Tampa commission finds Davis Islands house eligible for local landmark designation, agrees owners demonstrated economic hardship after 2024 storms

The City of Tampa Historic Preservation Commission on May 13 determined that 418 Blanca Avenue, a Mediterranean Revival house on Davis Islands listed in the National Register of Historic Places, meets the city’s local landmark criteria and that making it a local landmark would subject the owners to economic hardship because of extensive hurricane damage and the cost of required flood adaptation.

Staff presented the demolition review and landmark-eligibility analysis under City of Tampa code, and lawyers and experts for the owners described insurance claims, independent adjuster estimates and elevation costs. After public comment, the commission voted to confirm the administrator’s finding that the structure is of architectural significance, to recommend local landmark designation to City Council, and to grant the owners’ application that a designation would cause economic hardship.

Staff Historic Preservation Manager Dennis Fernandez told the commission the review is required by section 27-260 of the City of Tampa code for buildings 50 years or older; staff found the property individually eligible because it was listed in the National Register as part of the Mediterranean Revival…