Bomb Squad Finds a New Home in Rebuilding Neighborhood

A crucial part of the Tampa Police Department received a new home Wednesday afternoon, while a neighborhood seeking revitalization welcomed a new neighbor.

Fire Station No. 2 on Columbus Avenue closed in 2000 after more than 75 years of serving the Vicente Martinez Ybor neighborhood, and it's sat empty since. Now it is a revamped Bomb Operations Center for the Tampa Bomb Squad and a new two-stall stable for the Mounted Patrol Unit horses that serve the streets of Ybor City on weekend nights.

"It really says a lot about this community to see the way people and businesses came around this project, rolled up their sleeves and pulled in the same direction," Tampa Chief of Police Jane Castor said. "We couldn't have done this without everyone who partnered with us. Maybe this is the spark that this neighborhood needs to get moving in the positive direction that so many people are working hard to take it in."

Empty buildings pose the danger of harboring less-than-reputable characters while doing nothing for the surrounding property values and neighborhood ambiance. V.M. Ybor Neighborhood Association president Kim Headland was on hand Wednesday to welcome the Bomb Squad and express her relief that the building is reopened and revitalized.

"There is no better neighbor than the police," Headland said. "We hope that this can be a catalyst for development in this area and show people that this is a good area to be in. Most importantly the building will be occupied, and by the police no less."

Local businesses chipped in to raise the funds for the renovations, which the city estimates was 99 percent paid for by contributions. Nineteen local businesses in all chipped in funds. Roto Rooter refurbished the building's plumbing, while companies such as The Lighting Company, Electric Supply Inc. and Ikea all contributed their expertise.

"We're known as the life improvement company, and this project tied into what we're all about since this is the Bomb Squad's home," Ikea store manager Monica Varela said. "We worked with them to design rooms that would meet their needs and be functional. This was a unique project for us because it's the first time we've partnered with the city, but it really carried the right values and allowed us to make an impact in the neighborhood where we're located."

The building includes a full kitchen, dining area, meeting rooms, ample storage space, training area and horse stables in the back that will serve as resting areas for the Mounted Patrol horses.

For the bomb squad members, having a facility to call home is something that many of them never imagined. Sergeant Jarrett Seal greeted the crowd and was the master of ceremonies for the afternoon as TPD and the City of Tampa thanked the businesses and individuals who made the project possible.

"We only had a warehouse to park our trucks in before," Seal said. "We now have a first-class training facility for the classroom work that we need to do keep up with the current technology. We have training for everything from explosives in a car to underwater explosions. To have a place to call home now where we can do this work is really beyond words.