Seminole Heights Baptist Church coming down

Seminole Heights Baptist Church is being demolished to make way for a regional emergency room

The 72-year-old Seminole Heights Baptist Church is coming down. In 2020 the church saw permission to tear down the building and it was granted. The biggest concern from the community was for the City Fire Department Engine Company No 7 building, part of the property. It was was built in 1924.

Seminole Heights Baptist Church is scheduled to be completed by the middle of August, 2021

According to the Tampa Bay Times HCA Healthcare purchased the property for $6.7 million and intends to build a regional emergency room on the 3.5 acre site. They stated that they are going to preserve the fire station. Attempts were also made to preserve the steeple and move it to another church. However it was determined that it was in serious disrepair and could not be saved.

The City Fire Department Engine Company No. 7 building is to be preserved. It was built in 1924

While it's easy to understand the need for improved healthcare in the neighborhood it remains difficult to watch such regal landmarks be demolished.

Seminole Heights Baptist Church cornerstone

The demolition of the Seminole Heights Baptist Church seen through one of its broken windows

A slightly ironic yet seemingly appropriate messages scribbled on the newly constructed fence around the construction site.