The city of Tampa received a welcome present of sorts earlier today when the Two Red Roses Foundation based out of Palm Harbor proposed building a brand-new, multimillion dollar museum on the grounds of Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.
The proposed $31 million American Craftsman Museum would play host to an eclectic assortment of objects and artifacts from the early 1900's American Arts and Crafts movement owned by the nonprofit foundation's founder Rudy Ciccarello.
Back in August, the city requested proposals for a new museum and restaurant in the Downtown Tampa park area and Two Red Roses was the only organization to submit a bid.
The Foundation submitted a 42-page proposal to city of Tampa officials outlining their plan which includes the construction and operation of the museum as well as an upscale restaurant inside the building. All they need is public funding in the form of $1 million per year for five years.
The proposal states that the museum and restaurant would be housed inside a 75,000 square foot structure built on a narrow strip of land extending from Ashley Drive down to the Hillsborough River. It would be located across the park from the Glazer Children's Museum and the Tampa Museum of Art where the park's restrooms and office are currently housed.
Two Red Roses Foundation officials hope construction will begin in mid-2013 and finish by spring of 2015. We'll keep you posted as more news arises regarding the new museum at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.
