A South Florida condo developer has purchased a strip of historic storefronts and a vacant lot in downtown Tampa, with plans to build hundreds of luxury units on the property.

Kolter Group, which has become one of Tampa Bay’s most prolific condo developers, paid a total of $11.64 million for four parcels, according to Hillsborough County property records: 520 N. Tampa St., which is home to First Watch; the Dohring Building at 514 N. Tampa St.; a small alley next door to the Dohring Building; and the vacant lot at 507 N. Ashley Drive.

Unfortunately, Kolter plans to demo the whole site. There are buildings with historic value on that site. Disappointing to see local leaders allow more historic structures to be demolished in Downtown Tampa. 

Back in 2019, Ascentia Group proposed a 34 story condo tower for this site, but that project never moved forward. That project had planned to save existing structures on the site.

One of the structures the Kolter Group plans to demolish is a 5-story historical property at 520 North Tampa Street. First Watch currently occupies the ground floor. A condo tower is proposed for the site.

The building was constructed in 1921.

We oppose the demolition of this building. Tampa has already lost too much of its historical building stock. Demolishing this structure would simply continue a long history of Tampa demolishing its history in the name of "progress." 

Previous plans for this block included both a 34 story condo tower and preservation of this building. 

More housing is definitely needed in the Tampa Bay Area, but surely there is a way to build the condos while still preserving these historic and architecturally important pieces of Tampa’s history…especially given that there were previous plans for this exact scenario at this site. 

Please help preserve Tampa’s history!