How do you protect Tampa Bay’s historic gems from rising seas? Raise them up — carefully.
If approved by the City of Tampa, the owner of the unmistakable, pink-hued Villa de Leon apartment building on Davis Islands hopes to bring the National Register of Historic Places structure up at least seven ft, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal.
But how? Owners haven’t shared plans for how the 1925 building would be elevated, but we could look to some other projects for clues. Workers brought up one historic Charleston home — weighing 360 tons — via two unified jack systems, toe jacks, and crib jacks.
Or consider this local TBAY example: One historic Fourth Street home was moved to a new location in the Round Lake neighborhood — with the move coming in at an estimated price tag of $500,000.
The plans also include making the space underneath the complex into parking spaces, renovating the interiors, and adding an elevator.
