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Board approves Tarpon Registry two‑story mixed‑use building, requires revised Court Street door specs
Summary
The Heritage Preservation Board approved a two‑story, 30‑foot mixed‑use building at 144 E. Tarpon Ave. but required the applicant to return with an alternative/spec sheet for a 10×10 foot Court Street roll‑up door and to incorporate the historic marble name/date block into the project design.
The Tarpon Springs Heritage Preservation Board voted July 10 to approve a certificate of appropriateness for the Tarpon Registry, a two‑story, mixed‑use building proposed for 144 East Tarpon Avenue, subject to conditions requiring the applicant to return with an alternative specification for a Court Street roll‑up door and to incorporate the property’s historic marble name and date block into the design.
City planner Caroline Lamford described the vacant lot and the project: the proposed building would be two stories, 30 feet tall, and 50 feet wide; staff recommended approval with conditions including a landscaping plan and a three‑year certificate expiration if no building permit is obtained.
Developer Joe Harrington said the design preserves the site’s historic rhythm without recreating the lost original and includes a courtyard that provides light for hotel rooms and an indoor event space. Harrington said the project team intends to incorporate the recovered marble face block as an artwork element and will provide a mural that references Tarpon Springs history.
Board concerns centered on façade details and service access. Members asked that second‑floor openings be refined (kick plates and shorter glazed units rather than floor‑to‑ceiling glass), recommended a shed roof or comparable element to align with neighboring two‑story facades, and objected to the visual effect of a plain industrial roll‑up door on Court Street. The applicant said the Court Street opening was intended for deliveries and service, and proposed a 10‑by‑10‑foot insulated overhead door; the board approved the project on condition that the applicant return with alternative materials or a specification for the door so the board may approve the final detail.
The amended motion — approving the project while requiring the door alternative return to the board for approval and requesting the historic marble block be incorporated into the building or courtyard — carried with a majority vote. Staff said a conditional certificate of appropriateness will be issued and that the applicant may provide door cut sheets to staff for a quick follow‑up review before the August meeting if necessary.
Board members asked the applicant to continue working with staff on the door detail, second‑floor window treatment and, where feasible, material finishes to ensure the building is sensitive to the Tarpon Avenue streetscape.
