Yeah. Excuse me. Excuse me. It's 630, but we're not going to be starting yet. We don't
have a quorum of our third member is supposedly on the way,
so. I didn't mean for you to stop talking. You can still do that. We haven't. We haven't
started the meeting. No gavel yet? I didn't gavel it.
I don't know what I can do, but let me
know if there is anything. You
did get in touch. Is she on her way? She's on her way now. I
can't, I can't believe. I've gotten myself, you know.
Are you okay? Okay, okay. I feel
comfortable. Okay. Thank you for your patience. It's 654, and I'm calling the Monday,
February 2nd, six. The meeting together. So, agenda on number one. Call to order number two. Roll call please. Chairperson
Brzezinski here. Miss Howett here. Miss Kaplan here. Mr. Codina is absent. Okay. Thank you. Quasi judicial announcement and swearing in of
speakers. Thank you. Good evening. This is a quasi judicial proceeding where the Heritage Preservation Board acts in a quasi judicial rather than a legislative capacity at
a quasi judicial hearing. It is not the board's function to make law, but rather to apply law that has already been established in a quasi judicial hearing. The board is required by law to make findings of fact
based upon the evidence presented at the hearing, and apply those findings of fact to previously established criteria contained in the Code of Ordinances in order to make a legal decision regarding the
application before it. The board may only consider evidence at this hearing that the law considers competent, substantial, and relevant to the issues. If the competent, substantial, and relevant evidence at the hearing
demonstrates that the applicant has met the criteria established in the Code of Ordinance, then the board is required by law to find in favor of the applicant. By the same token, if the competent, substantial and relevant
evidence at the hearing demonstrates that the applicant has failed to meet the criteria established in the Code of Ordinance, then the board is required by law to find against the applicant. Well, anybody
who intends to speak tonight, please stand and raise your right hand to be sworn in.
Thank you all. Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth in your testimony, in these proceedings this evening? Thank you all. You may be seated. Okay, but can you make
the statement about. Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah. And the last this would be for the applicants. We don't have a full board tonight. We do have quorum with three members. However, you are, as
an applicant, entitled to have your case and your application heard before the full board. So it's your option to have your application heard tonight in
front of the three members that we have. You also have the right to essentially continue your application to the next meeting. When five members would be here, our full board
would be here. Those applicants tonight, is there anybody who wishes to continue their application to the next? I think we need to clear and say that it needs to be unanimous.
Oh, and that's the that would be the last thing is one, you have the right to defer hearing. And the other thing to be aware of, three votes are required for your application to be
granted. Considering there's only three board members here tonight, you would need a unanimous vote for your application to pass. Thank you. Thank you chairman. That's a
very important point. So with with that said, do any applicants wish to continue their hearing to next month's
meeting? Hearing none. I believe we can proceed. Okay. Great. Thank you so much. Okay. Let's start with application
25.102 Certificate of Appropriateness for signage at 100 North Ring Avenue. Carolyn Caroline Lanford, principal planner with the Planning and
Zoning Department. This slide is showing you the location and context of the subject property.
And I'll go. This slide is showing you the location of the subject property within the National Register and Local Historic District. They are
requesting a Certificate of Appropriateness to erect a new non illuminated wall signs on the north side of the property and on the western elevation of
the property. This is the 1919 Sanborn Map showing the property as the Scotia Hotel. This structure received a CA for significant renovations in
March of 2023, with the condition to return to the HPB for approval of a detailed sign plan. This slide is showing the picture from the Florida master site file, and I'll just run
through some pictures of the property today. A site plan for the property. And here are the
signs that are being proposed at the property. And a rendering of the sign. These are just showing some context
of the area. This is showing some context of signs in the vicinity. With our standards for review. We have a new new construction consistency, the neighborhood and district
context, adherence to the Secretary's guidelines, and conformance with other city code requirements. The height and width of the proposed new
signs are consistent with signs of similar character in the vicinity with respect to the neighborhood and district context. The addition of the proposed signs would slightly
alter the streetscape, and the HPV should satisfy themselves that these impacts are not significantly adverse. The with respect to criteria number nine,
the project adheres to the Secretary's guidelines and conforms with city code and other code requirements. In
keeping with our Guideline Design Review Guidelines manual. This slide is just showing you the relevant sections of the
code that it's in compliance with. And with that, staff is recommending approval of application 25 102 as presented
with the condition that the Certificate of appropriateness would expire in three years if the building permit has not been issued for the project. And with that, I can take any
questions. Okay. Thank you. You have any questions for Carolyn? So these signs meet size requirements and distance from
the street. And they meet all all of our code requirements. Great. All right. Let's let's
hear from the applicant. Hi. A full name and address Bridget
Dull I'm the hospitality manager for the. Oh. My name is
Bridget. I'm the. Well, only if you had anything to say to explain what you're doing. If
it was different than what? Carolyn.
Yeah, we're just trying to get approval from. Okay, okay. Does the board have
any questions for her? Nope. Okay. Any public comments? I've
seen this structure for like 100 years, and looking at the renderings, really impressive.
And just a sign. And the real meaning is what kind of new use do we have? I think this is really exciting. Have some place used to be a flophouse.
Rooms by the day. Really impressive to someone caring for that building and generating it. Good. Thank you.
Any other comments from the public? Okay, I'm going to close those comments then. And anything else from you Carolyn?
No more comments. Any discussion from the board, any
ideas or anybody want to make a.
Is. I. I moved to. If the 25102
yes okay. As read as presented I move to accept the nomination the as read vote. So you're
it's for approval. For approval. Okay, wait a second. I'll second that okay okay. All right. We have a motion a first and a second. Any other
discussion? Okay. Let's vote. Yes, miss Howard. Yes, chairperson. Burzynski. Yes.
All right. Thank you for your patience. All right. The second
application 26.03 Certificate of approval for window replacement at 400 Grand Boulevard. Carolyn. Yes. This slide shows the the location
and land use context of the subject property. This slide is showing the location of the property at the edge of our local historic district. This
slide gives some information about the property. It is a craftsman. It is contributing. This is showing the subject
property on the 1919 Sanborn, and the applicant is requesting a Certificate of Appropriateness to replace original windows with Impact vinyl impact windows as the
photo from the Florida master site file. The facade of the subject property. South
elevation. North elevation. East elevation and context. A
survey of the subject property. This is the product sheets for the proposed project. With
respect to our standards for review. About criterion two, which relates to the width and height of the windows. The proposed replacement windows
would retain the historic dimensions consistent with the original architecture, and replacement windows, if approved, should replicate the
style of the historic windows. Criterion three. To criterion seven with respect to distinctive architectural
features. The proposed project would replace original wood windows with vinyl windows. The applicant has expressed that continued maintenance of the wood windows is not feasible, due to continuing problems with
rot and significant costs associated with replacing with new wood wood windows, and should the HPV approve replacement windows, the replacements should replicate
the visual qualities of the original wood windows. With respect to criterion nine adherence to the Secretary's guidelines, the project is not
fully. Strictly comply with the Secretary standards. In particular, it would include removal of distinctive materials which should be
preserved, and then historic features that should be repaired rather than replaced. That being said, the proposed project would conform with
other requirements of the code and is generally in compliance with the applicable goals, objectives and policies of the Comprehensive Plan by furthering the continuation of
the continuing existence of the structure. So these are just some relevant guidelines from
our Design Guide review manual. On my recommendation is if the AFC approves the project, I would I would recommend the
following conditions one that tinted glass would not be used, and that muntin and mullion profiles would replicate the existing windows, and that the
certificate of appropriateness would expire within three years. If a building permit has not been issued for the project. And with that I can take any questions. Okay, I actually
have one in the packet. It shows the company that they want to purchase their windows from, but it really doesn't
unless I'm missing it. I don't see anything knowing what they actually want. Yes. So this is what was provided by the
applicant, which is why I am suggesting that if this project is approved, the HPV would condition that approval with the requirement that they be
one over one. I believe there may be a casement window as well, just that condition approval. Would that the style of the window would match the
existing style? Is that what they're now? It's a double hung. I think I would let the applicant speak on what's there now, but it looks to me that the majority of the windows
seem to be single hung one over one. My concern would be more about the visual qualities of the window that they look like they look. Now, I would just
suggest that if you the board decides to approve this project, just condition it that they need to replicate the visual qualities of the existing windows. The applicant can get
me the specific product sheets and I can approve it through administrative review. Okay.
Any other questions for Carolyn? Okay. Let's have the applicant. Hi. My name is Renee Torres and
I am a retired historic preservation architect who has restored this house since I
bought it in 2010 when it was, well, let's say, not what it is.
And I have put it back lovingly, but the windows are just beyond. This weekend. I have been
freezing in there because everything leaks, the windows are racked as the house is old,
settled and to put new windows of wood. Nature would be in excess of 100,000. And I did
not pay that for the house. I am, as I said, retired, and I have single handedly removed all the additions that have
brought this House back into compliance, as have restored that porch single handedly with timbers from the Unitarian
Church down the block. When we managed to demolish another piece of altered and added architecture. So this house is
put together with love, and I have no intentions of doing anything other than that for it. And although there is a
casement aluminum window that was added somewhere along the line, all the other windows are double hung, but they might as well be single hung because
some of them are, you know, sealed in time. And I've opened up only the necessary ones just to keep the house more draft
free. So the projects sheet that I provided, the Simonton window is really the best window in the market, and it's
just being shown as a sheet. They will be one light over one light as they were originally, and I was even talking to the manufacturer if they could
incorporate my original glass. But alas, that's not to be okay. So you would be comfortable
with obviously replacing as they are right now. Oh, there are design. No tinting? No, of
course not. That I had to ask. Okay. Any questions for him?
We're not there yet. Okay. Any questions for the applicant?
Any public comment? One Bayshore Drive. That was my godfather's home. And I'm an antique relic unit. And I have
to congratulate this gentleman and his job in bringing back the house to its vitality best as he can. He's done a beautiful job, and he has
really kept the historic preservation home, as you see what he's done. And I can understand about these windows.
And if the glass is the old bottle, throw it away. A lot of money because we have lost these windows uptown. And the buildings were some of the new
businesses on. And even though they were told and they went ahead and changed them without permission. So he has really gone above and beyond doing
what he had to do with preservation of that home. I thank you for certainly ask that area that is ominous, and
I hope that all will go ahead and let him do this and get the glass anymore. And with whether or that's the best, I'm all for
his faith. Thank you. Any other comments? Or emphasis was put on the fact that the windows that this gentleman and place
are required to be impact window, and that's for weather protection, that's taken into consideration. A little bit of
leniency because that's a matter of health and safety.
Okay. Thank you. Any other public comment? Okay Carolyn. Anything else? I have no further comments. Any other
questions here from the board? Carolyn. All right. I agree about these windows. I know it's tough. You always want to
in the historic district. You want to try to replace with what's there. I understand we're in Florida. I understand
there's hurricanes. I understand wood rot. As long as things look the same. I, I personally am comfortable with that. If that's what you're
telling us you're going to be doing, that's good. Okay. Any discussion here at board level?
No, I think you did great. Okay. Motion okay. I move to accept
the motion as presented on number 26.03. As presented and
recommended by staff in the recommendations by the staff. They have to adhere to that and
that's it. Okay, I guess that sounded like a motion. So you're for approval? For approval? Yes. Any second. Second. All right. We have a
motion and a second. Any more discussion? If not, let's call for a vote. Miss Kaplan. Yes, Miss. Howard? Yes, chairperson.
Mrozinski. Yes. Again, thank you for your patience. Do a good job. It is a great house. Thank you. All right. Number
six, discussion items 25.96. Certificate of approval for demolition 17 West Orange Street. Now this is listed as a
discussion item. So there will be no action taken on this item tonight. This is discussion only, right? Do you want to open it up Carolyn. Sure. I
just wanted to give some background on the property and this just. Yes, I just wanted to give some background on the
discussion item and the subject property. The the owner agent approached us in November of
2025 looking for a potential conditional certificate of appropriateness to demolish the contributing structure at 17 West Orange Street, a circa
1909 residential frame vernacular structure, the Florida master site file for this property notes the rectangular plan residence has a full width set, separate
hipped roof porch that wraps three sides of the structure, and features square wood columns with simple capitals. Architectural features of the structure include eave returns,
a front gable roof, windows set in pairs, and triple sets. Cornerboards triangle wood gable roof vents and wood surrounds. The structure also
features two brick chimneys, an off center French door entry. The contributing structure has undergone some minor minor alterations over time, but it
retains its architectural integrity and is contributing as an example of Spanish American war era residential vernacular architecture and
community planning and development in Tarpon Springs. And that's pretty much all I want to say at this time with
regard to the structure, kind of the process. So I noted that the owner's agent approached us in November of 2025. At that
time, they submitted the materials that are in your agenda packet. I felt that there was enough there to go ahead and advertise for a
certificate of appropriateness. Although I advise the applicant that additional materials and some revisions would be required before the case could
be heard. There was some back and forth and in discussion it was determined that it may be best to just proceed with this as a discussion item at this
time, and the the owner and his agent can discuss what you discuss and then potentially come back to us in the future for a full application. And
with that, I can answer any questions you might have. And then I would turn it over to the owner and his agent. Yeah. Again, since this is just discussion, unless you guys
have any specific questions for Carolyn, I think we should just
keep rolling. My name is Daniel Sandbar Architecture, located
at 123 Tarpon Avenue. Excuse me, I'm the agent for this project here, working with the Ahepa, who is the owner of the
property. We did the study that you have in your hands here. This property is unique in that it's continuous, contiguous
with the Ahepa club that it currently operates on, on Tarpon Avenue, and it's owned by the National Ahepa, who is
interested in this site for both the location and for the cultural significance of Tarpon Springs. In the study of the
property, we found that it would be inordinately expensive to rehab the property due to structural damage, insect
infestation, you know, outdated utilities, and the list goes on and on. So what we have determined in discussions with
the Ahepa is that they would like to remove this structure and to place a museum on site. The museum, of course, would be
appropriate for the neighborhood. It would bring the neighborhood closer to the zoning goals which have been
set forth. You know, as a activity center currently. And it would be more financially viable for them to operate it as a museum than as it
currently stands, either as a rental or to fix it up and sell it. So with the information that you have in front of you, we wanted to begin the
discussion of this property, what you'd be looking for from us, you know, both in the in the documentation of the
structure that's there and for the design of the new property. So that that way we can work hand in hand to make some positive progress. You know,
the Ahepa wants to, you know, make sure that the time and the money that they're putting into this project is, is going to move us forward together. We
really don't want to get to the end of a design and then find out that nobody likes it and that we have no chance of it ever being approved. So, you
know, with that, I'll. I'll let Basil here, the president of the National Ahepa speak if he has anything to say. And then
we have John as well. He's he was he's the most recent local chapter president, you know, past president at this point.
But he has a lot of history on this as well. Thank you Daniel. Good evening. My name is Basil Mercedes and I'm the executive
director of the national office in Washington, D.C. the order of Ahepa is the largest and oldest Greek American organization, founded in 1922,
in Atlanta, Georgia, and it was founded to assist the Greek immigrant assimilate into becoming good Americans.
Throughout our 104 years of service to the community, we've been able to accomplish many milestones. One of the greatest ones is, of course, the work
that we did with the federal government during World War two for our veterans. We raised $500 million by 1945, selling war bonds. The US government
designated our organization the only one in that time period as an official organ of the United States Treasury. Because of all the money that was raised for
the war effort. Today, the order of Ahepa has over 400 chapters in the world, of which 350 of them are in the United
States. These organizations, these individual chapters like the one here in Tarpon Springs, chapter number 16, which is the
back of what, 17 West Orange is 20, West Tarpon. Right. And that's where the current chapter owned the home for many, many years. A few years ago,
John came to the national office and introduced himself and said, here we are and we have a problem, and we'd like to talk to you about it. So we purchased that building, the
Ahepa home on Tarpon Avenue from the chapter, and we allow them to to use it still because of the service that they perform in the community. I think we charge them a dollar a
year for, for, for that. But the national organization physically owns, owns the property. So it was fitting. We felt that we would get the
property immediately behind it when when John brought the owner at the time, I forget the gentleman's name and he said it would be a natural thing for us to have it. So our board felt
that it was appropriate for us to purchase the property. We did our due diligence. We we knew, we knew going into it of the of the challenges that we
would be faced. But we wanted to work with with Tarpon Springs and see how we could develop the property to enhance
it, upgrade it, make it a destination for the association. Because like I was telling Daniel earlier, per capita, Tarpon Springs is the largest
concentration of Greek Americans in the United States. It has the most per capita Greek or Greek Americans that live here, and it would be a
natural place for us as we come every year for the epiphany celebrations in the beginning of January, to make it a sort of a pilgrimage for our people
to come here every year. And we would build a a museum to preserve our history in this country. And as a resident of Tarpon Springs now myself, I
purchased a home with my wife here two years ago. It's something that, you know, I don't want you to feel like, oh, here comes this guy from Washington is going to, you know, do whatever he's doing. I want to be part of the
community. I want this building to be part of the community. And this is why I asked John to come down, because he's part of this. I mean, he grew up here and he knows the value of of what the Ahepa has to offer for
the neighborhood and, and for the community. So if I'm allowed, I'd like to have John come up and introduce himself and tell you why he feels this would also benefit us as an
organization. And of course, for the local, the local chapter. Does anybody want to ask me any questions about Ahepa? Not about Hepa. No. Okay.
Thank you, thank you. Oh, one more thing. I don't know if this is recorded or not, but the order of Ahepa itself is the largest single private
developer of old age homes in the United States. We manage 96 of them across the United States. I'm telling you this because it's a community service, not because this is
what we're going to do down here. I'm telling you that we care about the communities that we invest our our effort in. So I just wanted to put that on the record. So thank you very
much. Actually, you know what? I do have a question for you. If you can answer it, since you were it seems that you were involved with the purchase. Yes.
Property. When you purchased it, did you have it inspected? Did you know what condition it was in? Did you have something in
the back of your mind that you wanted to do there? Were you thinking all along of demolition, or were you thinking of rehabbing it,
turning it into something else? You must have had some idea. So yes, we did do our due diligence. Like I said, we did look to see if it could be
rehabbed and we got yes and no and yes and no from from more than one, one, you know, more than 1 or 2 people, the individual that owned the
property sort of rushed us to get it off of his plate. And I'm not saying that we're victims of ignorance or anything like that. Yes. Originally I think we wanted to say, oh, we're going to rehab
it and we're going to use it for blank, you know, make this a Hall of Fame museum, whatever it is that we currently house in the Ahepa house that's on Tarpon. But as time went on and
we got to see, you know, the nuts and bolts of really what it's going to take to rehab it. We said, well, perhaps we could build a better edifice, a
better building, you know, something that would last longer and perhaps incorporate building an elevator for access to a second floor or something like that. So I think
originally we were going to go with let's rehab it, but it's morphed into something a little bit more than just the rehab because of all of the work that
it's going to take to do that. I think. Sure. My name is John.
Thank you. Standing here, I can't help but reflect on the days when I was going to high school here with Anita. We had the seventh through the 12th grade all in the same building,
and it was really a wonderful experience. You come in as a lad at seven and seventh grade and you look at the seniors, you think, wow, and here we are today at City Hall, and I'm
grateful for that, because this building is a building that we have a lot of cherished memories. When I spoke with Ahepa National years ago
regarding the Ahepa home, I knew that it was important to our community to maintain the Ahepa organization and the things that it does in our
community, and I was the president for five years. I'm no longer the president, but I'm active and I'm also active
nationally with Basil and other officers in bringing other venues to Tarpon Springs, like senior living. I'm a big proponent of that, and I would
certainly welcome anything I could do to make it happen. What I've learned about and our culture that we've tried to establish in Tarpon Springs is
that our Ahepa home is a community home. You can go to Jean Ville to Chamber of Commerce and ask her anytime she's ever asked for the use of
the house at no charge. It was done. We've never charged her the Mary Martini. I know you're all familiar with that. It happens every year around November. We've been doing it
now for, I think, either 4 or 5 years. But the merchants come in with Reggie Gibson, Carol Rodriguez. Sherry went back when I was the president. And
then one day they were just totally clean out the whole Ahepa home of tables and chairs and put them outside, and we didn't charge them one penny. When the veterans lost their
ability to meet somewhere, we went to them and they came and we sat down and we talked with them. And now they meet every month at the Ahepa home at no
charge. They have a bingo once a week, no charge. When other situations have occurred, for example, either with the Shepherd center or the Salvation Army, we again
participate. Our home is open to anybody that is a nonprofit that benefits the citizens of this community. Now, when it
came time for selling the Ahepa home, I knew that National was the best place to go because I think that Tarpon Springs, known as the Epiphany City,
that then we changed our name to our chapter name to Epiphany City, because we wanted to reflect what Ahepa is nationally. We not only have
that nationally, but we have now. Basil, who was moved down as the executive Director. We also have two people that are on the National Board of Governors, have moved in the
area and within Pinellas County. And so what's happening is that it appears that we're going to become the mega center, the the epicenter of the South for national Ahepa here in Tarpon
Springs. And I know that when they do something, they do it culturally minded. Now, in looking at the home right there that the home and the fossil
home, I've known both of the families all my life. I've known of them. Nixon Mathis was my attorney when I was president of the parish council in Tarpon Springs of Saint Nicholas. He he was he was my
main man from an attorney perspective. And when I looked at the house, I not only looked at the house, but I looked at the property and I said, what can be done better for the city
of Tarpon Springs? I know Ahepa National's culture and they allow us to do this in their home is to whatever the community needs. Why don't we
do it at Ahepa? We do that for any nonprofit organization in Tarpon Springs, or any organization that is affiliated in any form or fashion with the
city of Tarpon Springs. So my vision is to make use of that entire piece of property, make it so that if they have a museum where it's large enough
to turn around and let's say, have 100 or 150 people be able to come and have a nice situation or an event, they can do it there. And I guarantee
you, if it's for a nonprofit or for the city's benefit, it will be done at no charge because that's who they are and what they stand for. So I speak in
behalf of making that property a piece of property that complements the historic value of Tarpon Springs and complements the core values
that we have as a heavens. Thank you. Any questions? Maybe a similar one that I asked the other gentleman. So you were involved? It sounds like also
in the in the purchase, but it also what it sounds like to me is that you and forgive me if I'm wrong, but you it I'm
hearing that you sort of are were looking at it as an empty lot when you bought it. So were you already thinking that the building could just go away to
do what? You know, you mentioned a museum, you mentioned a couple other things which sound wonderful, but do you know what I'm asking you? I know what you're asking. You're asking what my intent was. Yeah.
When I looked at that property and saw not only the home, but also the empty property next to it, my mind went, what is the best use of that property? What
can we do with that property to make it valuable and beneficial to not only Ahepa but also to Tarpon Springs? When I went into the house and walked up, I
think it's 19 steps to the second floor. I said, who's going to? Who's going to be able to walk up 19 steps? That's a long way. Okay. And so
I looking at the property, it's it's, it's a it was beautiful in its time. And I think we can still do things to preserve that memory while we make
active use of that property. So I saw it as an opportunity to expand Ahepa, make it something that is beneficial to not only
the Ahepa family, but the city of Tarpon Springs, and to the visitors that come, especially during epiphany, where they'll have a place to be able to meet and greet. As as Ahepa draws an
awful lot of people throughout the country on on Epiphany Day and, you know, also on on the Greek Independence Day. So
that's that that was my intent. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions? Thank you. Did you
have anything else to say. Because I want to open it up to the public here to nothing to add at this time. We really want to know what your comments
and concerns are so that that way next time we we come in front of you, we can add to the information that we've given you tonight and and make
clarifications as you need them. As we move along in this process. Okay. I had sort of a comment. I was looking at your
presentation. Excuse me, I'm getting over a cold. It was it was number four. Whether the building is one of the last remaining examples of its kind.
And you gave four examples, and I agree with those four being similar. But I'm also looking at the four West Orange, the 29
West Orange, the 28 West Center. Could you imagine if those people came in front of us and wanted to tear down those houses? They're wonderful. They're wonderful houses. And I
just wanted to throw that out there. That kind of grabbed me when I was looking at your presentation. Where where do we
stop tearing down and where do we make or suggest rehabilitation or reuse? This is I'm just this is discussion.
I'm just throwing that out. Sir, if you could go to the microphone just because it's recorded, may I say just just to add to that, I'm actually at the other end of this for I
think it's 26 North Gross, which is a complete rebuild build of the exact same style house. Okay. Yeah. So what was
the address? I think it's 226 North. Gross. So it's the Hanks residence a couple of blocks from here. So we're you know that that one has been totally
decimated. And and that one, we're rebuilding as it is, you know, because that's client wants they want to put the money into it. They want to
live in it. Or floor plan is very similar to this one. The layout is very similar to this one. Just like just like 19
orange as well. You know. So we've got a few, a few of the exact same house sprinkled out throughout Tarpon Springs. I didn't do an exhaustive search, but you know, they are
relatively common in this area, but I but I think you get what I mean. How tough something like this is when when especially that one at four West Orange. It's incredible
what they did there. It's just gorgeous. And I could not imagine that being an empty lot right now. So you do understand kind of I understand both sides. Yes okay. All right. Thank you.
How about the public? You guys have been here for a while. So
the final one, Bayshore Drive, the house that he shared. Also was not in this historic district. Good point. Levers,
1960 9th August can achieve that as the commissioner. And then I was mayor. We went out 100% to make historic district
in Tarpon Springs, because we knew what the value was. That the Ahepa home is historic. That needs to be addressed. You know, my grandfather was
president of the Atheneum, which is very difficult, but we're missing the boat here. Tarpon can be the number one
historic community in Florida over Saint Augustine, over the beach community that has historic buildings and houses
and haven't worn them down. We're missing the boat here. You know, these houses. Realtors should. Average them
like they have in Charleston, South Carolina. Saint Augustine, all the historic communities throughout the South for
lawyers, homes, doctors homes. You write up Tallahassee Hastings, you go songs, lawyers, architects, accountants, doctor's offices. They buy
these homes to preserve them once they're gone. You don't have them anymore. The fossil home, the very historic home.
Mr. Fossil, Mr. And Mr. Emmanuel, they they had a drugstore, a main Mr. fossil brought his family there and that's where they lived for
many, many years with the developer in California that was interested in this property and wanted to add his family here in Tarpon. And they called
me and they said, would we have a problem with changing zoning to be able to get apartments? I said, you want to put tarpon on fire and be driven out of town.
That's what's. If you start eating away. And we've lost some historic homes here and they've changed them. It's like a cancer that goes on and on
till we have nothing left. And with the hurricane that came, people are suffering, but they have to put the houses back like they would if we lose our historic district apartments.
Three we're going to face this crisis. And once it's gone, you can't get it again and never reproduced. They'll understand
what they have to want to do, but it's a good idea. But not there. That house should not be torn down. That lot can be used for something. Whatever goes in
there, the parking. The storage, there's a setback that's over 100 years old. The house has never been. Mrs. foster was my
sister's godmother, the godfather. And she and her, my sisters and youngest daughter grew up together, went to school here, and the best
friends, they never really redecorated anything in the house or changed the house in any way. We still have the problem of when you walk in,
it's beautiful, but you have to work at it to keep it here. And I appreciate what they want to do. The National Harbor,
because we are a historic Greek community, but you can't kill it. And that's what we're doing when you let these houses go. It's a virus and it keeps
growing. It's a cancer on the community, and you are the protectors of the historic. Apart from spring. They have a
building down in Greektown that they could do something with it and put a museum where all the tourists go to, and they can use it and see it when they
need to. I want us to think of what we're going to lose if we let this house be demolished. And what what's going to happen there. That's in the main part
of town. Once that house goes, they're going to take Eddie Hoffman's house. They're going to take the one next to it. They're all going to go and
never be replaced. I have a lot to say, and I have a lot of history on this house, because Braga can tell you I have so much history on Tarpon Springs. And husband had to build
another addition onto the house for me to use as an office. And my daughter's historian, and she has all of that now. And my husband used to do historical
civil War versus Shelby Foote, and we've got all of that. That's how much it's worth. Preservation is in this community and throughout the
South. Go to than what they've done in vaccines for the older homes, how they preserve them. And there are grants. Whoever buys that property for a home,
the grants are there. We've worked with grants with Kathy Monahan when she was here and
and. Augusto Tech and. Famous man. I'm freezing in this building. It's old Kenny Henderson. We went after grants,
the grant we got for the Greek church, and we almost we were going to lose that almost. But we went to Tallahassee and said, please don't make me do work
too hard for this. This town is missing out. Let's not add to it and miss out on some more. Let's save with these and these early pioneers and ancestors of
ours in Tarpon have left. That is a jewel. That is a jewel. And you can't compare that house when you're talking about it, because we are in historic
district, and that's the number one thing we've got to protect. I've got a lot more. And when you have another hearing, I've got a lot more to bring to you about that area, the house and
what has gone on in history as far as the street in that house. Thank you, thank you. Line up.
Hey. 32 West. Woman I live in the historic district. And our neighborhood got devastated in Hurricane Helene. And I
attempted to get some information about the zoning and land use, and I'll exaggerate. It took me 2000 opportunities to finally get an answer. I had to go to the city
clerk for public records thing. It was very difficult, but their bottom line was you can't do anything modern. And I said, well, why don't I get a chance to have an application and let
you tell me whether it will work? So that's why sometimes the recommendations of this of staff, I don't agree with. One of the things I endeavored to
do. I came down to the city planner on June 25th, 1979, and I initiated the first historic preservation ordinances. And it was a fight. Don't tell me what color to paint my house. I mean,
it was it was a fight. And slowly but surely, you know, we managed to get a historic preservation district going. And I think Ahepa is great. I think all these organizations
are wonderful. However, issue is tearing down a historic structure and as we have seen in the past year, a lot of our monuments are being destroyed. Our white House is destroyed,
the rose gardens destroyed, everything is being ruined and thrown away. And we can't do that here. You know, we are a diverse community. We've got
Jews, Hindus, Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Russian descent, Greek descent. We are a melting pot of of diversity and losing
a historic structure. Should not be dependent on who the applicant is and their good nature. It should be the do we want another? And I don't know if you all received it, but I
took a picture and I showed the yellow house and then I took out the there you go, I took it. All you have is a big vacant lot, and if there's property beside it, I don't have a
problem with them expanding. I believe the house alone. And they say, well, it's too expensive. It's more expensive to take it down and get rid of all the stuff, and then be left with a, with a vacant lot. And
when you drive down from the bayou up, you see the house at the corner that Congressman Bilirakis was living in. You see the apartments and you see the inhis house, and you see
Colonel Sally's house. And if you've been here long enough, you remember those people and you remember their houses. And it's just very, very important
that we save what our history represents. And show it off with pride. And whenever you go to some of these other communities, some of the rattiest looking houses have
been remodeled. And they look beautiful and they're they're impeccably done. And that's what Tarpon Springs needs. It needs more conscientious
assistance staff to applicants like myself. I ended up selling my house because I didn't want to go through the hassle. And that's the reputation this town is getting. It's too difficult
to do work here, and I endeavored to put the people first, not the corporations and the lawyers. And it used to be a much more pleasant experience
coming to city. And it's not that way anymore. So we have a lot of work to do, but I would recommend not allowing that house to be removed or giving them other options. There's
there's more property that can do another option, but it's just not right. That's all.
Thank you, thank you. Hi. Hi. Georgiana Frances, 15, Athens Street. So I want to begin by saying this very clearly that I
respect the applicant, the architect who's a friend, and all the residents here who care really deeply about this structure. So I'm not here to take sides. I'm here more to talk about the process,
responsibility and what our city says it stands for. So the City of Tarpon Springs mission and vision statements both explicitly include protecting and preserving our heritage.
That's not aspirational language. It is, as stated, commitment. So this item is before you tonight as a discussion item and not an approval. And that alone highlights a larger ongoing
issue. Repeated miscommunications between applicants and staff and this board about what constitutes a complete and review ready demolition application. Over
time, this board has received criticism, oftentimes very unfairly and often very publicly and often from commissioners. When applications are denied, appealed or later overturned.
So I want to say this plainly and on the record that that criticism is misplaced. When an application is incomplete, when standards are inconsistently applied, or when an appeal later succeeds, that does not
reflect a failure of this board. It reflects a failure of the city to provide adequate training, procedural clarity, and institutional support to both its volunteer boards and to the applicants that are
trying to navigate this process. These are some of the most important decisions, as you can see by the public opinion coming tonight, that a city can make decisions that permanently affect historic structures, and
yet we provide very little formal training or support to the volunteers tasked with carrying out that responsibility. Tonight's delayed start, due to the lack of a quorum, underscores how thinly stretched our volunteer
boards already are, and how much the city relies on a very small number of unpaid residents to carry out critical responsibilities. That disconnect is not fair to this board, and it's not consistent
with the city's stated mission. This issue matters even more because Tarpon Springs is a certified local government. That's a CLG. That designation depends on having a functioning,
trained, and respected preservation board that applies adopted criteria consistently and independently. Anytime this board is undermined, bypassed, or second guessed due to
process failures failures, that puts our CLG status at risk. And that risk belongs squarely with city leadership, not with volunteer boards serving on this board. So tonight my
request is simple support this board. Invest in meaningful training, clarify expectations for applicants, and stop placing the burden of systematic failures on volunteer members. Protecting
our heritage is not something we should only talk about, especially in election season. It is something we must actively support, fund and stand behind. Supporting this board is not optional. It is essential to protecting our
certified local government status and preserving the historic identity of Tarpon Springs. So to the city leadership when it comes to preserving our heritage, don't just talk about it, be about it.
And to the board. Thank you for your service. Thank you. Well said. You've made some good
points, I appreciate him. Anything to say, but they did you you at the. I'm sorry, is
it John. What's your name? Daniel. I'm sorry, I'm sorry you asked a little while ago
what you could bring to another meeting. Is that is that kind of how you asked it? Why don't you go stand up there so we
could hear you? Yes. So, you know, we. So, you know, we didn't feel that that this
process was going to be a one meeting deal where we would show up and you guys would say, yes, you could do what you would like and everybody would be happy. So, you know, we
decided to take a take a smaller step before we decided to take, you know, a bigger step, but much more effort into, you know, generating new
concept plans, you know, renderings, you know, the whole whole nine yards. I imagine you had a chance to take a look at the 200 pages that we generated
of information. There may be some questions. You have some things that you, you know, find compelling or less than compelling. And so if we could
find out, you know, what your concerns are, then we can make sure to address them more completely. Next time we're in front of you. Okay. And I did
read it all, actually, but you gave us. And thank you. It was a good presentation. I can't speak for the board. It would
be a real job for anyone to talk me personally into agreeing on demolition. Okay? I'm. I'm just throwing it out
there. We're discussing it. There's no voting going on here. Doesn't mean my mind could be changed. Couldn't be changed.
The. Property, the lot right next door. That's part of this property. That empty lot? Yes,
sir. Have you considered. Keeping the yellow house and somehow incorporating some new
structure next to it that works with that yellow house to to realize your project, your museum or office or whatever
you were thinking of. But to still keep that house, because I saw that shed back there too. And it's, it's a, it's a really a cool shed. And I didn't
realize it was so old. That that's my opinion right now. And again, it doesn't mean I couldn't have my mind changed
with a really dynamic plan, but that would be the direction that I would want to see something happen to somehow to.
Keep that house and incorporate something new that complements it and still gets your project
to some sort of completion where where everyone is happy. I mean, have you thought about that at all? We have. It's not off the table. It's not. It's
not off the table. It's not off the table. Right. Yeah. We haven't generated the design. Well because we really wanted the input that we had here from the again, I can't speak for
the board or anybody else here, but you did ask and I personally would be open to seeing a project, working on
that empty lot, but retaining the house. But that's just my opinion, I agree. I don't I
don't have anything else to say. I don't know if anybody else does. Do you do you want to throw anything else? I mean, this is a discussion. We got
time. So but I, I'm interested in what Anita has. Apparently have a lot of information at
all. At this. So so would you, would you consider kind of changing course a little bit and, and try to try to work
that out somehow to, to keep that house. Absolutely. Yes. Well, I'm, I'm sure the board would be totally open to seeing
something like that. That kind of project. Again, there's no voting going on tonight. This is just people's opinion. And I
have absolutely nothing against Hepa. I think you're a wonderful organization. So don't misunderstand. We're we're here to look at the the
buildings. I'm sorry. I, I go there on Friday nights. I don't know, do we have anything else
to say or does anybody have any other comments? I think it's been great. Even though we started late. Yeah, and I
apologize. So did you get enough out of this? I think so, yeah. And thank you for hearing us tonight. It was a good presentation. We'll reconvene
and we'll be back with more information. Something that you'll you'll set that with with Carolyn. Okay. There was
another comment back there.
Right, Anita. Okay. Very
important. Absolutely. We're not even there. We're not even.
And. Well, we assume at this committee we assume that the city has looked at ordinances and all of that. We don't we
this committee does not deal with ordinances.
Good point. Thank you. Thanks. Okay. Any more discussion on this? Thank
you. Okay. Thank you. We're going to move on then to our next item. Thanks for for what
you did. See what's next. Okay. Number seven board and staff comments Carolyn anything you want to throw out I don't have any further comments. Okay.
What about you guys. Hear any questions or anything? Okay, I have a question I always. The
board is five people or is it six? Yes. It's five people with an alternate. Yes. We do need board members. I believe we
just lost Bill. We lost Michelle last year. Yes. Now I do believe there is an active there is an active application in right now. So hopefully we
will be getting one new board member soon. But yes, we need board members. So we do. And is
there a way to maybe put something in the paper or just to let people know that? I believe we we do advertise that
we are looking. And I think one of the best ways to to do that is for for you guys to reach out to, you know, citizens, your neighbors, people you know,
that are that are interested in protecting our heritage. All right. Good. Thank you. All right. If there's no more
comments, we will adjourn at 807. Thank you everyone.