Burg Bits: “Cheese Grater” Building, James Museum Vision Revealed

Cheese Grater Building's Fate

This week, Saint Petersburg Preservation and City Council Members came to an agreement on the demolition of Pheil Hotel and Central National Bank buildings at the corner of Central Avenue and 4th Street. Their "cheese grater" -aluminum grate facade — exterior has made the buildings focal points downtown since the 1960s. 

"The City is committed to initiating an ordinance change within 90 days that will disallow demolition exemptions for these properties, prior to site plan approval and submission of a complete application for building permits. In addition to the amendment, the City will provide an analysis on the appropriateness of including additional buildings for protection within the DC zoning districts," wrote Mayor Rick Kriseman in a Facebook post on June 16. He continued, "It is time to move forward, allow for the restoration or demolition of the buildings on the 400 block, and work with St. Petersburg Preservation to protect what makes the Sunshine City special."

Derek Kilborn, the City’s Manager of Urban Planning and Historic Preservation, added, “The City is committed to supporting historic preservation and heritage tourism. This agreement identifies collaborative opportunities that will help expand our current programming and successes.” 

Tom and Mary James Art Gallery Slated for 2017 Opening 

"It’s difficult to create something that will evoke memories of where you were, what you saw, what you thought. I found art had a way of doing that." Tom James

The Tom and Mary James/Raymond James Art Collection is one of the largest private collections in the state of Florida. On June 15, they further explained their vision for the collection's new home downtown. The collection contains over 2,400 pieces — most housed at the Raymond James Headquarters in the Carillon area of St. Petersburg — and will soon relocate many of those pieces to the first two floors of the Universal Healthcare Building downtown at 100 Central Avenue. Tom and Mary are funding this project with their own money. 

Council members unanimously approved a five decade long lease on the property for The James Museum. With this huge new art collection arriving within the next two years, and the addition of the Museum of the Modern American Arts and Crafts Movement — slated to be the largest museum in Tampa Bay — soon to follow, the arts have never been more alive in this city. 

The collection began in the 50s featuring mostly Florida artists. After a trip to New Mexico and Colorado in the late 80s James began collection Western and Southwestern art. The collection now features works by Earl Bliss, Gienna Goodacre, Allan Houser, Dave McGary, Dan Namingha and members of the Cowboy Artists of America. Nearly a quarter of the collection is comprised of wildlife art works. Learn more about the forthcoming museum on The James Museum's website.