Historic Lakeland, Inc.

David and Jean Bunch Dedicate New Offices

On Thursday, October 4, David and Jean Bunch dedicated their new office located at 415 South Kentucky Avenue in downtown Lakeland. The office is located in the newly restored “English” house, which was originally constructed in 1909. It is one of the last original frame residences which still exist in the downtown area. Renovations began in 2006. Great care was taken in preserving the original character of the house. The Bunch’s have long been involved in historic preservation in Lakeland. The event was well attended and highlighted by a ribbon cutting by Mayor Buddy Fletcher and Chamber of Commerce Chairman Paul Noris. Jean and David should be very proud of their outstanding new office and their continuing efforts in historic preservation in Lakeland. They have also made their conference room available as the new meeting location for Historic Lakeland. Thank You!

You're Invited!

The annual meeting of Historic Lakeland is scheduled for Monday, November 12, 2007 at the Garden Bistro in Lakeland. The meeting will begin at 5:30 pm. The Garden Bistro is located in the basement of the historic Magnolia Building, which is located in Lake Mirror Park. There will be a program on the history of the Lake Mirror Promenade. Mr. Bill Tinsley, the City of Lakeland’s Director of Parks and Recreation, will also speak on the improvements currently under way in the Park. Light refreshments will be served. The meeting is open to any current member of HLI and those interested in joining. We look forward to seeing you there.

Historic Preservation ALERT

Historic Lakeland Incorporated urges the City of Lakeland to begin the restoration of the Old Federal Building located at 124 South Tennessee Avenue as soon as possible. This restoration should be historically sensitive, restoring the building as closely as possible to its original state. The Federal Building played a key role in the development of the downtown and the City as a whole. Construction of the building was started in 1917, some 90 years ago. The building was nearly doubled in size in 1929/30. It served as Lakeland’s central Post Office until 1964, when the main operation relocated to Lake Wire. It continued as a branch until 1972. From that year, it housed a variety of U. S. Government operations, including the offices of then Senator Lawton Chiles, later Florida’s Governor. It is architecturally unique, being one of the only original Georgian Revival style structures in the community. Its Doric columns, fanlight transoms, brick walls with stone trim, and balustraded roofline all add strong character to the structure.

As the owner of the building, it is clearly the City’s responsibility to restore this architecturally and historically significant structure. Historic Lakeland is very concerned about the lack of progress in even maintaining the building. Blue tarps have been on the roof for months and the balusters along the roof and the windows continue to deteriorate. Benign neglect only adds to the ultimate cost of restoration. The interior has suffered from years of unsympathetic renovations. Any restoration project would appropriately return the public areas of the building to their original high ceilings and wainscoting.

Historic Lakeland deeply appreciates all the City has done to preserve a variety of historic structures in our community. Lakeland would not the outstanding city it is if we had not worked together to interweave the old with the new, maintaining a sense of place for our community. If you share our concern, please let your City Commissioner know. We all need to work together to save this architectural gem.

The following photos show the building exterior as it appeared in the Teens and Twenties. The other two views show the interior while functioning as the City’s central Post Office.

Historic Preservation Awards 2006 on May 14, 2007

Historic Lakeland Inc. and the City of Lakeland Historic Preservation Board held their annual Preservation Awards meeting on Monday May 14th at 5:30 pm. The meeting was held at the Junior League of Greater Lakeland Building (The Sorosis Building at 90 Lake Morton Drive).

The Awards honor owners of residential and commercial structures restored or rehabilitated in calendar year 2006. Urban Design Awards are presented to owners of new structures that are designed to fit in the historic fabric.

Tampa Tribune Article "From Our Town to Boomtown" Promotes Development in Polk County

Check out this Tampa Tribune article written by Bill Townsend about development in the County.

http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBKPGUPIWE.html

President Todd Christian, Other Incumbent Officers Agree to Serve HLI One More Year

The current leadership of Historic Lakeland, Inc. will remain intact for at least one more year, after President Todd Christian and all other incumbent officers were returned to office by acclamation during HLI's 2006 annual meeting in the Garden Bistro.

"I look forward to continuing to serve this wonderful organization (Historic Lakeland, Inc.) as president in the coming year," Christian said. "I pledge to work closely with all of our other officers and directors, as well as the general membership to keep historic preservation in the forefront in the City of Lakeland."

Other officers who will continue serving HLI through 2007 are Joyce Brennan, president elect; William Hatten, treasurer and Roger Haar, recording secretary. Jim Malless also remains in the post of immediate past president.

While all of the incumbent officers are returning for another year of duty, three members of the board of directors whose terms expired this year – Ruth E. Gardner, George Ross and David Rubin -- will step aside, to be replaced by Ann Hilliard, Trisha Shelden and Irbye Giddens. The latter is a former president of HLI.

"We thank Ruth E., George and David for their past service to HLI as directors and welcome Ann, Trisha and Irbye as our new directors," said Malless, who presented the slate of officers in his role as nominating committee chair.

In his new term as president, Christian pledged to continue keeping HLI active in Lakeland community affairs and to reach out to other nearby communities that may need assistance with historic preservation initiatives.