Seminole Heights Historic Rehabilitations Get Grant Funds

SEMINOLE HEIGHTS, FL — The latest group of Hillsborough County Historic Preservation Challenge Grant awardees includes several properties in Tampa's Seminole Heights Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also a locally designated historic district.

First developed in 1911, Seminole Heights is considered one of Tampa's oldest and most stable residential areas, according to the Greater Seminole Heights Vision Plan. After going through booms and busts over the years, the area has again attracted young professionals, families and artists, who are very active in the community.

One HCPG award was for a group of commercial buildings located at 407-411 E. Hanna Ave. and 6108-6116 N. Central Ave., on the southwest corner of Hanna and Central avenues. The matching grant funds will go toward replacing the roofs of these historic commercial buildings, which are home to several retail businesses. New roofs will bring stability to the structures by preserving the envelope of the buildings.

The other awarded property was the Seminole Heights United Methodist Church, located across the street at 511 E. Hanna Ave. The matching grant funds will support rehabilitation activities that include window restoration and the cleaning, preservation, restoration and refinishing of exterior building components. The church, completed in 1928 and the center for many community groups and events, is one of the most significant historic structures in Seminole Heights.

Since the Historic Preservation Challenge Grant Program began in 2011, Hillsborough County has awarded $9.3 million to more than 100 projects to promote historic preservation, heritage tourism and economic development in Hillsborough County.

Funds are awarded to selected applicants on a minimum of a one-to-one matching basis. Projects eligible for funding must be located in Hillsborough County (incorporated or unincorporated) and fall within one or more of the following non-residential project types: rehabilitation or restoration of historic structures, compatible additions to historic properties, improvements to historic sites or grounds, and heritage tourism projects.