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Historic Central Park (The Scrub)

Originally organized in 1894 as the Ebenezer Baptist Church, the Greater Bethel Missionary Baptist Church building in 1949.

In 1954, much of The Scrub was razed and replaced by public housing. In 1967, a three day riot negatively impacted the Central Avenue business district. By the early 1970s, Central Avenue’s remaining buildings had been razed and replaced with a highway providing direct access from Interstate 275 to Downtown Tampa. Religious structures comprise the majority of the sites that predate urban renewal of the neighborhood.

International Longshoremen’s Local 1402 at 707 E Harrison St sits on the site of the former Central Hotel.

Built in 1913 at 510 E. Harrison Street, the historic St. Paul A.M.E. Church building has been restored into a clubhouse for the Metro 510 apartment complex next door. Metro 510 is a 120-unit affordable loft apartment building that was erected in 2011.

Oaklawn Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in Tampa. Established in 1850, the final resting place for many people of historical prominence, including Tampa’s first mayor Joseph B. Lancaster and mafia boss Charlie Wall. Known as “The Dean of The Underworld”, Wall was murdered at his home in 1955 after surviving several prior mob hits.

Now closed, the Paradise Missionary Baptist Church was originally built in the early 20th century as the Allen Temple A.M.E. Church.

The St. Peter Claver School was established for African-American children in 1893. The oldest buildings at the existing campus were completed in 1929.

St. Peter Claver was established in 1893. The Catholic congregation’s current structure on Nebraska Avenue was dedicated on June 8, 1969.

The Ebenezer Missionary Baptist building dates back to 1922 when it was completed for Tampa’s first African-American Seventh-Day Adventist congregation.

Mt. Moriah Primitive Baptist Church is located at the SE corner of Nebraska Avenue and Scott Street.

Located near the intersection of Scott Street and Nebraska Avenue, these may be representative of the last two single family dwellings in The Scrub.

East Cass Street serves as a major connection between Central Park, Ybor City, Downtown Tampa and Interstate 4. In recent years, a lane elimination project reduced the number of travel lanes dedicated to automobiles for the installation of a two-way cycle track.

Located directly on the opposite side of the railroad tracks, Tampa Union Station opened on May 15, 1912. It originally combined passenger operations for the Atlantic Coast Line, Seaboard Air Line and the Tampa Northern Railroad. Closed in 1988, the passenger railroad station was restored and reopened to the public in 1998.

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Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com