The City Council approved on first reading a historic preservation ad‑valorem tax exemption application for a two‑building commercial rehabilitation at 2234 East 7th Avenue in the Ybor City Historic District.

Heather Bonds, the city’s historic‑preservation specialist, presented the Barrio Latino Commission’s favorable recommendation and showed before‑and‑after photos of the two brick buildings (one built around 1910 and the other 1926). The applicant, Ybor Nucio LLC, rehabilitated storefronts, restored historically appropriate windows and awnings, and returned several interior finishes to historically appropriate materials on the second floor. The commission concluded the project met the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and recommended the exemption.

Councilman Metascocko moved the ordinance for first reading, the motion was seconded and the item passed on first reading by voice vote.

Why it matters: The local tax exemption is a commonly used municipal incentive to encourage historic rehabilitation and to leverage private investment in preservation districts. The project will be considered again at the second reading scheduled for Dec. 4, 2025; staff will notify the county property appraiser per standard practice.