TAMPA - Ybor City's "Yellow House," once the envy of the neighborhood, will have to wait longer for a new family to move in. Tampa City Council members voted unanimously Thursday to allot $10,000 for repairs and a new air-conditioning unit for the dwelling, 1720 E. 15th Ave., which has been hard hit by vandals.

But only the city administration has the power to actually hand over the keys to a new owner. So Cynthia Miller, the city's business and housing development director, said she is meeting with the Florida Department of Transportation in a few weeks and is looking at another bid process.

The brick Mediterranean Revival house, built in 1932 by Centro Espanol Hospital medical director Santiago Paniello, was moved in 2002 from its original location at 1518 E. 14th Ave. DOT passed along the renovated house to the city for selling.

But three bidding sessions later, the house sits vacant. Council members expressed frustration that the process has been slow and flawed. "Can we weigh in on the bid?" asked member Mary Mulhern. She was told by the council's legal staff that the only role for council is to approve a done deal.

Because air-conditioning units have been stolen twice, Miller said, police have stepped up to 24-hour security. "I hope it [another air conditioning unit] isn't stolen while they're in it," chairwoman Gwen Miller said.

Janis D. Froelich