The Madison building in downtown Tampa Credit: Google Maps / Screengrab by Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is looking to expand its downtown Tampa footprint—and explore new ways to serve the community—on land with a familiar history.
The parish says it has secured the Madison Building at 412 E Madison St., immediately south of its church, and is inviting parishioners to help imagine what comes next for the former site of Tampa’s Jesuit High School.
Reps for Sacred Heart declined to disclose financials regarding the acquisition, but the property was recently sold to the JHS OG LLC last spring for $15 million, according to property records.
McDonald’s heir Blake Casper graduated from Tampa Jesuit in 1991 and is a manager for the JHS OG LLC. He recently told the Tampa Bay Business Journal that he’s holding the property for the church, adding, “We wanted to make sure this property remained available to support that legacy and the future of the church’s work.”
Records show that the 12-story building with roughly 266,000 square feet of space was last traded in 2015 for $1.5 million. It’s home to beloved Tampa salad bar Secret Garden and a recording studio where comedian-rapper Hannibal Buress did work with local producer and bassist Rugawd.
Potential uses include spaces for community events, outreach ministries and sacramental celebrations, along with green space and reflection gardens. A church spokesperson told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that the parish is exploring new ways to help the community.
Any transformation, however, remains years in the making. The Madison Building is an operating professional office building, with leases running through August 2031.
“That gives us five years to discern, to dream,” pastor Fr. Michael Jones wrote in an announcement published on the church’s website Oct. 9.
Jones said attendance at mass has grown significantly in recent months. The additional property would provide room for gathering, fellowship and ministries serving people in need, although detailed plans have yet to be announced.
The site also connects the parish’s future with its past.
According to the church spokesperson, the Jesuits once owned the entire city block, including the land occupied by the Madison Building. That property housed Jesuit High School before its move to N Himes Avenue in 1956. The school building was subsequently demolished, and the Madison Building developed in its place.
Sacred Heart traces its roots to St. Louis Parish, founded in 1859. Its current church at 509 N Florida Ave. was dedicated in 1905.
Before settling on a vision for the neighboring property, the parish is asking its members what they need. “We can’t bring any vision to life without the input of our parishioners,” Jones wrote.
The church will hold hour-long Parish Vision Listening Sessions to gather suggestions and answer questions. Anyone interested can sign up via sacredheartfla.org.
Sunday, Oct. 25 11:30 a.m.
Sunday, Oct. 25 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 29 6 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 1 1 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 4 7 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 5 6 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 8 10 a.m.
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This article appears in Oct. 08 – 14, 2026.
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