After a year of working on negotiating for the old Badcock Furniture store on 7th Ave, a new sparkling gem has now appeared. The New Metro Wellness and Community Centers cut a huge Good Luck Ribbon on its opening ceremony with outgoing Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio. This is one of the last events Mayor Pam Iorio will be doing before leaving office this Thursday. The old Historic San Souci Building is now known as the areas new GLBT Center for Tampa. The restored 2 story white brick building has a variety of community services for HIV testing/treatment, mental health, substance abuse, minority counseling and many new forthcoming programs. Already on the first floor is Bio Script Pharmacy and coming soon a new USF medical clinic.

    “This is really amazing! Private sector and city government working together.” Mayor Pam Iorio explained.

The building received city YCDC Facade Improvement grants and Interstate I-4 grants.

    A welcome greeting social of the new tenants with the GaYBOR, Ybor City community businesses and government leaders was held. Tours of the new center were given. Along with special guests speakers were Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, Metro Wellness Exec Dir Lorraine Langlois, YCDC Mgr Vince Pardo, Mark Huey– Tampa Economic & Urban Development Dir, Dennis Fernandez– Tampa Historical Preservation and Urban Mgr, Joe Capitano, Sr and Alan Kahana  co-owners of the historical San Souci Building and other city officials, GaYBOR members and local business neighbors.

    “This is a great time for getting involved in Ybor City.” said GaYBOR President Carrie West. ” This is one of many projects we are proud to be an integral part of and Tampa is noticing the new positive and progressive changes in historic Ybor City.”

 

* Carrie West is a Barrio Latino Commissioner, YCDC Board member, “Dishing with Mark & Carrie” columnist and local business owner in Ybor City.