We need your help in restoring this Tampa Bay landmark.

March 25, 2013

“When people come together great things can be accomplished. Imagine what will happen if the citizens of New Port Richey are successful and inspire the rest of the community in Tampa Bay and the U.S. to help restore this national landmark,” said John Hagen, Pasco EDC President/CEO. (Click here to donate.) Built in 1920, the Hacienda Hotel was frequented by Hollywood celebrities including silent film stars Thomas Meighan and Gloria Swanson and baseball legend Babe Ruth. On October 24, 1996, the Hacienda Hotel was added to the National Register for Historic Places. The City of New Port Richey bought the hotel at the height of the real estate boom and has struggled to find a willing buyer to restore it. The community has since turned out in droves to help support its restoration. Over 400 people pitched in to help during the recent community clean-up days the City of New Port Richey hosted at the Hacienda. “We can’t thank the citizens of New Port Richey enough for all of their time and effort in helping fix up the Hacienda Hotel,” said Susan Dillinger, the City of New Port Richey’s Interim City Manager. “We hope that through Citizinvestor we can share the Hacienda Hotel’s incredible story with the rest of the world.” Pasco Economic Development Council, Inc. is working with the City of New Port Richey to crowdfund the next phase in the restoration of the Hacienda Hotel.  The City of New Port Richey has posted a project on Citizinvestor.com, a Tampa Bay crowdfunding start-up for local civic projects. According to Citizinvestor’s website, municipalities submit projects that lack funding, giving citizens who are passionate about a project to invest by pledging any amount they wish. Once a project is 100 percent funded, the project is completed. If a project does not receive 100% funding, nobody is charged! And on top of it donations through Citizinvestor.com are tax deductible. Click here to donate: http://www.citizinvestor.com/project/restore-the-historic-hacienda-hotel.