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Dental Company Closer To Move

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By JOSE PATINO GIRONA, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 17, 2007

WEST TAMPA - A cigar factory built in 1904 is closer to becoming the corporate headquarters for a dental management company.

The city council voted last week to approve the rezoning of the former factory, 1202 N. Howard Ave. The council also approved parking on nearby lots. A second and final vote is set for 9:30 a.m. Dec. 6 at city hall, 315 E. Kennedy Blvd.
Intelident Solutions wants to relocate its estimated 100 employees from leased space on Rocky Point Drive after it rehabilitates the 34,000-square-foot building. Restoring the vacant factory could take 12 to 18 months.

The cigar factory was built for the Samuel I. Davis Co. and was purchased by Balbin Bros. Co. in 1910. Five years later, the Tampa-Cuba Cigar Factory bought Balbin Bros.

In the 1930s, the DeSoto Brewery briefly operated there, and from 1937 to 1976 it was the home of Empire Mercantile, which operated 24 Fremac's clothing stores.
Intelident Solutions bought the factory in January 2006 from North Hyde Park Lofts for $1.5 million, property records show. Intelident, which owns Tampa-based Coast Dental Services, was formed in 2005 to turn Coast Dental into a private company.

Intelident is an investor in Heritage Square at the Armory, which is negotiating to redevelop the 10-acre Fort Homer Hesterly Armory property, 522 N. Howard Ave. The more than $90 million proposal includes a 300-room hotel, a day spa, art studios, a farmers market, shops, restaurants and a park.

Reporter Jose Patino Girona can be reached at (813) 835-2110 or jpatino@tampatrib.com.

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