Tampa Bay Times won't return to its historic building damaged by hurricane
After 100 years of phones ringing and journalists buzzing through the halls of the building at 490 First Ave. S in downtown St. Petersburg, the Tampa Bay Times is relocating out of its historic home.
Conan Gallaty, chairperson and CEO of Times Publishing Co., announced the update to staff Thursday at a company-wide meeting.
The employees of the Times, including its reporters, editors, photojournalists, executives and advertising staff have all been working from home and other remote locations since Hurricane Milton sent a crane crashing through multiple floors in October, leaving behind concrete rubble and a gaping hole that remains open to the elements. Since then, the offices have been uninhabitable because of structural and mold concerns.
Despite the destruction, the future of the Times' headquarters was still unclear until this week as the company navigated the obligations of its lease. The Times was one tenant in the building, along with a defense contractor, a law firm and a juice shop.
'The destruction of our historic home is a terrible loss,' Gallaty said. 'For a century, those halls and offices were filled with the best local reporters, photographers and editors in the country. However, this certainty allows us to plan our next chapter. Our great journalism will continue, driven by a resilient and adaptable team.'
Gallaty declined to say how ending the lease would impact the news organization's finances. The company offered buyouts last summer to reduce its staff by 20%, caused largely by uncertainty in the news media industry that has persisted since the internet disrupted its advertising model. But Gallaty said leaders are looking for a new space.
Whether the company will be able to retrieve the contents of the destroyed newsroom, including copies of its 14 Pulitzer Prizes, remains unclear. For most of the last six months, the building owner has not allowed tenants into the building.
A spokesperson for Lincoln Property, which manages the property, did not respond to a voicemail seeking comment. Neither did Robert Mason, an Atlanta-based real estate investor who is listed on business records for the LLC that owns the building. The owners have not indicated publicly if they plan to restore the former home of the Times or tear it down.
The crane that plunged 550 feet on the night of Milton's landfall was part of a massive construction project across the street erecting the highest tower in the city, called The Residences at 400 Central.
Shortly after Milton, a Times investigation revealed that Florida has no laws on crane safety. In fact, state lawmakers have barred local government from passing crane regulations themselves, at the urging of construction lobbyists.
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