'We Want This to Be a Living Building for the Community'
Plus, police seek help in Ybor shooting, and find body near Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park.
It’s not to late to provide feedback about the design and plans for the proposed new African American Arts & Cultural Center. But first, the region’s most authoritative news summary.
CURRENTS
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TOP NEWS
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor calls for stricter gun regulations following Ybor City shooting. Creative Loafing
Ybor mass shooting: Court documents detail what led up to 14-year-old’s death. News Channel 8
Florida approves four private companies to take 125,000 policies from Citizens Property Insurance. WMNF
As climate shocks grow, lawmakers investigate insurers fleeing risky areas. The New York Times $
New NFL stadium is not top of mind for Hillsborough commissioners as sales tax renewal looms. Tampa Bay Business Journal $
Florida joins conservative states severing ties with national library group. Politico
State appeals judges throw a wrench into North Florida black district litigation. Florida Phoenix
Court shields lawmakers in a legal battle about the 'Stop WOKE Act'. WUSF
Hillsborough leaders consider installing speed cameras in school zones. ABC Action News
NOAA Fisheries denies petition for endangered whale protection near ports, sparking concern. WMNF
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BRIEFS
Tips Sought: The Tampa Police Department has partnered with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to launch a new web-based portal to submit tips related to the fatal Oct. 29 shooting on 7th Avenue in Ybor City. The portal allows members of the public to submit text, photos, or videos that will be routed to investigators. The site is available at fbi.gov/tampashooting. Tyrell Stephen Phillips was taken into custody on Oct. 29, 2023. Based on the current evidence collected, detectives believe there are two additional suspects who appear to have fired several gunshots. This remains an active and ongoing investigation. Detectives continue to gather evidence and develop leads to determine what led to the shooting and identify and apprehend all parties involved. Detectives urge anyone who was in the area near the time of the shooting to review the video or photos they may have taken that morning and submit them so investigators can find justice for the victims.
Suspicious Death: On Oct. 31 about 2:15 p.m., Tampa police officers responded to the 900 block of W. Cypress Street in reference to a deceased subject. The victim, an adult black female, was found with upper body trauma and pronounced deceased at the scene. Detectives are working to determine what led to the incident. Anyone with information that could assist detectives with their investigation is asked to call Tampa PD at 813-231-6130 or submit an anonymous tip by contacting Crime Stoppers at 800-873-TIPS (8477) or via TIP411. Additional information will be made available pending the investigation.
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REPORTER
‘We Want Feedback. What Did We Miss?’
By Judith M. Gallman
Hillsborough County’s proposed African American Arts and Cultural Center seems to have a lot going for it. Expansive glass windows will dominate its modern design. Its surroundings will include an outdoor amphitheater and sculpture garden on manicured grounds. The airy facility is expected to be extremely adaptable for anticipated and widely varied uses.
The vision is to create a lively, attractive gathering place to celebrate the rich history of the local African American community by honoring West Tampa as one of the city’s eight original black neighborhoods, one that lacks a significant anchor facility.
County employees, County Commission Vice Chair Gwen Meyers, and a representative of FleischmanGarciaMaslowski (FG+M) Architecture, the firm working on the center, shared plans for the facility at a public engagement forum Oct. 30 at the Emmanuel P. Johnson Recreation Center. They are wrapping up an effort to find out what people would like the new facility to be and what it should include.
The third and final meeting is 6:30 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, Nov. 1, at the facility the new center will replace, the West Tampa Community Resource Center, 2103 N. Rome Ave. The public can comment online about the project through Nov. 8.
John Muller of the county’s facilities management and real estate services division led much of the Monday night meeting about the cultural center, which he said was held for “finishing up on the conceptual design.”
“We want feedback,” Muller said. “We want to know, ‘What did we miss?’ We want this to be a living building for the community.”
Nothing at this point is “baked in stone,” he said. The county’s goal is to create a “stand-out building,” not just another lackluster, lifeless county building.
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The current plan is to replace the existing facility with a new 50,000-square-foot African American Arts and Cultural Center with an expected price tag of $30 million. About half of that, roughly $15.5 million, said lead fundraiser Meyers, has materialized from public and private donations. The center was approved by commissioners in 2021, and the tentative timeline includes a 2026 completion date. That’s when Meyers is up for reelection, and she said she wants the center completed before her term in office ends.
The cultural center will front North Rome Avenue and include the land between West Cherry and West Walnut streets. It is adjacent to the MLK Community Center. The roughly 100 residents who attended Monday night’s session were mostly pleased with what they saw in renderings scattered about the room on white boards and in an accompanying slideshow presentation.
Organizers emphasized the plans for the elegant two-story building are “flexible” but likely will contain some iteration of galleries; labs; retail; studios; a cafe; and event, experience, and meeting spaces. Outdoors, the 6-acre site will feature an amphitheater, lawn space, sculpture garden, a ribbon trail, and multi-use gathering spots.
The interior will include fixed seats as well as areas for adding seating, intimate and large gathering spots, and folding glass walls for greater adaptability. A second-story balcony will offer a view of the Tampa skyline, and the center will be near other developments in the works, including Rome Yard, West River, and the West Riverwalk.
Meyers anticipates screens throughout the building, so visitors can remain connected to any of the big events going on there. The building is designed to have a strong indoors-outdoors connection with its setting and will have a unique ability to morph into different spaces as needed.
A handout distributed at the meeting described the arts and culture center thusly: “The AAACC will be a unique space in Hillsborough County where the history and stories of African-American communities and Africa diaspora are honored and come to life through the events, arts, and educational experience. The AAACC is intended to be an active facility open seven days a week for visitors, events, and educational groups. The building design includes open spaces or large openings which connect the interior of the facility to the exterior. Regardless of the visit type, the AAACC will inform and emphasize the unique contributions the African-American communities have made both to the Tampa Bay region and beyond.”
The handout also asked attendees what activities they would participate in, what outdoor experiences they would favor, how often they would visit, and their thoughts on how the center can support West Tampa and the African-American community. It concluded with an open-ended comment form.
Attendees took turns speaking into a microphone, offering their opinions and asking questions that Meyers for the most part responded to or said should be directed to her peers on the county commission or the facility’s future executive director.
Suggestions included: not making the center too African and incorporating some history of Florida’s citrus industry; including contributions from the local Caribbean community; offering something for elders and the elderly; adding a storytelling component; addressing students’ needs, especially youth artists; offering a student arts campus via community colleges; having adequate security to ensure the safety of visitors and the facility; and recognizing founding businesses, sponsors, or individuals for their contributions.
They also asked questions about cost overruns (too early to say), fundraising shortages (Meyers said she is confident the goal will be reached), admission fees, rental and/or usage fees, jobs creation (16 to 20 full-time positions plus opportunities for vendors), minority business and contractor commitments, and whether the county had looked at comparable sites elsewhere (yes, including the Smithsonian and facilities in Chicago, Pittsburgh, and California).
So far, Meyers credits the state, Hillsborough County, and Florida Blue with having ponied up. And she said she is stepping up her own fundraising efforts, reaching out to businesses for financial commitments. She plans to tap into the church community, too. Her message to them, she said, is succinct: “I need your financial support to get this building built.”
Muller said Meyers is just the one to get the project done. “You can bet on Gwen. She’s going to win.”
OTHER NEWS
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BAY AREA
Vigil planned for victims of Ybor City shooting. News Channel 8
Ybor City backyard may hold clues to 30-year-old cold case. News Channel 8
Man sends FHP trooper on high-speed chase in Tampa with woman, child in car. 10 Tampa Bay
Electric bills could soon go down for TECO and Duke customers. 10 Tampa Bay
Dozens of former clients claim Tampa attorney stole thousands after shutting down law firm. Fox 13 News
Another law firm to leave central business district for Water Street. Tampa Bay Business Journal $
Biden to nominate Tampa-based federal judge to Florida District Court position. Tampa Bay Times $
Tampa Bay credit union expands again, buying a 900-client insurance firm. Business Observer $
Bradenton car dealer buys Tampa's Stadium Toyota. Tampa Bay Business Journal $
Tampa Bay bakery named one of the best gluten-free bakeries in America. Tampa Bay Business Journal $
Seminole Heights’ Flocale food hall is closed. Creative Loafing
Tampa International Airport to hold first-ever ‘air taxi’ test flight in Florida. News Channel 8
Tampa's Pirate Water Taxi expands route, eliminates Rick's on the River stop. Creative Loafing
Parts of Indian Rocks Beach will close for beach renourishment. WUSF
'The Retreat is here to stay': Revered Tampa dive bar celebrates 85th anniversary this weekend. Creative Loafing
Theater groups nationwide perform same plays on same night for same cause. ABC Action News
Fox squirrels meet match at Plant City fall farm festival. Spectrum Bay News 9
How to celebrate Day of the Dead around Tampa Bay. Tampa Beacon
FLORIDA
Florida AG Ashley Moody urges justices to reject abortion measure. Tampa Free Press
Florida Democrat to introduce amendment to stop lawmaker’s insurance venture. News Channel 8
Citizens Insurance customer says depopulation notice contained 430% rate increase. ABC Action News
Open enrollment for marketplace insurance begins. Here's how you can get help. WUSF
Florida health plan rates are among the lowest in the U.S. Axios
After pandemic rush, South Florida office market sees steady demand. The New York Times $
This Florida school district banned cellphones. Here’s what happened. The New York Times $
Black bear spotted at Disney World's Magic Kingdom captured. Fox 13 News
USF researchers prepared to reintroduce thousands of corals. Axios
How sea levels in 40 cities will change by 2050. Stacker
Ohio State, Georgia, Michigan, and Florida State top first College Football Playoff rankings. The Washington Post $
POLITICS
Florida House sets its special session to start Monday. WMNF
How Nikki Haley is overtaking Ron DeSantis as the alternative to Trump for GOP voters. Florida Phoenix
Disney warns that if DeSantis wins lawsuit, others will be punished for 'disfavored' views. The Washington Post $
Florida surgeon general to campaign with Gov. Ron DeSantis in New Hampshire. Florida Phoenix
Poll: Ron DeSantis among least popular Governors in America. Florida Politics
Florida buys more Israel bonds during Israel’s bombing of the Gaza Strip. WMNF
Voting rights group tells White House of major legal and policy issues facing Black Floridians. WUSF
Marco Rubio warns of sleeper cell terrorists crossing Mexican border. Florida Politics
Inside the book-ban machine: The rise of 'parental rights' groups and their efforts to ban books. Stacker
COMMENTARY
On this issue, Matt Gaetz actually has a good point. The New York Times $
At Miami GOP debate, let’s talk about sea rise, energy independence and climate. Tampa Bay Times $
ABOUT US
Editors: Judith M. Gallman and Stephen Buel
Contributing editors: The Navigator is seeking contributors