Jackson House Suffers Partial Collapse Weeks After $1M Grant Approval by Tampa City Council

A section of Tampa's historic Jackson House partially collapsed on September 7, less than three weeks after the Tampa City Council approved a $1 million grant for construction materials for the property. This marks the second collapse for the landmark, following another section falling last summer.

The recent damage left a section of the building on Zack Street wide open. Dr. Carolyn Collins, chair of the Jackson House Foundation, which owns the property, confirmed that most of the collapse in the affected area had happened last week, not all at once during the holiday weekend. The Foundation recently signed a restoration contract for the property.

Built in 1901, the Jackson House served as a vital boarding house for African American travelers during the Jim Crow era, providing lodging when other options were limited. Notable figures such as James Brown, Ray Charles, and Ella Fitzgerald stayed there. The boarding house remained open until 1989.

The full restoration project carries an estimated cost of $4 million and is expected to take up to two years to complete. Complications involving contractors, FEMA, and other issues have contributed to repeated delays in the restoration efforts.

Tampa City Council Chair Alan Clendenin voted against the $1 million grant, stating that the incident should have been prevented. Councilman Bill Carlson has advocated for city involvement in stabilizing the property, having pushed multiple times for the city to become involved.

The Jackson House Foundation continues its work toward the full restoration of this significant historical site.