Tampa CRA board OKs up to $250,000 study of West Tampa's Centro Español building, asks for Amendment 3 revenue projections
Board members also want five-year projections for each redevelopment area by Jan. 14 after voters approved the property-tax amendment.
TAMPA - The Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency board, whose members are Tampa City Council members, approved up to $250,000 on Thursday, Nov. 12, to hire a specialized consultant to assess the historic Centro Español building in West Tampa, according to the meeting recording.
Brenda Thrower, the CRA's West Tampa development manager, told the board the building is city-owned and has an active tenant whose lease runs to 2030. She said “the first step to renovating this building would be to do a historic building assessment.”
Board members discussed the building's theater and balcony, possible grants and future uses. One board member said they would love to see it restored to a theater or “perhaps a West Tampa museum of some kind.” The approval covers an assessment only; no renovation was approved.
Under new business, the board approved a motion asking staff for an update on the property-tax amendment's projected effects on the CRAs, including projections for each CRA for the next five years, due Jan. 14, 2027. The paper reported Nov. 12 on Amendment 3's projected hit to city revenue.
The board also approved carrying $1.5 million in unspent fiscal 2026 East Tampa pre-development money into fiscal 2027 housing programs, including housing rehabilitation and down payment assistance, and a change letting the CRA director approve home-repair change orders of up to $200,000 case by case when safety problems are found.
The board continued a proposed tenant microgrant program to Feb. 11 so staff can involve the community, continued its rules and procedures item to Feb. 12, 2027, and continued an item on park and interlocal agreements related to the Tampa Bay Rays to Dec. 10.
Votes were taken by voice, with no opposition heard on the recording. Official minutes had not been posted.
Source: City of Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency meeting video, Nov. 12, 2026 (Centro Español item at 2:03:31, vote at 2:14:10, Amendment 3 motion at 2:20:00, continuances at 11:30); transcript via Citizen Portal (machine transcript, credit Citizen Portal).