The Related Group’s rendering of its planned fountain restoration.
Conceived, founded, and built by our members, El Sanatorio marked the transition of the Centro Español from a patriotic organization to a mutual aid society. When it was inaugurated in 1906, the hospital was state of the art and certainly one of the most, if not the most, modern and best equipped in all of Florida. Centro truly became a mutual aid society with the opening of the hospital by providing comprehensive cradle to grave services.
Now one of the facility’s signature majestic fountains, crumbling and overlooked for years, will be restored and become the cornerstone of a new condo development by Miami-based Related Group. Related was unaware of the fountain’s significance until alerted by Centro Español, at which point the company’s senior executives embraced the idea of preserving the structure and making it the centerpiece of their development.
Centro Español president John Rañon and Board member and retired judge EJ Salcines were interviewed by local media for their thoughts on the project.
Paul Guzo, Tampa Bay Times: Reviving a remnant of the past
Jennifer Peñate, WFLA Channel 8: ‘Forgotten Fountain’ shines light on Tampa’s immigrant history