TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Library Is Still On The Books

ADVERTISEMENT

By LENORA LAKE, Tribune correspondent

Published: November 28, 2007

UNIVERSITY AREA - Building plans for the University Area Partnership Library are on hold, but the county is moving to secure the land.

The library, originally expected to open in 2010, won't open until at least October 2012. It is planned for 138th Avenue east of 22nd Street at the site of the Rainbow Apartments.

Julian Garcia, executive director of the University Area Community Development Corp., said his organization is negotiating to acquire the property in a first-of-its-kind process. Under the arrangement, approved in October 2006 by Hillsborough County commissioners, the development corporation would buy the land with county funds for about $3.8 million.

The development corporation would operate the 72-unit apartment complex until library construction begins. It would receive a 4 percent management fee for overseeing the operations.

Garcia said the redevelopment corporation will have to operate the complex for at least two years because some of its apartments are part of federal affordable housing programs.

The library delay began in June when the county commissioners froze plans for seven new or replacement libraries. The freeze was in response to projected county revenue losses because of proposed property tax changes.

Two of those delayed projects, one in the Seffner-Mango area and one in north Tampa, had their funding restored this fall by the commissioners. Those are scheduled for completion in 2011, said David Wullschleger, operations manager for the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System.

Wullschleger said the county will re-evaluate its spending priorities after January when the results of a statewide vote on tax reform.

Under the partnership plan, students from Bowers/Whitley Career Center and Mueller Elementary would use the library during school hours. It would be open to the community at other times.

Correspondent Lenora Lake can be reached at (813) 865-4851 or llake@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT