Tampa Filed for Landmark Status of Mirasol Building

City staff moved to protect the 100-year-old apartment complex after the owners filed for a demolition permit last week.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Apartments

Screen-print poster illustration of a historic Mediterranean apartment facade with arched windows and terracotta roof tiles, representing urban preservation. — Tampa city officials filed an emergency landmark application this week to block the demolition of the 100-year-old Mirasol apartment complex. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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City officials in Tampa have filed for emergency landmark designation for the historic Mirasol building located at 84 Davis Blvd. The move aims to block a demolition request submitted by the property owners following a rejected hotel conversion plan.

Why it matters

The filing attempts to halt the destruction of a century-old residential property that currently provides 58 apartment units. Property owners Frank and Lindsey Carriera argue that the current residential operation is no longer financially viable.

The 100-year-old building houses 58 apartments and sits on Davis Islands. Opposition to the redevelopment has been significant, with more than 250 residents signing petitions or submitting letters against the hotel conversion.

The players

Frank and Lindsey Carriera

They are the current owners of the Mirasol building who have sought to demolish the structure.

Tampa City Council

This local legislative body holds the authority to approve zoning amendments and redevelopment proposals.

Historic Preservation Commission

This municipal agency reviews applications to protect historically significant buildings from demolition.

The details

The Tampa City Council previously denied the redevelopment proposal and voted 5-2 against a necessary comprehensive plan amendment in January 2026. The Historic Preservation Commission is now tasked with reviewing the emergency application to potentially stay the owners' recent request to tear the structure down.

The building was constructed as a hotel during the 1920s.
The site was converted into an apartment building in the 1960s.
Frank and Lindsey Carriera purchased the property in 2021.
The Tampa City Council rejected the hotel redevelopment plan in January 2026.
City staff applied for landmark designation on October 5, 2026.

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Culture Shift

This dispute reflects a growing tension in urban centers between the preservation of historical 1920s architecture and the pressure to convert aging apartment stock into high-density commercial hotel space. It mirrors broader conflicts across Florida cities regarding how municipalities can mandate affordable housing retention through historic designations.

The outcome of this process will determine whether the 58 current apartment units are preserved or cleared for new construction. Residents in the Davis Islands area should monitor upcoming commission hearings to understand how this decision might influence local housing availability.

The takeaway

The city's intervention highlights the challenges property owners face when trying to pivot aging residential assets toward different commercial uses. Residents interested in neighborhood preservation can track upcoming commission meetings to see how the city balances development goals with historical site protection.