CWNews
ARTISTS MUST VACATE TOP FLOORS OF CIGAR FACTORY
BYLINE: JUSTIN GEORGE, Times Staff Writer
Tampa.
St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
May 24, 2008 Saturday
A fire inspection has closed two floors of a historic West Tampa cigar factory that provides work space for about 20 artists because the building lacked proper fire exits.
Tampa Fire Marshal Todd Spear did allow Sense of Space, a music and art show, to go on at the West Tampa Center for the Arts Friday night, but limited the number of people on the upper floors of the 104-year-old building. He saidthe artists, photographers, engineers and others who work on those floors must be out within seven days. The first floor meets fire codes. But the third floor has no legal fire exits. The second floor needs another exit.
For a decade, artists have been working out of the Santaella Cigar Factory at 1906 N Armenia Ave., and have held several large events.
But
Wednesday, one of the building's owners discussed fire escape plans
with the Fire Marshal's Office, triggering an inspection on Thursday.
Center director Maida Millan said the building's owners had an
agreement with the former fire marshal allowing occupancy as long as
work started on fire escapes. Assistant fire marshal Jeff Brown said he
knew of no such deal.
