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ITALIAN CLUB CLINIC ANNEX
Toward the end of the 1990's the Italian Club
began the process of restoring the Club’s 1906 Italian Club Annex
Building located
adjacent to our historic clubhouse by seeking preservation grants and matching
funds. The Clinic Annex building was built in 1906 and pre-dates
the Clubhouse by twelve years.
The initial work included a forensic structural
analysis of the structure, architectural drawings, which included the
installation of a new elevator, renovating two restrooms (ADA compliant), the
removal of all exposed cabling and concealing all new wiring, plus install a
WI-FI system and the addition of egress stairs. One of the major projects
was to return to the building the original styled street balcony. The
reconstructed front balcony was designed from historic photographs and locating
some remaining wall connections. Other projects include the replacement of
all exterior HVAC units and reengineering the mechanical system to tie into the
Club's central cooling units. These projects have been financed in
part with historic preservation grant assistance provided by the Bureau
of Historic Preservation, Division of Historical Resources, Florida
Department of State, assisted by the Historic Preservation Advisory Council.
The last project completed was the reconstruction
of the original skylight over the room to the current Board of Directors.
The originally the skylight played an integral part in the function of the
Club's clinic and pharmacy, but after 100 years the glazing and louvered vents
introduced too much water into the building which was difficult to control. The
reconstructed skylight echoes the original design, but provides the building
with a hurricane impact, insulated, low-e glazing on the skylight.
For over 100 years this building
has provided an important roll to the Club and to Ybor City as a location
for the first Italian Club medical clinic, a community pharmacy, Ybor City's public
library plus the building has housed many retail and restaurants on the first
floor over the
years. Under the Club's current leadership the Club has shown a commitment
to the preservation and restoration of a historical landmark for all that visit
can enjoy.
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