For years, attempts to revive the historic Fort Homer Westerly Armory in West Tampa became a fruitless endeavor — but that finally changed two years ago, when the Tampa Jewish Community Center and Federation realized that the 100,000-square-foot space located on North Howard Avenue just south of I-275 could fulfill its needs to have a presence further South of Tampa from their current spot on Gunn Highway.
So in October of 2013, the JCC signed a 99-year lease for the building, with an option to buy at anytime in that period for a fixed price. They announced early last year that they would be embarking on a $26 million capital campaign for an ambitious event center, and with over $19 million of those funds now collected, they held a groundbreaking ceremony for the structure today. That included announcing the facility’s new name, the Bryan Glazer Family JCC, in honor of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers co-chairman who has pledged $4 million for the project.
Construction crews have been renovating the new JCC since late last year, and it’s expected to open in September of 2016. It will include a visual arts center, a premier events center, an outdoor aquatics facility, an indoor track, a multi-sport gymnasium and an Innovation Center for Israeli start-up companies networking with U.S. representatives. “It’s like a YMCA on cultural and educational steroids,” said Jack Ross, JCC executive director.
Local officials hope a byproduct once the community center opens is to provide a vital shot in the arm for an area of town that hasn’t prospered in a very long time.
“When I think of what West Tampa’s going to look like over the next five years, the transformation begins right here on Howard Avenue,” said Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, whose ambitions for years have included revitalizing the area west of the Hillsborough River.
Speakers at today’s event frequently mentioned the historic nature of the facility, a place where Elvis Presley, James Brown and Pink Floyd and the Doors all performed, and where the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and John F. Kennedy gave speeches.
“It does have a colorful history, but the truth is it sat vacant far too long,” admitted Tampa Bay area Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor. She said that West Tampa has always “kind of been stuck,” in the same economic position, and compared it unfavorably to downtown Tampa, Westshore, even Carrollwood. “We thank you, JCC Federation,” she said. “Because you are going to be the linchpin, the future of West Tampa and this entire community.”
The project is being funded by public and private sources, including a $6 million grant from the state of Florida. Tampa-based Republican state Reps. Jeff Brandes and Dana Young were invited to be part of the ceremony for their work in gathering those funds.
“Senator Brandes and I walked the halls of Tallahassee looking for funding,” Young mused to the audience of local community officials, lawmakers and members of the Jewish community who have financially contributed to the project. “Finally we can have an event center that’s not A la Carte Pavilion,” she said, referring to the event hall located in northwest Tampa that is frequently used for major events.
There has been a Jewish Community Center located off Gunn Highway for years in Tampa. Executive Director Jack Ross admits that there are some people in South Tampa who find it difficult to visit that site.
“Some folks don’t recreate north of I-275,” he said. “And so the idea is that… we feel we are geographically triangulated in such a way that we’re relevant to the broadest spectrum possible.”
“I live here and we want to be a very active part of the community,” said Glazer after the ceremony. “This is for the entire community, not just the Jewish community.” It’s the second facility to have the Glazers’ name attached to it. In 2007, the Glazer Family Foundation gave $5 million for what ultimately resulted in the Glazer Children’s Museum, which adjoins the Tampa Museum of Art off of Ashley Drive in downtown Tampa.
