TAMPA’S SHOWPIECE ART MUSEUM FACES DELAYS

Emily Kass, director of the Tampa Museum of Art, cleared her calendar for the Tampa City Council’s February 10 meeting, where she hoped the council would launch construction of a new $54-million museum building, designed by Rafael Vinoly to be downtown Tampa’s signature building. Instead, Janet Zink reports in the St. Petersburg Times, Kass finds herself facing more delays. Each time a hurdle has been cleared in this project, another has emerged, often the doing of a fiscally prudent mayor. The delays have caused some community members to question whether Kass has what it takes to shape the museum’s metamorphosis.