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Restaurant Proposal OK'd

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By KATHY STEELE

ksteele@tampatrib.com

Published: December 10, 2008

TAMPA - City council members have made it official: The proposed Sangria's Tapas Bar & Restaurant can join Starbucks as a commercial anchor on the Hillsborough Avenue gateway to historical Seminole Heights.

With no discussion and by unanimous vote, council members Thursday gave their final approval to rezone the property to allow the restaurant. They also approved closing a portion of Mohawk Avenue and an alleyway.

Co-owner John Obediente last week said he can apply for construction permits after a seven-day wait. In addition to Sangria's, Obediente's company - Historic 512 - plans to open LeRoy's Gastro Pub, Myoumi Sushi Bar and leasable retail space, possibly this spring.

The restaurants and retail space will be built on the site of the former LeRoy's 4x4 Auto Service, 512 E. Hillsborough Ave, which is in the Seminole Heights' historic district. The Architectural Review Commission gave its final approval to the site's mid-century modern design Dec.1.

Sangria's owners bought the auto repair shop last year after losing their South Howard Avenue location in a landlord dispute.

The council this year granted a one-year conditional license at the site for liquor, wine and beer sales.

Plans call for the three restaurants to have a total of fewer than 200 seats. Space between the proposed complex and Starbucks next door would become a walkway.

The building's style will reflect the repair shop's 1960s design. A canopy area at the front of the shop will become a glass enclosure. Parts of the facade will mimic "patterns and rhythms" of the shop's garage bay doors, creating what architect Roger Grunke called a "busy staccato."

"We're trying to give recognition to a building that is 41 years old," he said.

It also will be eco-friendly and meet standards of a nationally recognized rating system that allocates points for features such as landscaping and low-energy lighting.

Lights at the complex will point downward to reduce light pollution, Grunke said.

Among the project's options is a white metal roof or a more expensive "living" roof, with vegetation planted on part of it to lower energy costs.

"This would be sort of a gutsy experiment, to say the least," Grunke said. "But I think it's well worth it."

The review commission approved the design but required the owners to work with Historic Preservation Commission staffers on items such as roof materials and signage.

Overall, commissioners seemed pleased with the project.

"I think it's a very innovative design," Julie Brown said.

Reporter Kathy Steele can be reached at (813) 259-7652.

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