Pick a quality from Tampa Bay’s building profile from 2016 and add Miracle-Gro: That’s the trajectory for this new year. Better biking, more traffic, taller buildings, enhanced water mobility, additional everything!
A prime example of this activity level is developer John Avlon’s plan to build three large buildings on the west side of the Hillsborough River, across from the University of Tampa. He purchased this land two decades ago, invested $4 million in infrastructure, secured zoning for 1 million square feet of development and has patiently bided his time until downtown was ripe to grow westward.
His plans, which are currently undergoing rezoning, include Lafayette Tower, a 40-story structure comparable in height to the Bank of America, situated on the river; Lafayette Central, just south of the Christian Science Church with 26 stories; and Lafayette Parkview, just east of the First Baptist church with 26 stories.
These new, massive buildings will change the density and character of this area, luring activity and residents to cross the Kennedy Bridge. John LaRocca, vice president of Hillsborough River Realty Company and an urban planner, explained how the project would play nicely with its neighbors. ”Each spire will have ground floor retail and the two located on Kennedy Boulevard will orient themselves to the street.”
Thinking ahead, the developers sank pilings for a west-bank riverwalk connection under Kennedy Bridge years ago, so that there could be a smooth transition from the river to their property. Mickey Jacob of BDG Architects described the tower’s integration with the river as key to the design.
In 2017, the City of Tampa will begin construction of a path on the west side of the river starting at the Platt Street Bridge on the south, hugging the riverbank by the Avlon venture, then continuing along past the University of Tampa, Tampa Prep, the $34 million makeover of Julian B. Lane Park, and Blake High School.
This western riverwalk should mirror the activity and flow of its eastern compatriot, introducing a fresh take on Tampa’s heart and sparking density and development in North Hyde Park and West Tampa. Stay tuned for more condos and the first wave of new construction where the North Boulevard Homes stood.
Unfortunately, none of the smaller bungalows or brick warehouses in the area are protected by any preservation overlays, and I worry for a massive loss of character as market forces wash over these historic neighborhoods.
What does the western riverwalk’s north-south axis call for? An east-west connection! Happily, the Green Spine, a 3.4-mile protected bikeway which safely separates bikes from cars with a cement barrier, is being built this year. The route links the new JCC at the Armory in West Tampa through downtown on Cass Street eastward to Cuscaden Pool in Ybor City.
As car traffic worsens, the option of safe cycling is increasingly attractive. Increasing density in our urban cores rather than sprawling endlessly is smart growth. Using the riverwalks, water taxis, bicycles, Uber and the Downtowner shuttle mean that these new residents will, hopefully, not have to drive much.
St. Pete’s successes along Central Avenue have been buoyed by the city’s smart investments in bike paths, angled parking and pedestrian-friendly streetscaping along that corridor. The condos and new breweries growing there are testament to the attraction of an easy-flowing boulevard.
To make movement easier, the ferries between Tampa and St. Pete allow passengers to bring their bikes aboard for free, and there are now rent-a-bike stands at the docking areas so it’s easy to explore both downtowns on two wheels.
St. Pete’s version of mega-development, One, is under construction at the corner of First Street and First Avenue North. Rising 41 stories, One will be the tallest building in Pinellas County. Its clever slogan — “Live in the Sky. Walk to Everything Else” — sums up the urban aspiration.
The good news is that the ground floor will be activated with shops, and the hotel and condos will add to the vibrancy of the core. The bad news is that all of the people featured in One’s promotional video are white.
True urban centers have a mixture of people. We need diverse price points to add young people to the mix. Our downtowns need to keep some of the remaining historic buildings so that they have some context and soul. New buildings need to be architecturally exciting, not just cookie-cutter condos from Atlanta.
And we desperately need transit.
Former Tampa Mayor, Dick Greco, who loves living in downtown St. Pete, spoke recently of Tampa’s gridlock. “It took us 25 minutes to drive from our place to Ashley Drive, then it took us 45 minutes to park!”
Florida as a whole, and Tampa Bay in particular, needs to think beyond the daily maelstrom of busyness and plan ahead. Our vibrant cities need to be diverse, above the flooding, accessible to airports and each other.
Smart cities plan. We can, too!
This article appears in Jan 5-12, 2017.