reminiscent of Aunt Jemima.

Upon inspection, the woman more closely resembled an elderly schoolmarm, hair pulled back in a gray bun.

Davis said she awaits completion of the mural by the Emorys and, perhaps, this newest attention will induce progress.

Reporter George Wilkens can be reached at (813) 865-4433 or gwilkens@tampatrib.com.

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