Homes atop suspected cemetery in West Tampa? City gives go-ahead

Homes atop suspected cemetery in West Tampa? City gives go-ahead reports that the Tampa City Council heard concerns about a proposed housing development on land adjacent to Martí-Colón Cemetery in West Tampa. At a packed meeting, Adrianne Rodriguez asked for a moment of silence for those who may be buried in unmarked graves. She and advocates argue that bodies could be interred on a strip of private property abutting the cemetery, where the owner, architect Patrick Thorpe, plans to build houses. City Attorney Scott Steady told council members that local leaders have limited authority because permits were issued earlier this year and Tampa’s code does not bar construction over suspected remains; state law applies when remains are discovered. Advocates cite Tampa’s past losses of cemeteries and request continued investigation. Researchers say a 2024 ground-penetrating radar report found 16 anomalies.