Tampa denied request to raise historic building flooded by Hurricane Helene

TAMPA ― The owner of a historic Davis Islands apartment building isn't directly saying "I told you so," but seems to be implying it.

In August, Tampa City Council denied the owner's request to raise the century-old Villa de Leon building seven feet by adding a parking garage under the three-story pink building. They said it was necessary to protect the 22-unit structure at 16 Davis Blvd. from storm flooding.

Davis Islands residents spoke out against the request, saying that the building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, was not threatened by flooding.

City Council voted in favor of the residents and against raising the building, which overturned an earlier city Variance Review Board decision to allow the garage.

Hurricane Helene struck weeks later. The building and much of Davis Islands flooded. They could see additional effects from approaching Hurricane Milton.

Even if it had been approved, the work would not have started yet.

But the owner, CLP Davis 16 LL (which, according to public records, is headed by Adam Schlesinger of West Palm Beach), is now renewing their request to raise the building.

"The devastation across Davis Islands is heartbreaking," Ben Dachepalli, attorney for the project and a Davis Islands resident, said in a prepared statement. "Protecting Villa de Leon is not just about maintaining a building — it's about preserving the legacy of Davis Islands and its place in Tampa's rich history. The storms are worsening, and we owe it to future generations to take action now before it's too late."

According to a media release, Villa de Leon was inundated with six feet of water, "leaving behind significant flood damage. The floodwaters from the bay swept in rapidly, carrying with them chemicals, sewage, and debris, resulting in contamination and a foul odor in the building."

The release also said flooring and drywall must be replaced and electrical and gas systems "running under the building were compromised, prompting the need to bring in engineers to assess the full extent of the damage and to ensure the building's safety going forward."

In their request to add the garage, the owner said doing so would ensure that electrical and mechanical systems were above the flood zone.

The development of Davis Islands by D.P. Davis began in 1924. The Villa de Leon, then named the Spanish Apartments and built in 1925 , was at the center of the Davis Islands marketing effort, with its picture featured in sales brochures and newspaper advertisements. It displayed the type of architecture that visitors would see throughout Davis Islands.

At the August City Council meeting, Davis Islands residents were concerned that a new 22-space garage would cause more water retention and add to neighborhood traffic. They also said that the fear of a flood was fabricated by the owners just to add the parking garage.

"We cannot afford to bury our heads in the sand any longer," Dachepalli said. "The city should be supporting and encouraging the elevation of vulnerable buildings rather than opposing such proactive measures."