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Lakeland preservation board flags at‑risk downtown buildings, schedules resurvey workshop
Summary
The Historic Preservation Board added 701 North Florida Ave. and other structures to a watch list after learning a buyer intends to demolish the circa‑1925 property, and staff reported field work is complete for a 1,112‑property resurvey; the board set a workshop for March 27 to review candidate neighborhoods.
The Historic Preservation Board on Feb. 27 was told a realtor’s client intends to demolish the circa‑1925 Traders Furniture building at 701 North Florida Ave., and members agreed to add the property to a board watch list while staff alerts preservation partners.
Staff (referred to in the transcript as Miss Foster) told the board she had received an email from a realtor saying the client intends to demolish the building; she said the property is not in a local historic district or otherwise designated. Board members described the building’s Mediterranean‑revival features, reported visible roof leaks and interior damage, and said the purchase contract had not been finalized.
Board members debated enforcement options and noted limits on the HPB’s authority. Several members said roof leaks, termite damage and other maintenance problems are primarily code‑enforcement matters, and that the city’s legal tools to force preservation are limited without a formal designation. Miss Foster said the HPB can serve as an early warning system and agreed to notify Historic Lakeland, Inc. and code enforcement staff to monitor the property.
Staff also updated the board on a citywide resurvey: consultant Ardura completed field work the prior week, documenting roughly 1,112 properties and beginning conversion to Florida master site file forms. Staff said a draft report is expected in June and that they will provide frequent status updates to the board.
Board members pressed for more granular outputs from the resurvey — not just neighborhood summaries but per‑property listings and supporting site files — so the HPB can flag individual properties that should not be designated as “contributing” without review. Several members proposed a workshop or subcommittee to vet properties and avoid surprises during future votes.
The board discussed overlaps with a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) redevelopment study of Midtown and Downtown, and staff said HPB and CRA will coordinate to avoid duplicative surveys. The board set a workshop for March 27, 2025, to review candidate neighborhoods and strategy; members discussed public‑meeting notice and Sunshine Law implications and agreed the session will be publicly noticed as required.
The meeting closed the HPB portion after welcoming returning member Cesar Perez and recommending Jason Hill for the Design Review Committee.
