The Plant-Hatton House at 4505 W. Beachway Drive is one of the original homes associated with the early development of Beach Park. The City of Tampa dates it to about 1926, identifies Franklin O. Adams as the architect and recognizes the house as a local historic landmark.
The City’s preservation book describes a two-story hollow-clay-tile structure with a red-tile roof, an architectural combination that fits the Mediterranean Revival vocabulary popular in Tampa during the 1920s boom.
Phillip Plant and Constance Bennett
The celebrity connection is what makes this house stand out. City preservation materials state that Phillip Plant married film actress Constance Bennett in 1925. After honeymooning in Cuba, the couple visited Tampa, where Plant explored real-estate opportunities. According to the City, Bennett selected Beach Park and this Mediterranean Revival home as their Tampa residence, which they maintained until 1929.
Older local sources often describe Phillip Plant simply as Henry B. Plant’s grandson. The family relationship is more complicated than that shorthand suggests: Morton F. Plant was Henry Plant’s son, and Phillip was Morton’s adopted son. This page therefore uses “member of the Plant family” rather than presenting the simplified biological-grandson wording as the whole story.
Beach Park in the 1920s
The City’s 2005 landmark hearing places the house within the larger story of Beach Park. Preservation staff noted that a neighborhood survey had identified dozens of historic resources and encouraged owners of intact 1920s revival-style homes to consider landmark designation.
That context matters because Beach Park today is known for high land values, large custom homes and redevelopment pressure. Pieces of the original 1920s neighborhood still survive, and the Plant-Hatton House is one of the clearest examples.
Why Landmark Status Matters
Tampa formally designated the Plant-Hatton House a local landmark in 2005. Local landmark status is different from simply being old or being located in an older neighborhood. It recognizes specific architectural or historical significance and can affect how exterior changes are reviewed.
For buyers and sellers, that is a practical lesson. Two homes on the same street can have different preservation requirements depending on whether they are individually designated, contributing resources in a district or completely outside historic review.
Did You Know?
The City’s landmark hearing cited a 1926 Tampa Tribune article about the property and highlighted Mediterranean Revival details including the porch supports, chimney treatment, wrought iron and balcony.
Sources
- City of Tampa, Historic Designations Book
- City of Tampa Council landmark hearing
- City of Tampa local landmark list
Last reviewed October 2026. This entry limits historical claims to what the sources above support. Spot an error or have documentation about this home? Tell me.