Preserve Tampa's Cigar Factories

Moving from a city like Chicago full of rich heritage, cultural diversity, neighborhoods built by ethnic backgrounds and stunning historical architecture, to Phoenix, a fairly young city in development with potential where everything looks new and sterile without a richness in history that Chicago captures, it disturbs me to read any article that questions preserving historical structures. Case in point, an article from the St. Petersburg Times questioning historic preservation of the last remaining cigar factories.

The defining nature of a city is it’s historical symbols reflected through architecture. Tampa is widely known for it’s “grand, brick cigar factories that still grace the city”. These plants have transitioned over the years from Havana, to Key West, eventually making their way to Tampa, which helped define the city’s character. Only 25 of some 200 factories still stand, and the opportunities to preserve these landmarks are dissolving quickly.

The Tampa City Council has the opportunity to decide whether 15 factories not currently covered should receive preservation status. There’s been some pushback from the factory owners fearing that if covered under the preservation laws, they’ll loose rights as property owners and would require them to follow architectural guidelines.

Preservation is key, and it would be a mistake for those owners wanting to “opt-out” and make preservation voluntary. Take any measure to preserve the richness in history, for when the factories are gone, only to be replaced by another strip mall, the only question would be “why?”

You can read the article in its entirety HERE.