Tampa's Jackson House Partially Collapses Weeks After $1M Restoration Grant Approval

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. The damage left a wide-open section, creating a view straight through the building.

This marks the second collapse for the downtown Tampa landmark on Zack Street, following another section falling last summer. The recent damage occurred over the holiday weekend, though Dr. Carolyn Collins, Chair of the Jackson House Foundation, stated that most of the collapse in the affected area happened over the week leading up to the holiday, not all at once.

The Jackson House, built in 1901, served as a boarding house for African American travelers during segregation, hosting famous musicians like James Brown, Ray Charles, and Ella Fitzgerald. It remained open until 1989. The Jackson House Foundation owns the property and has worked for years toward its restoration. The restoration contract has now been signed.

The proposed 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 getting the work done.

Tampa City Council Chair Alan Clendenin, who was one of two council members to vote against the $1 million grant, expressed that the collapse did not surprise him. “Unfortunately, it did not surprise me,” Clendenin said, adding, “All of this should have been prevented.” Councilman Bill Carlson has pushed multiple times for the city to become involved in stabilizing the property.